Strength in Stillness

The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still.

Exodus 14:14

Oh my beautiful girls!  I miss you so much!  I hope all is well--please text/call/email me with any updates, prayer concerns, etc.  Forgive me for missing a week of this, but I hope this post serves you well...

The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still... What a beautiful and TRUE verse.  But how often do we try to do just the opposite?  We always are trying to make ourselves, others, and our situations better.  If only I figure out the right outfit, makeup, or acne cream, then that boy will like me... If only I study all the time... or cheat... then I'll get get into the college I want.  If only I pray harder, maybe then God will finally change my family situation... We know this all too well don't we?  We know what it is to try, to strive, to FIGHT for ourselves!

And yet...

Of what does this verse remind us?  The power of stillness.  Take a deep breath--ahhhh.  YES, we have responsibilities attend to.  BUT, are you living in worry and anxiety?  Are you trying and fighting and striving and keep coming up wanting?  Secret spoiler... The LORD has already won.  "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).  Jesus has died that we might live.  LIVE.  So take a deep breath again--aaaaah.  HE IS WITH YOU.  The LORD is fighting for you.  You need only be still...

Ready for it?  Here are some ideas that you can implement this week if you so choose...

READ:  John 15-17.  Just those three chapters.  Keep in them.  All week long.  Whether that means a few verses a day.  Or just keep rereading these chapters daily--whatever you choose.  But stay in them.

MEMORIZE:  Exodus 14:14 "The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still."

When you're tempted to let life get the best of you, repeat these words.  Remember.  This is a promise.  God WILL fight for you.  Wait and see.  Place your hope in him.  He WILL come through.

PRAY:   In light of this week's memory verse, ask God to help you be still.  Tell him you trust him.  Wait for him to deliver you.

That's it!  That's this week's challenge to you.  You girls are amazing.  I love each of you so much.  And though I am not with you in person, I am in spirit!  And I KNOW the Lord will continue to fight for you!

Sincerely,

Sarah Smith

With All Your Heart

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today--to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul--then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil.  I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.  Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.

Deuteronomy 11:13-16

Lovely lovely ladies!!!  I love hearing how you're doing and all the cool things God is up to in your lives!  It blew my mind to see a picture of how packed club was last week--way to go!  Keep inviting!

In light of the Scripture I wrote above (if you haven't read it yet, do it now!  or just read it again!), I want to remind you that we are living for God, not the other way around.  He created the world, he made how it works.  I encourage you to keep seeking the Lord--what does he want for you?  How does he want you to live?  Just as we don't get to determine whether or not when we wake up, there will be gravity again or not, we don't get to determine the natural consequences of our actions either.  I don't say this to shake a finger, not at all!  I say this out of love, to say--guess what!?  I know the answer!!!  It's Jesus!!!  Check him out!  Just look at all the blessings that come from following God's way--IT'S SO WORTH IT!  But be careful... there are so many distractions (especially in high school!  I bet you could write a list for me!... in fact, if you want to write a list, maybe that's a good idea... ha).  The good gifts God has given us with school, sports teams, friends, relationships, etc. are all good things, but be sure they don't take priority over your relationship with God.  He is, after all, the one who has given you life--the air you breathe at this very moment!

So here are some ideas that you can implement this week if you so choose...

READ:  John 8-14.  I challenge you to read one chapter a day.  (If you missed last week, read John 1-7 first).  You can read more or less if you so choose, BUT whether you read a lot or a little, I encourage you to read at least some of it every day.  And if you finish before the week is up, then start back at John 1 and read it again.  AND as you read, take notes of any questions you have and either ask Kelli or post them to me here and I will get back to you as best I can =)

MEMORIZE:  Matthew 22:36-40. Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

If you memorized last week, you already have half this verse memorized!  Here Jesus tells us the greatest commands--all others stem from these!  Even if you know it, I challenge you to review it every day anyway.  Repeat it to yourself in the shower, as you walk to class, etc.  Let Jesus' words reshape and renew your mind!

PRAY:   In light of this week's memory verse, ask God to help you love him with all your heart, soul, and strength as well as to love your neighbor as yourself.  Spend some time intentionally with him, and ask him how you can better love him by loving others.  Ask him how you can better love those around you (especially those that are hardest to love!). And ask him for the strength to do so.

That's it!  That's this week's challenge to you.  You girls are so dear to me--I love you and know that you can always text, call, email, facebook, whatever... BUT even more importantly, God is always there.  He loves you, and he's the greatest resource of all!

Sincerely,

Sarah Smith (again, if you are wondering why I chose this name, read the excerpt on the right side of this blog...) ;)

Truly I Tell You

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

(John 16:7)

My wonderful ladies, it is so hard for me not to be with you in person.  I want to sing and dance like a fool with you to all the Taylor Swift songs at Young Life club.  I want to cheer you on from the side lines of football games and dance recitals.  I want to be the t-shirt you wipe your snotty tears on when you are heartbroken over family and friend hurts.  I want to love you as I stand right beside you.

But it is for your good that I am going away.  How do I know?  Well, I know this was said by Jesus, and I am not him by any means (just ask my mom these days), but he has taught me something.  Obeying the Father and living life for him often means sacrifice.  And when the Lord calls us to sacrifice it also leads to fruit, not only for us, but also in the lives of those around us.  I know the Lord has called me away, and because of that, I also know that he has incredible blessing in store for you, the ones that I love so very much.  And I am so excited to see the work that the Holy Spirit is going to do in and through you!

With that said, I am writing this blog to be an encouragement and tool for your walk as a disciple of our Lord, friend, teacher, husband, maker, redeemer Jesus Christ.  I love you all, and it brings me joy to know that you are continuing to follow the Lord, and I will offer what I can to assist you in that process!

So here are some ideas that you can implement this week if you so choose...

READ:  John 1-7.  I challenge you to read one chapter a day.  More or less if you so choose, BUT whether you read a lot or a little, I encourage you to read at least some of it every day.  And if you finish before the week is up, then start back at John 1 and read it again.  AND as you read, take notes of any questions you have and either ask Kelli or post them to me here and I will get back to you as best I can =)

MEMORIZE:  Deuteronomy 6:5. "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."  Jesus calls this the greatest command, so it would do us well to commit it to memory!  (I'll work on it this week, too!)  Even if you know it, I challenge you to review it every day anyway.  Repeat it to yourself in the shower, as you walk to class, etc.  Let it reshape and renew your mind!

PRAY:   In light of this week's memory verse, ask God to help you love him with all your heart, soul, and strength.  Spend some time intentionally with him, and ask him what it means to love him in this way.  Ask him how you can love him "the most" in different areas of your life.  And ask him for the strength to do so.

That's it!  That's my challenge to you.  I love you girls, and I am so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to know and walk alongside you.  You are such a blessing to me.

Sincerely,

Sarah Smith (if you are wondering why I'm signing off with this name, read the excerpt on the right side of this blog... Sarah Smith is the kind of woman I aspire to be, and I pray that over all of you, as well!)