Stop it, Sarah!

If only getting rid of the attributes we don't like were this easy, hmm?

Enjoy! :)

Whiter than SNOW!!

A song from Psalm 51:

"Create in me a clean heart, oh God.  And renew a right spirit within me!  

Create in me a clean heart, oh God.  And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence, oh Lord.  And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and renew a right spirit within me."

Snow is bright white.  The brightness is so brilliant, that I literally squint when I walk outside.  Even opening the shade in my apartment makes my eyes have to refocus to shield out some of the color.  I cannot imagine anything whiter.

And to think, when God cleanses us of sin, He makes us even WHITER than snow!  Psalm 51, verse 7 says, "Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be WHITER THAN SNOW...."  Verse 10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit within me."  Verse 12, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you."

This is my prayer today.  Last week was difficult. I have been struggling with bitterness, frustration, pride, and jealousy.  I have been asked to do things by people that I did not want to do, to which I reluctantly agreed, making me bitter.  The bitterness made me frustrated.  Classes were not going so well, which added to my frustration.  When help is available for concepts in the classes I don't understand, my pride gets in the way, and I'm not willing  to accept help.  And when people understand those concepts of which I struggle, I get jealous, and think, "God, why didn't you give me that knowledge?  Why can't I understand this material?  God, make me smarter!"   And on top of all these negative feelings, I did NOT go to God with them last week, instead I harbored them in my heart (hence the bitterness) OR complained to people here on earth.  Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Well, enough is enough!  I am praying today for a renewed spirit.  I want Him to wash me clean, whiter than snow.  I want a fresh start this week.  I want to thank Him for the GIFTS he has given to ME and use them according to HIS PURPOSE.  I am praying He can renew a loyal spirit within me, to come to Him with my frustrations.  And finally, I want to be refreshed with the restoration of JOY for His salvation (that I may be no longer stagnant in the realization of His sacrifice for me). 

Father, I don't understand how you can make us whiter than snow!  But you do.  I praise you for it!  Lord, I ask that you will make me whiter than snow today.  Father, remove every blemish that is within me that is not of you.  I repent of my bitterness, frustration, pride, and jealously.  Cleanse me of them, Lord.  I pray that you would replace them with joy, patience, praise, and understanding.  I love you, Lord!  Help me to be open and receptive to what you have to show me this week.  Help me to use my gifts to glorify you.  Thanks, Jesus!

Your daughter, 

Sarah

Finding JOY in ridicule...

For my friend, Jessica:

I was reading through Acts 5 and 6 today.  I was just going to read through chapter 5, but the Holy Spirit prompted me to keep going.

This chapter takes place during the time the apostles whom Jesus left on earth to carry forth the good news are going crazy telling people about how Jesus is the Messiah, and how there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved.  Verse 17 introduces an interesting story.  The high priest and sadducees are laden with jealousy at the apostles for winning so many people in the name of Jesus.  Thus, they order the apostles to be thrown into prison.  The angel of the Lord comes and releases them from prison and instructs them to keep spreading God's word, so the apostles go to the temple and begin proclaiming God's word to the people.  The high council contemplated killing the apostles; however, one of their members advised against it.  Therefore, in verses 40-41, the apostles are "merely" flogged and sent on their way!

Verse 41 reads, "The apostles left the high council REJOICING that God had COUNTED THEM WORTHY to suffer DISGRACE for the name of JESUS."

I know that getting ridiculed for your faith or being asked difficult "in your face" faith questions can be difficult.  (Believe me, being a people-pleaser myself, I find one of the most difficult concepts in scripture to accept is that we WILL be ridiculed and persecuted for our faith).  However, I do have a word of encouragement for you!

The footnotes in my Bible talk about this verse.  I don't always read the footnotes, because I like to interpret scripture myself.  But this particular verse so piqued an interest within me, that I could not help but seek additional reflection.

"Have you ever thought of persecution as a blessing, as something worth rejoicing about?  This beating suffered by Peter and John was the first time any of the apostles had been physically abused for their faith.  These men knew how Jesus had suffered, and they praised God that he had allowed them to be persecuted like their Lord.  If you are mocked or persecuted for your faith, it isn't because you're doing something wrong but because God has counted you 'worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus!' "

Wow, Jessica!  How encouraging is that?!  That is for you today!  God counts you WORTHY!  Woo-hoo! 

Remember He is with you every step of the way to give you His words of wisdom.  Remember that He will grant our prayer requests if they are in agreement with His will!  All we need to do is pray for His wisdom and guidance to show Him to others, and He will surely grant our request, for that is our purpose here on earth.  I thought that was so cool.  I hope that encourages you...