Camp...The "S" Word...And 3 Beautiful Seeds...

(No no no! Before you freak out everything in this post is G RATED! lol! )

Ok so the "go away" CAMP...Monday, July 13, 2009 we left in a bus full of kids and leaders all pumped and excited with smiles and laughter ringing from the windows...similar to lambs being led to the slaughter! 4 days and 3 nights later we dragged our beaten, bruised, zombie like boddies back into the church, just grateful to be alive!

Naw just kidding! lol! It WAS hard work, but at the same time ALOT of fun! We're broken up into 6 teams: Grizzly Bears, Coyotes, Rattlesnakes, Mountain Lions, Hawks and Wolves. I am Wolf leader from our location. There were 3 other churches involved with us and they each had their own Wolf leaders and kids. It was great getting to work with all of them. What an experience!

Everything was very different from what I was used to and that's where the "S" Word comes in...that's right ladies...SUBMISSION. Yeah, not my greatest strong point. I'll admit it: I've got serious pride issues! During this trip I had to swallow my pride and bite my tongue more then I've probably ever had to do at one time in my life! The hardest time was when one of my kids was being out right disobedient and straying from the rest of the group. I told him to stop several times and the third time I warned him that their would be consiquences. Would you believe he looked straight at me and walked away! Ha! Got to love the boldness, I'll say that much, though at the moment I felt like ringing his neck! So I told him that he could not participate in the next activity and he would have to sit by me so I could watch him since I couldn't trust him to walk by us anymore. Well they told us at the training that if any of the kids act up we need to tell our Camp Directors so that they're aware of it. So I did, but the camp director decided that I had acted to quickly and allowed the boy to participate in the activity. Needless to say I nearly SWALLOWED my tongue trying to bite it! But in the end I was so thankful that I did. God came through for me and in the end showed my how Submission does not take away from me as I thought it would. But rather it allows me to reflect God's Sovereignty. I wish I had figured it out before this, and while I know it's still going to be a struggle in choosing whether to be a reflection rather then a suction, but now I have "tasted and seen that the Lord is Good!" He really is! And for everything we give him he not only replaces but overfills us with blessing and favor!

And the 3 Beautiful Seeds? I was given the opportunity to lead 3 children into the kingdom of God! I lead one little boy who wasn't on my team, but who I ended up sitting next to during Bible Talk time. He must have been 7 or 8 and he just asked me if I was a Christian. So I said, "Yes, I am, are you?" Well he gave me this funny look and said, "Nuh uh!" So I asked, "Ok, so what are you?" You'll love the answer! He said with the most serious little face, "I'm mexican."

No I didn't burst out laughing, though I wanted to! I just explained to him that mexican was what he was as far as blood, but Christian was something you kind of believe in and live out. So what did he believe in? You'll like this one too! He said, "Well I believe I'm mexican." So I asked him if he knew what being a Christian meant. Of course he didn't so I got to walk him through the colors of the wordless book (if any of you know about that you'll understand, for those of you who don't look it up on google it's AWESOME!).

I learned that the simplest and truest way to break up the explanation of becoming a Christian was to break it up into 3 steps. 1 is to help them admit that they are sinners, and show them how we are all sinners and that separates us from perfect God. 2 is to explain that Jesus' death was the only way we could be saved from those sins and believing that to be true is the only way we can be with God. 3 is to explain that out of thankfulness and love we should live our lives for Jesus. So when I came to number 3 which really is the hardest, God gave me the most AWESOME example! I told him this story:

"Living for God is kind of like if I took you to a car show and we were looking at all the cars there and you saw a sweet BMW that you just loved! And I saw how much you loved it so I just snapped my fingers and said, 'It's yours!' and paid all the money and even the insurance just like that! Then one day I ask if I can use your car for the day to run some errands or just to visit a friend or something, wouldn't you let me use your car, not because you HAD to but because you were just so thankful and grateful for me GIVING you the car? Heaven is like that BMW. God gave you heaven! And you should be so thankful and excited that you're just going to love him all your life and live your life for him here since he gave you a life in heaven!"

He got it! He totally got it and when I asked if he wanted to be a Christian he said he did. I did warn him though that the Christian life was not easy and you might have to loose some friends because of it, but God would always be there and he would always be more then enough if we let him. And what was so great about that was because I KNEW this to be true because of my testimony! How AWESOME of God!

And that was just one seed! The second was a little girl with a glass eye who was scared of everything! During our stay she had had to sleep with me every night and had continuelly woken me up every hour on the hour to tell me that it was still dark. (Finally at five 'o clock I told her firmly that since she could see the sun she had to be completely quiet and give me one uninterrupted hour of sleep)

Then on the last night as we were walking to our cabin one of the boys jumped out and scared some girls behind us. Well that was enough to scare anybody, and then someone started screaming, "It's Chucky! It's Chucky!" The poor girl just took off running in the dark! She didn't even head towards the cabin she just ran blindly away, screaming and crying. I ran after her and caught her just before she fell, but she struggled and fought me until I brought her close and told her, "It's just me, Natalia! I've got you! You're safe!" Then she buried her face in my neck and sobbed until I had brought her into the cabin.

I learned later that she has a very had life and all this fear had just been growing in her for a long time. So when I brought her to the cabin she told me between sobs that she didn't know why she was so scared and she didn't want to be be but she couldn't be brave like her twin sister who's afraid of nothing. So then I asked her if she knew how Jesus could be with her forever and protect her from all her fears. She'd grown up in church somewhat but she'd never heard about that. I took her through the wordless book just like before, and gave her verses about God never leaving us, and how when we're afraid we can trust in him, and at the end asked if she wanted to become a Christian. She did and when she had prayed she told about 10 different people about what she had done! And because of her telling one of the other little girls in my cabin asked, "What's being a Christian?"

My Jr. Leader (who by the way is the best Jr. Leader EVER!) had been listening and encouraging throughout the whole thing, so I handed that one off to her. She did a wonderful job and I only reviewed at the end before the prayer to make sure she had understood everything and then lead her through the prayer itself.

So would I do this again? Despite the aches, the pains, the struggles, the bug bites and the sleepless nights, I would! Just so that I could sow 3 more seeds for the Lord! And can you imagine? 3 seeds every summer? Why by the time I turned 30 I'd be an experienced farmer! God is GOOD! He'd breaking me this summer, that much is sure, but he's also making me anew and filling me with his love for those children, so hurt and so lost in the great big city of Chicago. That's why I do what I do. It's why I am what I am. A Beacon in the Inner City. Just One Girl CAN make a difference! I just made 3 :) Blessings to ya'll!

Forever & Always,

-Sarah

P.S.

I hope to post some pics of the camp next time I post!

A Will A Way And 3 Gardens

Today in Awana we sang a song called In the Garden. It's a beautiful song that almost brought tears to my eyes as we sang it in Awana. It takes us back to the first garden, the Garden of Eden, where sin first began when Adam and Eve disobeyed the only rule God had given them. But even though God had to punish them and send them out of the Garden of Eden to keep them from eating the tree of life, he still loved them greatly and promised that someday, he would send a savior, a messiah who would pay the penalty for their sin.

Fast forward 4,000 years and we find ourselves in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God prays to his father, hours before his death. He knew the pain he was going to go through, and he pleaded with his Father to remove the cup of suffering from him. And yet, he also prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done." He loved us, so much he subjected himself, the God of all who had since the beginning of time been rejected by the ones he loved so dearly, to be condemned and crucified, to save the very ones who condemned him.

But the story does not end there! On the third day of being within the tomb, he rose up from the dead, proving that he had victory, not only over life, but even death so that we in turn, could live for him! It was this final garden that gives us hope even today. Below is the song we sang in Awana.

It was in the garden God created man

And it was in the garden man rebelled

And sin was set in motion

When we turned away from God

And the Creator who breathed life in us

Could no longer dwell

It was in the garden Jesus prayed alone

The Savior of the world, God's only son

He came to earth to rescue

And bring man back to God

A willing sacrifice was payed for us

The Father's will was done

Father not my will but yours be done

Father not my will but yours be done

In the garden of gethsemane

Our Lord was praying on his knees

Father not my will but yours

It was in the garden the stone was rolled away

And life was changed forever on that day

For those who would receive him

As Savior, Lord and King

Are now free to grow in righteousness

With humble hearts we sing

Father not my will but yours be done

Father not my will but yours be done

In the garden all alone with you

I hear you gently speaking truth

Father not my will but yours

And I want to fallow Jesus

And to willingly obey

So the garden of my heart will bloom

New life everyday

Father not my will but yours be done

Father not my will but yours be done

In the garden all alone with you

I hear you gently speaking truth

Father not my will but yours

Blessings to ya'll!

Forever and Always,

-Me

Poem to Praise

I wish I had a writer's hand
A singer's song
A dancer's dance
I wish that I had even one of these things
To serve my Lord, my God, my King

But I tried to lead worship
And found I can't keep on tune
I tried to do lights
But instead I blew a fuse
I can't preach a sermon
For a stutter and shake
And when I try dancing
People yell, "Stop for goodness' sake!"

So why did you save me?
If I can only bring you shame?
I could never bring glory to your wonderful name

But still you came in
To my small longing heart
You, the satisfaction
The One whom I sought
You took me and you loved me
And you blessed me under your name
And for that I WILL find a way to praise you night and day.

I wrote this poem when I was thirteen or fourteen and I found it recently. It isn't Shakesphere, but I thought maybe someone else might be feeling the way I did back then, and the way I sometimes feel now. I make so many mistakes day after day after day after day (etc.) that sometimes I wonder just WHY God choose me to be one of his children. Maybe you feel that way right now. If you do then here's something to remember. God choose you and God Never Makes Mistakes. So praise Him, despite what others say or think. You're not alone.

Blessings and thumbs up from Chicago :)

Forever and Always,
-Me

Sickeningly Yours.......

Yeah that's right...I've been diagnosed with strep throat. Hurrah. I can not begin to tell you my excitement. :(

Ha ha! Oh well! Just got to grin and bear it. Whenever I get sick I like to think dark thoughts about Adam and Eve. Boy they really didn't know what they were getting themselves into. Especially Eve. Thanks alot sister! It's hard to imagine our world without pain, sickness or death. We see it everywhere, all the time. And yet, God knows because that was exactly how he created the world to be. How sad he must be to see what it has become.

Adam and Eve had no idea what the result of their one bad choice would be. It's so easy to blame them...after all they were the ones who ate the darned fruit, but that wouldn't be right. If it had been you in that garden, and you had what seemed to be a chance to be like God, wouldn't you try? Something so innocent as taking a bite of a fruit...

We all have our own forbidden fruit that we've chosen to taste or sometimes swallow whole. And just like Adam and Eve, once we've realized what we've done, we stupidly try to hide it. You know what I'm talking about. We've ALL done it. The fruit may look different...and we may not have consumed the entire thing...but to God it is still sin.

Our Pastor spoke about hidden sins on Sunday. He gave 4 things we should never underestimate. 4 things that lead us into hidden sin.

1 Never underestimate the dangers of distractions.

Kind David learned this with Bathsheba. I learned this when I was 15 and became more concerned with fitting in rather then standing for God.

2 Never underestimate the deceit of your darkside.

How many times I've rationalized myself into doing, saying, or thinking something. How many of you love music? You know some of those songs you're listening to are not right. "But they're not that bad!" You protest. So are you saying that God has different levels of Bad? What about those lies you throw around all day? "Aw come on! They're just a little white lie!" So now you're saying God color codes the lies?

3 Never underestimate the snowball effect of sin.

The disobedience of Adam and Eve has caused sin to enter the world. Because of sin, death has entered, and because of death, millions will go to hell. You do not sin in a closet. When you sin, you do so touching the lives of your family, friends and sometimes even people you do not know. Sin is always more complicated then it seems.

4. Never underestimate the consequences of disobedience.

Your sin will find you out. It's written in the Bible. Yes, Jesus' death on the cross covers the payment for all your sins. But forgiveness does not eliminate the consequences. While you still have breath in your body, you can always come back to God. But the journey back is only harder the deeper you've gone.

In Bible times, God gave us a picture of sin through an illness called leprosy. Nasty sickness! The nerves in the body would be eaten away, leaving you numb and without feeling. Eventually parts would start to fall off and you would die. Sin does that. It eats you inside out until you wake up one day and wonder, "God! How did I get here?"

There are 3 things that cause us to step off the straight and narrow. 1 The lust of the eyes, 2 The lust of the flesh and 3 The pride of life. That's right. I didn't say playing hooky, doing dope, or sleeping around. See, those things are part of the snowball effect. But the root? Where does it start? It starts with our hearts. When our hearts become distracted from our walk with God. The moment we stop living for a purpose bigger then ourslelves is the moment we start living for ourselves. It isn't those big sins that trip us up, but those "little" sins, the white lies, the not so bad songs, the thoughts...these are the "germs" that cause us to become spiritually sick. And what's the best way to get rid of sickness? Take your medicine and starve it out.

Forever and Always,

-Me

20 years of Love (sigh)

Sorry about that everyone! I know I haven't been very good about posting, but you know how it goes. Oh and uh, about the title, don't worry there's nothing mushy or gushy in this post so relax. This isn't Cinderella love, but about that hard, unselfish, never failing love that unfortunately isn't seen very often anymore.

Yeah I'm talkin bout marriage :) My parents just celebrated their 20th anniversary New Year's Eve! (So you can all post a comment later congratulating them!) My mom told me as we were setting the table for dinner that while she loves celebrating her anniversary on the day they got married, she doesn't really see it as their anniversary. "Every day is an anniversary for your father and I. Every day I thank God for the wonderful man he has given me. (in a whisper) I'm even more in love with him then ever." Now doesn't that sound so much better then Pocahontas', "I'd rather die then live a thousand years without knowing you! (fake sob)"

You know, Disney gives us a very good picture of what love isn't like. It isn't demanding, impulsive or impatient. My parents have shown me what true love REALLY is. It's patience, kindness, willingness to understand, trusting the character of a person, humbleness, the essence of chivalry, unselfish, peaceful, wise and honest. It always perseveres, always trusts, always hopes, always endures. Love Never Fails!

Love really is powerful stuff. :) Paul even says that should he speak with the tongues of angels, give all he owned to the poor and surrender his body to the flames, but have not love, it would be NOTHING! Wow! When I first read that I was like, "Woah! Back up! All that without one little ingredient would be....nothing?" hard to believe but true.

In some ways it's like baking a cake. Now, depending on the type of cake your making your ingredients are going to vary. In all the cakes I've ever baked there always needs to be some flour stirred in at one point or another. Without that flower, the cake would just be a watery bowl of egg, sugar and salt (Gag!) and no matter how much time and energy you put into that cake, if you forget the main ingredient, well, it just means NOTHING. You can't eat time and energy. And you can't live without love. Maybe you can survive. But God doesn't call us to survive.

This is the time for new resolutions, and this year, I'm going to strive to have more of my Father's love in my life. Not mushy, gushy, "Follow your heart after whatever", love, but the strong unconditional love of my parents. Just because your single, doesn't mean you don't have anyone to love. Of course for everyone it's different. I know my starting place is with my siblings. It's a funny thing about sisters. I would willingly give my life for either of them. It's just living with them that's the problem :) Maybe for you it's your boss, your neighbor, that girl that just ooooh....you want to ring her neck every time you see her, maybe it's that dirty little boy with the foul mouth in your Sunday school class (you know the one!) or maybe you need to go back to the beginning and fall in love with God all over again. Wherever you are in the list, make it a special point this year to have a love that perseveres, trusts, hopes, endures, and never fails. Blessing for the New Year :)

(four days late)

A surprise visit!

Okay, I just had to post this!
I have this Tia (aunt in spanish) who lives in San Diego, California. Her and my mom have the same birthday (1/14), even though they were born two years apart. For years my mom has been asking her to come to Chicago so they can spend their birthdays together, but for whatever reason they haven't done it. She did come two years ago, but before their birthday and only for a few days. Well, yesturday we were doing school when we hear a knock on the door, so I thought it was my boys. So since my mom and I were both busy we sent Anna to go open the door. So she opens it and comes back saying that she doesn't know who it is but they want mom. So I go to the door and there's my Tia from California with her camera poised and ready to snap the picture of my mom's surprised face. She motioned for me to be quiet and I stepped back in stunned obedience while my mom, (grumpy from being interrupted from her teaching) comes to the door, ready to tell whoever it was to leave, and gets the surprise of her life when she sees her sister, her luggage at the bottom of the steps, shivering and snapping pictures at will!
What a wonderful surprise! Well, we all had a good laugh and then ushered her in to get warm and talk like all good Latinos love to do, right?
Now for some of you this sounds pretty strange and you might be thinking, "Whoa! you mean she just showed up? No phone calls or anything and that was alright?" That's just how our family works. And we're so happy to see eachother, that it isn't a bother at all!
Don't you hope it will be the same for when Jesus comes back for us? Will we welcome him with open arms surprised at his sudden call, but thrilled that He's finally come? Or will we be to busy and ask him to reschedule? Will we be ready for Him? Or will we wish he would have come just a few minutes earlier or later so He wouldn't have caught us in an act of sin?
He said he was coming soon (which is more warning then my Tia gave). Be ready!

Street Lights

Street lights glowing, shining bright,

Lighting up my city night

One by one, they shine alone

Unmoved by wind or snow or storm

Light of Jesus, in me shine

The light of God to all mankind

And help me stand, I can't alone

Against these lonely, trying storms

And just like street lights, glowing bright

My Jesus' light will pierce the night

As His children walk in His word

One by one, we'll light the world!

Forever and always,

-Sarah

Change!

I have changed the purpose of my blog :) So for anyone who remembers before, it wasn't really anything just kind of a disregarded journal online with alot of nonchalant stuff that I was kind of getting tired of. Anyways, this blog has now become dedicated to be guide on how to be a beacon in your world. For me, that's my Chicago. For you it might be anywhere. But from now on, I am dedicated to posting mainly about how I have learned to be a beacon to the darkness that surrounds me. I hope they will be helpful to you, wherever you are :)

Forever and Always,
-Me