Preparation for SMITE

Well, it is that time of year again! SMITE! The long awaited week is finally upon us! To those of you that have never heard about SMITE, it is an absolutely wonderful week, filled with spiritual growth, challenges, and hard, firey preaching! It's absolutely incredible! The week starts on Sunday, and ends on Friday! :) And then for some, the daily 5-day clubs don't stop there! For all the BLITZ people, it continues for up to 2 months! Truly amazing! If you go to SMITE, and come back not changed in some way, then Satan was really working hard to keep you distracted.
So getting prepared for SMITE. Days and weeks in advance, there are people all over praying for safety, God-encounters, lives changed, salvations, and lots more! By the time we actually get there, Satan is already working overtime to confuse us, harden our hearts, make us bitter, and so on and so forth. One thing that is key to leaving SMITE changed, is to have a positive attitude the whole time. And of course, daily quiet times, and dependence on God.
And of course, theres always the curriculum that needs to be studied! getting a head start on the stories for Bible clubs is always a good idea! It never hurts to be prepared for sharing the gospel!
All of y'all's prayers would be very much appreciated! Thanks a million!
for more information about SMITE visit smitecamp.org

God Bless!

Do We Have More or Less Than A Begger?

When you see someone begging on the corner, what do you think? Do you laugh? Do you cry? Do you choose not to think about it? If you think about it long enough, it often leads to what they DON'T have as opposed to what you DO have. Just think, you have a house, you have more than 1 change of clothes, you have access to a computer, you have food to eat, you have a nice, comfortable bed to sleep in.

And who allows to have all of this? The government? No way! It's ALL God. He provides for us. In an instant, He could take EVERYTHING away from you. He could take your home, your car, your family, your life. But, He chooses to bless us daily. He gives us air to breath, sunshine, air conditioning in our homes, food on our table, a family, and His never ending love. Does He ever get a thank-you? Not very often.
So back to the begger on the corner. They have so little, we have so much. But, when it comes down to what really matters, could they be richer than we are? If they are washed in the Precious blood of Christ, they have all that really matters in the end. If we don't know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior we don't have a single thing that really matters. In the end, all your earthly posessions don't matter. It doesn't matter if you drive a Porsche or ride a bicycle, Live in a mansion or in your car. Where you go when you die is what really matters. It is our job, once we have accepted Jesus, to go and help the less fortunate. We have to tell them about Jesus' love for all of us. We have to be the ones to tell them the life changing news! Who else is going to do it? Now, ask yourself this question, "How much do I really have?"

~If you have any questions, comments, or input, I'd love to hear from you at alife4christ.sarah@gmail.com

A Savior For Easter!

A great many years ago God's only Son died on the cross to take away our sins. And we celebrate Easter because of that. Let me back up, and start from the beginning.
Jesus, God's only Son, came to earth and was born of a virgin. Mary had never been with a man. Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem, because there was no room for the Son of God in any of the inn's. He, the Righteous Son of Almighty God, was born in a simple old barn with animal's all around. He was then wrapped in rags and laid into a feeding trough for animals, called a manger. The highest of King's was born in the lowest of places. But thats not even the end of this wonderful story.
Jesus grew up without ever telling a lie, he never argued, He didn't even hit His brother, He NEVER sinned. He was perfect!
He grew into a man, performing many miracles, preaching all the time, and showing love to anyone that came near unto Him. But, sadly, while He was doing all of this, there were men plotting out His death.
One night, He was in the garden praying when soldiers came and took Him away. Pilate, then sentenced Him to death on the cross. Before He was to die on the cross, they stripped Him of His clothes and beat Him.
The way they beat Him was called the "Roman Half Death". Most of the people that experienced this horrible form of torture died before they were even taken to the cross. The Roman soldiers would take a whip that had pieces of glass, clay pots, bones, and rocks tied into it and they would whip their victim. They whipped Jesus 39 times with this horrible whip! Before they took Jesus to the cross He had huge tears in His back, legs, and arms.
After He had gone through this horrible beating they took a crown with HUGE thorns and they pounded it into His head. They then took a beautiful scarlet robe, placed it on His shoulders, and mocked Him. He was then led on a long path up the hill to the place where He was to die. Not only did He have to walk all the way up that hill, but He had to carry His massive, heavy, wooden cross. All along the way there were people spitting on Him, making fun of Him, ridiculing Him. He was so weak from His beating and the loss of blood that He stumbled many, many times. Soon, after watching Him stumble so many times, one of His disciples came and helped Him to carry the cross.
Finally they reached the top of the hill. They laid Jesus on the cross and drove nails into His wrists and into His feet. Then they hung a sign above His head that said "This is Jesus, King of the Jews!"
They heaved the cross into an upright position, and there, Jesus hung. And there on that cross, He died. He died with thieves on each side of Him. Y'all, this was the Son of God! Jesus died the fastest death ever, on that cross. After He died, they laid Him in a tomb. But, that is not the end of this story. It gets much better!
3 days later He rose from the dead! And now, He lives in Heaven where it is perfect. The only way we can get to Heaven is to be perfect. But it is impossible to be perfect because we have all sinned. And with sin, you can't enter Heaven. Jesus' death on the cross was to take away our sins, so that we could then be perfect. Washed in His blood. Our sins forgiven! To get to Heaven you must believe in your heart that God loves you so much, and that Jesus did all of this for you so that when you die, you may go to Heaven to be with Jesus!
Have you ever told God that you know He loves you? Have you ever acknowledged that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died on the cross to take away your sins? If you haven't, I encourage you to do that. We have no idea when we are going to die. It could be at any time! I've done it. And now I know that when I die, I will go to Heaven to be with Jesus for the rest of eternity. But the best part of it all, is that I know that no matter what I do, I can NEVER lose my salvation! Wouldn't you like to get a Savior for Easter? It's better than anything the world can offer. Accept His free gift. :)

~John 3:16- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
~John 14:2-3- In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
~Romans 3:23- For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
~Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
~Hebrews 9:22- And most all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
~Hebrews 13:5-...For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
~1 John 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If you have any questions that you do not want to be posted, feel free to email me at alife4christ.sarah@gmail.com

God bless! :)

How Beautiful It Is

-Have you ever just stopped everything that you were doing and walked outside and just looked at everything that God has created? I love doing this and do it often. It's a special time for me. I mean, just think about it! God created every blade of grass, all the trees, every flower, the sky, the sun, the moon, and all the stars. He created EVERYTHING! And you know what? He created all of that for His glory and for us to enjoy! THAT is how much He loves us! He loves us enough to create every single leaf, every snowflake, every raindrop, every flower petal different from the next. He knows exactly how many grains of sand are in the ocean.
-He created everything so wonderously! Its times like when I just go outside and look at the sky that it just amazes me! It makes me feel so special. God created all of creation for MY pleasure. He created it all for YOUR pleasure. God wants us to take the time to just really look at His wonderful creations. In this BIG world, he created everything just to make US happy! Amazing isn't it?
-I personally can't even imagine how a scientist can know so much about the complexity of the construction of all of the plants, and then NOT believe that God is real and that He really does exist. SERIOUSLY! How could a big bang create sooooo many DIFFERENT types of plants? What would be the point of all the animals changing themselves? How could that even be possible? And then how come we don't EVER find any fossils that show a creature that died in the middle of "metamorphis"? The only possible answer is that we have a Wonderful, Amazing, Loving Creator! Mere chance could not give us something as beautiful as a tree, or a flower.

~Ecclesiastes 3:11- He hath made every thing beautiful in His time.....
~Genesis 1:31- And God saw every thing that He had made, and behold, it was very good......

~Questions, comments you don't wish to have published, please feel free to email me at alife4christ.sarah@gmail.com
God Bless! :)

The Room

Well, I got this in an e-mail. I thought it was really cool! :) It was said to have been written by a 17 year old boy as an essay for school. They said that he wrote it just 2 weeks before he died.

~ " The Room.."
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings.
As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked" I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at."

Some were almost hilarious in their exactness : "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at : "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents Often there were many more cards than expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived.

Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me.

One thought dominated my mind : No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out Its size didn't matter now I had to empty it and burn the cards...
But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.
And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes.. No one must ever, ever know of this room I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes.
Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him.. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive.
The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room.. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written