Do you value your Christian online friends just as much as your 'in person' friends?

This question was brought up to me so I thought I would ask you as well. 'Do you value your online friendships just as much of a real friend as you do those you know in person?' I answered this question with a 'yes'. I suppose for me I do because the majority of my online friends are Christian. Though I have not met any of you face to face, I still feel that there are parts of me that have grown closer to you as I've been honored to watch little bits and pieces of your life from time to time. Through your God seeking 'friendships' I have had more than my brain can handle to 'chew' on some of the amazing words of Godly wisdom you've shared through your blog posts. I've often chuckled, laughed, cried, or shed a simple tear at some amazing testimonies of overcoming major or even minor obstacle in your life. So in many ways I'd like to even go as far as to suggest that some of my online friends I feel a sense of attachment to more than my 'in person' friends. Maybe not all of them, but some of them. Now, if you can explain that one to me let me know..... However, like all things through cyberspace I know that it's important to stay somewhat guarded and keep everything in some type of security wrap to make certain your are protected. But even still, I'd like to think that many of my online friends are just how they appear and come across through their blogs; very genuine and real. None of you ever pretend to be perfect before Christ, but yet you still strive to keep somewhat of a normalcy in your lives as you genuinely seek after His love, His obedience, and His character. So what do you think or do you think anything at all about the online friends you've made while meeting up with some people online; people that otherwise you may have never met? Has any one of these 'bloggers' made some type of impact on you?

If you knew that the very next prayer you said would be answered, what would you ask God for?

Again this morning I opened the "Christian Love Talks" booklet written by author Gary Chapman of "The Five Love Languages" and we opened to the question that read: 'If you knew that your very next prayer you said would be answered, what would you ask God for?' Hmmmm; that's a hard one....there are so many things to consider; not just about myself but about the entire world. But in order for ME being just one person my (almost) immediate thought in my heart was for my spirit to be filled with peace. Peace. So that I am not weighted down by the worries of my past spilling over into my future, and the worries of the future prematurely entering my present. I have never known what full peace feels like and so that's what my answer would be. If I don't have peace and contentment in my spirit and inside of my heart than I am being bound by the enemy instead of having freedom to move in any direction that Christ is calling me towards. I am a stumbling block. This was my very first answer that came to mind when I read this mornings booklet page for couples to converse over. So how 'bout you? What would you ask God for? And I'm not talking about being noble and like a hero about answering with world peace or anything like that. We all know the world is under great pains and hurts and we obviously wish that everyone would come to know the Lord and be saved. However this being said, please feel free to answer however you wish if this is something genuinely on your heart. But I'm asking you, personally, what you would ask God for in prayer if you knew that it would be answered? I'm looking forward to reading your replies.

The kids have fun with the American flag.

Peter said to Jesus, 'We've fished all night & haven't caught a thing.' Is there an area of your life where you feel that hard work is not paying off?

My husband and I will ask one another questions on occasion from the "Love Talks for Christian Couples" by Gary Chapman, author of 'The Five Love Languages' book. It's a simple stand up booklet that is easily accessible to grab and stir up meaningful or thought provoking questions. So tonight when I decided to pick up the booklet I randomly just turned to whatever page I landed on. It kind of reminded of when I was a baby Christian; I would open the Bible, flip the pages and randomly stop just whenever I felt and point my finger to anywhere on the page....this is where I would begin my scripture reading. It also reminded me of when I was in grade school and would place my finger on the earth globe and spin it, closing my eyes and randomly plopping my finger down to anywhere it landed on the sphere. Sometimes in Canada, other times in parts of the Indian Ocean...this is where I would play little games of where I thought I'd one day find myself; one day live, one day be married at, one day travel to, etc. Today however when I randomly stopped on the 'Love Talks' page it read: "Peter said to Jesus, 'We've fished all night and haven't caught anything.' Is there any area of your life where you feel that hard work is not paying off?" Wow. Total silence settled in the room. In fact I kinda of had to chuckle. I hated to be a pessimist but with this question at hand so many things ran through my mind. Questions of who I'd rather be, why this or that isn't working out the way I'd hoped it would, why my daughter is so, so shy and appears more of an outsider while my son is often the social butterfly and popular, why my meals don't come out better when I've tried my best to follow recipe instructions, why I try so darn hard to understand yet find I'm often so misunderstood, etc, etc, etc.... Then it hit me; to remind myself about how the rest of this scene between Peter and Jesus took place. What happened next was that Peter said to Jesus (Luke 5:5) '...but if you say so, we'll try again.' And then we all know what happened next, the nets came up full of fish to the point that their nets were beginning to tear. When Peter realized what had happened he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, 'Oh, Lord, please leave me-I'm too much of a sinner to be around you.' What we learned was that Peter was comparing his own insignificance in comparison to Jesus greatness. He realized that when Jesus was instructing him to do something that He had purpose behind it. It's obvious that Jesus already knew that Peter had been trying and trying with no success, which gave Christ the perfect opportunity to give His instructions, which when Peter obeyed this He saw the amazing fruits of His labor; all because he submitted to His instructions. How many times have we all done this? Wondered why things aren't working out a certain way. I know I have; more than a hundred times, sometimes not even considering asking God for His instruction on how I should do that specific thing or how to address this or that. So I decided to sit in prayer tonight with these things on my mind that I pondered over. I knew what God was trying to tell me tonight; 'Sarah, ask Me how I'd like for you to do this instead of you deciding how it should be handled on your own.' So I did. After the kids were in bed, my husband was fast asleep, and the house was still, I sat there in silence pondering over all these things I try so hard at but seem to fall short from bettering things in. I put my head to my hands and whispered to God, submitting and asking Him 'Okay God, I give it You. Please show me Your ways in how You would have me direct things or address situations I deal with day to day.' Such a simple thing, yet I realized God doesn't just care about the big things in life, but he also cares so much about our day to day interests. He is interested in the things you are interested in. Why do you think you're even interested in the things you are? It's only because God placed them there within you. And that could only mean one thing; that if He placed them there within you; that He is doing a good work in You; that He has a purpose for the passion He placed inside of you. If things aren't working out the way you think they should be in certain areas of your every day life, I challenge you to spend extra quiet time with God, asking Him to direct and instruct you on which way, where to go, how to handle, or when the right time to do something is. He will speak to you and will give you the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) on how to handle anything you seek Him with. At least this is where I was tonight. And He met me here; right where I am at, giving me that peace in my heart; in my gut on many things I haven't even considered seeking Him over. Silly, aren't I? For not going to Him sooner on such every day burdens....why I wait so long to do such things is beyond me.

God of gods

This is such a powerful video clip that I just had to post! I suggest you click HQ for a better image. This amazing video was used for The Journey Church's most recent message series entitled "God of gods - The Study of Daniel". Visit their website at http://www.joininthejourney.com

Sharing your testimony is an effective way of witnessing.

I'm not quite sure I'm ready, but it’s not my call; it’s His. The time is quickly approaching.....time to share my testimony....openly so that others might be drawn closer to Him through what I share. I have been meaning to do this for quite some time, but have yet to do so. Am I afraid of judgment? Perhaps I am. Am I afraid to look back on my own history; afraid to look in the rear view mirror? Maybe so. But from a sentence I read once 'Sharing your testimony an effective way to witness.'

The nudging of the Holy Spirit has been heavy on me about this for quite some time. Recently, just within the last few days, it was clear. The time was sooner than I thought. This past week I came across one amazing man who has a Christian site of his own. His name is Peter Stone, author of his blog 'When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong'. Wow, stumbling across his blog was not a coincident but rather a 'Godincident'. His posts are truly amazing and I could feel his servants' heart scream out through the page. There was one particular article he had posted that touched and brought me to tears. It was a testimony of another person whose testimony was nearly identical to mine yet this person was able to share, to open up online for millions to read. Yet, I've been in hiding; trying to forget my former self. I felt ashamed. I felt ashamed because it's by the word of our testimony that draws others to Him, yet I haven't done this yet. Without sharing ones' life prior to living it for Him, than how, really, can God be glorified for the things he's done? As I read this testimony I began sobbing to the Lord, and hearing His still small voice whisper 'It's time my daughter, it's time.' I'm not going to say my story will be a traditional, simple testimony where 'Once I was lost but later found.' Because after all, what is a 'traditional testimony'? We all have our own walk, each its own unique story. But I will say mine is not a pretty one and it will be very hard to share; very embarrassing and humbling, yet I know that 'He that is WITHIN me, is greater than he that is within the world'. (1 John 4:4) and I will hold tightly to 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' (Hebrews 13:5) in my heart as I prepare to create my testimony.

God rejoices for each soul saved, whether or not they walked a smooth path, or stumbled as they walked barefoot across a path filled with sharp rocks and stones; tripping, falling along the way. They are all full of rejoice once the person submits and gives their soul over to Him to do His work. It is all a great parade in Heaven when this happens. So when I post it I won't care about the 'rules' about blog writing, about keeping it short or any of the kind. It will be led by God and Him alone, no rules.

After I share my story, I also plan on announcing something else. I have felt the nudging of God to follow along Billy Coffey's idea about limiting my time online. After I do the heavy task of sharing my testimony I will then only be online on Mondays, Friday's, and might pop in a time or two during the weekends. My Father God has repeatedly been whispering 'Sarah, I created you to be a mother to your 3 and 5 year old, not a mother to a Dell laptop'. Ouch! Right in the gut! So now it's time to get my priorities in line. Which means I will be limited on being involved in community website writing projects, contests, or other type of open assignments.

So there you have it....no rules, no writing or blogging rules, just straight, raw, testimony led by God....but not today....it's a work in progress that I'm currently laboring over and will have posted some time soon. The reason I am sharing this with you ahead of time is soley for my own accountability; to know that I stated this and therefore must see it through without guiting or running from what I feel He has called me to do.

All in obedience to Christ,

Interview With God

Today I share my testimony, but first....

I would like to recognize a very special and talented Godly woman who helped me create my navigation bar (tabs). Do you see the navigation tab bar above? Isn't it awesome? You can play around with it after you read this and my testimony is already posted there. Well this work comes from a very amazing woman who gives instructions, tips, and secrets on just about anything you can imagine from creating your own buttons, to adding a third column to your blog, or just about anything else you can think of. She exposes all the tricks for free! Her name is Jeanette blogger of Easy Custom Blogs. I really, really tried to follow her instructions toggling back and forth from her site to mine for literally hours, and up until almost 3 AM trying to figure this out, but somehow it always looked 'off'.' I think I was always missing a step. I must have emailed her or messaged Jeanette several times, and every time she was so patient with me. I finally asked her if I can email her the codes I do have and asked if she could see if I have it correct. (I think she somehow knew what I was slowly realizing; that I just didn't have the smarts for this feature. I just couldn't figure it out.) Sure I created my own blog button, my own header, and did various other things on my own, but a navigation bar with tabs??? Uh-no. In the end she corrected some things and went a step further. She made it look even better than I would have ever dreamed! This was such a major blessing for me. I believe that due to my obedience in finally doing what God instructed about sharing my past, He used Jeanette as His vessel to help make the perfect navigation bar. I love it and it is such a blessing. Why do I say it's a blessing? I say this because the whole purpose of me wanting to add a navigation bar was to glorify God by reaching out to others to draw them closer to Him. It all started when I read a testimony of someone who sounded very similar to me (in a certain area) merely 3 weeks ago. (Read the following post below this one to understand what I'm referring to.) However, I was too ashamed, disturbed, and worried about how other's would view me to share my walk about how God rescued me from such a distorted past. But when I stumbled across this lady's blog who publicly opened her past up, for all the world to view online I felt like I was reading parts of myself in her testimony. Yet, I had never shared my story, except to just a few. I felt I cheated God. Why? Because I felt full of shame, embarrassment, anger within, disappointment, fear of what other's would think of me, the list could go on....this is why I never publicly shared. I was afraid and didn't want to go back in time. That's where the idea to create my own navigation bar (tabs) came from; so that I could list who we were, what we believe, and most importantly our personal testimony and 'Why Jesus?'. And of course there's the 'contact us' tab at the end. So if you desire to read a very long history about who Sarah was as a child which led my long road to a sincere relationship with Christ, than click above on the 'Personal Testimony'. I already have it posted up. But I must warn you that it's not a story testimony; more like a story. (Sorry, I just didn't know the rules about sharing a testimony publicly) So do yourself a favor and visit Jeanette at Easy Custom Blogs or click on her button that I have on the left hand sidebar under 'My Button Collection'. That is if you desire to spice up your blog or website some. She has all the tutorials written and is a fantastic woman of God. Thank you Jeanette for all your help, patience, and support.