Iranian Pastor Faces Execution for Refusing to Recant Christian Faith

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/09/28/iranian-pastor-faces-execution-for-refusing-to-recant-christian-faith/

Go read the article. It's an amazing story. I will be praying fervently for that man for the next few days. What an honor for him, to be persecuted for his faith in Christ. He will surely have great rewards in Heaven. A lot of people are reading this article and are getting angry at the Iranians, claiming how cruel and stupid they are. But I read it and smile because I see God in this. God is working in this. I am so proud of Nadarkhani for responding so well; being respectful and refusing to renounce his belief. It has to be hard when a whole country demands for you to abandon your relationship with Christ, even your wife. 

Stay strong, Nadarkhani! God is with you. You have my prayers.


It's so amazing to see how God plans things. He meant for this to happen. This will encourage Christians around the world to be bold about their faith, to not let go, to gain and keep passion for our Lord. This will say something about Christianity. This will show how we can be devoted, too. 

You know everyone talks about how crazy those Muslim extremists are. And it's true, they do insane things that we see as ridiculous and ignorant. But at least they are dedicated to their faith. They are more devoted than most Christians are, and we have the real thing! We could learn something from Muslims.


But anyway, I am loving what is happening with this. It gets me so excited. I am not upset about his fate of execution, because if this follows through, he will be with God soon and will be greatly rewarded for his dedication. And he will leave a resounding impact here in the mortal world. 

This is good news. Let us be encouraged. Let us pray for him. I hope he knows that he has brothers and sisters across the globe praying for him, supporting him, loving him.


Be in constant prayer,
Sarah

And so the list begins...

I know it's a little early, but I was just thinking about what my New Year's Resolution will be for 2012 and a commercial helped me decide. The  commercial pointed out "You have 52 weekends in a year, make them count" so that's just what I'm going to do. I'm going to make a list of 52 things to do on the weekend so I will never have a boring weekend. And this list won't contain things such as "hang out with friends" or "write" but of legit, awesome things. I'm going to make 2012 a little more exciting. :) And I will make some of them mission opportunities. And so the list begins... 


1.) Go rock climbing with friends


Cheers!
Sarah

I want to do something greater than this

I want to make a difference. I know hundreds of people say that (heck, it's starting to become a cliche) but it's true. I want to leave this world better than how I came into it. I want to prove to people that there is Love and it is evident and powerful. I want to go, do. I want to be the hands and feet of Christ. I want to do more with my life than exist in this little bubble. I want to live. I want to serve. And it's so hard when God says no to awesome opportunities (yes, I'm talking about Slovakia and then there's Belarus and Thailand too). But I will obey and wait for my time. 


God in my hoping,
There in my dreaming.
God in my watching,
God in my waiting.


Sarah

Inspiration-starved

I haven't written in forever. It makes me sad. I love to write; to form pictures out of words; to convey a dream, an inspiration; to give feelings and emotions a voice. But I have been exceptionally lacking in inspiration in the past few... months. Maybe I'll go back to one of my old stories and work on it. 


Oh well... hopefully God will inspire me with something soon. I hope you have had a great week!


Cheers!
Sarah

 

I absolutely love this picture.

Good talks

Today in my Bible fellowship group, my friend was telling us about this atheist that was talking to her about Christianity and asking her all these difficult questions. Things like, how do you know the Bible is real? How do you know God wrote the Bible? Why do you believe in God? But one thing she said he asked was "If you believe in the Bible, why don't you carry one around?" And that really struck me. Cause he's right. Some kids have the Bible on their phone but if it really means that much to us, why don't we have it with us all the time? I mean, I don't carry mine around everywhere I go. And I probably should. But it's so much more convicting when a nonbeliever calls you out on your flaws. 


A little bit later that same girl was telling us how she has heard the voice of God before. Oooh, it gave me chills. It gave everyone chills. And that's how we knew it was true. She said she heard Him talking to someone, that His voice was deep and melodic and more beautiful than anything you can describe. Oh, it's enough to make me melt. Can you imagine how perfectly, irresistibly lovely the Almighty's voice is? How magical it would be to hear it? It fills me with a warm, all-encompassing love and fascination for our King and Shepard. 

We had some great discussions today. Talking about God's will, being willing to go to the extreme for Him, about loving everyone - even atheists and homosexuals - and about how we can reach out and be a light to those around us. There's this slide that is always played in our youth house and it says "You may be the only Jesus to people." And it's so true. We need to be an example of God's love, like Jesus was. And it's hard when you go to a private, Christian school like me. But God has a plan for you. And for me. And we need to be willing.


Sarah

Oh, that's a brilliant idea

So over the past week or two, we've been going over this very large and complicated chapter in biology. The majority of us didn't even understand what was going on until today. We had no idea when our test would be and then today our teacher says "Well, I was planning on having the test Tuesday, but I saw that you 10th graders have two other tests that day. So we can vote to see if we will take it Tuesday or tomorrow." What she failed to realize is that half of the class is also freshmen who have 5 tests tomorrow as it is. So she asks for those in favor of taking it tomorrow and all of six people raise their hands (this is in a class of like 20) and so instead of agreeing with the majority, she says, "Oh, well I'm just going to veto the option to do it Tuesday. We'll do it tomorrow anyway." >:/ 


SO... we are given one evening to completely understand two sub-kingdoms, one with four phylums and one way of classifying, and the other with five phylums and three ways of classifying, plus the unique characteristics of each phylum and an example of each. Yayyyyy..... this does not make me happy. 


So with my Starbucks double-shot frappuccino from earlier, and with a mind set on determination, I will conquer kingdom Protista. Because if we get an 85 or above on this test, we won't have to outline the entire next chapter like we did with this one. 


Pray for me.


Sarah

My resolve

I am independent and free,
There is nothing to stop me.
Throw off the sin that so easily entangles,
And throw yourself into the arms of the Most High.
He is wide and He is deep and He is high,
And He is love.
You could ask more nothing more. <3

Sarah

Photos

Fun. :)

Colors.

Forest.

Travel.

Writing down my feelings

A strange mix is stirring in my heart,Something effervescent is flipping up from deep in me,
And yet also there is an airy praise,
That floats up to my God like mist.
Like large waves of oil and  water,
These feelings collide.
Desires and reality refuse to coincide,
I abstain from blaming myself. 
What, Lord, do you have to say? 
What shall I do about this?
Your voice is muffled through the distance I've created.
All else will pass away, even lovers,
All except You. 
So why drown yourself in this world
When you can drown yourself in His love? 
Preaching to the choir when I should be preaching to myself.
Do you love the Lord, your God? Yes.
Then you should strive for Him.
He will give you the desires of your heart,
When you seek His face. 
Just wait for me...
Don't forget me...

Good or bad?

I can't tell if today was good or bad. English class was fun because we did that story telling festival thing and there were some really funny and entertaining stories, but I also just found out I'm failing Spanish 2. But it's only partly my fault. I forgot to bring these two assignments to class one day and Senora Croley will NOT accept late homework so I have these two, ugly zeros up there. And on top of that, she has posted all of 5 grades. As soon as she posts the 100s I've gotten the past few days for homework and quizzes then surely it will come up. But it really sucks to look at it. I mean, I understand what we're learning. It's super easy. I ace all the quizzes. But those zeros really hit you hard. If my mom sees she's gonna FLIP. Ughhh


So for now, I'm trying to drown myself in Nana Grizol. Halfway literally. I wanna to lie down and go into a coma of Nana Grizol and Toby Foster.... and Mumford and Sons. Just for a couple of days. Anyway, I better go study for a Spanish quiz tomorrow... and a science test... Joy. 


Sarah :/