Archives for November 2012

Running the Race.

November 30, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

Hello and Happy Friday! Hope you all have had a great week so far, and have an exciting weekend planned! I’ll be working, so not much exciting will be going on around here, but that’s alright. So, I was going to go ahead and share some Friday Favorites from the week, but instead I want to share something I read this morning from 1 Corinthians.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

1 Corinthians 9:24

In this scripture, Paul is comparing living the Christian life to running a race. When running a race, or participating in any sporting event for that matter, winning is quite often the end goal. It’s what keeps athletes motivated to run faster, stronger and harder. So, how do you go about winning? You have to train diligently—with purpose, passion and drive. You can’t just show up on the day of the race without having put in any effort before hand, and expect to beat out the competition. No—you have to train. You have to work for it.

In the same way, we can’t expect to be strong Christians without putting any effort into living the Christian life. We can’t expect to have a relationship with Christ if we never pray or read his Word. It just doesn’t work that way. We can’t just settle for standing on the sidelines of our life, choosing to not put forth our full effort in following Christ. Instead, we need to diligently pursue him in all that we do—not half-heartedly, but completely committed to him.

This is something I know I need to get better at. It’s so easy to get distracted by the things of this world, and also by our busy lives. I really need to focus on diligently pursuing God and his plan for my life—that is the only choice worth choosing.

Hope you all have a great weekend! God Bless:)

Spiritual Milk vs. Meat

November 28, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

Good Morning! Hope you all are having a great Wednesday so far. James and I were up pretty late last night watching Indiana University (IU) dominate in college basketball…so I’m a little sleepy today. I honestly was never much of a basketball fan until I met James. Since then, he has converted me into an IU fan, as well as other various NBA teams. Once you get into it, it really isn’t so bad:)

This morning I started reading in 1 Corinthians, and I came across this verse…

“I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly.”

1 Corinthians 3:2-3a

Paul is talking to the church here as a whole. He is saying that they were not ready for solid food—only milk because spiritually, they were still infants. They couldn’t handle anything more than spiritual milkbecause of their own immaturity. Why were they so spiritually immature? Because they were still worldly, meaning they cared more about their own selfish desires than God’s desires for their lives. This selfishness alone demonstrates their immaturity—they were not willing to put God’s plans before their own.

We can only go so deep in our faith when we are still living for our own selfish desires. In a matter of speaking, our spiritual growth is stunted, thus we are only able to comprehend the basics [milk] of Christianity. But, when we fully surrender our lives to Christ, and start living for him completely, then we can truly begin to grow in our faith. Only when we strive to follow God’s plans and desires for our lives instead of our own can we begin to delve deeper into our faith, as well as the deeper topics [meat] of Christianity.

Where are you at in your life? Are you satisfied with the basics [milk],or do you wish to delve deeper into the [meat]of Christianity? The first step in doing so would be to fully surrender your life to Christ, and commit to following his plan for your life—not matter where that may take you.

Well, I hope you all are having a wonderful day! I’m off to go do some editing. God Bless:)

Stumbling Blocks.

November 27, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

Happy Tuesday to you all (y’all?)…I still just don’t feel quite right saying y’all…it doesn’t flow naturally, at least not yet. Anyways…it’s a little cooler outside today! Yay. Not quite cool enough for snow unfortunately, but it’s starting to feel a little more like the end of November. Speaking of the end of November, last night James and I drove through downtown Grapevine, and wow, they sure know how to decorate! There were lights everywhere, as well as a timed musical display in the town center. Very cool. We will definitely have to go back and explore some more.

So this morning I read from Romans again, and came across this verse…

“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother to stumble.”

Romans 14:21

Now, this isn’t saying that we all need to become vegetarians. Meat is emphasized here because most Jews at the time this was written did not eat many types of meat—they were considered unclean according to their laws. But, according to Paul’s vision earlier in Acts, no meats were to be considered unclean anymore. This of course caused conflict between the Jews, as some wished to adhere to the old laws, while others did not. What this verse is saying however is that if the eating of meat causes a brother or sister in Christ to stumble in their faith, or if doing so causes division and strife, it is best to abstain from it. Eating meat was a religious issue, and Paul did not wish for it to become a stumbling block that caused division within the church. Unity is important, even if creating it brings about some sort of physical compromise.

This verse doesn’t just apply to the New Testament. Say you have a friend who used to be an alcoholic, but was recently set free from addiction, and is trying to get their life back on track. The last thing that you should do is take that friend out to a bar for a drink. Doing so will only set them back in their recovery, and cause them to stumble in their faith. The same principle can be applied to any situation. If something causes a brother or sister in Christ to stumble in their faith, don’t do it—even if it means giving up something that you enjoy to do so.

Well, I hope you all are having a great day so far! If you happen to be near some snow, go make a snowball for me…haha. God Bless:)

Be Different.

November 26, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

Hello and Happy Monday! It’s been a little while since my last post—hope you al had a great Thanksgiving! James and I had a great time up in Tulsa, OK visiting with aunts and uncles and cousins, eating lots of good food, and exploring the city of Tulsa. Thursday we did the traditional Thanksgiving thing, and then Friday we went to the aquarium with one of James’ uncles—I love aquariums. Overall it was a great holiday weekend, with lots of quality family time.

Turtles at the Aquarium.

Pretty Trees…kind of reminded me of Michigan a little bit:)

Oh, side note, we also went to this amazing light display on Thursday night near Tulsa. I can’t remember what it was called…but it was awesome! I have never seen so many Christmas lights in one place before…literally. Here are some [blurry] pictures..

The Jesus Train.

Cute…despite the red eyes.

We got back Saturday night, and spent the day Sunday regrouping and getting ready for the week—it always seems like I have so much to do after coming back from a vacation/holiday. Little Samson was very happy to have us home. He hasn’t really stopped purring since we walked through the door on Saturday night—I think he missed us:)

Peek-A-Boo!

Over the weekend I also started reading in Romans—one of my favorite books of the New Testament. There is so much meat there. I love it.

“Do not transform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

I love this verse, and it is so relevant to our world today. One thing I notice over and over again is how, in general, the church is becoming much more like the world than it ever has been. We have become so seeker sensitive that our desire to fit in to the worlds system has overcome our original mandate to live differently than the world does.

As Christians, we need to work on this. We should not desire to be like the world, but instead desire to be more like Jesus. This can only be done through the renewing of our minds, and ultimately the transformation of our lives through a personal relationship with Jesus. When we allow him into our lives, we should no longer strive to fit into the world’s way of doing things. Instead, we should stand out. Be different.

When others look at our lives, they should see a difference between our lifestyle, and that of the worlds. Only when we are living transformed lives can we truly be in alignment with God’s will for out lives. This can’t happen if we are trying to fit in to the patterns of the world. It can only happen through the renewing of our minds and the complete transformation of our lives.

Just some food for thought. Hope you all are having a great day so far! God Bless:)

Praying For Our Enemies.

November 21, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

Hello! Hope you all are having a great Wednesday! Can you believe that Thanksgiving is tomorrow already?? Craziness. Hope you all have fun and exciting plans for delicious food and quality time with your families! We are going up to Tulsa for the weekend to visit with some of James’ family who lives there. Should be a fun weekend! I will definitely miss seeing my family in Michigan though, especially since we won’t be able to see them for Christmas either. Moving and around and travelling is fun, but being so far away from home definitely has it’s low points as well. Anyways, enough with my sad rant on missing family.

This morning I was reading about Paul again in Acts. As I mentioned yesterday, Paul was imprisoned for speaking out about Jesus. After some time in prison, he was asked to present his case in front of King Agrippa. After Paul shared his testimony, King Agrippa sarcastically asked Paul if he could persuade Agrippa to become a Christian in such a short time as during the case.

“Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Acts 26:29

Even though Paul was in prison, and was being held there for no just reason, he still wished to spread the good news of Christ—even to those who were persecuting him. When Agrippa asked Paul if he could persuade him to become a Christian in such a short amount of time, Paul didn’t skip a beat. Instead of being sarcastic right back at him, Paul instead chose to respond by saying that he would pray for Agrippa to see the truth—no matter how long that may take. While Paul was a great man, he was also still human, and I’m sure it wasn’t always easy for him to be kind and loving to those who rejected or persecuted him. But, in doing so, he has provided us with an excellent example of how to live and act in the face of adversary.

It’s not always easy to pray for our enemies, but it is vital to the Christian life. When faced with a difficult situation, and you find it hard to be kind to someone—particularly someone who is being mean to you—remember the way Paul treated his enemies. Strive to act in the same way as he did, and pray for the salvation of those who persecute or reject you.

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow! I more than likely won’t be posting, so have a great day giving thanks with friends, family and, of course, food! God Bless:)

Courage.

November 20, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

Hello! Hope you all are having a great Tuesday! Still can’t get over how warm it is right now…I’m so used to it being cold at this time of year. Definitely does not feel like November! I won’t complain though. I apologize for the shorter posts lately. Our Internet is STILL out, so I’ve had to plan around that unfortunately. Hopefully it will be fixed by the end of the day. Hopefully.

Anyways, I was reading about Paul this morning, and how he went in to Jerusalem to preach the gospel even though he knew he would be rejected, and the possibility of death was great. Almost immediately upon entering the city he was taken hostage by the people, even though they really had nothing legally against him. He spoke his message anyways, which caused even more chaos, and ended with him being put in jail for his own safety. While in prison, the Lord came to him with some encouragement…

“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Acts 23:11

Right when he thought he was finished, the Lord came and told him he also was going to be speaking in Rome! But, Paul was not afraid of challenge, and was also not afraid to die for the cause. He spoke bravely and courageously in front of those who had previously rejected him, and who wished to kill him. The Lord was with Paul, protecting him until the end. He never left his side, and encouraged him to press on and speak courageously.

Even when things are difficult, and we find it challenging to share our faith, we should remember Paul’s courage and carry on courageously as he did. Just as the Lord gave strength and encouragement to Paul, so to does he strengthen us throughout the challenges of this life. There is no obstacle or challenge that we cannot overcome through the power of Christ within us. So, even when you feel like giving up—don’t! God will always be with you, just as he was right by Paul’s side until the very end.

Hope you all are having a great day! God Bless:)

Finishing the Race.

November 19, 2012 By: Sarah Leffcomment

Hello and Happy Monday! Hope you all had a great weekend! Ours was pretty good…the weather was a little cooler, and things are starting to look mighty festive around here—yay for Thanksgiving and Christmas! I just love this time of year.

I was reading in Acts this morning, and came across this verse…

“However, I (Paul) consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

Acts 21:24

Paul knew his time on Earth was coming to an end, and that he would more than likely not see the other disciples again this side of Heaven. In saying goodbye to them, he emphasized that the only thing of importance to him was to finish the task that the Lord had given him to do. His life meant nothing to him apart from completing his task.

Paul was whole-heartedly and completely dedicated to doing the work God had assigned for him while on Earth. He was determined not to let anything else get in the way of what he was called to do—which was preach the gospel of Christ. As I was reading this verse, I started thinking about my own life. Am I living like Paul lived? Am I so focused on completing the task and finishing the race that everything else I do seems to fade in comparison? As much as I’d like to say yes, I know that this wouldn’t be completely true. Often I find myself getting so distracted by daily life that I lose focus on what really matters—finishing the task God has assigned to me. This scripture was a good reality check for me in keeping my priorities straight, and in alignment with the priorities God has placed in my life.

Hope you all are having a great day so far! God Bless:)

Choose Joy.

November 17, 2012 By: Sarah Leff2 Comments

Hello and Happy Saturday! I’m sitting at a coffee shop with my husband typing this right now since our Internet is STILL out. Sad. Day. So, sorry I missed Friday Favorites yesterday…so much frustration. Anyways.

I was reading this morning in Acts again, and came across a verse I thought I would share instead of the usual Friday Favorites (seeing as it isn’t Friday anymore)…

“And the disciples were filled with JOY and with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 13:52

Short and sweet. Prior to this verse, the disciples had just been rejected by many of the Jews in the cities they were speaking in—and had just been thrown out of one city in particular. You would expect them to feel sad or dejected in some way, but that was not the case. They didn’t allow the rejection to get them down, but instead were filled with the joy that only comes from the Holy Spirit.

They chose joy instead of discouragement.

Now, they were aware that rejection would come with preaching the gospel of Christ, and were prepared to deal with it. Not everyone they met was going to accept their message. They chose not to let the rejection bother them—doing so wouldn’t have helped them very much.

Likewise, it’s important for us to remain joyful in all things we do—even when it’s not easy. Sharing the good news of Christ isn’t always easy, and, like the disciples, we need to be prepared for rejection. We need to be prepared for it, and choose in advance not to let it bother us. Instead of focusing on the rejection and allowing yourself to become discouraged, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with the overwhelming joy that only He can bring.

Are you facing rejection or discouragement today? Remember that many have felt the same way you do, and choose to rely on the Holy Spirit to bring you joy in the midst of discouraging situations.

Hope you all are having a great weekend! I’ll be back on Monday, hopefully with working Internet again! Ha.

God Bless:)

No Favorites.

November 15, 2012 By: Sarah Leff2 Comments

Hello! Hope you all are having a fabulous Thursday! Mine’s been pretty good so far…I got to sleep in a little bit, and get some things done around the house this morning which was very nice! I also got to talk to my mom and play with Samson, both of which have the ability to make any day a little better:)

I was reading in Acts again this morning, and I came across the story of Cornelius—this passage in particular…

“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

Acts 10:34-35

Peter was speaking to Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, along with his entire family. Now, Cornelius was not a Jew, but he was definitely a God-fearing man. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a vision, telling him to call on Peter, and invite him to come speak in his home. So, being the God-fearing man that he was, Cornelius sent a message to Peter requesting him to come and visit his home. Prior to this point in time, this request would have seems very strange to Peter—Jews and Gentiles did not typically associate with each other. But, through this situation, God was revealing to Peter that the gospel needed to be preached to everyone—not just the Jews.

God does not show favoritism—and neither should we. Just as God led Peter to share the gospel with the Gentiles, we too are called to share the gospel with anyone and everyone—regardless of race, gender, age or walk of life. We need to be open to share the good news with whomever God may place in our paths—even if it is someone we were not expecting, or doing so puts us out of our comfort zone. There are no comfort zones with God. Don’t be afraid to step out of yours.

Hope you all are having a great day! I’ll see you tomorrow with some Friday Favorites from the week. God Bless:)

Being Extraordinary.

November 14, 2012 By: Sarah Leff2 Comments

Good Morning, and Happy Wednesday! Sorry I didn’t get a post up yesterday. Unfortunately our Internet was down—AGAIN—and I was working during the day, so I didn’t get a chance to make it to a Wi-Fi area. I’ve never dealt with Internet quite this bad before—I’m not entirely sure what to do about it! Anyways. So, I was reading in Acts again yesterday, and came across this verse…

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Acts 4:13

Peter and John had just finished speaking before the Sanhedrin in response to their most recent “crime” of healing a crippled man. The Sanhedrin were looking for a way to get rid of them, but when they heard the two speak, they were astonished, and they weren’t quite sure how to go about punishing them for what they had done. It wasn’t because of Peter and John’s credentials though that they were astonished—it was the fact that the two of them had been with Jesus, and were acting courageously for him. They weren’t familiar with that kind of courage.

Peter and John were ordinary men changed by the extraordinary power of God. They didn’t have master’s degrees or PhD’s. They hadn’t gone to seminary. No. They had been changed by the radical power of Jesus in their lives—and that power was all that was needed to change the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Sometimes we think that were not qualified enough to serve God, or that doing so would be easier if we were smarter, more attractive or more articulate. But our own credentials are not what change hearts and minds towards Christ. Those credentials aren’t what change the ordinary into the extraordinary. No. That can only be done through the power of Jesus working through me—and that; that is enough.

Hope you all are having a great day so far! God Bless:)

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