Growing up Sheltered- A good thing?

I grew up in a home that wasn't exactly strict, but there were lots of things that I was sort of sheltered from. I mean, I knew there were people who had sex before marriage, did drugs, alcohol and all that, but it never interested me. I have never been rebellious really. It probably helped that I was homeschooled for awhile and then went/am going to Christian schools for the rest of my education. But regardless, I have never desired to stand out from the crowd. The crowd for me, is full of Christian youth who are all like me. In some ways, we are different, but in others we are not. Many of us grew up in Christian families and were homeschooled and/or went to Christian schools for a majority of our education. I think in any group of young people there is peer pressure to behave a certain way, but the difference is that in Christian communities the pressure is not to do bad things necessarily. And I don't think it is a bad thing to shelter children for a time. They need to have a moral code ingrained in them before they are exposed to the world and its dangers. They need a strong foundation.
Another thing that I have been thinking about is the reason I would go to a Christian college. I want it to be because I am craving companionship with other people who are striving to follow God and His commandments, not because I am trying to be sheltered from the world. I know I struggle and I need the support of other people who struggle but who fight for the right, who have convictions and who follow the better way even when it is hard. We don't have enough time in this world to dwell on the things of earth, but we must put good things in our minds. And I think we need to trust in God's shelter, for He is the one who will guide and protect us when the storms beat against our foundation.

Princess in God's House

Okay this post is a bit of a mimicking of my good friend Brooke. You should really read her blog, by the way. It is in my blog reading list. Sometimes I have a hard time thinking of what to write, especially if I am hungry, and I just got back home from college after spending nearly a week with my cousins and other family. If you don't have thirteen cousins and six of them are under the age of eight, you don't know what fun is. I'll write about that in another post, sometime. After I quench my hunger, maybe...did I mention that I am really hungry right now? Well, I am.
Anyway, my name is Sara. Sara Elisabeth. Sara means princess, and Elisabeth means house of God. So I am a princess in the house of God. We are all children of God, princes and princesses. And to be in the house of God can be accomplished if we have Him in our lives, He will always be with us and we will live in His presence.
I like how my name reminds me to live like God wants. Princesses don't live life all fun and games. They have life just as hard as the rest of us and they still live nobly and without complaining. They have to be the example for everyone else. What they do is being watched by everyone else. They have to act happy and carefully watch their public image to ensure that they are being a good example.
Now that I think about it, that is similar to how we are watched as Christians. Everyone looks at us and if we mess up or not. It is important to be kind and loving toward everyone so they can see God's character through us. But that cannot be accomplished if we don't let God into our lives, and be constantly in His house. We need His presence in our lives in order to really live like His children. Since He is the King of Kings, we are Princesses and Princes- if we accept Him into our lives. My prayer is that I can live like a Princess as my name suggests, every day. May God help me.
Catch you next time readers,
Sara

Update on my life

So, I haven't written for awhile. Life is busy and I just forgot I guess..I am sorry.
Anyway I graduated from high school May 2017. I had a summer of relaxation with some work here and there. Last August I went to Oregon for a program called ARISE, based on evangelism and learning doctrine in a new light. It lasted three months. Initially, I have to admit, I was apprehensive about going. But from the very first I felt welcomed. The people there were really amazing, the food and accommodations were great, and the nature and scenery on the campus there was beautiful. But the most amazing part was learning about how much God loves me, and how to be vulnerable and open with other people.
Part of the program was largely focused on classes where we learned all sorts of things. There were doctrinal based classes, classes based on how to do evangelism, classes on things like health or how to deal with homosexuality. Two of the classes really stand out to me. The first was about the crucifixion. It's amazing what Jesus did for us. The explanation was done so beautifully that for the first time I was almost crying-certainly I felt like it-and others in the class felt the same way. It was maybe the first time I really understood Jesus' sacrifice for us. Even though I grew up hearing this all my life, it never really sunk in until now.
The second class I was awed by was the class on the second coming. It was so beautiful to think about Jesus coming back to get us someday. Someday soon we won't have to deal with heartache and pain anymore. Someday soon all the diseases will be gone. I know I personally have a cousin with Rett Syndrome, which is heartbreaking and horrible, but it is our reality. She is a beautiful smiling girl with an amazing smile, and so strong in spite of all she goes through. She cannot walk, she cannot talk, she cannot use her hands, and sometimes she has some trouble eating. Her fingers from lack of use are curled permanently. She has seizures and needs help with basic tasks every day. It breaks my heart to see her suffer.
But someday no one will have to suffer. I won't have to wear glasses. No one will have to worry about bites and stings. The animals won't be afraid of us. Children and babies won't die too young. Everyone will have enough to eat. Cuts and bruises will never hurt us again. The best part is that no one will want to hurt anyone else ever again. We all will have seen how much pain sin has brought and we will all voluntarily abhor sin and everything that comes with it. We will all think about others more than ourselves and consequently will all be perfectly content.
I can't wait for the day when we realize how much Jesus has done for us and we will want to always be like Him, always serving others before ourselves. When that happens, Jesus will come back. When everyone in the world has made a decision one way or the other, Jesus will return soon after that, and we will get to go home with Him if we so choose. Heaven will be so beautiful. Not just because of the plants or the food or the animals. The most amazing part of heaven will be the relational aspect of it. When we all live in perfect harmony and love for one another and our maker. Heaven is less of a place than it is an idea. We can start preparing for heaven right here and now.
At ARISE I felt a little heaven on earth in my heart. We were eating a tasty, healthy, mostly vegan diet. We were surrounded by beautiful scenery. We went to several waterfalls while there, two lakes, and the ocean. Oregon is a beautiful state, one of my favorites. We also went hiking sometimes. Fall in Oregon is a gorgeous season. But the people were the best part. Everyone was so welcoming to me and my personality. I made the most amazing friends there because even though we were living in a dorm and saw each other's craziness all the time, they still loved me. Even the teachers there who had never met me before, were so happy I was there.
ARISE was the best experience of my life hands down. Even in writing I can't explain how amazing, wonderful and beautiful it was. You will just have to go there yourself. I promise you won't regret it. If you want a better relationship with God and others, this is just the thing for you. You might have to pay some money, but it will be totally worth it. If you would like to find out more about this amazing program, you can find out about it at willyouarise.com. If you don't want to leave home there is also an online program which is somewhat cheaper. Either way, go apply. You won't be sorry. The next set of students will be heading there on August 21. Become apart of our ARISE family.
I am not trying to pressure anyone to be a Christian or follow Jesus, but at least check this out. Your perception of God could have a dramatic and beautiful shift. I hope to meet you someday, maybe in Oregon, maybe in heaven.
Have a good week, Sara

ATV trip:Caribou Creek

Last Monday I had quite an adventure! We were coming back from camping at Caribou Creek and Caleb tipped the four-wheeler. We both fell off. Very scary. I know that God protected us, because it could have been a lot worse. As it was, I bruised my ankle and Caleb scraped his shoulder. We were both sore everywhere. Angels were really watching over us that day! Praise God!

Lost Dogs

Just a little more than a week ago, Wendy ran away. We were very worried that she might get stuck in a tree or fence because she had taken her leash with her. Nobody could remember how she had gotten away, and we were very worried. It seemed there was nothing we could do except pray. She could be anywhere, and it was going to be very hard to find her.
The next day, it was Sabbath. We mentioned it in church so that everyone prayed she would be safe. After church, we went driving through the rain to try to find her. But we didn't want to look in the wet woods to try to find her, so we went home.
On Sunday, she finally came back into the house after spending all night outside. The night before she had been seen but she hadn't wanted to come back into the house yet. It was like she had been transformed into a wild animal overnight. But finally we got her back- with her leash missing!
How did she get free from her leash? We didn't find out until Tuesday afternoon what had happened. One of our neighbors had seen her caught in their shed and taken off her leash so she could come home. So that night we went and got the leash back. Now we didn't have to get a new leash and Wendy was back! Double blessings!

That wasn't the only answer to prayer that weekend. Some church friends had lost their dog as well. This dog got stuck in the mud where no one could see it. How would anyone find the poor dog?
Someone was walking their dog when their dog started barking at something! Turns out it was the small dog still stuck. If it hadn't been for them walking their dog right past the trapped dog, that dog might never have been found!

       Praise God, He is so Good!!!! That weekend was surely full of God's leading!
         ~Sara~