Cast all your cares upon Him

 I've had a few songs on my mind this week. They all have the same general theme. 

The first one is 'The Cares Chorus'. "I cast all my cares upon You, I lay all of my burdens upon You, and anytime that I don't know what to do, I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet."

Then my friend Brooke shared a special music she sang called 'Give them all to Jesus'. There are a couple of nice verses, but the chorus I really like. "Give them all, give them all, give them all to Jesus. Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, and broken toys. Give them all, give them all, give them all to Jesus, and He will turn your sorrows into joy. "

Finally, although this one hasn't been stuck in my head as much..."What's your worry, why the big hurry, I've got all the time in the world. So why don't you let go, of what you can't control, let me take it for you."---All the Time in the World by Matt & Josie Minikus. 

I think God is trying to tell me something. And to share it with you all. So if you have cares, burdens, shattered dreams, pain, or not enough time-- just give it to Jesus, He's got you. Hope you have a carefree week!

---Sara

To be Brave

I watched a movie recently called The Final Days. It was about Sophie and Hans Scholl during World War 2. They were doing their best to help others understand how evil the Nazi propaganda was. They were caught spreading flyers, and when they knew there was no escaping the consequences they stayed strong and tried to get as many people as possible to hear about what was happening to them. They were brave and strong in their faith. Even unto death...
Sophie was 21. She was my age. Hans was 25. Another man executed along with them was a young father. These were young people standing strong for their convictions. They are inspiring to me. I know we have become lazy in the 21st century. We are tied to our devices and there is a certain fear of political conversations on social media. Politics is tricky and no one wants to be dragged into a fight, it is easier to pretend to be politically correct. But I know things are rapidly changing and some things are still wrong. We can't stay silent forever, we must choose which side we are going to be on.
I want to have the kind of faith Sophie and her brother had. I want to stay strong like Abel, Esther, Isaiah and Jeremiah, Daniel and his friends, and Christians through the ages. I want to be firm like those who formed the United States when they broke from England, like those who were involved in resistance during World War 2, and like Martin Luther King Jr. and others who were involved in civil rights movements.
Right now we need to get connected with Jesus as a power source so we will be ready to be brave and strong in our convictions when the time comes. I know, I'm talking to myself here. I don't want to go with the flow. I know who I am and I don't want to be the girl who stays silent in the midst of injustice and wrongdoing. I want to be brave. God help me. Please.
Sara

How encouraging someone encourages you

So I have to share this with you all. Last spring I gave some of my friends something special. You see, these friends had been planning to go abroad, graduate, or change their campus the next year. I gave them notes of encouragement for the coming year. Most of the notes included this verse: "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 

I had no idea how these notes would come back to me. Just last week I got an email from my friend who is in another country as a student missionary. In this country she has to be careful of using certain words having to do with Christianity. So in this excerpt of the email you may see some words changed, that is just for her protection. We've had to be creative and think of new ways to get certain ideas across. 

"Sara, I have to tell you. Last week was my first week of teaching here, and it was really stressful figuring out all the ropes. Tuesday morning, I was really discouraged and downright scared to go back to teach, even though that was totally irrational. I talked with my father and asked him, how on earth am I supposed to bond with my students and make them feel at home in my class when I’m so scared? How will it be possible to become friends with them? And then, your note you gave me last year fell out of the book I was reading: “Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed…Thank you for being my friend…you can do it!” It brought tears to my eyes when I read that. I taught class that day and the next, and was still nervous, but I survived. Then, on Thursday, the burden of fear was suddenly lifted. So thank you for that note. It made a big difference."

I thought I would share this with you to show how giving notes of encouragement can make a big difference in someone's life, and in yours too. This email was encouraging to me, that I made a difference. If I hadn't given her the note who knows how she would have dealt with that day? She would have but it would have been different for sure. 

She's not the only one. Other friends told me the note has been encouraging to them, although not a particular instance like the one above, but they have been helped. So I want to encourage you to give friends a note every once in awhile. It will make a big difference. 

Such Wondrous Love- Poem#4

Here is another poem, not sure what my sister would call it, but this is what I would.


In the arms of my Savior
My Father and Friend
Here I rest, in the middle I pray
All of my troubles at His feet I lay down

His love goes all through me 
Like tea on New Years'
Brighter than sunshine
Yet soft like moonlight

It's warm and it's silky
It's happy this way
Not a joy or a sorrow
With Him I don't share

Through Jesus I'll do it 
Through Jesus alone
Dear God please help me
I can't on my own

POEM 3- Sunrise

Delicate little flowers in the morning dew
This bouquet is all for you
full of gold and ocean blue
arranged on a bench just in view

Will you come with me
in the morning dew
then we'll sit on the bench
and enjoy the view

We'll watch the sun rising up
lifting up the veil
opening His bedchamber
from its misty veil

And we will sit there talking
until its time to go
Perhaps we'll have a picnic
or maybe watch a show

But all I know is that today
we'll wish to stay not go

-----written by Miriam Downs 2019