Be Bold

Basically...yesterday was crazy.

Me and my friend, Candice (coolest person in THE world) were hanging out and decided to venture into a warehouse-looking coffee shop, that sits perfectly with an incredible view of the downtown Raleigh skyline. This place is not your regular coffee shop. I don't think it was technically even open for business. But we went in anyways. It's awesome inside, burlap everywhere, photography on the walls, old rustic window frames, a big yellow coffee roaster, the greatest smell you have ever smelled. As we were looking around we began to read the backs of the coffee bags and the news article framed on the wall. This business, Oak City Coffee Roasters and the guy that runs it is all about compassion. Read their website and you'll know what I mean. http://www.oakcityroasters.com/about-oc

We knew there was something different about this place and this guy. Candice said "Alright this guy has gotta love Jesus." First off, I'm so encouraged by Candice, her boldness and how she loves on people. Candice started to talk to him and figure out what he was about. As soon as he handed us a bag of coffee labeled 'the good Shepard' we knew. And sure enough...he LOVED Jesus. I mean like the most Godly man I have ever encountered. He lead us to some chairs in the shop, and he shared parts of his life with us. He shared his vision for his company, in loving and praying over the city of Raleigh, he shared stories of how the Lord has worked in his life. I sat in awe listening to the wisdom pour out of this man's mouth.

The connections our new friend, Bill and Candice were making were INSANE. Turns out, he goes and walks and prays over the same streets where Candice does ministry with Urban Young Life. Like what?! The other day, Candice mentioned wanting to start playing some shows but didn't know where she was going to play. Bill was talking about needing someone who sang/played music to come play on First Friday and I literally kicked Candice in the foot. They made plans and now Candice is playing there in November. I mean dang Jesus is BIG in the ways He works.

We got the pleasure of spending an hour with this guy and just listening. Listening to how he felt called in life and how he is shining Jesus' light throughout Raleigh.

Isaiah 58: 7-9 [the message]

What I’m interested in seeing you do is:

    sharing your food with the hungry,

    inviting the homeless poor into your homes,

    putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,

    being available to your own families.

Do this and the lights will turn on,

    and your lives will turn around at once.

Your righteousness will pave your way.

    The God of glory will secure your passage.

Then when you pray, God will answer.

    You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’

Jesus, 

I want to be bold. I want to love like you love. Everyday I encounter everyone of your beloved children. I'm looking into the flesh of You. I don't want to miss the opportunity. The opportunity to spread Your grace and Your love. Allow me to open my heart to them and to ask the questions that others are too busy or too scared to ask. To be bold and to be intentional. There's a fire in my heart for You and for people Jesus. Allow me to truly grasp that we are all your beloveds. I want to want to know other people, I want to want to love other people. I want to love people like You love people. Grant me a heart like Yours Jesus. Grant me eyes like Yours, to see them as absolutely precious. I want to make a change in the world for Your glory. I want to leave the comfortable and venture into the uncomfortable. To be in a place where I have to be unconditionally, completely dependent on You. I want to be stripped of worldly things. Wherever Your will takes me, I want to go. I mean I really want to go. I know it's easier said than done. But with You as my constant, right by my side, I know that I can do it. Break me Jesus. Break me of my pride and my self entitled faith. Humble my heart. This life is not about me. Allow me to read the tough scripture and to literally act upon it. To take the homeless into my house, to feed the poor. I'm so used to only loving on people who already love me. What is the good in that. I want to love people who have never seen nor heard my name. I want to love the ones that are hard to love, the ones who don't love me. "I want, I want, I want." You're probably saying to me, "Then go Sarah, go and do those things, don't say you want to do them and just sit around. Don't make the excuse of you're young, or you're shy, or 'not right now'. Go and do them. Get up. Change your city, love your city. And I'll be there right beside you." 

These past few weeks so many thoughts have been running through my head. "Am I doing this right?" "Is this how it's suppose to look?" "I should probably do this, I should probably do that." But that's not what it's about. It's about each morning when I wake up, to pray to be made more in Your likeness. To go out that day and to love people, to love them like You would love them. I'm broken and I'm going to fail. But You make me new and You wrap me in Your arms. 

Missing home

3 months ago I started what was the absolute hardest yet most rewarding month of my life, I began the sweetest friendships that will last for a lifetime and I experienced one of the most filling, enriching times with my walk with the Lord. This past summer I left for a month to serve on work crew at a Young Life camp in Florida. Hands down the greatest month of my life. Leaving my mom and friends in Raleigh at the airport that morning was scary, especially being the homebody that I am. I clung to the Lord that whole flight there, praying that He would prepare my heart for the hard work, homesickness and friendships that I was going to encounter in the next 4 weeks. I knew the Lord had some big things coming for me, but little did I know how incredibly BIG these "things" were going to be.

The community I got to be apart of at Southwind is indescribable. The people I served side by side with everyday were without a doubt my best friends. We treated each other like we had known one another for a lifetime. We stayed up way too late, laughed an absurd amount, goofed off way too much, encouraged and loved each other with all of our heart and worshipped the Lord with all of our strength.

I got to experience Jesus in a way I have never experienced Him before. The work was tiring, without clinging to the Lord there would have been absolute no way I could've made it through that month. It was tiring but worth it. Worth it to serve precious middle schoolers who were hearing the Gospel, getting loved on harder than they had ever been loved on, and having the best time of their lives. 

Every night I think about this family. I miss waking up with them all by my side. I miss worshipping with them. I miss talking about Jesus with them. I miss laughing with them, eating meals with them. Cleaning, serving and living life with them. I miss our inside jokes, I miss the night there were millions of bugs in our room, I miss the nights when the lights weren't off til 1am, the nights when the conversations never seemed to end. 

Knowing I have a group of people who pray for me everyday of my life, and that I pray for everyday is indescribable. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about them. That month I learned to seek out a heart like Jesus' every single day. To love on people with a compassionate, genuine heart that is full of a desire for them to know Him. 

[1 Thessalonians 2:8]

Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 

Superwoman

Happy happy birthday to my mom. Hands down the most selfless person I know. The way you love and encourage Dad, Dylan, Kell and I so well has had a bigger impact on me than you can ever imagine. Your heart is full of joy, patience, gentleness, and kindness. I'm encouraged everyday by the way you put others always before yourself. Thankful for the way you push us to do our best, and comfort us when we fall down. You keep our chaotic lives together and teach us to cherish family more than anything. You're our rock. Today is your day and I can not wait to spend it with you. I hope you feel celebrated today Mom, you deserve the world for all that you do for us! Love you more than you'll ever know.