Paradise

For more than 18 years we have been venturing to Bald Head Island for vacations, birthdays & holidays. This summer we planned to go somewhere new for our summer trip, but of course we ended up at BHI...it's pretty hard to venture away from our spot. It's our absolute favorite. The island is calm but still full of stuff to do, it's our type of place. 

We ride on golfcarts with no plans or agenda. We hop on our bikes when we need something from the grocery store. We sleep hard and wake up early. We spend the day laying in the sun, reading, fishing, and napping. We play...a lot. This past trip we had the entire strip of beach to ourselves. Kell and I got out pretty early, I ran and splashed in the tide like I was literally two years old again. I loved every minute of it. We rock on the porch with a book and watch the sunset. We ride the golfcarts with sandy beach hair smacking us in the face...BIG sandy beach hair. We go the day solely on cheese, crackers, apples & grapes because that just seems like the only suitable beach food. We lay around on sandy couches-too lazy and worn out from the sun to even bother to get up and wipe it off. We cook dinner together. We wake up early to the sounds of mom and dad's jokes and cling of coffee mugs. We rest, we relax, we soak it all up. We are together, and that's what I love the most. 

This is paradise. BHI is more than a vacation spot to us, it's where we make our best memories, laugh hard and love each other fully. I love my family, I love our time together and I love our spot. 

{Gratitude} Tuesday

Lately, I've been thankful for the incredible community I have at NC State. 

For quick trips to Asheville. 

For incredible concerts. 

For eno and chaco wearing weather. 

For these girls and that the two gems on the end are going to SHARP TOP COVE this summer. 

 For Western Wake YL. 

For the freedom of turning to the Lord no matter my circumstances. 

"I want my everyday to make God belly laugh, glad that He gave life to someone who loves the gift."

happy tuesday homies. 

Abide

My spot.

My eno has easily been my favorite purchase of all time. I'm drawn to my yellow & blue spot- it's comfortable, it's calming, it's simple. It's where I would prefer to spend most of my time. I'd like to think hanging in my eno is a little glimpse of what heaven will be like. 

My time in my spot is precious to me, I read, I journal, I pray, and I read some more. I learn and I grow in that eno. I know that sounds crazy. But really, over the years I have learned and grown in the Lord just solely by being still and listening in that spot. It's me, the outdoors, Jesus and a book. That's it. And that's where I thrive. 

This past week at Athens campaigners we focused on the word 'abide'. 

Abide: to dwell

We discussed the importance of abiding in Jesus, spending time with Him and allowing Him to consume you with the Gospel, his love, his mercy and grace. 

As we abide in Him, He abides in us. And I really believe that that is when His spirit is truly and consistently at work within us. 

Find a spot. Be still and dwell in Jesus, let Him saturate you with the Gospel and let His spirit do mighty work inside of you. 

{Gratitude} Tuesday

    Lately, I've been thankful for this book and the straight truth it's been hittin me with. 

For my YL girls who are literally the coolest.

 

For a much needed, much relaxing spring break with my favorites. 

For this friend, and the constant encouragement she pours onto people. 

 For coffee in rainy Downtown Apex.

For this weather and being able to get out on the water in March.

For stillness. For no social media. And more coffee.


"...I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or living in want."
Philippians 4:12

happy tuesday homies

Chosen

My heart beats a little faster when I hear the word "chosen". Sometimes I have to just stop what I'm doing and listen for the Lord to whisper that word into me. 

Sarah,

you 

are 

chosen.

He chose me, He chose my heart to belong to Him. 

I've been reading The Ragamuffin Gospel and my jaw has been dropping page after page.

Get this: 

"If you were to hold out a dime at arm's length while gazing at the night sky, the coin would block out 15 million stars from your view, if your eyes could see with that power."

"The earth's weight has been estimated at six sextillion tons (that's six with twenty-one zeros). Yet it is perfectly balanced and turn easily on its axis."

"We are traveling through space at 19 miles per second or about 68,000 miles per hour."

I mean that is insane. That same all-powerful Creator tells me that I am His and that He chose me.  

Psalm 8

...I look up at your heavens, shaped by your fingers, at the moon and the stars you set firm, what are human beings that you spare a thought for them, or the child of Adam that you care for him?

"We tremble before God's majesty...yet we grow squeamish and skittish before God's love."

When I grow discouraged, I run to the thought of knowing the One who has my heart is the same One who hung those stars in the sky. I run and jump into His arms. Praying that He will hold me close and saturate me with His grace. 

God chose me to spread the Gospel at Athens Drive High School and He never told me it would be easy, but man it's gonna be worth it. He chose me because I was unable, because I am weak. Yet He tells me to get up. He tells me that when I can't hold onto Him, He's still holding onto me. What God started in me He's going to finish. He loves me consistently, He nurtures me consistently and embraces me consistently despite my broken, worn out heart. And in that I will delight and find my hope in. 

{Gratitude} Tuesday

                

Lately, I've been thankful for great weather & spending time in my favorite place.

For raspberry italian sodas from Cup A Joe.

For the chance to watch the Athens lax team kill it in their tournament. 

For watching this sweet old man read to his wife every week at Global Village Coffee.

For John 10:28, I mean DANG straight from Jesus' mouth--we can not be snatched from His hand, we are HIS.

And for m&ms + peanut butter #college.

"As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible." -Ann Voskamp

happy tuesday homies

The Beginning

ATHENS DRIVE HIGH SCHOOL! My new home, the very place God chose for me to pour out to the broken hearted. How EXCITING! It is still unreal that I am officially a Young Life leader. I am jumping into campaigners, club, and contact work and it's coming quick. 

It's scary and it's uncomfortable but what a privilege it is to be able to be included in what God is doing at this school. I've tasted and seen that the Lord is so so good, and I am so urgent for these high school girls to taste and see that the Lord is good. But, I know that it will take time to build relationships with these friends, to earn the right to be trusted by them and the right to be heard. It's a process and it takes effort. 

God brought me from life to death, and yet I still fear that He can't prepare the way for me through this high school. And then I have to stop and I have to remind myself that He absolutely can and will prepare the way for me. He's gone before me into Athens and into the hearts of these girls. There is nothing to fear. I serve a powerful God who can do anything in me. 

I am truly in awe of how the Lord is working in this ministry and I am so stoked to see the mighty work He does through all of these leaders! Excited for this journey and what lies ahead. Go Jags. 

New Greater Raleigh YL leaders!!!

Athens Drive YL team!