Category: Wisdom

Hats

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment

“For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God” (1 Corinthians 7:19 ESV).

“Gross, Sarah, you are starting off a blog entry with THAT verse?” – said everyone who dared read my blog…

Yes, I know, gross. But, it is about much more than circumcision or uncircumcision.

Very similar to my last post, God is teaching me a lot from this chunk of the chapter. Teaching me that the condition of my heart is so much more important that any actions I do (though actions are important, too). 

This verse states just that….again.

It is neither circumcision or uncircumcision. It is neither singleness or marriage. It is neither working at a church or a mortgage company. It is neither sitting down in the worship service or standing with hands raised. It is neither having children or having none.

That idea is changing the text a little bit because “circumcision and uncircumcision” are religious acts that separated the jews and gentiles. But, I believe the sentiment of the verse is still there. God does not care about what hat (Hat’s: single, married, with children, without children, working, stay at home mom, full-time ministry, etc) you are wearing (in the grand scheme of things), but he cares about your holiness and your relationship with him.

Here’s the trick…depending on what hat you are wearing, he will use that to make you more holy, if you let him.

~~~

James 1:16-18 ESV – “Do not be deceived, my brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

In life, we use status to define us:

I’m in a relationship with so-and-so. I am a mom to so-and-so. I am single. I am an extrovert. I am an introvert. I raise my hands and close my eyes when I sing songs in church. I sit down and don’t sing in church. I work at a mortgage company. I work at a church. I work for a non-profit. I make 100K+ a year. I make 15K a year. I am in college and work part-time. I work full-time. I am a gifted speaker. I am shy and only like talking one-on-one. I am a proficient reader and writer. I am illiterate.  

All too often, we use the gifts that God has given us to define us. We boast in the fact that we have been a christian for 15 years. Or that we work at a church. Or that we are “discipling” 5 girls (or boys if you are reading this and are a man).

We boast in the wrong things if that is what we are boasting in.

That is like seeing a picture that was gifted to you by the artist and claiming that you painted it. 

WHOA. 

Say again? By boasting in the gifts God has given you and called you to, you’re saying that I am claiming to have painted a masterpiece that was created by someone else, the very person who created that masterpiece.

Yes, that is what I am saying.

So how did I get from talking about circumcision to claiming you painted something you didn’t?

Exactly this….Jews who became Christians claimed circumcision as something that made them superior to the gentiles who became Christians, but it didn’t. With Jesus’ coming and death and resurrection, we are all on the same playing field now.

God has gifted us all, no matter what hat we are wearing, what ethnicity we are, where we are at in our journey with him. We cannot go about life claiming glory for things that God has gifted us.

Our spiritual maturity is dependent on our heart for God and following him, not on our status or the giftings God has given us. Those are simply those, gifts. We must, in whatever stage of life we are in, follow Christ. Until we do that, we are just fooling ourselves into thinking we are something we are not.

“Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and counted them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes from faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:8-11 ESV).

Join me in seeking Christ and his will for us through the Word as James 1:18 says and “only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him” (1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV).

~~~

One of my favorite authors wrote a blog that inspired this here blog entry today along side of my reading in the word this week. Read it here and watch the short video that he produced alongside of the blog.

To Be Continued… 🙂

Church Bulletin Maker

Published on by Sarah E. Cooley2 Comments
God has woven various themes all throughout my life. Different themes that either are seen later on down the road or God is revealing them as I am walking through the different struggles and hardships. 
The latter is what is occurring right now. 
God is using different events and scriptures to teach me, to really teach me. This evening, I was reading through my normal bible reading schedule: a chunk of 1 Corinthians 7 and Psalm 51. 
“Coincidentally” or better yet, providentially, they both talked about the same idea: God could care less about our sacrifices or sacraments if they aren’t backed by a heart is broken, contrite, and clean. We can feed the homeless food everyday for the rest of their lives; we can create the church bulletin flawlessly; we can sing on the worship team on sunday; we can memorize verses and read our bible every day…none of it matters if our heart is not motivated by Christ but motivated by our own gain. 
My life in the last six months has been a desert waste land. There has been no growth (or very little). I have avoided people, God, scripture, prayer, honesty, etc. The sin that easily entangled did just that…I was stuck. 
Then the Lord began to slowly, but surely, work in my heart and in my life. Our young adults group at church went to a retreat and spoke about evangelism and having a plan. Different sermon’s that I had heard at church reiterated to me how BIG God is and how small I am and how much I need Christ. People who loved the Lord and cared about me had conversations with me that challenged me (probably more than they realize). The Gospel was impacting my life…
Now, here I am…at the beginning of a huge journey with the Lord. Ready and willing to surrender everything to him. He is teaching me more than I could imagine. 
I thought for a while that I wasn’t emotional anymore, but nope….sin had distorted who I really was. I teared up watching the bachelorette tonight….yeah, I know… My empathy is back and stronger than ever. I have a passion for reading the Bible again and learning more about the Lord again. 
I appreciate those who have read along in my blog post today…it is a little scatterbrained. But, that is how I feel today. Lots running through my head, but mostly gratitude to God for making me understand that he has to be first above everything else. If it isn’t in line, he will cause it to be in line behind him. 
Though, that reality sometimes hurts, it is worth it and I am thankful.

Little 5-Year-Old Sarah

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment

Disneyland for my 5th birthday. 

~~~

When I was quite a bit younger than I am now, I would argue and fight with my mom to the point that I would get physical and would hit and kick and bite and scream. She would always ask me in the middle of the fight, “Sarah, who is going to win this fight?” And I would always reply, “you are….” She would ask me in return, “do you want to keep fighting?” 
“YES,” I would say without hesitation and would continue kicking, screaming, and crying.

~~~
What a year already, right? How foolish am I to think that after I got through the last trial/obstacle that God had finished teaching me all that I had needed to learn. Boy, was I wrong or what?

God is so good. And so incredibly faithful. And always right on time. 
Tomorrow, I have my last day at RiteLend, Inc. and my last day working in the mortgage industry. It has been a crazy ride – lots of ups and downs – but great nonetheless. 
God has been relentless this last year in teaching me even when I have been stubborn and hardheaded and wanting to do my own thing. He has taken situations where I think that I have had enough and said, “No Sarah, it is not time yet. Wait – be patient. My plan is perfect.” I would wait, maybe not the most patiently, but I would wait…
Outwardly, I usually don’t wait like little 5-year-old Sarah would wait kicking my mom and screaming, but inwardly, that’s a different story. I still am just as stubborn and hardheaded as little 5-year-old Sarah. I fight with God and ask, why not? Why can’t I quit this job and work somewhere else right now? I want my dream job and I want it now!!! (Think of violet from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)
December was when I found out about this new job opportunity. It is now July. That was a long time from December to July. But God had a reason for me to wait. 
He knew that I was going to get sick with mono and be out of work on and off for two months. He knew that I would have inner office conflict and would have to learn to communicate with a boss whom I did not want to respect, but knew I had to. He knew that I was going to have to take on various different job responsibilities and learn how to better multitask and prioritize. He knew that the mortgage industry was going to take a turn for the worst in the last month and that my company would have to lay off a dozen or more people. 
God knew. 
And all this time I was hoping for my timing (NOW) and forgetting his timing (LATER). 
It is amazing how God works things out for his good. He was fully aware of all those different reasons why December would have been a disaster and why July was the perfect time to start my new job. God knew that I had lessons that I needed to learn before moving on so that I could be better prepared for this job. God knew it all and he knew what would give him the most glory. 
Thank you Lord for being the God of perfect timings and for providing for your children just as they need. Thank you for being relentless and teaching my heart despite my stubbornness and hardheaded self. Thank you for being bigger than me and knowing what I need exactly when I need it. Thank you, Lord. 
~~~
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God had done from beginning to end.” 
Matthew 6:30 – 34 – “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Don’t Blink…

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment
Don’t blink….
As I was driving down the freeway this morning to work, a familiar country song came on the radio – one that I have heard many times. It holds the same sentiment that a lot of country songs hold – in summary, remember what you have and don’t waste your life.
I must have heard that song a billion times. I’ve sung along each time.  Even this morning as I was listening to it, I didn’t think twice about it.
Until this afternoon while talking to a coworker.
She had her high school ID from 1987. And I was browsing through Instagram and a friend had posted a picture from our high school graduation 5 years ago.

TIME FLIES.
How 5 years went by without me being aware, I do not know. College graduation was a whole year ago. I have been working for a whole YEAR. 

My roommate Alli and myself will be moving from our first apartment out of college in just shy of two weeks. We were talking last night remembering our first night in that apartment. We talked for hours after we had moved in remembering the day. We had both gotten in bed and realized that we didn’t take a picture our first day in our apartment. We both got out of our beds, retainers already in and make up already off, and took a picture (see picture below). That night, we talked about who helped us move that day and how we were excited that we already had made some friends. We pondered where we would be in that next year – who we would be friends with, if we would have the same jobs, how we would grow, what we would be involved in at our new church, Seabreeze Church, and who would be helping us move out of this apartment.
A year has passed and so much has changed. We both are dating handsome, godly men, Eric and Elliot. Alli now has a permanent position at her job. I have had two jobs since then and now work at a mortgage company and have for nine months. We both are involved in the High School Ministry at church. We have a wonderful group of friends – beautiful women and men who love the Lord and are striving to serve him. Mentors whom we both love and look up to. Families who have been through a lot this year and are learning a lot through the process.
Kenny Chesney had it right in that song I listened to this morning  (click here to listen). 
The chorus says this:
“Don’t blink // Just like that you’re six years old and you take a nap and you // Wake up and you’re twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife // Don’t blink // You just might miss your babies growing like mine did // Turning into moms and dads // next thing you know your better half of fifty years is there in bed // And you’re praying God takes you instead // Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think // So don’t blink”
That’s how I feel the last year, 5 years, 23 years of my life have gone…and according to my coworker and the man in the music video, it just keeps going faster and faster.
I am so thankful for this last year of my life and all that it has taught me – through the transition from college to the job world, through two job changes, through a move to a new county and new city, through switching churches, sickness, tears, laughter, happiness, sadness, through a new relationship and all the learning that comes along with that…through it all, I am so thankful.
This year would not be what it was if it were missing anything that had occurred. Although it is impossible to slow life down, I do need to take as much time as I can to remember the important things in life and to not get side tracked by distractions. I need to really learn from what the Lord is using in my life to try to teach me. Life is too short to waste on silly, perishable things like money and possessions. Growing in the Lord and investing in the people that the Lord has placed in my life is of number one importance (Love God and Love others – Matthew 22:36 – 40).
So in summary, “don’t blink…”
~~~ 

Matthew 22: 37-40 (ESV): “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
~~~
To Be Continued…

yolo

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment

Thinking a lot lately about how short life truly is. 


News stories all the time tell us of deaths affecting the hearts of so many around the world. Cancer and sickness grips our world.  A new saying has begun its circulation in the youth of our country: YOLO is screamed from the mouths of thirteen year olds all over the country to excuse themselves of idiotic, senseless behavior. If you aren’t aware of what YOLO means, it is an acronym for “you only live once.”  It is a “freedom” from consequences, or at least that’s the idea behind it. 

Sometimes, I look at the next generation and I think, “oh boy, America is destined to hell…”

Then reality slaps me in the face. 

I use the YOLO excuse all the time. My sin seeps to every part of my being constantly. Sometimes, I sin so much I think the person next to me going up the elevator or passing me in the grocery store can see it on me like it is written across my forehead in big, black, bold sharpie. 

I think that this constant chain attached to my legs and my arms and my neck can never come free. 

Then I read the word ‘BUT’ in passages all across the New Testament. Ephesians 2, Titus 2, and so many more…

They all explain how I was dead in my sin, how sin entangles me, how death was once the definition of my future. They end the passage with the victory that Christ paid on the cross and his rising from the dead. He has power that I don’t have. Power to wipe away the shame and guilt that is written across my forehead for those in the elevator and in the grocery store to see. He had power to take the sin that destined me to hell and make me white as snow. I am forgiven. I have been freed to live a life no longer entangled by sin. To walk with Christ fully in awe of the sacrifice he gave to me. 

Because even when I was dead in my trespasses and sins, he has made me ALIVE. 

I have no power on my own to defeat sin and when I try, I continue to fail. But prayerfully, when I keep my eyes on Christ, I can continue to move farther and farther away from that sin and closer and closer to looking more like Christ. 

Does anyone else feel the way I do? Drowning in sin? Or feeling so free in Christ? I’d love to hear your feedback. Hopefully, if anything, you realize after this post that you’re not alone. 

Psalm 39:4 – 8
4 “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! 
5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah 
6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! 
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. 
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
 

Nobody Likes You When You’re 23….

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment

Boy, oh boy, it has been quite a while since I have had some extra time to sit down and write…

So thankful for this time to reflect this afternoon.

It is March. Can you believe it? Time has flown.

This month I turn 23. Those who are past the age of 23 will laugh at me when I say this, but I am going to be so old!!! My roommate and I joke all the time about how at age 22 we had the amazing Taylor Swift song “22” that talked basically about being young and wild and free. Now at 23, the only song for this age is “what’s my age again?” by Blink182 that states that ‘no body likes you when you’re 23…..” good riddance, twenty-three.

Beyond the joking, the Lord is so good – and is he teaching me a lot or what?!

Life is but a breath. We are here one day and the next we are gone. We are not promised 80 long years on this earth; we are not even promised tomorrow. Each day is a gift from God. We are not promised wealth, or perfect relationships, or a carefree life. Every person and thing is one giant blessing in life. What we are promised is that because of his grace, we can have salvation from sin and salvation from an eternity in Hell. We are promised that after we have passed from this earth, we will no longer feel pain, or hurt, or be sad.

In the last couple of weeks I have felt those blessings so much! I have seen God orchestrate my life so perfectly to continue to teach me and grow me and mold me. He is not through with me yet. He has so much to teach me and so much to teach others through my life and the things that are put into my path.

Though the future is not certain, and a little scary at times, I can know with full confidence that God is faithful. That he has my life planned in such a way for my good and for his glory. He is a great God with so much power. He knows what is best for me always and is a perfect and just enough God to provide me with the right things at the right times – whatever those “right things” might be.

Those “right things” could be sickness or health, sadness or happiness, many different friendships and relationships, the loss of a loved one, the loss of my own life…it could be eternity in his arms. He knows what is right and perfect. I can trust in him to provide perfectly.

A definite theme of my life is that God is my provider and protector. That theme will never leave. Men and women will fail, my body will fail, money will fail, things fail, but God remains perfect and faithful.

Thank you Lord for this sweet reminder so close to another birthday. I am forever grateful for your goodness in my life.

~~~

Currently I am so so so thankful for: my mom, my family, my boyfriend, Eric, my roommate, Alli, my church, Seabreeze!!! , my coworkers to fill my day with laughter, an apartment to live in, food and clean water to fill my body and give it nutrients, friends to bless my heart and fill my soul with laughter and smiles, singing to echo in my heart the promises of God, health insurance, Huntington Beach – my home, a car that gets me places….I could keep going for hours and hours… Thank you Lord for life – not just the breath I breathe, but life eternal – life beyond this one – life that is filled with worship of you!

Thank you, Lord. Here’s to year 23….

It’s a Wonderful Life!!!!

Published on by Sarah E. Cooley1 Comment
Well it’s been about a year it feels like since I have been able to sit down and write a blog, like really write a blog. I feel like I have so much to update everyone on…
Well….
I graduated from college, moved away, started 3 different jobs, and have a new church family. Crazy….. Who knew that I would be living where I am living, working where I am working, learning what I am learning? I never could have mapped this out in a million years, nor would I have believed anyone if they had told me that I’d be here even if they had given me a million dollars.
I am thankful nonetheless.
~~~
This afternoon I had the opportunity to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life.” You might even kill me if you knew that that was the first time I had ever watched the movie. My family is very festive and loves Christmas, but for some reason that was one “christmas” movie that I had never watched (or maybe I just didn’t remember ever watching it..who knows?). 
It was such a great movie for this time in my life – A reminder that I have a wonderful life! God has blessed me more than words could express! I have a great, supportive family that loves me. I have roof to cover my head from the raindrops that are falling outside as I type. I have had three jobs since I graduated and am now at a job that I am loving and able to learn and grow greatly in. I have a wonderful roommate who has been nothing but the best – someone to be honest with and be honest with me, someone to show love and receive love, someone who continues to teach me more about Christ! I have a great, new church body to serve at and to continue to encourage me in my faith and our walk together towards Christ. And a handful of new friends for this new community that I am living in. I could seriously go on and on forever!
Life is weird how it plays out and every time something new plays out, I am surprised, but God’s faithfulness never ends or fails. He is so good! He continues to teach me. He continues to show me grace – pour grace upon me! I continue to fail him, yet he still loves me! 
~~~
To say I am thankful is an extreme understatement. As I grow into adulthood, I see God’s grace more and more. My prayer for this Christmas season is that I would have the maturity to be able to share that gift of grace to those who don’t yet have the gift – that I would have the wisdom to know when to share, and the gentleness, humility, and respect for those who I do share with. I pray the same for those of you reading this.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
It truly is a wonderful life!

" Till Death Do Us Part… "

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment

This weekend was one of the best weekends I have had in a very long time. It was amazing for so many reasons, but one of the most amazing reasons was that one of my very best friends got married to such an amazing guy.

…

There is an amazing book that has changed me and shaped me as a single woman and the interesting thing about that is that it is a book on Biblical Marriage. The name of the book is called Sacred Marriage. The main premise of the book was that marriage is not to make us happy, as the American culture would make us to believe, but to make us holy. This idea was the theme of this weekend.

Taylor and Ryan – two sinful people – coming together to become one and to glorify the Lord together “until death do us part.” Two sinful people journeying through life lavished in the grace that the Lord has freely given to them. Two people worthy of death but given life – and given life abundantly.

From the time the weekend started at the rehearsal, I knew it was going to be something special. I met all of Ryan’s groomsmen, hung out with all the bridesmaids, and got to talk with their families. They were all very intentional people. You could tell that the choices and decisions they made were to glorify the Lord. All the men were gentlemen and all the women were sweet, kind, caring, and thoughtful.

At the rehearsal lunch, Taylor and Ryan took time to say something special about each and every one of the people in their wedding party. Each person mentioned was so significant in their lives and you could tell that they have invested time into each other’s lives. It was a special moment for everyone.

That night, we went to thousand pines to set things up. I began to see how intentional and purposeful the wedding actually was.

Every single detail was thought out. Every single decoration simple, yet so perfect and spot on to Taylor and Ryan’s relationship. Every activity perfected to them – food, dancing, the drinks, games, the ceremony…

And the ceremony…I don’t think you could have changed one thing to make it more perfect, more them, or more purposeful. Every, single part of the ceremony was centered around the Lord – their vows to each other, their vows to their friends and family, the time of worship and communion, the kiss…everything! They had a time of vows to each other, but the coolest part of the ceremony in my opinion was that they made vows to their friends and family as a couple. I cried through all of it (not a huge surprise, I know, but still….). It was beautiful.

Then the reception…geez was that a good time or what?! I got to see another side of Ryan – his friends. You know that you can tell the character of a person by their friends. This could not have been more true. I sat down at the reception and realized that I was the only girl at the table I chose to sit at. The rest of the table were the groomsmen. This was so great because though I didn’t get to talk much, I got to hear them talk a whole lot and hear them ask lots of questions. This was very enlightening. I got asked questions like “what do you think about ‘big foot’? or the zombie apocalypse?” “What are your views on religion/politics?” “Where did you grow up?” “What did you study in college?” “What do you want to do in life?” Etc. Etc. Etc.

They especially liked my answer to “what would I do if there was an actual zombie apocalypse?” All I said was “shot gun – double tap”. After that comment, I was officially welcomed to the guys table…haha

Anyways, these questions weren’t really exciting because I got to answer them, but they were exciting because I got to see a side of Taylor’s new husband that I’d never seen before – his friends. I realized that his friends were more concerned about talking to me than they were about talking about the next football game or video game. They were interested in other people. They were men of character. They looked to the interests of others rather than their own interests. And to go back to what I said earlier  “You know that you can tell the character of a person by their friends.”

I knew after the whole span of events yesterday that my dear, sweet friend left a loving and caring family to start another loving and caring family because she has a great, God-fearing husband to lead her. They both are seeking to glorify the Lord in everything they do and they are looking to magnify God’s greatness through their redeemed lives. I am so humbled to have been apart of Taylor and Ryan’s big day. I am so humbled to be apart of their lives in the future…

Thank you Lord for marriage and for redemption and grace. Lord, you are good!

Reflection

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment

This last week has been a week of reflection.

A year ago, I was greeting a hall full of incoming freshmen girls at CBU. Where did that year go?! It went fast. The more and more I ‘will’ time to slow down, it speeds up. “Time flies when you’re having fun…” …isn’t that the truth!

I spent a lot of time reflecting on how much growth came from my time at CBU. It is where I became an adult. It is where [along side First Baptist Church of Norco (which was also a HUGE part of my growth)] I grew in my understanding of the Good News – Gospel Message. I learned what discipleship is and how to share Christ with people. I learned how to develop deep, meaningful relationship (still learning this one 🙂 ). I’ve learned to not give away my heart too quickly, but to trust in the Lord and follow HIS leading first and foremost (also, still learning this one). I’ve learned that maturity is extremely important and to make decisions that foster maturity and growth, rather than taking the easy, lazy way out. I’ve learned that I am so “prone to wander” and “leave the God I love” – I always choose the way that leads away from the Lord before I turn back to Christ (see Detachment vs. Development).

Among what I learned, there were several key relationships (and events/groups) that have grown so deep and played a huge part in teaching me all that I mentioned above.

  • My two separate RA staff’s from my Junior and Senior year: God truly established these different groups as tools to mold me and shape me. They both were there for me for two very difficult years of my college experience, but some of the best and sweetest times of my life. Most of the pictures below are with these different girls. The Lord knew what he was doing by placing me in these different groups.
  • Amman, Jordan, Middle East: This time was such a time of impact in my life. Not only did have such a fun experience, but I was challenged in my faith and stretched and shaped by the Lord. Working on a team to accomplish our goals was so difficult, but through that experience I learned a lot about myself and how I work – it was highlighted to me through this trip how selfish I am and how much I need Christ to rule my life.
  • Residents: This kind of goes hand in hand with RAs, but really, it needs to be its own category. My different residents, both my junior and senior year, impacted my life greatly. Not only was I challenged to lead these girls (while most of the time not having a clue as to what I was doing), but I learned so much from them. Each year was so different, but both years the Lord used these girls to highlight the areas I need to grow in and to encourage me in the areas I was doing well in. These are some relationships that will last a lifetime.
  • My summer internship at Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, CA: This was a time for me that was different than most experiences. It was my first time on my own ever! I had never really ever been away from my parents for longer than a couple of days and even then, there was always someone looking out for me (brother, grandma, etc.). Even though I spent a lot of that time not taking it seriously at PBC and running off to San Ramon to “hang out”, it grew me in more ways than I realized. Not to mention, I made amazing friends there – Michelle and various others, and I got to spend more time with Jordan, my old youth pastor and “older brother”.
  • My Dating Relationship: This was an area that encompassed most of my college years except the last year – though it still had a huge impact on my final year of college. This is something that I still am not sure how to articulate accurately and respectfully. But, the Lord used this area in my life to teach me so much about myself – mostly what I did wrong. I am still processing the last several years of my dating relationship even a year and a half after the fact and all that the Lord did and has done through that. To leave out that relationship would be gypping this list. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and also one of the most painful, but the Lord is so faithful. He has shown me through this process that he is always faithful to protect and provide and those two qualities are still outlined in my life over and over again through this time of singleness. I am beyond thankful for that time in my life, and even more thankful for the lessons that came out of it.
  • First Baptist Church of Norco: This church has been such a staple in my life the last four years. From activities throughout the week such as ‘home group’, ‘youth group’, ‘Woman’s A&E’, bridal and baby showers, book studies, and living everyday life. This church…this family really has shaped me and formed me, through its’ teaching of the word, into who I am today. I sincerely love all of the people there and miss them something terrible.
  • Close friends and family: Throughout the four years, there has been a handful of people who have come beside me and loved me and scolded me and lifted me up and encouraged me and so many other things. These friends are people who I will cherish forever and who I love so deeply. Each different person has specifically challenged me to be who I am today. How could I ever live without these people? This life would truly be a lot more dull without all of them here to love and serve. 

Why I wanted to write a long list of who has impacted me, I do not know, but I truly am so grateful for all these people and these different places that have molded me and shaped me the last four years of my life. God has been so gracious to me, not just in the initial forgiveness of my sins, but time and time again. In just placing these people in my life, I feel like one of the most “blessed” women on this planet. My prayer is that in the next four years of my life and beyond, relationships like these begin to form and that growth can be fostered in a mighty way. Thank you, Lord, for your love and grace. 

 

To Be Continued… 🙂

Comforter

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment
Different feelings swirl and settle in my heart.

Rejection.

Loneliness.

Forgotten.

Despised.

Sadness.

Anger.

Feelings often can lead us away from the Lord, but as I was expressing my feelings to my roommate yesterday, we both realized that we need to find our security and comfort from the Lord.

As she said that, the song “In Christ Alone” popped into my head and all of the sudden my attitude had changed.

The perfect, holy, and good God, sent His own Son to this earth to love people perfectly, without failing, to be despised and rejected, to be hung on a cross for the sins I commit daily, to ultimately suffer the most extreme suffering, to take on my sins and those of this world, to be looked away from by his father for that time.

It really put my life into perspective. Moving to Huntington Beach has been so great, but definitely hard at times. It’s far away from a community that I was once so so so close to. It is filled with relationships that are constantly forming. There is not a comfortable closeness to people quite yet – filled with awkward moments. My parents and siblings are an hour drive. I’m still not settled into my job completely – there are still so many things I do not know.

All of that uncomfortableness and yet none of it compares to the unfamiliarity and lack of comfort that Jesus felt as he hung on that cross. He perfectly and unfailingly loved the people he came in contact with filled with humility and compassion, yet people despised him and rejected him. The God of the universe loved so deeply, yet we turned our backs on him.

When you think of your life in that sense, all of it seems so silly. Why am I getting upset and sad? There is no comparison.

Yet, I have a God who understands my struggles. He understands how I am feeling. Because he was despised and rejected, I can now look to him for my ultimate comfort.

While I was listening to “In Christ Alone” a solitary tear fell from my eyes off my cheek and onto the pillow. I constantly try to make it happen on my own. I try to take control and find my security in my own efforts to do things. I find security in being popular and having comfortable friends. Yes, those things are great, but they should not be my ultimate fulfillment and what I look to find security. My security should be in Christ and his death on the cross for our sins that are so great!

~~~

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand 

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save 

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live 

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again 

And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ 

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny 

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
 

~~~
To Be Continued… 🙂