For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him and for Him.

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have preeminence.

I love reading the referral section on Sitemeter to see how people found my site. Today, I saw a google search for sarah, laughed, Genesis. Yes, my name is Sarah. Yes, I do love to laugh and yes, my site has Genesis in it. But, here's what they were probably looking for:

Genesis 18: 9-15 reads
"Where is your wife Sarah?' they (the three heavenly visitors) asked him (Abraham).
"There, in the tent," he said.
The the Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."

Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh."
But he said, "Yes you did laugh."

I originally titled my blog Genesis Moments because as an aspiring fiction writer I loved the idea of creating something from nothing on clean new pages where intricate tales wait to unfold in new and exciting ways. I realize that now I can have another meaning to the title of my blog. It symbolizes how many times I doubt God and yet how faithful He is. And, He makes sure I know when I am wrong so that I can repent but then He proceeds to bless me immeasurably more than I could imagine just like with Sarah of old. I have been in such a state of transition this year, trying all sorts of things, having the time of my life and I felt closer to the Lord than ever before, putting my complete faith in Him to provide work and opportunities to serve in ministries that honor and glorify Him.

Yes, I am concerned about our finances and that if I go back to work full-time that I won't be able to serve as I have been. That scares me because I have felt so fulfilled at the pregnancy center and just recently as the new president of women's ministries in our presbytery (called PresWIC or President of Women in the Church). There is so much to be done and so little people have time to do it seems.

So, like Abraham's Sarah, I often feel inadequate and unable for the task laid before me but I pray that if God would have me do it (whatever that "it" is) that He will make me able so that I will be a testimony of His mercy, grace and love. I am willing to go where He leads. But that could be a little scary too. Especially when He presents opportunities so out of our realm of experience or comfort. Again, I believe that if He calls, He will also make me able. Can I hear an AMEN?!

Let All Things Praise the Lord:

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary.
Praise Him in His mightly firmament!

Praise Him for His might acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
Blessed are they who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart.
They do nothing wrong;
they walk in his ways,
You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
Oh, that my ways are steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.

"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord."

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.     Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white. I will never blot his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Rev. 3:1-6

If that won't get you off the couch, I don't know what will! God Bless and have a great Sunday.

Think deeply, breathe deeply, speak with humility & love and go take on your world.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

Acts 16:11-15 (NKJV)

Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
She has slaughtered her meat,
She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.
She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
"Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
Forsake foolishness and live
And go in the way of understanding.

"He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone."

Proverbs 9:1-12 NKJV

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.