The Lord is good, ALL THE TIME!

The Lord has been teaching me so much recently. I've been in the south of France, Codognan to be more specific, and we've been helping the Methodist church here with getting word out about the church itself and also a music festival that is going to be held here for 10 days at the end of August. We've been going door to door in a bunch of different villages in the area knocking of their front door and asking people if they have already received the invitation for the music festival (we find that its better to ask them if they have already received it rather then asking if they want it because its almost guaranteed that they would say no..). This has been very good practice for my French, even though it is just a rehearsed line I still can't predict what they are going to say back to me which means I must always be on my toes! But it has been a good time for me realizing how there is absolutely now way that I could be understanding people in my own strength but realizing that it is 150% Jesus giving me the strength and perseverance to keep going.

Everyone in Nantes told me that the south was going to be so hot, so I was picturing something that may would have been equivalent to hell but it turns out that the south is really quite nice and I am throughly enjoying the warm weather and being able to enjoy summer at its peak. We've had some days off here and there since we've arrived July 24th and in those days off we've been able to see some fun sights in the area, which has been a nice break because being out in the heat for pretty much the whole day is something that is not totally ideal and very draining. In the afternoons when we're not doing door to door we run a kids club in one of the parks nearby. We just come up with a skit from the Bible, get some songs and face paint and head right out to the park praying that the Lord will bring children that are willing and wanting to play some games with some older people who really dont speak that well of French. The Lord has been providing children which is really fun and its just been a nice time to make the church's name even more well known in the area.

Even through all of this time of learning and growing in my faith and trusting in the Lord with all that I do I must admit that its been hard being here in France. I really really love France, the people, the culture, the language, but its hard missing out on the things happening back at home. I've been going through a time asking the Lord and pressing into Him even more seeking out the will and reason as to why He brought me here to France for this moment. I know He has done it for a reason and thus far it has been a really awesome time to learn about getting connected into ministries and how to go about different kinds of evangelism but sometimes a person just really wants a hug from their family! I know this time is a good time for me to grow up and realize the big picture of the call that the Lord has put on my life, but I must admit, that it really is not easy. So I ask that you pray for me in this area, that the Lord will comfort my heart and give me and peace and reassurance that He has brought me here for a reason. And maybe it is in the Lords will that He doesn't tell me why He's brought me or doesn't give me reassurance right away, but I just need to keep pressing into Him and realizing that I need to give up everything to follow Him, even my family. But its so hard! But its so good!

So I ask, if you have any encouraging words or anything at all, please give them over (if anyone is still reading this..since its been since May since I've last updated..).

And please give me your requests also! I'd love them.

Thank you!

Blessings.

Amanda and me in Avignon on one of our days off..

Lory and I after one of our kids clubs in the park..go face paint!

(I wish I had more pictures from the kids club but for obvious reasons we cant just whip our camera out at those times..)

Some of my team members and I!

Life in France!

Hello my blog followers! (Though I'm afraid all have given up on me since I haven't updated this is such a long time...)

But with busyness of life comes the forgetting that indeed I do have a blog and that indeed only I can be the one to fill it up with my thoughts on life and the happenings and workings of the Lord here in France through not only me but through my whole fantastic team!
Since arriving here a whole 3 months ago (I still can't believe it has been that long) my brain has been adjusting to the French language and the culture French culture, being away from home and now living in a house with a team, blending all of our different American cultures that we came with.

I thought as a way to start of this new, fresh, revival of good blogging habits I will first start with a series of pretty pictures allowing you to see the beauty of France that I am graciously able to view everyday.

This picture is of a castle that we visited on one of the Link-Up Youth Events!

Here are some pictures from the beautiful city itself!



This is the castle in the center of the city.


Here is our language teacher Florence (in the striped shirt)

Alright, well, I promise that I will be more faithful with updating my blog. Trust me, I am not making a promise that is 'unkeepable', because indeed I want to update this puppy more often.

Thanks again for everything, prayer support and financial.

If you'd like to receive my newsletter just email me at sara.wise@bcom.org and I will be MORE then happy to add you to the list.

Blessings!

Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS!

Alright, now embarrassingly I have not updated this blog in quite a very long time, I apologize for this, though I doubt anyone really reads it, but thats ok. The main purpose was for when I venture out onto internship, which is in but 3 short weeks.

So anyways, I thought I might just give a little update on where my heart currently is throughout all of the commotion that seems to be going on around me. While I've been at home these past 5ish months I've made the discovery that the speed I'm at is significantly slower then the speed of those around me. Now I dont mean mentally or my acutal physical speed when I walk, I'm a very inconsistent walker, sometimes I walk fast, sometimes I walk slow, it varies really. Here is an analogy that I have created to accurately describe how I feel. So, ya know when you're walking places, lets say the boardwalk for example. Now the only boardwalk I've been to is the one at Ocean City, New Jersey, a place I have regularly visited since I was a small child. There's a lane for those to bike ride, and lane for those who are more ambitious and want to run in front of tons of people in short shorts and/or a bathing suit, and the walking lane. Now correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure this is how it is set up, and if it isn't, well then, just go with me on this. These past couple of months I feel like I've been in the walking lane, taking my time, looking around at the wonderful, but sick looking, Jersey ocean, semi white sand, pizza places loitering every corner, always with that tune about a boardwalk stuck in my head, I think its sung by the Beach Boys. Oh also, those very dangerous looking rides that I still find myself going on though my instinct tells me to do otherwise. Well anyways, I feel like everyone else is in the fast bicycling lane, just going full speed ahead, not really slowing down for anything.

The point is this: there has been such a large disconnect that I feel between me and really, the rest of society. Not because society and I are different or don't get along but just a lack of interest of wanting to be fully engaged in society and rather wanting to enjoy each and every minute that the Lord has given me. Thankfully through being home I have been able to reconnect with some wonderful friends, those who I missed dearly while I was going and am going to miss even more when I leave. But yes, this has been quite the hindrance I feel in getting about and wanting to meet and get to know new people but I feel like its been a good thing because it kind of helps to prepare me to leave, ya know, keeping me focused as I take my time in the walking lane.

One thing that has always remained constant in these 5ish months is the faithfulness of the Lord. Through the money that needs to be raised and the ridiculously large amount of obstacles the enemy has thrown in my way, the Lord is proving to be the Rock that is so securely stuck and grounded in my heart. Through working again (someone discovered they were a lazy bum and it was definitely me) and being able to spend time with my family (it helps in a way knowing that you are leaving for such an extended amount of time to most assuredly set aside large chunks of time to hang out with them), I've discovered that while I'm in the walking lane and everyone is zooming past me, it really isn't a bad place to be at all. Though part of me was hesitant to venture back into the homeland, the Lord really impressing on my heart while I was still on campus that it was not going to be an easy 5 months, and indeed it has not, I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to miss out on all of the small and big blessings the Lord had in store for me. Sometimes I find myself so stinkin' anxious about the worries of today and of the future that before I know it a whole day has passed and I didn't even get to thoroughly enjoy it! At that I find myself wanting to always make sure I s l o w d o w n.

No need to rush, the Lord knew all that I was going to encounter here in Pennsylvania, and He knew it was something that wasn't not past my capability of bearing, and so with that promise why should I fret or fear about things that are out of my control? (i.e. money for internship, family situations, future relationships, really my entire future and what exactly I'm going to 'do' with my life). This wonderful promise can be found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 where it reads...

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (ESV)

And with all of that said it brings me to the title of this 'entry' that I have rambled on about for the past bajillion paragraphs, that we should always rejoice in the Lord, no matter our circumstances, for when we are so focused on ourselves we lose sight of our true purpose and of the important things that the Lord has placed in our lives. I say this from such a weak place where I'm at, but I know for certain that the Lord really is good all the time. His mercies are new everyday and His love for His children is so abundant and never ceasing. I'm overwhelmed daily just thinking about how vast and deep and wonderfully wonderful the Lords love is for all those that He has created in His image aka EVERYONE!

I'm so undeserving, man, I screw up every like 4 minutes, if its not for the words coming out of my mouth or the thoughts racing through my head, but the beauty of it all is that the Lord is still waiting for me with open arms. So even though being home has been hard, and yea of course I've screwed up, but I know for certain and for sure that the Lord will never turn His back on me, He will never let me down, He will never break, ruin, or tarnish my trust in Him, just like so many that I come in contact have. A song that I learned while I was out at school always seems to be running through my head, it goes along the lines of, "all mens empty promises lay broken at Your feet but YOU'VE NEVER BROKEN ONE!". Oh how I love those words. The Lord will always be deserving of my praise, no matter all the nonsense that the enemy throws in my path to try and trip me up, the Lord will always be there to restore my heart. There were so many verse that I thought of when thinking of rejoicing in the Lord, also the song 'rejoice in the Lord alway and again I say rejoice, REJOICE!', I mean its a verse, but its the song that sticks in my head, I guess that was the real purpose of it. Anyways, this was my favorite one on the topic...

Psalm 105:1-5

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered" (ESV)

So with this, I shall end. I pray that you receive it with an open heart, and also a heart of understanding, because I know 8 times out of 10 I just dont make a lick of sense. Also, for those who have gotten to this part, thanks for reading all of it.

Also, I apologize for the fancy little button below not working, I have ultimately given up on getting that to work, well at least for now, but if you would like to give to my ministry, which would be wonderful, all you need to do is go to this website:
https://secure.bethanyinternational.org/donate/index.php

Oh yes, and please continue to pray for our team as we prepare to leave, 6 girls heading out to France for 16 months. I'm finding that I'm having issues with my Visa but I know the Lord will take care of it and already is but your prayers are always appreciated! Thanks!

How to Donate Online!

So this took me a good amount of time to figure out and I'm hoping that everything works out well.
This post is just a dry run to see if this button thing works, haha.

Donate to Bethany International by clicking on this button! :)

No Turning Back

So this pack cell group we had a time where we continued to renew our commitment to the Lord that we are whole-heartedly devoting our life to His service and will for our lives. It was a really awesome time for us, as a group, to take the big step of faith and just lay before the Lord our lives and all that is in within us. If the Lord calls me to martyrdom, I can truly say that I am ready for it. Though I have a crazy huge attachment to my family, it is something that I have realize I put before my commitment to the Lord and He needs to be first in my life ALL THE TIME.

So below I have typed up what my mentor had us read before we walked across a big field resembling how we are turning our backs on everything and pressing on towards the Lord and His great and awesome will for our lives.

"I am part of the 'Fellowship of the Unashamed'. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, slight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals!

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, composmied, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, or burn up 'til I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.

I am disciple of Jesus. I must go 'til He comes, give 'til I drop, preach 'til all know, and work 'til He stops.

And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear."

This was written by a Pastor in Africa and was found on his desks a week after he had been martyred for Christ's sake.