November Leaves are Falling...

Fall is finally upon us in the south! It seems like it has taken forever for it to get here! I am very thankful for the humidity to be long gone! Soon enough the frosty mornings will be here. And I am sure that you are already experiencing it though. Sorry about that...

It seems as though so much has happened in the last month. Well, seeing as I am a second year student I have the amazing blessing of being over two great girls. They are: Ellane from Kansas and Kate from Michigan. I would dare to say that they are both very solid girls who have amazing hearts for Christ. They are teachable and want to soak the most out of this year that they can.

God has been teaching me so much during this year already. Most recently, as in this week in chapel, I was reading in 1 Thessalonians and something I loved was chapter 2 verse 8: We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Being a Core, second year, is hard. Loving my first years has not always been easy especially just being a first year and getting all the aspects of it. Then, I came into this year just expecting that they act the way we were towards the end of the year and that was not the case.

We have the amazing blessing of loving these students. The weight of leadership is something that is felt more than I thought it would be. My prayer is that I would love my first years so much that I would be delighted to share the gospel and my life with them. Our team verse John 13:34-35 talks about people knowing that we are Christ’s disciples because of our love for one another. That has been something to strive for as it has challenged me to continue loving them in the midst of mistakes made.

We are getting ready to go to prison! I promise it’s not a bad thing at all. We are teaming with Pro-Claim Ministries (http://pro-claim.tv/) and ministering to inmates in different prisons in Texas. I had the privilege to do it last year and it was one of the highlights of the year for me. There is something different about sharing the gospel with someone who has been caught for breaking the law. The only difference between them and me is that they got caught.

Please pray for boldness in all of us as we are getting ready to speak to the people that much of the world has forgotten about. We need God’s strength in our weakness and to be renewed daily and focus on things that are unseen.

Thank you so much for reading about what God is doing in my life. I pray that you are all being blessed!

Year 2...

The Ladies of Conway :)

Greetings All! Years ago I never would have thought that life would go by so quickly. Now I have experienced how yesterday rapidly becomes years ago. As many of you know last year I made a huge move to Arkansas to begin a leadership academy called 24/7+cadre. I had an amazing first year and God became more real to me in more ways than I could have ever thought possible for me. Because of that, and many other factors of course, I came back for a second year! The name transitioned throughout last year from 24/7 to [Ca]dre Academy. A first year is about you and your relationship with God. A second year becomes about putting everything you learned during a first year and applying it. I have the honor and privilege to get to be over 3 amazing first year girls. They are from Michigan, Kansas, and Arkansas. During the brief first month of the program I have already seen these girls begin to mature into the women of God they are called to be. I have 4 other amazing second year students that I am serving in Conway with. I know that there is no way that I would be able to make it through this year without them. I am excited to see where God brings us on our journey this year as we get to play a dynamic role in the life of these men and women of God. I know that I will be growing so much this year as I learn to become a second year first of all and then becoming a better second year. I am excited to share all the highs and lows of the year with each one of you as I update you on my life in Arkansas. Please pray for me as I seek God more today than I did yesterday. Unity is essential within the second year students as well as in the lives of the first years. Pray God continues to soften the hearts of each one of us who want to grow into the people God has called us to be. Pray for direction for the leadership of the program as they plan for the year and set the standard, become the example for each person in the program. I love you all and would love to hear from you if you would like to share what is going on in your lives! I will be sending out an email every month to update you on my busy life. If you would not like to receive it please let me know. If you know someone that may want to be added let me know as well so I can add them to this.

Thank you all!

Working together during team building exercises

Sarah Smith



Sarah's Contact information:

Facebook: smiths_12@hotmail.com
Twitter: @sarahmarie12


Cadre Academy information:

Facebook: Cadre Academy
Twitter: @cadreacademy
Website: www.iamcadre.com

A Beautiful Sunset...

Today. Wow, so last night I got home late and as I was trying to fall asleep I could not! I haven't had the mind won't stop going syndrome before sleep in years! It was amazing. And as I was laying there I knew that God was speaking to me to find rest in Him. To stop running from having quiet time with Him and simply Be.

That is an amazing thought; Just Be. Just be with God. I am now writing a paper about how receiving the Gifts of the Spirit is not earned, it is given. It is given so you can be with God. He wants you and all of you.

Just imagine that you have worked hard all day. Things may or may not have gone right at all. You may have struggled more than you ever have. You have had your uphill and downhills and the end of the day you are able to coast. Then, you look at the horizon and see the sunset. You didn't have to work for the sunset to happen, it just did.

You do not have to work to earn God's love, He just loves. He loves everyday just as the sun rises and the sunsets without worry. Without need to be noticed. But a sunset is so spectacular that to not recognize it, well that would be a tragedy in it's own. And that sunset, was painted by the best artist. The one who at the end of the day, loves. He wants your heart in return.

Maybe, seeing a sunset will have a new meaning. It will to me.

Freedom

I can't believe how time has gone by. It's crazy to think of where I was a year ago and everything that happened in my life. I am a completely different person and I know that without God I would not be where I am now. My desire is that each and every person can experience God the way that I have been able to. There is such freedom in His presence.

So many times in life, people are so stressed with life, they have so many things to tie them down whether it is time, family, friends, drug, alcohol, a boyfriend/girlfriend, unhealthy relationships. And they think that by doing more of one thing will bring them happiness. It will take away the pain they are feeling. It will not. There is nothing in life that will heal the wounds of life except for God. The One Living God. The God who is able to sympathize with us in every way. He was tempted just as we are tempted daily but looked to God who gave Him strength to get through every situation in life.

Jesus Saves! Just a thought that came right as I was writing this. I love you all!

Summer is gone...

Here I am, sitting in my room for the final Sunday night for some time. I am so excited to be leaving! Life from this point on is not going to be the same and I am ready! Well, I think I am, I AM!!!

My parents threw me a surprise going away party! I love them, and it's been a while since I have been able to say parents, and them doing something together in, well, a long long time! The party being 100% a surprise it was not but it was to some extent. I was very excited to see everyone that came! It was an awesome time to see loved ones that I won't be able to see for a while. And I also got to see some people I have not seen in years! It was good!

I think what I am most excited for is to have my walk with God be so much closer than it has been in the past. God is truly the only One who can help you through any situation. If your walk with Him is on a gravel, crooked path, your life will be unstable. But if you are on a beautifully paved road, there is your life. Amazingly beautiful. You are more available to walk with ease and to talk freely because there are little distractions to take your focus off of your path with Him.

I know that I need to be put in the situation where I absolutely need to be 100% focused on God without other distractions. It's going to be amazing and :) such an amazing experience!

May ending

May has been a busy time in my life! I can't believe today is the final day.
I feel as though the month began with my need for a summer job. I knew with the end of the school year rapidly approaching that I would need a job but it hit me all at once just how quickly I would need one! Ahh. But I had a couple interviews in the Madison/Verona area none of which worked out. Then I had the one in Lancaster and got the job that very day! It's perfect b/c it is only a 15 minute drive from Joe's house in P-ville and then 15 minutes from Joe's to my other job in P-ville! It's amazing! And the director and all the staff, so far at least, and parents are great! And I love it!
I graduated! Yay! It took my 4 years to get a 2 year degree but I made it and I have it! It's a great feeling.
What's next you're asking? Well I am going to move to Arkansas in the fall. Crazy I know! I think, no I am very ready to leave and get out of my comfort zone and let God lead me to what His will is for my life. http://www.247worldwide.org/arkansas/
In all the excitement and anticipation of the future May 12 still had to happen. And with the coming of that day came all the memories of the occurrences of it 5 years ago. Which I still cannot believe that it was 5 years ago! I remember it like it was yesterday and it wasn't, so very far from being yesterday. I know that God has used Mike's death for His glory but I'm not gonna lie, there were times in that day that i was angry. Amidst my anger, I had peace at the same time. God's just amazing and I'm so unworthy of His forgiveness and grace but He is so gracious to give. He only wants our heart in return. And then I just want to give Him everything.

Happy May!

Easter

I have been thinking a lot lately. There has been a lot that has been happening in my life.
I began to think why I love Easter so much. As a child it was always my favorite holiday. Doesn’t that seem odd that it wasn’t Christmas? But then I always knew it was because my birthday was around Easter. As I got older and knew that Easter was a time to rejoice in Jesus’ Resurrection, I think I just knew that I loved Easter but didn’t quite know why.
This past year I had to teach in the day care on Easter. But not Easter I tell you, but eggs and headbands, pastels, bunnies, babies. This is not Easter. Easter is a time to remember that Jesus Christ love you so much that He died to give you life. Before you were born He knew you and loved you that much. Perfection that is never to be seen again on this earth from another human being. And it broke my heart to know that most of the world does not realized how precious that is. To know why and what Jesus did on that cross thousands of years ago. And to not be able to teach children about Jesus is one of the most difficult things.
Jesus is Real. He’s real in my life and my prayer is that he becomes real in the lives of the people I know and those I don’t know. He strives to have a relationship with you and will never force you to have it but will be patiently waiting, and wanting to throw His arms around you the instant you ask Him to.
Easter is more than a Holiday, and I do believe that is why I love it.