Sara Beth's Ponderings.....

Investment opportunity...

2012-02-09T01:22:00.000-05:00

I love helping people, and I hate asking people to help me. Do you know what has been the hardest lesson that I have learned so far in this non-profit start up adventure? I realize that I can help MORE people and help people BETTER if I will learn how to ask for help, myself. God is opening doors for amazing ministry for 127, and so here I am - biting the bullet - and asking for help. I am looking for 127 families, individuals, or churches who would join the 127 Worldwide Team and support us on a monthly basis. Currently, I am about 20% of the way to this goal. I am asking you to pray about filling one of these 127 slots. Now, some people automatically think, "We can't spare $100 a month, so we won't even bother." I am asking you.....what CAN you spare? If you and I went to Starbucks and I forgot my wallet, I dare say anyone reading this message would buy me a cup of coffee. Granted, if I pulled this little stunt every month, you might eventually catch on. So, pray about it.....maybe it is a dollar a week, a dollar a day, five dollars a day, ten dollars a day, one hundred dollars a day. :) The thing is, the amount is between you and God......I really have NOTHING to do with it. There is so much freedom in that! I have 2 requests. 1. Please click on the link below to use our secure partner to set up your monthly donation. 2. If at all possible, can you set up your checking account instead of a debit or credit card? This is a strong preference, but it is alright if you are unable to do this. The minimum donation is $5. God is stretching me through this process, and I am excited to see what He is going to do!

Join the 127 support team today!

RUTHIE'S BOX

2011-12-02T16:38:00.001-05:00

I am excited for the first time since June. God has given me a vision for a ministry to look after orphans and widows. Check out the temporary website: http://www.127worldwide.org/. The ministry is named after James 1:27 which says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. One of the first ways I want to get the word out about 127 is through an initiative called, "Ruthie's Box."

My mother had an infamous box in her dresser drawers. Each paycheck, she would put cash into a cardboard box that was duct taped shut with a small incision in the top which allowed her to make deposits. Perhaps the duct tape tricked her mind into thinking that this cash was off limits to everyday expenditures. The box was for a special need or a rainy day. My mom was very generous with the contents of her box, and she always wanted to have immediate money available as each need arose.

My mother, one of the strongest people that I have ever met, lost a dreadful battle with cancer on August 13, 2011. In the last few days of life, one thing that she reminded us of was, “Don’t forget about my box.” Our family had been planning a vacation for many months, and we were hoping that mom would be able to join us. Unfortunately that was not the way things worked out, but you would never imagine what we found when we opened up the box about a month after she passed away. My mother spent the last months of her life – in the midst of many trials in addition to cancer - stocking up more than $1,100 in her duct tape box!

I have prayed for God to make a way for my mother’s legacy to continue on throughout my life, and I believe that there will be many future opportunities for this. However, the first one that I want to publicize through 127 WorldWide is “Ruthie’s Box.” This will be a special fund that will be used as needs arise within the ministry. This money will not be used for salaries or light bills. Rather, it will be used for necessary purchases that will enhance what God is doing through 127 to look after orphans and widows around the globe. A few examples of these expenses would be web development and maintenance, travel expenses, displays, brochures, business cards, etc. As we are just in the infancy phase of ministry, these necessary purchases can be overwhelming. I am asking that you help to honor the life of Ruthie Fentress by making a contribution to Ruthie’s Box.

Simply make the check out to 127 WorldWide and write “Ruthie’s Box” on the memo line. All donations are potentially tax deductible as 127WW is finalizing their 501c3 tax exempt status with the IRS. Mail all contributions for Ruthie’s Box to 127 Worldwide PO Box 1277, Woodstock, GA 30188. You can also click on the DONATE BUTTON below.

Mom's Welcome

2011-08-30T23:05:00.002-04:00

Here is what I shared at my mother's funeral.

On behalf of the entire Fentress and Wilson families, I would like to thank you for coming today. Our family has been overwhelmed with cards, meals, and visits during the entire summer. The prayers have come without ceasing from literally all over the world. We have been surrounded by so much love and support, and we are so grateful.

My mother loved people. Your coming here today is a testimony of that love. She loved her students. How appropriate that this is the first day of a new school year in Anderson County. She loved teaching. She loved her church. She taught Sunday school for twenty five years. She loved her friends. Church friends, school friends, Gideon & Auxillary friends. She loved her family. She would have done anything for someone that she loved. My mom loved well.

We truly want to celebrate her legacy today. This side of heaven, we will never know the extent of the seeds that she planted during the time that God allowed her to live on this earth. We believe that her time here was too short, but she definitely made a powerful investment throughout her lifetime. Mom invested in you in some way or you wouldn’t be here today. Maybe she helped you improve your handwriting by making you write, “I will not talk in Mrs. Fentress’ class” 100 times. I did have written here that even Julie and I had to write sentences……but I found out this morning that Julie did NOT have to write sentences. It won’t surprise many of you that I am the daughter that had to write sentences in my mother’s class. Maybe she enriched your life by educating you about the true blessing of Sonic happy hour – Diet Coke with a little bit of Dr. Pepper was her special request. Maybe she taught you history, VBS, Sunday school. My mom loved to help people.

She was grateful for the life that God gave her. Even in her sickness, she brought Glory to God. A few weeks ago, I overheard mom talking to someone on the phone. She was telling them that she had lived a blessed life. She was thankful to God for the life that He had given her. We will grieve. We will long for heaven like never before. However, we will not grieve as those who have no Hope. Mom’s favorite song was Great is thy Faithfulness, and it was HER wish that we all sing that together today. Let’s cling to these words as we remember a life that lived these words out in the flesh.

Thank you for coming today to help us celebrate a life well lived….the life of Ruthie Fentress.

Reality has landed.

2011-08-30T16:59:00.004-04:00

On August 13th, one of the greatest women I have ever known (who also happens to be my mother) entered heaven. (obituary of Ruthie Fentress) She was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma in October of 2010 after a battle with breast cancer in 2009. As far as we know, the cancers were completely unrelated. So, without ONE regret, I came home to spend as much time with her as I possibly could.

My grama (mom's mom) also passed away this summer on July 16th. My mom lived on this earth for 28 days without her mother. If I live 28 YEARS without my mom, then I will just be 62. Longevity of life runs in my family. I could even live ANOTHER 28 years without my mom and I will be 90. That is 56 years without my mom on this earth. Now, I know that I could get hit by a bus on my way home today or better yet Jesus could come back in the blink of an eye, but just stay with me for a few moments.

THIS is where my grief is settling in. I am not sad for my mother. As much as she loves our family, she wouldn't want to come back even if she were healthy. Ultimately, our hearts were created to long for heaven. My deepest sadness comes when I try to wrap my brain around how I can begin to grieve the future that I thought I would have with mom. I am still hopeful that a wedding day is in my future (miracles still happen, people!). Even if I never get married, I am pretty sure that adopting children from Africa is in my future. I am in the beginning phases of working with some amazing people to start a non profit ministry helping orphans and widows. How will there be joy in these things without my #1 cheerleader?? I know there WILL be joy, I just don't understand HOW it happens from my current perspective. I miss her so much already, and it has only been 2.5 weeks.

In the next few posts, I am going to attempt to process what God has been teaching me through this time of trial, and I know that this education process is only beginning.

Thanks to each of you for the support and prayers. God Bless you where HE has you on this crazy journey!

Summer straight from Hades -

2011-08-04T22:25:00.003-04:00

I know many of you continue to wonder how my family is doing. Here is an update.

First, I wanted to give an update on my mom. We had two consecutive weekends in the ER in Mid-July. The last ER visit, they did a CAT scan checking for internal bleeding from a biopsy malfunction in Boston. This was June 16, also the same day we learned of the death of her mother (my grama) who was in a car accident mid-June. Mom's scan on that Saturday showed many new growths and rapid increase of original tumors. She could no longer eat solid food because there are many tumors in her intestines obstructing her bowels.

We went through visitation, funeral, and burial of my grandmother with my mom on a completely liquid diet. We buried my grandmother on Monday - and on Tuesday, after visiting with mom's oncologist, we agreed as a family to stop treatments for my mom's cancer. The oncologist actually said there is nothing more that we can do.....miraculous healing is the only option left. We have called in hospice. My heart is broken, but I know God is faithful. I know many of you have been praying, but I ask that you continue to pray for my family during this seemingly unending nightmare.

We are now two weeks into hospice care, and we are very pleased with the nurses, social workers, aides, etc. on the hospice staff. Some days are better than others for her, but mom is comfortable and at peace, for the most part. She has always loved listening to southern gospel music, but it seems moreso the last few weeks she is listening to songs about Heaven. The other day I was getting ready for church and I overheard mom singing, "Great is they Faithfulness" with Bill Gaither on the television. There is my mom....drinking an Ensure shake, eating jello, battling cancer like never before, and singing "strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside." Obviously, I had to re-apply mascara after this little episode. She really is one of the most amazing people that I have ever met!

If you want to send her a card, she loves to look at them. Feel free to send them to Ruthie Fentress, 1221 Stoneridge Rd, Lawrenceburg KY 40342. God bless you and your family!

You Make Beautiful Things

2011-08-04T22:22:00.002-04:00

This song caught my attention on the radio this week. I wanted to share with the two people that actually read my blog. :)

Laura Story's song Blessings

2011-07-09T18:59:00.002-04:00

I was recently introduced to Laura Story's music. This song is very fitting to what my family is currently experiencing. I have been so blessed to have been raised in a strong Christian family. Aside from salvation, this is God's greatest gift to me! I have a fairly strong theological foundation, and I am also a processor. I think about things too much, usually. I really struggle with the truths in this song. There is a difference in being fully confident in God's ABILITY to do something and BELIEVING that he WILL do something. In addition, it is difficult to comprehend in my flesh how God's sovereignty NOT matching my desires can really be the best plan. Anyway, I am going to be blogging about some of these thoughts over the next few weeks, but I wanted you to read the lyrics of the song and then listen to it. I would love to know your thoughts.

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

New Family Update -

2011-07-09T18:27:00.004-04:00

Hello Everyone! Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers. Here is another update from my crazy medically-challenged family.

Dad - He continues to recover really well. He is five weeks post quadruple bypass. He starts cardiac rehab on Monday (July 11). He is walking about a mile a day and looks great! He has lost quite a bit of weight. He still gets tired easily, but everyone seems thrilled with his progress.

My aunt and grandmother were in a bad car accident on June 26th. My aunt is still on a respirator and has undergone several surgeries for a crushed elbow and a ruptured diaphram. She also has staph infection, so she has been quarantined. She has now been in ICU for two weeks. My grama has been moved to a temporary rehabilitation center in Elizabethtown. I have an aunt and uncle that live there. This is also close to her home, as well.

Mom - She and I traveled on Thursday back to Boston for a biopsy on one of the new tumors that showed up on her June CT scan. They were doing a needle biopsy on a tumor at the back of her abdominal wall. During the procedure, they hit a blood vessel causing internal bleeding. She spent 8 hours in the ER yesterday being poked and prodded to determine if the bleeding was going to resolve itself or if she would have to have surgery to stop the bleeding. She already had to fast for the original biopsy. She had to contine the fast due to the possibility of having surgery. After 43 hours without food or drink, she was finally able to eat dinner tonight. She has had a blood transfusion as well as two bags of potassium. We assume since they cleared her to eat that she will not be having surgery, but we are not sure of her release from the hospital. She finally left the ER and was admitted into the oncology wing around 2:30 am this morning.

Please continue to pray for all of us. We need it. For the MOST part, our spirits are high. None of us are going down without a fight, for sure!

Update on the Family

2011-06-29T08:39:00.004-04:00

Many of you have been praying for our family recently. In the past 3 and 1/2 weeks my dad has had quadruple bypass surgery, my mom's last scan for cancer showed three new growths, and my aunt and grandmother (mom's side) were in a really bad car accident. They are both still in ICU at a hospital in Louisville. Thank you so much for your prayers. Here is the brief update.

My dad is recovering very well. We are trying to make sure that he is doing everything he needs to do to make a full recovery. He still has a long road ahead of him and he gets tired easily. However, we consider ourselves truly blessed as his doctor's words were that he was a "walking time bomb" for a lethal heart attack. Thanks to everyone who visited, brought food, and most importantly prayed for him during this time.

My grandmother has 7 broken ribs, a cracked sternum, and a collapsed lung. The thing we are most concerned about with this situation is that she is 93 and recovery is going to be painful and slow. My aunt has a ruptured diaphram, crushed elbow, and and some heart problems. She has many surgeries ahead of her in the next few weeks. Once again, prayers appreciated.

My sister, Julie, and I flew to Boston to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to get a second opinion from a sarcoma specialist about mom. We are going to continue this hopefully LONG road of trial and error treatments, experimental meds, and praying for a miracle. The prognosis for leiomyosarcoma is not good, but my mom is a fighter, for sure! We will be traveling to Boston at least a few times in the next few months for some biopsies on the new growths as well as some clinical trial medications that can only be taken in Boston. We are flying back to Kentucky today. Once again, and I think you see the trend, please keep praying for us.

If you would like to send cards or words of encouragement to my mom or dad - here is their contact information. They truly are two of the most amazing people on the planet.

Sonny and Ruthie Fentress
1221 Stoneridge Road
Lawrenceburg, KY 40342

I will try my best to keep you guys updated.

News about My Mom

2010-11-17T21:05:00.003-05:00

Many of you have asked for an update on my mom. So, I thought this would be the best way to get the information out. About two weeks ago, my mom had 'irregular cell' activity that showed up on a PET scan. This was alarming to all of us since she is 15 months past her last treatment from breast cancer. In a matter of seven days, we discovered this – and the mass was surgically removed. The growth was the size of a cantaloupe. However, the slice that was taken for initial biopsy and examination came back benign, so we were relieved. On Friday, my mom received a phone call from the doctor saying that the rest of the growth had been sent off for testing, and they had discovered a rare malignancy nestled inside the benign growth. I had never heard of this before. So, on Friday, my mom was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma. We still don't know much (and we were told not to do research on-line). We do know that this type of cancer has two major characteristics. It is sporadic and aggressive. It is also usually resistant to chemo and radiation. My parents went to the doctor yesterday – and they requested a second opinion. The doctor strongly supported that decision. He recommended the complete sarcoma center at Dana Farber Brigham and Women's Center in Boston, Massachusetts. My parents will travel there together on December 3^rd. If you would like to send my mom a card, please send to Ruthie Fentress, 1221 Stoneridge Rd. Lawrenceburg, KY 40342. If you are in Lawrenceburg, then I am sure my parents will not turn down a meal, a visit, or a favor – although they wouldn't ask for any of the three. Above all and as always, your prayers are appreciated – for my parents, my sister Julie, and me. God has really given me a peace these last few days that I know could have only come from Him. We know that none of this is a surprise to Him. He is faithful and He is able.

Evolution of a Calling

2010-11-17T20:49:00.003-05:00

Websters.com defines evolution as “a process of gradual, peaceful, progressive change or development” and “any process of formation or growth; development.” For the past decade, I have been blessed to travel around the world and explain how God began to form my calling at an early age. At the age of 9, I began playing basketball, rode on an airplane for the first time, and became a Christian. The third grade was a big year for me as God was instilling passions inside of me that, eventually, He wanted to use for His glory. For the last ten years, He has given me ISF as an avenue to live out these passions on a daily basis. Sports, traveling, and missions are all still very important to me.

Throughout my time at ISF, God has helped raise awareness of new areas of ministry that excite and energize me. One of these is discipleship throughout the mission process. God is able to use people’s obedience to go and serve internationally to take them to a new level in their spiritual journey. I absolutely love watching and participating in this process for volunteers. For the past three years, God has also grown a desire in me to help take care of and be an advocate for the 143 million orphans around the world. The Bible is so clear that taking care of orphans and widows IS the heart of God.

As the calling that began at the age of 9 continues to evolve, it is with very mixed emotions that I share with you that I will be leaving ISF in December and taking a position working with Samaritan’s Feet in Charlotte, North Carolina. I will be the Director of the Shoes of Hope program which will mobilize people, resources, and shoes to people in need around the globe. God has been stirring and uprooting my life in Georgia for the past year or so, but I was never really sure why. In the last month, He has made that unsettledness more than obvious. I have been amazed at how He has taken care of every detail – even down to bringing my replacement at ISF before I knew this new opportunity at Samaritan’s Feet even existed. He has shown off His faithfulness over and over through this process. When I surrendered to full time ministry at the age of seventeen, I had no idea the journey that was ahead of me. This is not the way I would have written my life story. However, the story that God wants to write for our lives is better than any story that we could ever create on our own.

Scripture tells us in Ephesians that God predestines a plan for His children and works everything out according to His ultimate purpose: to glorify Himself among the nations. In order for His name to be magnified, we as His children have to evolve, grow and mature so that we can be an effective tool for the Kingdom. In reflection of this past decade, I can see the hand of God on my life. He really has worked out everything according to His own plan because there IS a bigger picture that I cannot always see. I am grateful for this process, even though it has been difficult at times. I have learned SO much about mobilization, about communicating well with others, about myself, and most importantly about God’s heart. I have made so many new friends; many of these I am sure will be lifelong relationships. The ISF staff has been an extended family to me. I really cannot put into words how grateful I am for my decade with the International Sports Federation.

God Bless you as you continue to surrender to the story that He wants to write for you – there really is no greater adventure on this side of heaven.

Tumaini has a CAR!!

2010-10-08T14:14:00.004-04:00

Here is an excerpt from my Kenyan journal of one of my favorite days at Tumaini.

OK, yesterday was probably my favorite of all days at Tumaini….and that is saying a lot because I have had so many incredible days here. The new car has finally arrived at Tumaini! God has really exceeded everyone’s expectations with this vehicle. There are some pictures below, so check them out. Yesterday we had a party/prayer time to thank God for the provision of the vehicle and to pray safety and blessings over the car. There were many rituals/traditions in this process – and there was a HUGE celebration. Rose’s parents even traveled from a few hours away to join the celebration.

The children were precious and priceless, as always. They were invited over to Rose’s house for cokes and snacks, but they did not know what the celebration was for. The house mother, Violet, kept asking the children what they were celebrating, but none of them knew. She then took one of the girls, Ruth, outside to show her the car, and she came back in saying, “Gari, Gari!” This is the Swahili word for car. They were so excited and they began singing one of my favorite songs they sing, “Jehovah Jireh,” meaning the Lord provides.

Then, the best part. We took the kids out to look at the car. They were SO cute. Remember, many of them have never sat inside of a personal car before – and they have only been on public transportation a few times. At one point, I counted 18 beautiful children piled inside a four door sedan. They would look at their reflection in the car or in the windows and just laugh and laugh. We turned the radio up loud and the kids were dancing outside.

Next, we ate lunch. The ladies who help in the kitchen have been teasing me about how I am Kenyan now….and there are just a few more things I have to do to receive the official Kenyan stamp of approval. Earlier in the day, I had told Rose’s sister, Neddie and Rose 2 that I was feeling more and more Kenyan, and they agreed that I was ready for the chicken head. They had killed 6 chickens for the party. In Kenya , the chicken head is reserved for special guests or the head of the house…..especially the chicken brain. You read that right…..the BRAIN. So, today, I partook – and I think this makes me officially Kenyan.

I am almost finished telling you about my fabulous day, but I can’t leave this part out. I forgot to mention that I am the only one who can currently drive the new vehicle. Amanda can, too….but she just wants to practice a little bit before taking the plunge dodging potholes, bicyclists, matatus (public vans) – all while driving on the wrong side of the road. I, however, was up for the challenge and concluded my most fabulous day driving Rose, Amanda, Rose’s parents, and a few other people to Kakamega, about 30 minutes away from Tumaini. Amanda was my co-pilot, and together we maneuvered through the adventure.

I ended my near perfect day by tucking the young kids into bed – and reading

”The Chronicles of Narnia” to the older children.

Tumaini is definitely different without having an ISF team here…not better or worse, just different. I pretty much love this place every way I have experienced it. I am so grateful for this opportunity. Thanks for continuing to read.......and pray.

Kenyan Baptism

2010-09-24T12:09:00.004-04:00

I am going to attempt over the next few weeks to recount some of my favorite memories of my extended stay in Kenya. Here is one......

The entire team had gone to Sunday School at the school with the children. After that, some of the team members decided to go to the church where several of the adults from Tumaini worship. Hesbon escorted us. We rode in a matatu with Amanda and the Roses for a few kilometers. There were 23 of us in the matatu – which is supposed to seat 14. A few minutes later, we arrived at church – and the praise and worship was already underway.

When I say praise and worship…..I mean Kenyan style. These women have the joy of the Lord that is just not very common in the US. I believe that it stems from their relationship with Christ truly sustaining them. For many people in Africa, their faith is the only constant in their life….so their worship is filled with a gratitude, joy, and reverence unlike any that I have ever seen.Hesbon asked me to choose someone besides myself to ‘give a word’ of encouragement to the congregation. Little did I know that this was because he had OTHER plans for me later on in the day….but we will get there eventually.

I asked Bellar to share, and she did a great job talking about worry and how sometimes women really struggle with worrying about the future. She shared from Matthew 6: 25-34, and it was very good. We were told that the service would be cut short because they were having a baptism service in the afternoon. The lady who was telling us about the baptism was the mother of one of the children at Tumaini – and she informed us that her daughter would be baptized at the service. This was a really cool moment for me. My first Kenyan baptism service, and God had worked it out to see one of ‘my’ Tumaini kids be baptized.

The service was short (REALLY short for a Kenyan service). Once we were dismissed we lined up in a procession for a “SHORT” walk to the river. Now, after traveling to Africa off and on for the last 8 years, I have learned that when an African says “SHORT” it really has a different meaning than when an American says “SHORT.” The procession consisted of drums, cymbals, triangles, singing, chanting, and praying. About an hour later, we reached the river. Every village that we walked past, we added a few more people to the procession. We started with around 60 people – and by the time we reached the river, there were at least 200 of us!!

After we arrived, Hesbon informed me that I would be preaching the baptismal service. Looking back, this would have been nice to know at the church, so that I could have at least had an hour to prepare my thoughts. So, literally, in about 2 minutes, I gathered my thoughts for the sermon.I am not really sure what I said, but I am quite certain that God was shining through the spontaneity and ‘unpreparedness.’ Afterwards, some of the team members were teasing me that I was a little long-winded – not to mention that I had given a theological explanation of salvation from Genesis to the New Testament.

Next, came the actual baptism. The drums and singing continued as one by one each person walked into the river to be baptized. Once they came out of the water, they literally danced out of the river. It was one of the most beautiful memories that I have of my time in Kenya. After everyone had been baptized, we began the procession back to the church.

By the end of the day, we had worshipped with new friends, walked 6 miles, and watched 5 people be baptized. It was a great day full of memories that I will never forget.

Africa Project

2010-07-12T16:07:00.003-04:00

Does Anybody want to help me go to East Africa? On July 22nd, I will be leading a group of 19 individuals to Kenya to host a Vacation Bible School for Tumaini Miles of Smiles School and Orphanage. Feel free to check out their site www.tumainimilesofsmiles.org. Tumaini is the Swahili word for HOPE, and this place truly is a beacon of HOPE in their community. There are currently 33 orphans living in the Tumaini home ranging from 5 months to 13 years of age. There are nearly 200 students in the school from Pre-K to 6th grade. God has allowed me to invest in these people's lives for the last three years, and I am very excited to return with a new group of individuals very soon. Please contact me if you have any questions. God bless you as you seek HIS best for your life!

Sincerely,

Sara Beth

HELP SARA BETH GET TO AFRICA......

AFRICA SILLY BANDZ!!!!!

2010-07-12T16:01:00.005-04:00

I am selling Africa Silly Bandz to support orphan care and advocacy in Africa. Please buy some bandz and tell your friends, too! If you don't want to use paypal, just message me, and I will contact you about your purchase. THANKS!!

Journey to JOY

2010-07-03T00:56:00.003-04:00

The vast majority of the first 31 years of my life were filled with happiness. I had a happy childhood. Unlike most people, I absolutely LOVED middle school AND high school. I was very content in college in Tennessee. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in grad school in Texas. I have a passion for travel, and have been so blessed by many opportunities to see the world. I come from an amazing family. If I could choose any marriage to emulate, it would be my parent’s. They have been married 45 years this year and not only still love each other, but they still even like each other. Sure there were difficult times – I am not attempting to paint a picture of Wonderland – but I have known true happiness in my life.

I believe that is one reason that the last two years of my life have been so incredibly difficult. Sometimes for Christians in America it is so easy to confuse happiness with JOY. Happiness is not a negative thing, so don’t hear me say that…..but for the most part, happiness comes when your flesh is made content. Your marriage is going well. Your kids are chasing after the things of God. Your expectations are met. You receive the praise that you deserve. You feel in control of your life. You are comfortable. Things are going your way, so you are happy.

Only when things took a pause from being ideal in my life – was I really challenged on the difference between happiness and JOY. In a twelve month period – I experienced shattered expectations from a broken dating relationship, my car was totaled in an accident, I had pneumonia in the middle of a Georgia summer, my job in ministry was no longer fulfilling, and my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. The happiness rug was ripped out from under me, and I was at a loss.

Where was God and what the HECK was he doing? Peace, contentment, and JOY were nowhere to be found once my circumstances were not of MY choosing. THIS SHOULD NOT BE! The last year of my life has been what I like to call my Journey to JOY. I would like to share just a few unexpected jewels that God has given me on this journey.

First, so many times you have to FIGHT FOR JOY. Satan wants nothing more than to keep you from God’s best. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy – and ironically enough, sometimes he uses happiness to do that. We get so comfortable in the ease of life – that often we miss God’s invitation for more. Time alone with God and in His word are essential in this fight for JOY. There is a battle going on – and we have to be prepared to be the warrior that God has created us to be. True JOY usually does not come without a fight.

Next – Joy often comes with two unexpected companions – brokenness and surrender. Isn’t this the total opposite of what we would choose if we were the ones writing the story? My choice companions to joy would be celebration and peace – not brokenness and surrender. Ladies and Gentlemen, we must EMBRACE BROKENNESS in order to find the JOY of the Lord. If we say that happiness comes from the flesh needs being met, then often times God will shake loose those foundations that we have depended on more than Him. When you are willing to give God freedom to uproot idols, then pain will always come before JOY. Brokenness is not to be avoided or feared. We have been crucified with Christ (this is painful) but Christ now lives in us (this is JOYFUL). Here is the tricky part – we have to choose brokenness and surrender. God extends an invitation, but he does not force you to choose the hard road…..we can say no to the crucifixion process. Just a reminder, though, where there is a crucifixion and God is involved, there is always a resurrection! Hebrews 12:2 says, “Jesus, who for the JOY that was set before Him, endured the cross.” Enduring the cross…..PAINFUL. Expectation of heaven, JOYFUL. Get the picture? Let Christ be our example in every way, even in this pursuit of JOY.

Lastly, learning to TRUST God when things don’t make sense to us is essential to finding true JOY. Currently, my life does not make sense to me. Some of the issues that ‘stole my happiness’ in my wilderness time, have been resolved. Praise the Lord, my mother is cancer free as of her scan a few months ago. Some of my issues are not resolved. God has still not revealed to me the man of my dreams, although my standards keep getting higher and higher. My future is still uncertain, and yet I have a peace that truly does surpass all understanding. Accompanying that peace is a true JOY. If I continue to live a surrendered life, continue to fight for JOY, and continue to trust that God has the best plan for me even when I have absolutely NO CLUE what He is doing – then peace and contentment will be my companions, as well.

The uncertainty of my circumstances is but a minor detail. The JOY that God gives is beyond circumstances. JOY can be continuous in our lives because it is grounded in the unchanging nature of God and nothing else. Psalm 87:7 says, “All my springs of JOY are in you.”

What about you? Can you discern happiness from JOY in your own life? Do you find yourself in a current fight for JOY? Are you willing to be surrendered and broken as part of the process? Do you trust God even when even when you can’t make sense of what you can see?

God desires that Galatians 2:20 be our heart’s cry. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. “ When this is our heart’s desire we receive HIS PEACE , HIS JOY, HIS HOPE – so as we continue to prepare for all that God has in store for us, won’t you join me in the pursuit of JOY?

JUST DO SOMETHING -

2010-02-03T20:21:00.014-05:00

During the past few years, we have seen a shift of focus at ISF and organizations worldwide. There are millions of hurting and needy people in the world today. Yes, ultimately they need a relationship with Christ and evangelism should be the foundation underneath every action. However, so many times the emotional and physical condition and difficult circumstances prohibit these beautiful people from being able to grasp the truth of the gospel. The old adage is still true in 2010, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

At ISF, we believe mercy ministry and humanitarian aid is at the core of how God will move in our generation. We want to be on the front-lines of merging these with the truth of the gospel of Christ.

Here are some alarming statistics:

6,000 people die everyday from hunger. That is one every 5 seconds.
Human Trafficking (the selling of women and children into slavery) is the 3rd largest criminal enterprise behind drugs and weapons.
There are an estimated 963 million hungry people in the world today.
6,000 children are orphaned every day due to HIV/AIDS

Are these statistics not close enough to home to be real? Let's look at Atlanta, Georgia. Tonight, as I type this from my warm house,

2,164 people are living unsheltered on the streets
2,357 people are living in emergency shelters
2,498 people are living in transitional shelters
the latest estimate is that there are more than 10,000 homeless people in the greater Atlanta area.

How do we make these statistics more relevant in our everyday life? How do we make these numbers matter? At ISF, we believe that part of our calling is to make these statistics more tangible to American Christians. We want to help you to 'do something.' We are not OK with God's people sitting in their comfort zones while there are people desperate for the gospel and basic necessities of survival.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to look at 4 different ways that we can get involved. Four different ways that we can be an advocate for the needy people. My prayer is that you are moved to DO SOMETHING. Here is a preview:

SPEAK UP Proverbs 31:8 says, "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate." First we must educate ourselves on the current situations and needs, then we can be a voice for these people who often have no voice. We can speak up for them - we can be an advocate of change in their lives.
LIFT UP - We need to pray specifically for the needs of people. Perhaps God is leading you to be a more committed prayer warrior for the poor.
SHOW UP - James 1:27 reminds us the pure religion is visiting orphans and widows. Yes, we often need to help financially, but God also wants us to walk beside people in their greatest time of need. Relationship is key!
GIVE UP - You can take this many different ways, but usually with obedience comes surrender. I believe that God may be calling some of us to surrender something of value as a next step to getting involved with mercy ministries. Money, time, conveniences, our plans, and comfort are just a few examples of things that God often asks us to surrender. Matthew 16:25 says, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

Regardless of how involved you are now, always challenges us to grow in our relationship with him. Take a small step. Take a huge step. Just do something!

In our attempt to DO SOMETHING, the ISF staff visited a homeless shelter in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday evening. Here are some pictures from our night.

Jonathan explains the Agricultural project

2009-06-04T14:09:00.001-04:00

This is my friend Jonathan explaining an agricultural project in Southern Ethiopia to prevent children from being sold into slavery, working in sweatshops, or ending up on the streets of Addis Ababa. This was an interesting concept for me - I know it is not a new concept, but brilliant, nonetheless. Yes, we need to do everything we can to help street kids, orphans, and widows in the big cities of third world countries. However, preventative action is even better! How can we help these families so that they might not ever reach the point of desperation in the first place? Instead of staying downstream and trying to manage the flood waters, how can we work upstream to prevent the influx of people who come to the cities because they have no other option? Take a look at the video, and if you are interested, please go to http://theforsakenchildren.org/.

Ephrem's Story

2009-06-03T11:45:00.005-04:00

Meet my friend, Ephrem. He lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I am planning to visit him in October on a Ministry Overview Project. We will visit 8-10 ministries in one week to see how God is already at work in Ethiopia. Please let me know if you are interested in more details.

Slumdog Millionaire

2009-03-05T15:35:00.001-05:00

I loved the movie, “Slumdog Millionaire.” If you haven’t seen it, you really should. The more I learn about the movie, the more I LOVE it! I have never been to India, but I believe the producers did an excellent job of portraying life in the slums in a real and solemn way. Children play in sewers. Thousands of people live in landfills. Orphans are intentionally handicapped by adults so that they will receive more pity, (and hopefully) more money.

Did you know two of the beautiful children in the movie are really kids who live on the streets of Mumbai? Can you imagine these families and their response as the casting director asked for their children to star in a US These children were able to walk the red carpet at the Oscars a few weeks ago!! I know there is some controversy about this. Some people question whether a trip to Hollywood was in the best interest of the children, who, have already returned to their ‘real life’ of struggle and hardship.

I understand their concern….however; I think this is a beautiful picture of what God does for us. I think this the essence of grace, unmerited favor. Out of the miry slums and tin shacks of Mumbai, two children are selected to star in a movie, walk on the red carpet on Oscar Night, go on stage at the Oscar’s to receive their Academy Award for Best Picture, and top of their journey with a trip to Disney Land!

If you have ever had the privilege to minister to orphans and street children, perhaps your heart skipped a beat when you watched Slumdog, as well. God has broken my heart for children just like Rubina Ali and Azhruddin Mohammed. More than 2,000 times the Bible mentions caring for the poor. Taking care of orphans and widows is central to having a heart like Christ. Go watch the movie. Then, pray about how God wants to use YOU to make a difference.

God's Heart for Children

2009-02-10T10:04:00.003-05:00

Understanding God's Heart for Children

I was doing some research and ran across this from Viva Network (http://www.viva.org/)

They have spent some time working on a biblical framework document with respect to God's attitude to children. It is still a work in progress, but I think it does a good job of biblically supporting God's heart for children. Check it out.....

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S HEART - BIBLICAL FRAMEWORK
Childswickham, September 8th, 2004

1. God creates every unique person as a child with dignity.

We all begin life as children, created in the image of God. Children are born fully human, with identity and purpose. The journey of childhood is part of God’s plan. All people reflect God’s image through living in loving community with him and one another. Children most fully express their God-given dignity in glorifying Him.

God intends that no one prevent a child’s life from fulfilling His purpose. Respecting the image of God in every child demands a Christ-like response to nurture them throughout childhood.
Some biblical references:

• Gen. 1:26-31; 2:18-25 (creation)
• Ex. 22• Ps. 8• Ps. 139• Ecc. 11:9• Jer. 29
• Mt. 18:1-10 (“millstone,” welcoming children)
• Mt. 21:15-16• Jas. 1:27

2. Children need parental love in a broken world.

God’s design is for each child to be born, vulnerable and dependent, to loving parents within the covenant of marriage. God’s desire is for each child to grow in this secure, caring environment. In a fallen world, people and relationships can be damaged. When parents struggle to fulfil their intended role, others must provide dedicated care for them and their children.
God intends for all children to be raised by at least one loving, committed adult.

Some biblical references:
• Ps. 68:5 (Father to the fatherless)
• Ps. 127:4• Prov. 17:6; 22:6• Hos. 11:1-8 (Ephraim)
• Zeph. 3:14• Mt. 1; Luke 2 (Nativity story)
• Eph. 6:1-4• Col. 3:20

3. God gives children as a gift to welcome and nurture.

It is a privilege to join with children in celebrating their uniqueness, embracing childhood as formative for the whole person. Family, friends, church and the local community are responsible for creating an environment that promotes children’s well-being.

God intends for children to thrive in stable and loving relationships.

Some biblical references:
• Gen. 21:17-20; 30:17-20• 1 Sam. 2
• Ps. 127-128• Prov. 22:6• Hos. 11:1-4
• Zech. 6:1-9• Mt. 18:1-14• Luke 1:47-56, 67-79; 2:52
• Eph. 4:32; 5:1,2• 1 Thes. 2:7-12• 1 Tim. 4:12

4. Society has a God-given responsibility for the well-being of children and families.

All children and families live in society and are dependent on institutions for healthcare, shelter, access to social services, safe drinking water, information and safety. The church must collaborate with these institutions for the common good, and if they fail, the church must speak and act with and on behalf of the vulnerable.

God intends children to flourish in a just society.

Some biblical references:
• Dt. 6; 10:18• 1 Sam. 8:1-22
• Ps. 89:14• Prov. 28:5• Is. 10:1-3 (curse for unjust)
• Is. 28:17; 58• Lam. 2:19• Amos• Mic. 6:8
• Mt. 5-7• Mt. 25 (goats and sheep)
• Rom. 13:1-7• Jas. 1:27

5. Children are a promise of hope for every generation.

Each generation has a unique contribution in God’s purposes for human history. Children have been shaped by the history of their community, are living fully in the present moment, and will reshape their community for the future.

God intends that each generation will extend faith and fullness of life to the next. God intends that this generation grasp the centrality of children to his purposes for our time.

Some biblical references:
• Gen. 15:5; 16:10 (Isaac, Ishmael)
• Gen. 25:19-24 (Jacob and Esau)
• Gen. 48:15-49:28 (Jacob’s blessings and curses)
• Dt. 11:18-21 (teaching children)
• 2 Kgs. 22:1-2 (Josiah)• Est. 4:14• Ps. 2:8
• Ps. 90:1 (“shelter to every generation”)
• Ps. 127:3• Mt. 1 (genealogies)• Mt. 9:15-17; Luke 5:38 (“new wine”)
• Heb. 13:7 (“Alpha and Omega”)

6. God welcomes children fully into the family of faith.

Children are essential to the life and ministry of the church, bringing spiritual gifts and abilities and fulfilling definite roles. The church needs to be a place where children may dynamically connect with God and engage in meaningful participation; discipled, equipped and empowered for life and ministry. As members of the family of God, children are to be cared for as sons and daughters and are part of the admonition to love and serve one another.

God intends for churches to provide children with opportunities to know him and fulfil their calling in the body of Christ.

Some biblical references:

• 2 Kgs. 22:1-2 (Josiah)• Ps. 8:2
• Matt. 5:1-19 (“Bless them that persecute you”; Beatitudes)
• Matt. 18:1-5; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48 (Jesus welcoming a little child)
• Matt. 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17
• Matt. 21:12-16; • Luke 2:41-50 (Jesus in temple, knowing Father’s work)
• Rom. 12:4-16 (one anothers, body of Christ)• Rom. 15:7 (welcome one another)
• Eph. 4:32; 5:21 (be kind; submit to one another)

7. Children are essential to the mission of God.

God desires every child in every generation across the world to know Him and make Him known. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus calls the whole Church to reconcile relationships: with God, with family, with community and with society.

God intends that His Church be a witness in every community of His transforming power, so that His purpose for every child can be accomplished.

Some biblical references:

• Gen. 12:2-4 (Abrahamic Covenant)
• Is. 6:8 (“Whom shall I send?”)
• Is. 61:1-4• Mt. 22:37-39; Lk. 10:25-37 (Great Commandment)
• Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-18, 20; Lk. 4:16-20; Jn. 20:21 (Great Commission passages)
• Jn. 3:16• Rom. 12:4-5 (“We are one body.”)
• 2 Cor. 5: (“ministry of reconciliation”)
• Rev. (whole creation waits in anticipation)

Ethiopia Highlight #1

2009-02-07T15:11:00.003-05:00

I just returned from my fourth trip to Africa. I will hopefully be posting some of the highlights here along with some of my favorite pictures. Hope you enjoy.....

This if from my journal on January 24th....

I might have had the best day of my trip today (even though it was my first day of ministry). I can't imagine it getting any better. We met with Ephriam, who runs a sports ministry for the street children in the center of Addis Ababa. We went to play sports with the children (which of course I always love). Many of the children are abandoned and actually sleep out on the streets (the youngest one, Hebron, was 5 years old!!) We played soccer, threw Frisbee, and gave the children stickers on their faces. There were lots of laughs, hugs, and smiles.

After we had been there for a few hours, I thought we were leaving to go home. The next thing I knew, twenty of the children hop in our vans and we take them to a restaurant. I can't even explain the looks on their faces when they were told, "GET WHATEVER YOU WANT!" Needless to say, the next half hour was PURE JOY. Cheeseburgers, milkshakes, mango juice, ice cream, and all SMILES! Here is a picture of two of my new friends, Benium and Yunas.

That is ridiculous!!

2008-10-16T14:02:00.004-04:00

I love to read about the life of Joshua in the Old Testament. His life was a series of what we would deem "ridiculous" events - each one preparing him for what was around the corner. Each situation grew Joshua in character and (more importantly) faith in God. First, he was able to be mentored by serving under Moses' leadership. He saw firsthand what God could do with a leader who was surrendered.

Once Joshua is put in the leadership position over the Israelites, each absurd task seems to lead to another seemingly ridiculous request. Sometimes we read stories in the Bible and are surprisingly unimpressed with the events that occur. In Joshua 3 he crosses the Jordan at flood stage with thousands of people, and they all cross on dry land. In chapter five, he circumcises grown men with a dull knife (this in itself seems to be miraculous to me). In chapter six, he defeats a city with the high military technique of walking and blowing trumpets. God would tell Joshua something to do. Joshua would contemplate, "He wants me to do what????" Each step of obedience seemingly led to another ridiculous request from God. Am I making any sense here?

I believe that (usually on a smaller scale) God does the same thing with us. Sometimes, each step of obedience that we take leads to another situation that seems nothing short of ridiculous to the rational mind. Did I just say that God is irrational? I might get in trouble for this one later, but I am going to say, "YES!" When we compare God's ways, actions, and plans up against our finite, limited minds, He can sometimes seem to be very irrational.

What I love about Joshua is that there never seems to be doubt or question in his response to God's ideas for his life. It's as if God's past faithfulness in Joshua's life has given him the freedom to obey wholeheartedly no matter what the request. This is the goal for my life, as well.

For example right now, I am seriously contemplating and praying about adopting a child from another country. This makes absolutely no sense when thinking with a rational mind. It is RIDICULOUS!! I am not married, do not have a 'steady income,' I live below the poverty line, travel is required/desired in my position, I am terrified of long term commitments, and I am sure there are many more if these are not convincing enough. It makes NO sense. It is ridiculous that I am even considering it, really! However, adoption crosses my mind every single day. I wake up at night thinking about orphans. I have such a desire to minister to orphans and widows. It goes much deeper than that, though. Good grief, I've already given her a name!!

Thank goodness God's ways are higher than our ways. I am so glad that He is not confined to what seems normal and rational to me - life would be so boring. Praise Him for leading us through a journey of faithfulness. This process has been my greatest joy in life - and before you know it I may be parting rivers just by putting my toe in. Ha ha! Bring it!

Lessons Learned

2008-09-10T22:20:00.001-04:00

I have been in a 'funk' for awhile now. Things that I thought were going to happen have not. Things that I did not think would happen have. Living with this 'unsettled feeling' for many months has taken a toll on me spiritually, physically, and emotionally. While I always know (head knowledge) that I have my strong faith in God to fall back on, just in the last few months, I have really begun seeking what God could possibly be teaching me through this valley. I feel like I am getting answers for the first time in awhile.

One lesson that has been loud and clear is that the death of Christ on the Cross was enough. I know that God loves and desires to bless His children. He has blessed my life beyond anything I could ever ask. However, if he chooses to not grant me one more earthly blessing, then what He has already done is enough. I am not entitled to anything else. It would not be unfair of Him to withhold future blessing from my life. He is sovereign. I did not deserve salvation, and God does not owe me anything.

Another difficult, but obvious lesson that God wants me to learn is that He is enough to satisfy my every need. When I do not 'feel' like He is enough to satisfy me, then that is when I have let my priorities get out of line. He is all that I need. There are many other desires, and probably even many other ways that He will bless my life, but He is enough. This sounds so cliché, but making that TRUTH really settle in your heart (not just your head) - that can be life-changing. This has been a daily process, and even a grieving process as I try to let my white knuckle grip go of everything else but Him.

I have recently been blessed through a Bible Study written by Kelly Minter called “No Other Gods.” It was recommended to me by a friend, and I would highly recommend it, as well. In one chapter she mentions this grieving process and how difficult it is sometimes to say goodbye to what we know and value. Being willing to trade in the familiar and trusting that God has our best interest at heart in the midst of uncertainty. She says that sometimes saying goodbye to things, even good things is necessary for our life to blossom. "Certain things choke us, wound us, and bind us in ways that keep us from new hellos. They deserve a farewell. Still we cling because the painful familiar is often more comfortable than the foreign amazing." I was wowed by this statement, but oh, so true! I do not want to miss out on God's foreign amazing because I am clinging to the familiar.

More to come, soon.

Myth or Truth - Take One

2008-05-15T00:21:00.000-04:00

1 Corinthians 10:13
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I have had times in my relationship with Christ where He takes ideas or thoughts that I have always accepted as truth and He challenges me to search out the Truth for myself. Do you know what I am talking about? Sometimes it can be things that sound like they came from the Bible, but may or not be based on actual scripture.

Today, I pass that challenge on to you with this phrase: "God will not give you more than you can handle." Has anyone ever tossed these words out to you as a comfort through a difficult time? I can't find it anywhere in scripture! I believe this idea may have originally come from 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Temptation and difficult situations are two completely different circumstances. In fact, I find time after time in the Bible when God gave people more than they could handle. It is in the 'more than you can handle' times when God can really show off His strength and power through us. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "...My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

I believe true victory often comes in times that seem to be 'more than you can handle.' Perhaps you read this e-mail during a 'more than you can handle' time in your life. Seek God's direction for how He wants to receive glory through your life. Allow him to show His power through your weaknesses! The times in our lives when God gives us more than we can handle in our own strength are oftentimes when He wants to take us to a new place in our relationship with Him!

Shout to the Lord on American Idol!!!

2008-04-11T14:32:00.005-04:00

I'm addicted. I admit it. Since Ruben and Clay went head-to-head in 2003, I have been an American Idol junkie! Mandisa is my all time favorite contestant because of her amazing talent AND her evident love for Christ. I still sport my "Mandisa is my American Idol" shirt sometimes. If any of you know her, I think you should tell her that we could be great friends if she would just give me a chance! :) I am not sure if any of you have watched Idol the last few weeks, but can I just tell you that Jesus has been getting some praise on that show!!

Two weeks ago, Dolly Parton sang a song entitled "Jesus and Gravity." This week was over the top, though. Wednesday night they had a special show called "Idol Gives Back" where they were trying to raise money for humanitarian efforts in Africa and around the world. The top 8 contestants sang "Shout to the Lord." However, in the first line of the song, they sang, "My shepherd, My savior, Lord there is none like you." I really don't have a problem with this, because Jesus is my shepherd, but apparently many people protested because they had taken the name of Jesus out of the song. SO, on Thursday night the contestants did an encore performance, and they sang the first line "My JESUS, My savior, Lord there is none like you!"

God WILL receive the praise He deserves!! In Luke 19:40, Jesus reminds the Pharisees that even if believers stop praising God, then the stones will cry out! I love that we serve a powerful God who can make things happen! What better platform to bring Glory to yourself than through a TV show where 20 million people are tuned in. Not just one night, but TWO nights in a row! I think the encore presentation was just to bring the point home (or maybe God was showing off a little bit). He will be praised among the nations!

Take some time to read through these Psalms about praise. Check out the videos below, too. Get ready to worship with "Shout to the Lord," though! Woo hoo! I hope you have an amazing weekend and give God the praise that He deserves!

Psalm 113:3
From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised.

Psalm 34:1

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 40:16

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!"

Psalm 96:4, 11-12

For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains; Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy!

Psalm 98:4
Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.

Psalm 92:1-21

It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.

Psalm 145:10
All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, and Your godly ones shall bless You.

Psalm 100:4
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Shout to the Lord

http://youtube.com/watch?v=i6G0U8Vg6nY

Jesus and Gravity

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WM6_-kOdT0c

The Sovereignty of God

2008-03-26T10:06:00.004-04:00

I am sure most of you have heard about the tornado that swept through downtown Atlanta last Friday night. Guess where I was when the tornado hit the Georgia Dome? Yep, you guessed it....I was in the Georgia Dome!! I love college basketball, especially SEC basketball. Even more than that, if the Kentucky Wildcats are playing within a two hundred mile radius of Atlanta, then I am more than likely going to be there.

One bonus to going to the Kentucky game was watching another great basketball game between Alabama and Mississippi State. Alabama hit a last second three pointer that truly was a miracle shot. I think it bounced on three different places on the rim before it finally fell through the net sending the game into overtime. With 2:33 left in overtime, the tornado hit the Dome. A friend and I were talking about how much worse things could have been the night of the tornado. Even down to this detail : what if the game had not gone into overtime? Is God really sovereign over a last second three pointer? If the game had ended at regulation, there definitely would have been thousands more people walking around the streets of downtown Atlanta when the tornado hit.

I am not one to say that God causes every action and reaction. If that were the case, I think Kentucky would win every game. :) We won't open the "free will vs. God is sovereign" can of worms, but I would like to take a look at God's sovereignty for just a few minutes. First Chronicles 29:11 confirms the sovereignty of God. "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." Nothing happens to us without God's permission. Some of us picture God granting Satan permission to mess with our lives, then he frantically runs behind us trying to pick up the pieces because of the permission that He granted in the first place. The Lord is never surprised. Joni Eareckson Tada says it well: "Not only is God not frustrated or hindered by Satan's schemes, but God actually uses the devil's deeds to advance his kingdom and bring glory to himself. We can trust our sovereign God who works all things out for our good and his glory."

You, too, can trust God's sovereignty in your own life. He pays attention to every detail and is working all things together for your good. Perhaps you are in a place in life where this doesn't feel like the truth, but I challenge you to find some time in the next few days to praise our sovereign LORD for all that he is doing in your life right now. Perhaps the present circumstances are preparing or protecting you. I think Easter is the perfect time of the year to praise our God for his Sovereignty, even in the details of our lives. I hope you had a great Easter celebrating our risen Savior!

Humility 101 – John 13: 1-20

2008-02-25T12:29:00.001-05:00

If you have ever been to an African village, perhaps the scripture of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet has become more alive to you. I know this was the case for me. For some reason, I had always assumed that the disciple’s feet looked like “America’s feet.” Toenails trimmed, well kept, maybe even pedicured! OK, maybe not that far.

Feet are not glamorous in any culture, but especially not in cultures where sandals are the most frequently used mode of transportation. In biblical times, it was common to have a basin at the front door so that people could wash their feet when they entered the house. Much of their day was spent walking and working in dusty, dirty environments.

By washing the disciple’s feet, Jesus was attempting to teach his inner circle a lesson in humility and service. I don’t know if you have noticed, but sometimes Jesus’ inner circle had a hard time understanding the lessons that he was attempting to teach. At first Peter did not understand why Jesus was doing something that seemed so beneath him. It seems that Peter has an “Aha” moment in this passage, though. In verse 8, Jesus has said that unless he washes Peter’s feet, then Peter will have no part of Jesus. In verse 9, we read,

“Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Let’s briefly look at the three body parts that Peter chose to surrender in this passage. I believe his feet symbolized Peter’s surrendering his steps to Jesus. Wherever God wanted to take him, then that is where he would go in obedience. By offering his hands, I believe he was dedicating his work to the Lord. With his head bowed before Jesus, I believe he was surrendering his thoughts and emotions at the feet of Jesus.

We see later on in the Bible, in 1 Peter 5:5-6, that perhaps Peter had learned his lesson about humility after all.

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”

Sometimes God wants to grow us in our relationship with him by humbly serving other people. Sometimes he wants us to evaluate our direction in life, the purpose of our work, our thoughts, and our emotions. May God find us with the attitude of Peter in this passage.

Lord, you have created us, and you can have all of us! Get us out of the way so that you can bring Glory to yourself through our lives!

Have a great week!

Return to Kenya - -

2007-12-12T10:31:00.001-05:00

I am very excited as I write. One week from today I will be boarding a plane to return to the orphanage in Kenya. God continues to stretch and grow me from the lessons that I learned from my first journey to Kenya. (read below) Soon after our return, a few of our team members from the summer began to conjure up a new plan to spend Christmas with our new Kenyan friends. We have asked churches and individuals to help us be able to give each child and adult a present for Christmas. That is exactly what we are going to do. We are carrying totes full of presents, toys, toiletries, candy, etc.

Our team is so excited to celebrate the birth of our Savior with 59 new believers who will celebrate Christmas with a whole new perspective this year. We will spend time discipling Christians there while also building relationships so that we may share Christ with others. We will have a VBS/Daycamp beginning December 31-January 5. The week before we will celebrate Christmas and help the orphanage with some odds and ends jobs.

Please pray for this team. There will be 13 of us in all (eight of us are returnees from this past summer's project). Pray that God would use our team to bring Himself glory among the nations. Pray that our hearts would be changed because of our time in Africa. If you would like to be added to the prayer list, please contact me: sbfentress1@yahoo.com.

Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-12T10:24:00.000-05:00

Isn't it just like God to set the stage for the coming of the Savior of the Universe precisely the the way that He did? He definitely has a track record of using unexpected, undeserving, unworthy participants to fulfill His will in the most unusual ways. Just look at the genealogy of Christ ... talk about some skeletons in a family tree! We have murderers, adulterers, liars, cheaters, and thieves, to name a few . Some were guilty of all of the above! God uses imperfect people to carry out His perfect plan of redemption.

The story He wrote is certainly not the one I would have written. I would have made the King of the Jews come from a logical, royal family. He would have been born in the Rome Hospital or a nice hotel, at the VERY least. There would have been billboards announcing his birth years in advance. You know the billboards that say, "My son is coming to save you . - - God." Everyone would have immediately believed in Christ if I were the author of this story.

Instead we have a lineage of criminals, an average teenage virgin for a mother, a barn, a feeding trough, angels, shepherds, and skeptics. Is this really the best that you can do, God? One consistent lesson that God has been teaching me throughout the last several years is that the story that He wants to write for our lives is VERY rarely the life that we would choose for ourselves. The logical, simple path is RARELY God's best for our lives. Oftentimes, the path that makes the most sense is not God's plan either. The story that He has written about Christ 's entrance into the world is perfectly flawless .

Thankfully, today, God still uses imperfect people to carry out his perfect plan of redemption. One of the greatest joys of the Christian walk happens when we surrender our life to the story that God wants to write for us....even if it doesn't always make sense to us.

2007-09-21T13:12:00.000-04:00

So, it has been awhile since I have written on here. My apologies. It is not because God has not continued to show me new things, though. I actually have lots to share. The last few weeks, Casting Crown's new song, "Somewhere in the Middle" has really spoken to me. God really uses music to challenge me in my walk with him. Check it out -

"Somewhere In The Middle"
Casting Crowns, The Altar and the Door

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves

Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle

Wow. Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control. I think this line should be added to the American Christian's creed. (there is no such thing, in case you were wondering) Isn't this our typical cry, though? God, I want to serve you whole heartedly as long as it is comfortable and convenient for me to do so. Oh yeah, and as long as you clue me in on what the plan is. One more thing, I need to think it is a good plan, too.

MY SURRENDER - I had never really thought of it in these terms. Things are implied with these two simple words. Ownership is implied. There is the idea that not everyone's surrender is the same. My surrender is unique. There is a process to finding your surrender. Through this process, is where you develop the most important thing in your life - an everyday, consistent relationship with God.

One thing that God has continually reminded me of since my return from Kenya is that my lack of self discipline has often been the biggest obstacle to me finding my point of surrender. From the small things to the huge things, this is a common thread that God wants to change in me. Right now, I am having to rely on HIS strength, HIS power, and even HIS self discipline. From not biting my nails, to eating healthy, to working out at the gym, to setting a consistent block of time to spend with Him every day - slowly, but surely He is changing my heart.

The truth is you CANNOT find your surrender without losing control. The word surrender means that you relinquish control. Wave your white flag. A friend once told me to just let God write my story because He would write a better story than anything that I could ever write on my own. He doesn't need my input on the plan, contrary to popular belief. I am heading to the gym to work on my self discipline. :)

Sara Groves says it best -

2007-08-20T21:04:00.000-04:00

I love Sara Groves! Here is a shout out to her in case you are not familiar. So many of her songs challenge and encourage my walk with the Lord. Check her out on I-tunes if you are unfamiliar. She has a song that hit me like a ton of bricks one night in Kenya. It is called, "All I Need," and it is on her album, The Other Side of Something. Here are the lyrics:

Newly married, new apartment
All our furniture was saved from the dump.
Yes, sir. Maybe we can afford a trash can next month.
All I need is a seat for 2 and my love for you.

New baby, new life
We will teach him to speak French.
We've got no money, so we'll make it all ourselves.
I'll make the curtains, and you make the shelves.
All I need is a power saw and a new sewing machine.
Love....and a sewing machine.

I need - this house needs a little something.
That bare mantle doesn't look so good.
Someone told me of a man who makes animals from drift wood.
All I need is your monthly bonus for a wooden walrus.

I need - the Smith's are coming over, this house needs some renovation.
Just a wall or two, just a little room, and a few decorations.
All I need is a sectional and a satellite TV, darkwood cabinets that were custom built for me.
A painting by that guy who paints with his feet. That's all I need.

The song concludes with a random list of things that people say that they "need."

We use that term so flippantly. Even tonight at dinner, I told my roommate that I needed another crescent roll. Really? Is that a genuine need of mine? Just to piggyback on my soapbox of entitlement.....have you stopped to taken inventory of what you truly need in life? Do you have genuine areas of need in your life where God has chosen not to provide? We don't have the freedom to interchange God providing our needs versus our wants. We often try to justify our "needs" to ourselves and others. It makes us feel better, I think.

There were a few times in Kenya where I felt hunger pains. Not because there wasn't plenty of food, but more mental hunger pains. You know, I "needed" some ice cream. Heck, drop the cream, I would have taken just ICE! One night as I began to journal, this Sara Groves song came on. What we truly need is really so minimal. Especially in America. It is hard for us to even think about what our genuine NEEDS are. A roof over our heads? Even that looks different to me now. Would a metal roof on top of a mud house meet my needs? It certainly works for some people. It's as if we start this life with the attitude of "all we need is love" just like the song. However before long we are in need of wooden walruses and paintings by a paralyzed man.

I was laughing with a team mate of mine as we were in a market in Nairobi on the last day of our journey. Several of us were frantically perusing the market for last minute souvenirs. I colllect trinkets from many of my mission's journeys. I found these perfect bookends carved into the shape of an elephant. I had let her listen to the Sara Groves song the night before. I laughed as I told her that all I needed were some wooden elephant book ends for my house. I only paid a few dollars for them, and they look really good on my bookshelf. There I go, justifying my needs..... :)

Ayub

2007-08-19T20:51:00.000-04:00

This cutie was just one of the children who stole my heart in Kenya. His name is Ayub (Job). I am going to sponsor his nutrition, education, and uniforms for only $20 per month. If you are interested in how you can help a child in this way, please let me know.

Entitlement

2007-08-19T14:56:00.000-04:00

en·ti·tle – verb (used with object), -tled, -tling.
1. to give (a person or thing) a title, right, or claim to something; furnish with grounds for laying claim: His executive position entitled him to certain courtesies rarely accorded others.

Americans are plagued with the attitude of entitlement. We believe that there are certain things that we simply deserve. In fact, the culture in which we live even encourages this mentality. The more educated we are, the more money we should make. The more money we make, the more stuff we should have. If we stand in line, then we deserve to be waited on in that order. When our car breaks down, then it is often time for us to get a new one. We deserve at least one vacation every year. When we do a good deed, then we deserve some recognition for it. So many of our ill feelings stem from this attitude of entitlement.

I have been traveling overseas with Americans for 8 and 1/2 years. One common way I challenge my team members is getting them to look at their current attitudes, priorities, and perspectives. American culture had tainted all three of these for those of us who are striving to grow in a relationship with Christ. The truth is, we don't deserve anything more than what God has already done for us. The truth is, most of the time, we elevate ourselves and our preferences higher than God intends for us to. The truth is, very rarely should we be the first thing that we think of.

The attitude of entitlement is not from God. Christ died for our sins, and if God never chose to bless us in ANY other way, then has He not already done way more than we deserve? We are not entitled to anything else. How different would our day to day life be if we were truly content with what God has already done for us. If we could truly serve him without reservation - trusting that He was going to take care of the details. What would we worry about if we didn't think we deserved anything from anybody?

It's at least worth taking into consideration.

Kenya Thoughts 2

2007-08-16T09:43:00.000-04:00

We are so spoiled in America! It has become second nature to us so much so, that most of us don't even realize the conveniences that we take for granted on a daily basis. We wake up to a musical alarm, get out of our nice beds with as many blankets and pillows as we want. We turn on as many lights as we want. We usually have all of the hot water that we want. We go to the fridge and get what we want to eat. We get ready, put on nice clothes, get in our cars, and drive to a job that most of the time we have chosen. We are so used to having things the way we want them, when we want them. Any delay in that process frustrates us. If for no other reason, I think every American should experience "third world living" at least once in their life. We could definitely learn a thing or two.

Eighty percent of the world lives in substandard housing, seventy percent of the world is illiterate, and sixty percent of the world suffer from malnutrition. It is hard for Americans to keep these statistics in the front of their minds. Our team in Kenya came face to face with these realities on a daily basis.

The village where we stayed, Malava, has only had electricity for one year. None of the people that we worked with in the orphanage or the school had electricity in their homes. Our team did have electricity. Some of us had running water (only cold) in our homes, but some of us had to draw water out of a well each day. We had two propane tank burners for cooking and heating water for baths. We slept under mosquito nets each night. The toilets in our houses had to be flushed out manually by pouring pitchers of water in the toilet. We had it made compared to our new friends. Rose lives in a three room mud hut. She cooks and heats water over an open fire each day. She has no electricity, and her toilet is an outhouse 200 feet away from her house. If I had been Rose, I probably would have let the team stay in my house while I stayed in the house with electricity and running water. This idea probably never crossed Rose's mind.

The women in the village are supposed to be the primary workers in their home. The husbands are expected to earn an income and work outside the home. The ladies spend their day working diligently to survive that day. There really is not much you can do in preparation for the future. There is no refrigeration, so any cooking you do is for that day. Once you build a fire, it is only good for that day. Once you heat the water, it is only hot for that day. Once the sun goes down, there is very little work that can be done. These ladies work HARD each day, sleep well on mats in the floor, and get up again to work to survive the next day.

How different is this from our everyday mentality. We go to the grocery with intentions of the trip at least taking care of one week. Very little of the work we do is for survival. We either work to save up money for our future or we work to pay off debts from our past. We make thousands of dollars a month and it never seems like enough. These people make $30 a month and it seems like more than enough.

There is a joy and contentment that I found in Kenya that is unlike any that I have ever seen. In Nehemiah 8, he says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." My new Kenyan friends know this verse in a way that I probably never will. We met widows who had an inexplainable joy. We met people who knew the Bible backwards and forwards. Their relationship with God is priority because they really don't have much else to make priority over that. They have very few distractions, and God makes Himself very evident to them.

Maybe these are some of the reasons that I want to go back.

Kenya Thoughts 1

2007-08-15T13:53:00.000-04:00

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

This is one of the many Bible verses that has new meaning to me because of my time in Kenya. I have been on MANY mission projects since I began working at International Sports Federation. I don’t think any place has captured my heart like the Tumaini Miles of Smiles Center.

Rose Bugusu has vision and passion that exceeds most any other person that I have ever met. She sensed God’s calling her to live out James 1:27 by taking care of orphans and widows in Western Kenya. God is DEFINITELY using her in mighty ways. Rose lives in a rustic village in the Kakamega District, called Kakoi. The average monthly income is $30 USD. Currently she has around 20 orphans that she helps take care of, seven of which actually stay in her three room, mud house with her. Many of these children are students at Tumaini School (the Swahili word for HOPE). There are 12 widows who earn their keep by cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. There are 135 children in the school ages 4-12. Rose truly is a beacon of hope for these orphans, widows, and students. God is using her and this ministry in AMAZING ways. I want to share with others what God is doing in Kakoi.

In 2002, a friend asked Rose if she had ever heard of the internet, and she had not. The village has only had electricity for one year, and most of the houses still have no access to electricity or running water. This friend opened her eyes to the world wide web, and God began to instill a curiosity in Rose. She began to wonder, “How can I use this tool to let people know about what God is doing in Kakoi?” She began to surf the web, looking for Christian chat rooms and ministry websites. Thankfully, God allowed her to cross paths with SportsPlus. Rose and I began corresponding in the fall of 2006 about the possibility of partnering together on a short-term mission project.

In July, I had the opportunity to travel to Kakoi with 9 other volunteers. This adventure, along with other thoughts in my head have inspired this new blog site. Take these thoughts, opinions, frustrations, etc. for what they are worth. Feel free to contact me or comment on these ponderings. Enjoy!