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Showing posts from 2011

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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Well I will admit time for blogging has gotten away from me over the last month. It has been very busy for me as I'm sure it has been for you as well. I hope to pick it back up after the beginning of the year though. This is just a quick post to say I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! Our family had a great day together...and we got a few good pictures too... We will be getting together again for new years and before that even...my birthday! Another year has flown right by. Quite a life changing year for me I would say in many ways-lots of ups and downs. But I have learned a lot from it and I think I can say I am better for it. I'm looking forward to the new year and it will be interesting to see what God has in store. On another note, I have several friends expecting babies within the next month (some even days). I can't wait to meet the new additions to their families. (One of them even writes about his journey to fatherhood on his blog www.fathert

He's Still On Time

I haven't talked about this much, but I've decided to bring you up to speed. I've been looking for a new job in the area I am relocating to. I have been commuting back and forth on the weekends for the last 4 months. And what a WONDERFUL time it has been! It is almost exactly a 3 hour trip one way so I have some time to think between here and there. Sometimes I... a.) listen to music b.) listen to an audio book c.) listen to the preaching cd's from the Wednesday night services I miss there d.) talk to God e.) analyze f.) plan g.) practice singing for an upcoming special (yes I'm one of those people singing to the top of their voice by their self in the car and doesn't care who is watching) h.) call people and catch up i.) and sometimes I do all of the above ...not at the same time. But you get the idea. This week on the way home, I was thinking over the weekend and the week to come. There is a ladies meeting this Tuesday that I would really like

Caution: Guardian Angels at Work

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My mom called me at about 10:30 this morning. It went something like this... Mom: Someone just drove through Shauna's office building *pause*... Me: And???? Is she ok? What happened? Why would someone do that? Mom: She's ok - just her ankle. Me: So she's ok? what about her ankle? is it broken? is it smashed? Mom: It's just scratched. We're gonna go to the ER and get x-rays to make sure. Me: Where did the car end up? Mom: In her desk! Me: Where are you right now? Mom: We here, at her work standing in it. It's crazy. She said she heard the explosion of it coming through one wall headed straight for her and thought she was going to die. Me: Do I need to come down there? Mom: No it's ok. Me: Are you sure? Mom: Yes I'm sure. Then I hung up...told everyone around my desk area...probably cried a little bit and the first thing I thought after that was "did I give her a hug when she left my house last night?".... got my car keys and left

Wonderful World of Jewelry Making

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We introduced Amanda (my niece) to the wonderful world of jewelry making last week. (She loved it - I think she's hooked too.) It was just about 2 am when we said for the final time "What are we still doing up?! We have GOT to go to bed!" As some of you may remember, before my trip to Kenya last year I asked my friend Sandra to teach me to make bracelets so I could take them as a gift for the ladies retreat we would be  hosting in Kenya. Shauna and I had A LOT of fun learning to design our own pieces. Since then I've learned to put them together on my own and even to make earrings! All of our schedules have been pretty busy lately so it’s been a while since I busted out any of the jewelry making paraphernalia. But last week I got out the big table and pulled all of it out of its armoire storage home. I opened every box so we could “shop” for the desired bead combinations. The results are below. These particular pieces were put into a fun

Back from Prison

Just wanted to let you know that we made it in and out of prison and it was GREAT! I’ll write more about it when I am reunited with my computer (I left it in Missouri so I’m without this week!)  I have some exciting stuff to tell you about what is going on with the Madory’s and the opportunities God is giving them in Kenya too. So stay tuned for that. In the mean time head on over to their website and read the last few newsletters. If you would like to be added to Denny’s mailing list send him an email with the request. Then anytime he sends out a new newsletter it will come straight to you! This will keep you up to date on the things going on there was well. Most of what you hear in the news about Kenya is not very good right now as you read in my post titled Kenya in the News . But God is still working there and doing great things!! Reading the Madory newsletters is a great way to hear about that. Every time I read one I am always excited to hear about everything going on and

Going to Prison

Don't worry! It's just a visit. I'm not planning on staying long term. I'm sure when I leave I'll be thankful that I have that option! Just wanted to write a quick note to tell you I am on my first trip to prison this weekend with my church's prison ministry team.  I'm a little nervous but also excited too. I would just ask that you would pray for us tomorrow as we go in that we could be used of God to share the gospel and message of salvation - to be with each person that is ministering that they would be directed by the Holy Spirit and for those attending the services to be seeking what God might have for them. Love, Sarah

I Am the Water

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I was at the sink emptying my water bottle the other morning so I could fill it up with cold, fresh, clean new water. I have this habit of filling a bottle of water, taking a couple drinks, then leaving it there for a couple of days before pouring it out and starting all over again. I usually have a couple of different beverages going at my desk. A bottle of water, a cup of coffee, maybe some juice or a leftover cup from yesterday's lunch.  So as I was emptying the water and it seemed like it wasn't pouring out quite fast enough for me because it was so full - it struck me what a waste it was. Many people in the world have no clean drinking water and here I am just pouring it down the drain to get some that is a little more "fresh" than yesterday's. We always hear about different efforts to help those people who are without to get clean drinking water to fulfill their physical needs. But that made me think of a different kind of water which made me think

Kenya in the News

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I don't know if any of you have seen the recent news involving Kenya but I decided to tell you about it at the risk that more well meaning people will tell me that God needs missionaries in safer places like Hawaii and New Zealand and maybe I should go there instead. :) Anyway this is just a reminder that it is so important that we pray for our missionaries at all times but especially when things like this are happening. A British man was killed and his wife was kidnapped from a resort in Kenya near the Somalia border in mid September. There has been several other kidnappings since then as well in the same area. These are the kidnappings referred to in the following post. Also here is a map of Kenya so you can see the proximity. This is from another missionaries blog on October 19th This has also been an interesting week for Kenya. In response to the kidnappings, the Kenyan army has entered Somalia and has starting going after Al Shabaab which is a group connected to Al Q

Focus on America 2011

Well the conference was wonderful! I enjoyed all the services that I was able to attend so much. There were men there from all over the country presenting the work God is using them in. It was exciting to see God meet their needs and even before that to hear the excitement and enthusiasm they had for sharing the Gospel where God has called them. The preaching from some faithful servants of God was excellent. Even just hearing testimonies from others about their salvation and what God has done is their life is uplifting and reminds us that He is able... I believe if God gives us the opportunity to share what He has done for us we should never take that for granted. I'm not saying that because I believe I have such a great testimony but rather because I can think of several times in my life where someones else's testimony has helped me a great deal and I appreciated their willingness to share it.  This is just a short post because I don't have time to tell you everything b

He Is There

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Looking back on last year – This would have been my 18 th day in Kenya – it was getting down to my last week there and I was not ready to leave. I tried to write down at least what we did every day while I was there if not other thoughts, feelings and observations. It was spread over 3 different notebooks and I have been piecing them together and reading over those notes this month. It is interesting to look back on it now. On my way home from Tulsa Sunday night I was listening to music on shuffle when a message came up in the mix. When that happens I usually try to listen because maybe God put that one in line just for me!  It was about missions (I’ve listened to it a couple of times already but it’s still good). He said that we shouldn’t be afraid to do what God is asking us to do – launching into the deep – because He is there already!  As I was considering that, I realized that sometimes when thinking of the “great unknown” – I also hear the “great alone”

In other news...

Our Focus on America church planters conference starts tonight at Wilson Creek Baptist Church and I am soooooo excited that I get to be there this year. I have heard great things about it and am extremely glad that I will get to attend and help serve in it! I am looking forward to seeing God work through the week and meeting/hearing from many who have a burden to spread the Gospel through planting churches in this country. I will let you know how it goes!

Happy Anniversary

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I know I have been really bad at blogging and in my defense I only have the internet maybe 2 out of 7 days and one of those days is Sunday so it doesn’t really count because I’m pretty  busy that day. And the other day I am out and about without much time for thinking, writing, editing, writing, editing and posting! But I am going to make a concentrated effort to post at least every few days. It may not be long or especially thoughtful, insightful or laden with pictures…but hopefully it will be something! I will start today by wishing my parents a Happy Anniversary!! 36 years ago today they said I do. I wish I had some of those pictures handy because you would really enjoy them – I promise! We all got together this last weekend to celebrate. We stayed in some cabins at Keystone Lake near Tulsa and had a good time together eating some yummy grilled stuff...  riding in a boat... fishing...  and eating some more.                                        

One Year Ago

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I year ago RIGHT NOW I was on a plane to Kenya. I waved goodbye to these people... I was...let's call it apprehensive... about traveling alone. A little...worried... what it would be like once I left the relative safety of my home country and ventured out into the unknown (to me). I may have cried a little when I walked away.  But as we all know...I survived. I watched this on the plane.. I sat next to these nice Dutchmen who owned their own flower import/export business who also spoke English which I was glad for... (they were less blurry in real life) And they shared this (not so yummy) candy with me which I politely ate. But overall I still had peace because of the many prayers I know went up for me. God is good either way but I'm glad he let it go the way it did. No insightful thoughts really just that my life has changed a lot since that day one year ago. It definitely is a new season in life! (Speaking of seasons..

The Gift of Goodbye

As some of you may know, My grandma’s health had been declining over the last 6 months or so and on June 24 th , 2011 she went home to be with Jesus. I was thinking what a precious gift I had in that I was able to spend a week with her in May. When we left it was hard knowing that would most likely be the last time I saw her here. But I got to hug her and tell her I loved her and squeeze her hand and talk about whatever we wanted because we were trying to prepare ourselves the best we could for her home going. When my cousin called me at 6:30 am that morning (I think we all know that I was not awake at that time) she said Grandma’s gone. As I wearily sat up in bed to face the day, one of the many gospel songs we sang together on my last trip to see her came in to mind “ I want to stroll over heaven with you some glad day, where all our troubles and heartaches are vanished away, then we’ll enjoy the beauty where all things are new, I want to stroll over heaven with you.”  I cried...

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

Thank you so much for praying if you did! I have seen God answer some prayers over the last couple of weeks that were really weighing heavily on my mind. I wish I could share them all with you!  I was praying for you as well and I hope you also looked for and saw God working in your life.  Sometimes we get caught up in our own happenings and forget life is going on everywhere else too! The great part is that He can keep up with it all - when we can barely keep up with ourselves! So it's a wonderful thing when we take the time to pray for each other and our faith is increased when we see Him answering prayers and working personally in our lives! I realized I haven't told you an important tidbit of info. So I'm stating it here officially...I have surrendered to return to Kenya as a missionary! Are you surprised? Lord willing, I will be working with the Madory family out of Karen Baptist Church in Nairobi and am thrilled that God is allowing me to be involved in the minist

Let's Trade Prayers

I don’t normally do this but I have something I need prayer about but I cannot share the details with you right now. But I believe in the power of prayer!!!   I remember at one point (well several points) on my trip to Kenya last year when I knew the only reason that things went the way they did was because I had people praying for me all over the place! Possibly more than ever before. It was a wonderfully comforting thought. I need that again right now and   I’m asking that you please pray on my behalf – God knows the reason. This isn’t a one way prayer. I already pray for several of you, my friends, who I know by name. I will be praying for those of you that I’ve never had the pleasure to meet also. I had a highschool teacher who still to this day sends postcards at random times that say – Today I prayed for you… I ran across one recently (I never throw them away) that said “Let’s Trade Prayers”. I think that is an excellent idea. So will you trade prayers with me today? With Love a

Reaching the World

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First I want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to the those who have supported this project and the Madory family  so far.  I hope you know how appreciative I am to those who have given and some sacrificed in times when I know for a lot of us there isn't just a surplus of money hanging around!  I wanted to give you an update and also ask for those who have not yet gotten involved to please consider doing so. Any amount is welcomed!  The Madory’s have been given 3,000 Bibles, 2 Million gospel tracks and a bunch of ministry supplies to take back to Kenya and to be used to reach the people like these.... to further the gospel half way around the world in Nairobi, Kenya to help people come to know Jesus as their personal Saviour - To Rejoice in Him and walk in newness of life! Their goal was to ship a container with these ministry supplies when they go back to Kenya. In order to do that they need all the money pledged by June 19 th so time is running out!! They will be leaving to g

Help Send Bibles and Tracts to Kenya

I would like to share an opportunity to help my friends, the Madory's, to get Bibles, tracts and other ministry materials/supplies to Kenya.  I have copied the information from the facebook event that was created for it. Below that is information from Denny on where to send money if you would like to be involved in this worthwhile cause. I am excited to be a part of it and I hope that you will please get involved too! I know any amount will help! Angela commented that if they could just get 200 people to give $50 each it would cover it.    Our ministry in Kenya has been given 3000 Bibles, 2 Million gospel tracts, several boxes of vacation bible school materials, sunday school curriculum, etc... Also, churches all over the U.S. have had "Happy meal toy drives for kids in Kenya and we have containers full and ready to go. Someone donated a beautiful piano to our church in Kenya. Plus many other things for the work there in East Africa. We have been very blesse d, BUT, now all

Excited, Thankful and Encouraged

This will no doubt be my shortest post to date but it was too long for a facebook status! Ha Since the Madory's have been home on furlough we have had the luxury of being in the same time zone and able to communicate by cell phones instead of having to schedule a time for me to be near an Internet connection so we can Skype. That being said, I am enjoying so much hearing week to week how God is providing for them and using them to further the gospel/preach the call to missions while they are traveling on furlough. It has been a GREAT blessing to me to hear different stories and know that while God is here at work in my life He is also out working in the lives of others too. I am excited, thankful and encouraged all at the same time. What a mighty, wonderful  and loving God we serve! Hope your week is off to a great start! Sarah

Whirlwind Weekend

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Just a quick update. I had a wonderful time with the Madory’s this weekend celebrating the girl’s birthdays. Angela and I didn’t get a lot of sleep trying to get everything done for Madi’s party and by Saturday night when it was all over we were pretty exhausted!!! But we had a great time anyway putting it all together and making it a special day for a special girl! I am so glad I was able to come down for it and spend a little time with them. On the way home I was thanking God for bringing our lives together! Then on Sunday the church that I visited was also having mission’s emphasis month. I got to visit with a missionary family to England and hear some good lessons/messages on missions as well. Then back home and back to work today. Here are just a couple of pictures from the party from my phone. I’ll post pics from Jentrie’s later when I have my camera handy. Have a great week! Sarah

It's Been a While Continued

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We had a great trip and as always a good time visiting with friends there at Wilson Creek Baptist Church in Battlefield, MO. The Madory’s are there now so we missed them by a few days. Not to worry though.  Jentrie and Madison ’s birthdays are coming up in March and I am very much looking forward to going down to Edmond to see them and making a big cake for Madi’s big day – Sweet 16!!   Anyway, when the weekend was over so was the fun...back to work! During the snow storms (aka Oklahoma Blizzard 2011) that hit here over the last few weeks our office was closed for 3 days total. These are just a few pictures I took at our place. Mom's car is under there somewhere Back porch table and chairs My car...which was destined to sit in that spot until all the snow melted. It doesn't do well in this weather...or I don't do well in it...either way...there it sat. Back in town...our offices being closed made it  necessary  for us to make up the lost hours