an ice cream day..

today was definitely an ice cream day... pony tail, no makeup, and sweats. it was perfectly relaxing. i love my sundays, because they are a day to myself, to organize my week, do some laundry, take a nap, eat way too much, and catch up on homework in front of the tv. after this weekend's happenings, it was just the thing i needed to refresh myself and focus on what's really important... i even wrote a poem for my mom today!

The Old Red Barn
(a sweet eulogy to the former farmhouse barn of my childhood)

Laugher. Fun. Magic.

This old barn hold such dear memories.
The red paint has chipped through the years,
Leaving it gracefully weathered from time.
Climbing up to the loft through the outside window,
I can smell the old dry hay, and the dust
Mixed in from the years of this barn's long life.
My brother and sister race up the ladder to the highest point of the loft.
My sister wins - she then takes a run and leaps off the edge
Into the pile of hay below.
She emerges, laughing;
Her hair now entangled with bits of the hay.
Time is forgotten here...
I smile to myself - yes, this place is magical.
Nothing can hurt us up here;

Not in this old red barn.

Sarah L.

So that's it.. I dunno if it's the one I will give to her for her painting that she wants to put it on, but for now it'll do... it was good to go back to those days in my mind. It makes me smile inside, and I wish I could go back there. But here I am.. here I am now, after 20 years of life - here, doing what I'm doing, learning what I'm learning, going where I'm going...all because of Christ. He led me, from that old farm in that old barn, to here, right now, to today. God is good, no matter what. I almost lost that this weekend.. but He's still there, whether I believe it or not. and i'm glad He gives me ice cream days. I'm glad He loves me forever and always..

Sarah

Hmm

I'm just sitting here tonight, catching up and even getting a little ahead on some of my homework. I had one of the most stressful weeks ever since I started this semester, and I was just really down and discouraged. Homework not getting done, being away from home at Thanksgiving, the Pillsbury bubble, it all got me looking at my situation around me instead of looking upward, and it really sent me down. I felt so uneffective, so unspiritual, and so drained in every way. Last night, however, God just really picked me up from my mirey clay, and set my feet back on the Almighty Rock, my Jesus. I had such an encouraging talk with a couple of friends after work last night. We stayed out past one in the morning just talking about God and about dreams and about our futures, and about walking with Jesus. I think I had kinda lost sight of the fact that Jesus actually walks WITH me... not just God up in Heaven looking down on me, but God in Jesus taking me by the hand right where I am and saying, "come on, Sarah - let's do this together." How powerful is that?
So since I've had this wake-up call, I've been a lot more relaxed.. God will take care of me, in everything, because He's right here! He's involved in my life! He's leading me into great things - I just have to take His hand, lean into Him, and say, "Okay, Lord, take the lead. I'm ready to follow." How cool is that? Amen to that, I say!

Here's my friend's philosophy, and I think I'm going to use it:
1) Love God surpremely
2) Do right
3) Have a blast!


I think that about says it all..

Sarah

Thanksgiving

So..this is my first Thanksgiving away from home. Actually, I thought Thanksgiving was next weekend, so when I talked to my mom on the phone yesterday morning and found out, I was pretty surprised - I hadn't planned on being depressed about it yet! But it came alot sooner than I expected, and it kinda really sucks. It's bad enough being away from family, but being in another country that doesn't even care that you have Thanksgiving back home makes it even harder. But it's okay... it could be worse!

It was an alright day; it kinda started out pretty lame when I missed my ride to church, but then I got to go to another church with some good friends, and I kinda enjoyed doing the different atmosphere thing, enjoying a different church, and I got to do it with a bunch of friends so that was cool.

Then we came back to school, and ate lunch, and then I went to my room, cleaned up a whole ton (like crazy stuff - I rearranged my shoes, arranged my closet clothes and refolded all my clothes in my drawer - yes I was a little depressed! haha), and then made the mistake of looking at the letters my family sent in the care package I got a couple days ago. I definitely let myself cry, but only for a couple of seconds. Then I put a load of laundry in, put on my most comfy sweater, basketball shorts, and took an hour long nap. Then got up to check my mail and ended up talking to Melanie, Janaine's mom for like 2 hours. It was good.. she made me laugh alot and then I felt a little better. Then I got my laundry, folded it and called up my only other Canadian buddy on campus.

We talked on the phone for like an hour, talking about home and Canada and Tim Hortons of course, and wondered for a long time how we were going to get to eat out, because we can't go off campus with just the two of us. Finally, good old Jon Greenacre got back from work, and we offered to pay for his meal if he would go with us, and what college kid in their right mind turns down a free meal? So we headed off to Perkins. I ordered the turkey dinner. *tear* I was pretty sad when it came out, because it tasted pretty good, and it reminded me of home so much. But Stephen and Jon got talking about lots of stuff, and they made me feel a lot better, and we just had a really good time sitting there eating and having good conversation. I really felt a lot better by the time we left (except for my stomach.. I stuffed it tonite! I had a turkey dinner AND pie!) Then we went to Walmart to walk it off a bit, and Jon let me drive his car back to the school when we left (it's a stick shift, so it was great.)

Now I'm back at school, and I just want to catch up on a bit of reading, and go to bed early and get ready for tomorrow and not even think about it being Thanskgiving. I celebrated it (well as much as I could being depressed) today, and I got most of it out of my system, so I think I will be okay now.

Sometimes I dont like growing up very much...

Sarah

ps. the pic i have to thank from this guy - www.flickr.com/photos/miir
amazing photos!

Sunday!

So today was pretty much awesome. God really convicted me about being stuck in my own comfort zone here at school, and taking a back seat and letting others lead. I wasn't really asked to lead here, so I just stepped back and let those who stuck out more lead. I got lazy, pretty much. I got a fairly apathetic outlook on campus life and stepped away from the leadership role God had been cultivating in me all those years of growing up. I feel like I've taken so many steps backwards coming here, as far as being a leader and being challenged and working out my faith. It's so embarrassing to admit, but it's true.

God continually amazes me. He has just so gripped my heart that I couldn't not respond, and yet it was so gentle and soft, almost like a whisper. I had been ignoring that whisper for a while, but when I heard it again this time, it was so powerful. Amazing how such a still small voice can do so much to you! And it's amazing that the God whose voice breaks the cedars and trembles the entire earth, used a whisper to get my attention. It was so clear, too . . . it was just like, "Sarah, you're done sitting on the bleachers, watching others lead. I made you to be a leader, now lead. We'll do it together, don't worry, but you just need to follow me, and that means getting motivated to serve me in whatever way I see fit", and I said, "okay, Lord, I'm listening! Do what you will.. I'm following." I don't know how God is going to use me, but I'm here and willing.. scared to death, but I do it in His strength, and He is Almighty God, who has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind! (2 Tim 1:7)

I am so glad God is patient with us. His grace is overwhelming. Now may I bestow the same kind of grace on others, before I go judging them or getting frustrated with them. My focus needs to be on my Saviour, and whao He would want me to be, and what He wants me to do.

It's all about Him!

Sarah

Poem Time..

Autumn Fanfare

The sweet charms and soft whispers of the fall
Make their music all around me
As I walk down the lane, the twisting Oaks bow low on either side;
They graciously let their leaves tremble and fall,
Gently dropping down to the earth
Which makes way for nature's own "red carpet".
But instead of a warm, soft feeling, it gives its own special "crunch, crunch".

I like that feeling much better.
The popping of the acorns amid the crushing of the leaves beneath my feet
Take my senses and lift them to heights above the heavens.
The cool air tickles my nose, giving it a pleasing red glow;
Although I am cold, inside my heart is so warmed by the beauty around me.

The scarf around my neck dances with the swirling breeze;
The leaves pick up and lift off the ground
To join in the celebration of this wonder of autumn.
The smell of the changing season,
Mixed with the sweet tang of the chimneys billowing in the distance
Let me drink in the moment with full vigor,
And then I slip into a sweet thoughtfulness.

Oh, how I would stay out here forever.
But life brings me back down to earth as I see the path ending,
Though it was this wondrous world that took my mind Heavenward.
Yet at the end of the lane, a home waits for me -
A home with love and warmth,
A fireplace, hot cocoa, and a splendid hug from a loved one.
The cold of my cheeks contrast the warmness of my mother's face
And I've never felt happier.
Although Heaven will never compare,
I am sure that I am as blessed as I ever could be on this earth,
This earth of delight and imagination, wonder and love -

How could God ever love me this much?



By Sarah Lewis - Sept 8, 2006
(Happy Birthday brother.. this one's for you)

Oh How I Need You

*1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this [salvation] you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”


Good thing that God has reminded me of that this week. I have just fallen at His throne in utter and complete sacrifice of praise and love and adoration for all His goodness and faithfulness and stedfastness. Isn't our God amazing? No matter what you are going through right now, God is God and He loves you! He realllly, truly loves you, and wants you to love Him and fall at His feet in total dependance upon Him. Fall at His feet tonight. Cling to the everasting arms, and rest in His goodness. Fall into Him! He's waiting with open arms to be able to carry you through it all.

Psalm 70:4, “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’”
Psalm 63:3, “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”


Praising the ever loving and ever faithful One,

Sarah

When I Think of You

When I think of you,
My heart song starts to fade.
I see how sad you are and the world grows dim all around
When I see you in my mind,
The tears softly well up within,
Because I can see your pain and I feel helpless.

When I think of you,
the music fades a little more
and the dancing holds no more pleasure to me.
Why can't I help you?
Why can't you hear me?
I want to just hold you in my arms and make it all better.

I wish that you knew that I love you,
that I want to help you see,
to help you be happy again.
You think that I don't understand
That I don't know how you feel -
Two people, so similar, but so far gone from yesterday.
You and me, we're not so different...
Only different choices - what's your next move?

When I think of you,
I smile inside a little.
That tiny spark, that small flame;
I see it in you
I know that you're amazing
I want you to know that I'm always here for you

That is what happens, when I think of you.


Sarah Lewis 2006 - for a very special someone

First Blog

Wow.. I thought I would never have one of these on blogspot.com.. but you know, the things I do for friends :) Anyways, maybe another day I will be more profound, but not today.. today is a day to kick back, relax, reflect, eat some chocolate, and read a good book. Spending time with my Saviour is definitely on the top of the list today.