For Everything There is a Season

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.  
                               Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

   So wow... It's been almost a full year since I've made a post on here. So very much has happened in this past year. It has seemed like there were more downs than ups, to be completely honest. But who has been there with me the whole time, every single second? Every sleepless night? Not my friends here on earth but the One who is my Best Friend. My Savior. Jesus Christ. 
    One of the biggest struggles(as well as most common) I've had this past year is in the area of friendships. God allowed things to happen with 3 of my closest friends and we are no longer close anymore. It's sad to say that the first time that happened I pushed away from God and I just blamed myself for what happened. I was at what I believe to be the lowest point in my relationship with Christ for about 3 months and then I went to youth camp. Camp Mitchell. Five days with a group of amazing teens, an incredible youth pastor, fantastic counselors, and God. No cell phones, no Internet, no connections with anybody who was not on that mountain in Arkansas. That week God taught me how to forgive myself. He taught me that even though I am not perfect He still loves me. When I mess up He continually forgives. It seemed like every single lesson that Sonny taught was directed straight at me. It applied perfectly to what I was going through right then. It's incredible how God works like that. Philippians 3:12 says "Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." 
 Something else that was huge to me that week was that God has reconciled me to Himself. Nobody can say or do anything that will stick on me when judgement day comes. Jesus' blood has washed ALL of my sins away. Past, Present, and Future. Christ has set me apart as His. I am His child. I belong to Him. God has started a work in me and He will continue that work if I allow Him to. I must not move away from the gospel. I must stay rooted and firm in my belief in Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:21-23 says "And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present your body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: if so be that ye continue in the faith,  grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister."

Camp Mitchell

   After Camp Mitchell, with God's help, I stayed on track with my Quiet Time and my relationship with Christ got better and I was closer to Him than I had been in a long time. I learned to depend on Him and I realized that He was all I really needed. I realized that He was the only friend that I truly needed to have. LIFT camp with my church rolled around and that week God continued to teach me about forgiveness and He continued to speak to me about how much I really needed Him. That week(through the LIFT staff testimonial videos) He also showed me that I didn't have to have some huge story of my life being completely turned around by Him for my testimony to have an impact. He also showed me that He speaks the most to us when we are quiet and still, just listening to Him. "And, behold, Jehovah passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before Jehovah; but Jehovah was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Jehovah was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but Jehovah was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." -1 Kings 19:11-12
  

Lift Camp

The rest of the summer went pretty well. I continued to grow closer to Christ and my relationship with Him became deeper and deeper. Then one Friday morning my world was shaken up. August 31st, 2012 God called a wonderful young man home to be with Him in Heaven. Chanse Seiter. He had gotten in a car accident on his way home from work. When I got the news it was like every single memory I had ever had with him came flooding back all at once. Me and Chanse weren't very close friends and I knew I would see him again one day but that didn't make it hurt any less. His smile is what I will always remember most about him. He could really light up a room with just one smile. It really hits close to home when a friend dies. He was just a few years older than me and just in between the ages of my two older brothers.There were so many people at his funeral. It really showed how many peoples lives he had made an impact on. He had touched each persons life in some way. Seeing that made me think of the impact I have on people. There are people that are watching what I do. I come in contact with so many people. What I say and do is going to affect someone in some way. Whether it is good or bad, it will have an affect on someones life. I know this is cliche but it really made me realize how short life actually is. It also made me realize how little time I really have to make a difference on this earth as a Christian. My life really is so short in the grand scope of things.  The death of someone you love is always hard and sometimes it's hard to understand why God allows such wonderful people to die. But we have to realize that God has a plan. We also must remember that there is a time and a season for everything. "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die;" -Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a

Chanse Seiter

   In July of 2012 we found out that my MaMaw Cain had cancer. The doctors said it wasn't curable and they didn't know how long she would have to live. Pray. Pray. Pray. Over the next few months her cancer continued to affect her more and it kept growing. She was doing chemotherapy in an attempt to kill the cancer. Thanksgiving day came and the whole family was there with the exception of my oldest brother and his fiance as well as 2 cousins. We had a lot to be thankful that day because we got the news that her cancer was gone. The chemotherapy had worked! God really does work miracles :) She was still very, very weak though. Having everybody there wore her out but she wanted to see everybody together at least one last time. We took family pictures and we will cherish them always. My MaMaw got really sick towards the end of the year and because of all the chemo her body was shutting down. On January 8th she went home to be with the Lord. She was no longer suffering which we were so thankful for. 
  Once again family came together. This time not one person was missing. Tight, long hugs. Tears. More hugs came with more tears. So many flowers. Memories and even more tears. Laughter. Some people are afraid to laugh and remember those who have passed away but I think its part of the healing process. We can't be upset forever. I feel like God wants us to remember those we love and the happy times we shared together. He doesn't want us to live our lives missing those who have gone on to be with Him. He wants us to learn from their lives and to live for Him with what time we have left. 

My Family 

  Once again I am reminded of how short life really is and how every decision I make will have an affect on me for the rest of my life. So little time on this earth and how do I spend that time here? Not doing all that I could be for Christ that's for sure. I could definitely do more for Him and for His kingdom. That's something I struggle with though. I struggle with making time for Him and with witnessing one on one to others. 
  In February of this year Heaven gained yet another Angel who was close to my heart. Grandpa Bill Schroeder. Not related by blood, or by marriage but related by choice. In June of 2002 my family moved into a new house and down the street lived the sweetest man and woman. They soon became our adopted grandparents. With a pond and a creek right behind their house we were always down there. We often took evening walks to their house and talked with them for long periods of time. All 3 of my brothers got to develop a personal relationship with Grandpa Bill that only comes with working together outside all year round. Last year they moved to Round Rock, Texas to be closer to Grandma Karen's daughter when Grandma Karen got really sick. Grandpa Bill got really sick at the beginning of February and went downhill fast. Me, my brother Jake, and sister Rachel were able to be with him the last two days he was here on this earth. On February 17th he passed away. I was holding his hand and had my head on his chest when God finally called him home. I can honestly say that it was the hardest thing I have been through so far but God is good and He got me through it. He has been my Comforter, my Rock, my Shelter, and He has been my Friend.
   A lot of times it is so hard for me to try and understand why so many hard things seem to keep coming my way one right after the other. But I realize that God only gives me as much as I can handle. That's one of the great things about Him. He knows me so well that He knows just how much I can handle. But He knows I can't handle all of it on my own. I continually have to be reminded to go to Him for help. I have to remember that He should be my source of joy, comfort, shelter, and peace. He continually reminds me of this verse "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God; to them that are the called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28. I've found that to be my life verse. To me it means that if I'm serving God and loving Him like I should then everything will turn out alright. God's got me in the palm of His hand and no matter what trial I face He will always be there for me. He never leaves my side and He will NEVER abandon me. 

  March 29th, 2013 my oldest brother(Isaac) got married! Woohoo! It was such an exciting day for everybody! A beautiful wedding. And I am SO happy for them! 

Me and Isaac

Gettin Hitched

The Wedding Party

   Now let me tell you about someone who has been one of the hugest blessings in my life  this past year. Her name is Jensyn. We met in June of 2012 and honestly I didn't like her a whole lot at first(don't worry, she knows that). It wasn't til around August(I think) that we became actual friends. We started texting all the time. This past year she has been with me through thick and thin. She really has never left my side. She has been a huge encouragement to me and always reminds me to seek God's will in every single situation. She really proves that it is possible to be beautiful from the inside out. "Who can find a virtuous woman?For her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10 
 She's helped me get through some of the hardest trials I've ever had in my life. We have spent countless hours talking and I don't doubt that we will spend many more hours doing the same. We've laughed our heads off together for many reasons. Our late nights together at each other's houses watching scary movies and talking has brought us closer together in more than one. ;) I've never met anyone who is like this girl and that's what I like about her. She's not afraid to admit when she is wrong and she doesn't rub it in when she's right. She stands up for what she believes in. She listens to my problems, she gives great advice, and she is respectful of others. She's not perfect but she sure is pretty dang close to it! A verse that reminds me of her is Isaiah 62:3- "You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God." Jensyn is a crown of beauty and a royal diadem in God's eyes. She's a wonderful person, friend, daughter, and sister. You'll never find a more loyal friend than this girl. She's my best friend. She's my Pinks.

Jensyn

Jensyn and Me

   Currently God is teaching me that I need to trust Him more and that I need to let Him have control of every area of my life. He is also teaching me to respect my authorities even more and trust those that He has placed in authority over me. It's hard and I know I can't do it on my own so I have to daily give every aspect of my life over to Him. Also patience. He's teaching me how to wait. "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalms 27:14

 Right now I'm attending a Bible Study with a group of friends and we are going over the book "This Changes Everything" by Ben Stuart. It is helping me so much and I encourage you to read it. If you do, make sure you think about everything you read and I mean everything. There are really good questions in there that make you evaluate yourself. It's worth the read, I promise. Tonight I'm going to start reading a book called "Not a Fan" by Kyle Idleman. I've heard that its a real good book so I'm really looking forward to it. :) I'll probably be making posts about it as well. If I can remember. :P 

                                                          {Sarah Elisabeth}

                                                                Romans 8:28