Prayers for Direction

Post #10 of Sarah’s Post-It Note Inspirations Blog Series

Easter is almost here and I wanted to write a reflection post of three things I have learned over the course of the past few weeks. Lent (the 40 days after Ash Wednesday leading up to Easter) is the time of year that many Christians may fast, or give up an indulgence such as a certain type of food or habit. It is also a time that many take to more deeply pray about a specific circumstance in their life and grow closer in their relationship with Jesus through these prayers. This Lenten season, I tried to be more focused in prayer in praying for direction. Although broad, I think these prayers for direction revealed to me some very important points, and I wanted to share them because I believe that they apply to all our lives at any life stage.

1. “I belong here.”

Many times, walking around on my campus or running through the streets of Minneapolis, I get this sense that “I belong here.” It relieves me and reminds me that I am here for a reason, and motivates me to use my time in the best way possible. It reminds me that I am right where I am supposed to be.

I think feeling this sense of belonging is good, and something we should all strive for. I believe that God places us in certain situations for a reason, and He wants us to feel this sense of belonging and comfort, but He also pushes us to go outside of our comfort zone to do His work as well. We must always be discerning of where it is God wants us to go and what He wants us to do, but if we are seeking Him and His will for us, we can have confidence that we are right where we are supposed to be.

2. No matter where I go or what I do, it is about showing Jesus to others.

I am reminded that God has called us to not just believe in Him, but to share His love with those around us. We are called to step out in faith to proclaim His name wherever we are. During my prayers for direction, this kept coming to my mind again and again. I learned that no matter where I am or what I am doing, it is so very important to think about finding ways to show Jesus to others in whatever circumstances.

Sharing your faith in Jesus with someone is not easy. I often think of people in my sphere of influence that may not believe yet, and pray that I may be able to show Jesus to them, even in small ways or my day to day actions. I get nervous about how showing Jesus may affect my relationship with them, or maybe how it might ruin it. But, isn’t the risk of making a relationship uncomfortable or awkward so someone can know Jesus worth taking? Isn’t risking being viewed as different or an outcast worth it if someone gets to know Jesus through you? The answer is always yes.

3. Seek Christ over a career.

This point ties it all together. My prayers for direction were very career-focused, so that’s why I am using the word career here, but it can also be replaced with Seek Christ over everything.

Going back to the first point, I know that if I seek Him first, I can trust that He will lead me to exactly where I am meant to be. And going back to the second point, it is about showing Jesus to others in wherever I end up. So, seek Christ first, and He will guide you.

Matthew 6:31 – 33

Proverbs 16:3

Jeremiah 29:11

Happy Easter, and God bless!

Knowledge vs. Trust

Post #9 of Sarah’s Post-It Note Inspirations Blog Series

So, you are probably a little confused by what you see written on the post-it note above, but there is a backstory that goes along with it that I find relevant to this theme of knowledge vs. trust, so bear with me for a bit as I explain the story.

I am part of a student organization called Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at my university. I joined this organization because although I am majoring in marketing in the business school, I have become more interested in communications and public relations and how these fields integrate with the marketing field. I really enjoy being a part of this organization because I can gain exposure and learn from professionals and other students about these different fields that I am not able to take as many courses in (Although I am getting a minor in Mass Communication, I am still not able to take as many classes that Strategic Communication majors are able to take).

One day during one of our meetings, we were briefly going over how to write press releases, and then practicing writing them. Now, I have never written a press release, and just learned what they were not too long ago. So, when it got to practicing, it seemed like everyone knew what they were doing and have already written at least one in the past for one of their classes, except me. I found myself getting discouraged because I felt very behind and lacking knowledge. Press releases are traditionally one of the foundations and most basic parts of the public relations sector. I thought to myself, “what am I doing trying to go into this field if I don’t even know how to do the most basic part of it?”

This story may seem a little silly (and looking back on it, I do find it silly myself), but at the time, I was feeling stressed and not knowing how to write a press release was really bothering me. You are probably thinking, “well that’s not a big deal, just learn it.” And yes, you are right, and that is exactly what I am going to do. But I shared this story because at the time, I really thought I didn’t even deserve to be considering the public relations field. I was putting all my hope into knowledge, instead of trusting and having faith that I could still do it. This experience taught me some important lessons, one of them being as simple as: Just because you don’t know how to write a press release doesn’t mean you can’t go into the public relations field. Even more important, and the lesson I am going to talk a little bit more about for the rest of this post is: The knowledge you have doesn’t define your worth. Seek wisdom and trust from God over knowledge of this world. 

Trust Him over your own knowledge.

There is so much to learn in this world, it’s amazing. I love learning, and want to be learning for my entire life. And I encourage everyone to do this, to be “lifelong learners.” However, I do think that we should trust God over our own knowledge. We can gain as much knowledge from this world as we want, but if we don’t trust God in what we are doing or learning, we aren’t really gaining anything at all. Proverbs 1:7 says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. God is first in our lives, before anything of this world, and knowledge begins with Him, which brings me to my next point…

Remember that wisdom ultimately comes from Him.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. – Proverbs 2:6

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. – James 1:5

No matter what kind of knowledge we seem to be lacking, whether it is as simple as not being able to write a press release, or more complex like our direction in life, we can ask God for His wisdom and guidance, and trust Him over our own knowledge.

Two Reflection Questions, Two Attempted Answers

Post #8 of Sarah’s Post-It Note Inspirations Blog Series

These are two reflection questions that I believe all of us can at this moment say “yes,” to, or at least can think of a time when we could have. I thought I would keep this post simple and reflective. Here are two reflection questions, and my “attempted” answers (or more so, my advice) to go along with them.

Are you stuck in the “ordinary” and wondering how God is leading you in the every-day, mundane tasks?

Here’s a BIG secret: it’s all about the little things. So pay attention to them.

Often in today’s society, we have this idea that “bigger is better.” For example, in the business world, bigger companies = more money = more success = more happiness. Sure, this might be true in some cases, but when did we forget the idea of less is more? Just to throw out another example, could it be true that smaller organizations = less money = less success (maybe just more impactful success) = more happiness. Could it be true that you don’t always have to be big to be effective? I think so. And I think we can all apply this idea of less is more and bigger is not always better to a certain aspect of our lives.  

Not only do I believe that bigger is not always better, but I believe that God can teach us in the little things. Often times I find myself learning the most in the smallest situations, whether it is a conversation with a friend over coffee, or a meeting with a co-worker. For me, many times it is through these small interactions with people that really make a difference. So, I guess my advice for you if you feel stuck in the day-to-day tasks is to seek out those moments of conversation with people, new and old, and see what you can learn. Also, seek out those quiet moments where you are able to spend time with God. It is in these interactions, these small moments, where if we really pay attention, we can take away a ton.  

I have been on great adventures where I have learned so much in a short amount of time. I have also had periods of my life where I feel I am “stuck in the ordinary.” By having the privilege to experience both of these, and being able to compare the two, I can honestly say that you don’t always have to be on a great adventure to feel like you are learning so much.

Are you in the midst of trying to accomplish one of your short-term or even long-term goals?

Follow His plan (not your plan), and

Never leave your faith behind

I believe that I drive my own education, my own career, my own life. However, I also believe that God has a plan for me, and I want to follow it. Finding this balance of God ultimately being in charge, but me still needing to put the work in and make the decisions is something I struggle with, and I am often unsure of how exactly it should play out in certain situations. So, maybe “drive” isn’t the right word to use here, because although I am in the vehicle, ultimately, God is the one in the driver’s seat.

So with that, on our journey of life, I believe that we shouldn't try to put God in the passenger’s seat, or put our blinders on and not look to see where God is taking us. Yet these are actions we so often do without even realizing it, especially when we want to take control in accomplishing our goals.

Nonetheless, I know that the best thing I can do when I am working hard to accomplish something is to keep going back to God with it and ultimately pray for His will to be done. I believe that it is important to seek to follow His plan, and I can do this by continually praying about what it is I am trying to accomplish. By doing this, I believe that His plans will become my plans. This takes awareness, and often times, willingness to let go of our own plans for His. Although this is difficult and we will often times get it wrong, I believe by always going back to God, by not leaving our faith in Him behind, and by being willing to let go of control, we can avoid putting God in the passenger seat. And by staying awake to where He is calling us and seeking to follow His plan, we can avoid putting our blinders on during our journey.

Five Word Motivation

Post #7 of Sarah’s Post-It Note Inspirations Blog Series

Last week when I was listening to the radio, people were calling in and sharing their “five word motivations,” short phrases that ultimately inspire and uplift. In that spirit, I decided to create my own five word motivation phrase and write about before the start of my spring semester. My phrase is two-fold: Be inspired & give Him thanks.

Be inspired.

I have made various goals for the year 2017 in several categories of my life including faith, school, fitness, career, relationships, etc. One such category is titled blog/writing. Since blogging is one of my passions, I found it important to attach some goals to this part of my life. I want to continue writing to One Strength, and one specific goal that I would like to achieve is dedicating one large block of time a month to read, write, and craft the inspirations I have encountered that month into a cohesive blog post. In order to do this, I need to encounter moments throughout the month that can serve as content for a post; I need to be inspired.

But I don’t want to just get inspired for the sole purpose of gathering blog-worthy material, but I also want to be inspired just to experience the joy of being inspired. I think this goes for all of us. I believe God not only created us, but He created the entire world, everything around us.  With that, I also believe He created this world so that we may experience it, we may find joy in exploring it, and that we may discover how we can serve Him in it. There is so much in this world, and there is nothing like the feeling of being inspired by something He created. So, I am motivated to seek out opportunities where moments of inspiration like this happen, on a weekly, if not daily basis. This may involve purposely disengaging myself from the daily routine and the busyness around me, if only for a few minutes a day, to truly just be and allow for inspiration to happen. Inspiration can happen in the small, quiet moments, or even in the larger, more crowded times in our lives.  Below are five practical ways I thought of that could allow for these moments of inspiration to sweep in:

Five ways to be inspired:

     Engage in new conversations with longtime friends or first acquaintances

     Connect and catch up with those we look up to and those in our sphere of influence

     Go for a walk on a path we haven’t been on before

     Volunteer or find a way to serve people outside our social circle

     Learn to love others a little bit better by going outside our comfort zone or routine to offer a helping hand 

Give Him thanks.

I am at a very interesting and exciting time in my life, and when I am told this by someone else (usually someone older than me), I often reply with something along the lines of, “yes, I am very grateful.” Like all of us, I encounter bumps in the road or times when life isn’t all that “exciting,” but no matter what, I do try and be grateful for where I am at in the present moment. I try to be aware of the blessings I have, and thank God daily for them. So, I know that I am blessed, but how am I showing it? And by being blessed, how can I be a blessing to others? Truly showing my gratitude and using my blessings to bless others is the project I want to work on this year, and probably a project I will continue to work on my whole life.

No matter where we are in life, even during times of trial, we are called to give Him thanks – give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This is something I want to continue to get better at as life throws in new, more difficult circumstances, because I am confident that everything He gives us is for our good, and that everything He gives us truly is a blessing. I understand that at times, it is harder to give thanks in these difficult circumstances, but I hope that the phrase “give Him thanks” can stick and remind us of what we are called to do, to not only be grateful, but to demonstrate our thankfulness through our actions. So with that, below are five “easier said than done” ways to give Him thanks in whatever stage of life we are in:

Five ways to give Him thanks:

     Pray prayers of thanksgiving to Him alone and with each other

     Strive to serve and love others like Jesus  

     Show gratitude to those who serve you

     Cherish the blessings He has given you

     Try to see everything in your life as a blessing from Him, even the hard things 

My five word motivation is to Be inspired & give Him thanks. Although none of us will be perfect at it and some days will be harder than others, I want to challenge us all to live this out as best we can in our day to day lives. 

Reflecting on a Strong Semester

Post #6 of Sarah’s Post-It Note Inspirations Blog Series

Life Update: I am happy to announce I have finished the fall semester of my junior year. Only three more semesters left of my college career! I rank this semester as my best on-campus semester, and I have a feeling that this upcoming spring semester is going to be a contender for the best as well. Why? What is making these semesters of my junior year so great? Well, I can name a number of reasons, some of which include: I love my on-campus living situation, I have a great group of friends and good relationships with my family members, I have a solid class load, I enjoy my job, I have time to pursue my other passions like writing and fitness, and I am grounded in a strong faith (with a ton of room to grow of course). But taking this a little deeper, the reasoning behind my strong semester is closely tied to these three phases:

Live boldly – Just because it is outside the norm doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

Looking back on not only this semester, but on the entire year of 2016 (which includes my semester abroad in Spain, a summer at home, and this past fall semester on-campus), I can see that I have discovered more about myself in one year than I ever have before. I have learned more about my passions and how I want to pursue them. I have readjusted my goals for the rest of my college career and for thereafter. Although I have not mastered it yet, I am learning how to not get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and what everyone else is doing. I am learning how to not hold back, and to really go after these passions and goals that I am continuously setting. I am learning that God has big plans, some exhilarating, some outside of my comfort zone, but nonetheless, I am following His plans faithfully.  

I am slowly becoming the person God has created me to be, and isn’t that what He wants for all of us?

Walking in His plans, I have decided to pursue the opportunity to study and intern in London the fall semester of 2017. I understand that the opportunity to go abroad for a second semester is not common, but I am walking in this idea of living boldly, and following the passions and goals God has placed on my heart. I am sure I will have much more to say about this as the time comes closer, but as for right now, these are my plans!

Push yourself – Hard work does pay off.

Again, looking at the year of 2016 as a whole, I have learned how much hard work really does pay off. This semester especially I have seen the fruit from my hard work come to life right in front of my eyes. This doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, we really do work hard, but we don’t see the reward from our hard work right away. I have seen this happen as well in more ways than one. Therefore, I can confidently say that yes, hard work does pay off, and that if we continue to challenge ourselves, we will reap the benefits in the future. These benefits will not only affect ourselves, but also, impact others and help build His kingdom.

Don’t settle – It’s ok to be uncomfortable.

This phrase “don’t settle” in essence means “not to settle for anything but the best,” but to me, it also means that it’s ok to be uncomfortable, to go outside your comfort zone. Comfort is always one of the biggest things holding me back, but then I remember the good things that have come out of going out of my comfort zone in the past, both in big and small ways. Not settling also connects back to the two ideas of living boldly and pushing yourself. All three of these ideas together inspire us to live the way He is truly calling us to, and to inspire and touch people along the way.

With this inspiration in mind, I have decided to pursue a marathon training class this upcoming spring semester. In hopes of completing my goal of running a marathon, this class will push me and challenge me, and definitely get me out of my comfort zone of casual running just to clear my head. This class will impact my semester greatly, and I know there will be difficult days, but on those days, I hope to remember the importance of pushing myself and being uncomfortable.

I understand that I am at a young age and at this point in my life, I have endless opportunities in front of me. I understand that many people my age don’t have as many opportunities as I do. I also understand that those past this stage of life don’t have as many opportunities as me either. For that reason, I am even more grateful for the many opportunities God has placed in front of me, and I am motivated to pursue the opportunities He is calling me to with all of my heart. I also keep in mind the perspective of why I am doing what I am doing: To glorify Him and to develop and use my gifts to help others. However, no matter where you are in life, I believe we are all called to live boldly, to push ourselves, and to not settle. I believe we are all called to live a life greater than we can ever imagine. 

Thankful for vs. Thankful to

A Break from Sarah’s Post-It Note Inspirations Series to Give Thanks

In honor of this season of thanksgiving, I wanted to write a post to recognize some of the things I am thankful for. Now, you must understand that it is not possible for me to list everything I am thankful for, but here is the brief list I came up with that I wanted to highlight in this blog post:

I am thankful for:

I am thankful for the things that bring me happiness and joy, the three core being my faith, my family and my friends. I am thankful for these meaningful relationships with God and with the many people in my life. I am thankful for all the opportunities God has blessed me with, including my school, my job and my extracurricular activities. I am thankful for my passion of writing. I am thankful for learning. I am thankful for running. I am thankful for all my basic needs that are met every day.

I am even thankful for the hard things, for the people and circumstances that hurt me. I am thankful for the situations that left me with bruises that heal, and scars that don’t. I am thankful for suffering, because I know that in suffering, He uses me and I see His power work.

The difference between thankful for and thankful to: 

In my opinion, there is a difference between the phrases thankful for and thankful to. Switching the preposition gives the phrase a different, more intimate, meaning. I can be thankful for pretty much anything, but I can only be thankful to people, more specifically, very special people. In fact, without these people, many things on my thankful for list would not exist.

Similar to my thankful for list, it is not possible for me to list all of the people I am thankful to, although I very much wish I could. But instead, it has been placed on my heart to use the rest of this blog post to recognize just three groups of people that have really helped me this fall semester. The following are three groups of people I am very thankful to:

I am thankful to:

My family 

Thank you for encouraging me to work hard and pursue my passions, and for providing me with both the courage and the opportunities I need to succeed. Thank you for knowing me more than anyone else in this world. Thank you for walking with me through hard times, and celebrating with me during accomplishments. Thank you for shaping me and for making such a powerful impact on my life.

My roommates 

Thank you for being the biggest blessings of my entire semester. Thank you for allowing me to know what it feels like to live with best friends, and for showing me what it means to love and support each other every day. Thank you for providing a safe, comfortable and most of all fun environment to live in, and for providing a listening ear whenever I need it.

Mis amigas españolas

Thank you for understanding the most life-changing adventure of my life, and for helping me be the best person I can be. Thank you for listening to my struggles. Thank you for remembering Spain with me and for helping me to express my emotions, passions and goals as we go through our daily lives here on campus. Thank you for creating friendships that will last a lifetime.

A Reminder: On the Good Days & the Bad Days, He Gives You Strength

Post #5 of Sarah’s Post-It Note Inspirations Blog Series

You know those days when you feel you have it all together? You wake up with confidence and a smile on your face, and you feel more than ready to face the day. Even if you have a lot to do, you feel as if you have it all under control. You feel you have everything you need for it to be a great day.  

Then there are those other days, when you feel ill-prepared and inadequate to face the world. On these days, you may feel doubtful about the circumstances ahead, and unsure of how the day is going to go. You feel as if you don’t have the resources or the confidence to begin the day. It’s almost as though you wish you could start the day over before it has even started.  

In both scenarios, in both the good days and the bad days, it is God who gives you strength.

When you feel “on point,” it is Him who provides you with that confidence and composure. 

When you feel inadequate, His grace, love and power overcomes your insufficiency.

So in both the start of a good day or a bad day, remember to thank Him for giving you the kind of strength you need in that very moment.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.