I am a wife, a mother, a singer, a songwriter, and most of all, I am an adopted child of God who wants nothing less than to be His vessel to share His light and His hope, love, and joy!


Friday, April 24, 2009

Lovely Day

Hey there friends!

I don't have many updates in the way of my ministry. In a month, as many of you know, I am participating in the Hymn Sing fundraiser for Youth for Christ at the First Church of God of Westminster. You can see my upcoming events if you are my friend on myspace or facebook. Actually, you can see my myspace even if you don't have an account. It's at http://www.myspace.com/sarahvministry and on facebook, just look up my name and you'll recognize my face. :) Right now, I just have two events and haven't put the second one up because it's too early. I am confident the Lord will open doors for me and start to fill up my calendar more! In the meantime, I'm enjoying life and being productive with my time. I am working on music and Bible studying so that I will be ready to step out when God calls me to.

A few nights ago, I went to a local coffeehouse with a girlfriend. She also has kids and every once in a while, we like to get away. We both try to be thrifty with our money so we rarely eat out together. We just go to a coffeehouse and get a coffee and talk for hours. I love the fellowship! Anyway, I didn't know that I was walking into an "open mic night" at this coffeehouse. I have never been to one before, but I always wanted to try it. Needless to say, I had no musicians to back me up and didn't specifically prepare anything to sing, but the Word says in 2 Timothy 4:2: "be prepared in season and out of season." So I put my name on the sign-up list, and when I went up, I spoke a few words about my salvation and sang a couple of my original songs a cappella. I still don't know what impact, if any, was made, but it was a really positive experience for me, and someone expressed interest in my visiting and ministering at a church function.

I have noticed a lot recently the Holy Spirit directing me to suddenly step into things I wasn't prepared for. I can already see that this is helping me grow and be more flexible. We can be so much more powerfully used if we are only available to God!

I just want to encourage you that every time you boldly follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, you will be blessed and other people will be blessed by it. In Christ, there's no more need to be fearful. We are new creatures in Christ. All the old things have passed away, so anything anyone ever told you that you negative about yourself, or anything you even believe about yourself and boxes you put yourself in, you need to get rid of that stinkin' thinkin' and let God turn you around!

God bless you all and keep in touch! I love the e-mails people send me. It's very encouraging.

Love,
Sarah

Monday, April 13, 2009

Enjoy the Manna in the Wilderness


Hey there friends!

I have been out of commission for the last week and a half because I was sick for several days and then my son got sick! He was sick from Tuesday through Saturday. Easter Sunday, we stayed home to ensure his full recovery, and I found out that my mother-in-law couldn't sleep Saturday night and was up till the wee hours of the morning crying and praying for my son. And what a difference in him between Saturday and Sunday! He has literally bounced back and I am thrilled! What a beautiful Easter the Lord gave us. There's nothing like getting sick to put life into perspective! I see now that I was stressing out way too much and not stopping to smell the roses. I am determined to enjoy the here and now while I press on toward what God wants me to do.

When the Hebrews were delivered from Egypt, it didn't take them long to moan and complain in the wilderness and to get sick of the manna that God sent them to sustain them. They quickly lost sight of God's faithfulness to see them through every trial, and all of the miracles He performed to get them out of Egypt. Many Christians are like this today, and I have been guilty of this. We quickly lose sight of the pit that God pulled us out of and start to moan and complain when we feel like we're going nowhere and stuck in a wilderness. But deep down, I KNOW that my God is faithful! Like the Natalie Grant song says, I'm in better hands now! I have no reason to fear, be anxious, or be doubtful!

Right now I'm watching Joyce Meyer, and she encourages us not to lay down and give up! Keep perservering and keep the faith and hope! Boy, God has really used Joyce as an inspiration in my life. Thank God for encouragers like Joyce! Remember, Joyce's wilderness was more than 30 years! She didn't get called into ministry till her 30's and getting to where she is now, in her 60's, was a very long process. We should never be hasty to jump ahead of God, because He wants to make sure we are ready and that everything else is in line!

I don't have a recording of this song yet, but read the lyrics to my song "He's Not Finished With You", and have a blessed week!

What if Joseph never overcame the suffering?
And he lived his life thinkin’ I can’t win
And when Job lost almost everything
He gave up and stopped believin’?
What if David never threw that stone?
Saw the giant and lost all hope?
Where would we be then? Where would we be then?

He’s not finished with you; He’s just getting started!
There’s too much to do to give up now
If only you knew; if only you could see
The plans He has for you
Then you’d believe when I say…
He’s not finished with you

What if Daniel did not pray?
Face the lions and believe for a way?
What if Jesus never carried the cross?
‘Cause He could not bear the cost?
What if you spent your life hiding your light?
When faced with obstacles, you gave up the fight?
Where would we be then? Where would we be then?

He’s not finished with you; He’s just getting started!
There’s too much to do to give up now
If only you knew; if only you could see
The plans He has for you
Then you’d believe when I say…
He’s not finished with you

There’s a hunger deep inside that goes on endlessly
And nothing satisfies no matter who you try to be!

'Cause He’s not finished with you; He’s just getting started!
There’s too much to do to give up now
If only you knew; if only you could see
The plans He has for you
Then you’d believe when I say…
Believe me when I say!...
He’s not finished with you

Love,
Sarah

Friday, April 3, 2009

Lean Not on Your Own Understanding

Dear Friends,

I have a confession to make. It’s quite an embarrassing one, but the truth is I have been leaning too much on my own strength rather than the Lord’s. Sometimes I forget the scripture in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

I think sometimes God allows us to lean on our own strength until we reach a breaking point and have to come running to Him. I am at that breaking point. I am at the point where the planning turned into worries, then the worries turned into headaches and stress, the stress turned into my being sick and bedridden for the last two days, and today I am in tears. I realize the Lord wants me to stop trying to figure it all out on my own, and stop trying to figure out what He has planned next and how everything is going to work. For some reason, I thought I should know, but apparently, I can’t handle it! I realize, once again, that I need to turn it all over to Him in prayer and petition (Ephesians 6:18: "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints"). After I have done all I can, all I can do is stand and wait on Him (Ephesians 6:13).

It’s a long story, but to make a long story short...I thought I only needed $1,500 to make an album. Boy, was I naive! I found out that artists typically spend tens of thousands of dollars on a self made album. I had conversations with several people who made an album or who were involved with making and album and they all agreed with this, and they all said you get what you pay for, and if you produce and inexpensive album, it won’t sound good, and I need to hire professional musicians/instrumentalists for the album. Well, at this point, I have received donations of a little over $1,100, and that is after the money I have spent on things like copyrighting new song. I am very appreciative of these donations, and they will be put to good use!! The support and love I have been receiving is helping to sustain me in these difficult times of waiting.


Going forward, I plan to work full force on getting dates at local churches to sing and minister. I visited a recording studio today in Owings Mills and asked the producer what I can realistically do if I had $2,500. He said three songs…maybe one or two more if I’m lucky. Well, all this time, I have wanted to make a full album (and that's what I've been telling everyone!), so this idea of this hit me hard! He also told me I need to narrow down my songs to reach a specific audience, because I have quite a variety of songs (R&B and soul, rock, alternative, contemporary Christian, hymns, etc.) This was also a hard pill to swallow because I like the fact that there is variety in my music. Mind you, this man seems like a hardworking, ethical, and good Christian family man, and he was highly recommended to me. He has a lot of experience with producing and marketing great quality Christian music, and I believe what he is telling me is honest. The more I think about it, the more I do believe that releasing several great quality songs will be much better than potentially releasing a full, low quality album. This would be a start, and God can move mountains!

For the sake of avoiding a lengthy blog, I won’t go into the additional details of everything that’s been on my mind, but please pray for me that it will all come together! I don’t mean to overburden you with this, but please at least keep me in prayer (Matthew 18:19-20: "I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them"). My lists of prayer concerns includes setting up church visits, fundraising, music making (a big challenge for someone who doesn’t yet master an instrument), song selections, marketing, and waiting patiently on God’s timing.

I pray for abundant blessings for those who have already blessed my ministry financially or with their time and prayers. Thank you to Mark and Jen for your donation of voice lesson materials this past week (you know who you are!).

In the meantime, I will be praying and meditating harder than ever before, and I will be calling churches this coming week! I am confident I will have more good news to report to you next time!

Thank you and God bless you all!

Love,
Sarah

Psalms 119:145-148:
"I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees. I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises."