The future

We spend a lot of time and money preparing for the future... Over the past few months that's exactly what I've been doing ... What should I do next year??!  I guess it's a joy and a stress to think such thoughts...

In church tonight my thoughts went somewhere (just for a second ) away from what the preacher was saying... I thought to myself "Maybe God isn't too fussed about what i do but more about whether I do it with him or not"...

Mhn...

The sermon tonight was about hidden fruit but also about abiding in God and so I guess it does tie in...

God desires our full attention.  He desires our heart.  He desires us.  He desires relationship with us.  Three things will last for eternity: God, the word of God and the souls of men.  Really it's that simple.  Our focus should be on things that last!

Whatever it is we do may we do it with God.  What could be greater? Richer? 

Nothing.

Love, 

Phoenix and Sarah 

Simple.

So let's get down to basics- the raw truth.  We strip theology to its core.  When we simplify our wonderings and our philosophies... We are loved by a loving God.  He came down from heaven to show us.  We love because he loved us first. 

Streets are littered with advertisements.  We are tempted to buy buy buy.  Ambition is sometimes replaces morals and standards.  But it is possible to live life simply!  It is possible to renew our mind with Gods truth.  It's possible.  

May we live in the reality of Gods love. 

Love, 

Phoenix and Sarah

Best friend

I truly believe that God wants to share every moment with us- good and bad.  I feel like He has purposefully brought me here to speak peace deep into my soul.  I feel like he's brought me here to quiet me.  I feel like he's brought me here and shown me that he is my best friend.  

Today I bought a scooter and all I could think was this is from God.  A blessing to be able to purchase it.  A blessing to enable me to enjoy my time fully in Taiwan.  The girl I bought it from gave me a great price and really blessed me in the whole process.  It got me thinking He's always here why do we doubt ? He's more involved than we think. 

"Faith in God be strong.  You know who he is.  Take courage dear heart.  He is always with me"

Love, 

Phoenix and Sarah

Dear self...

Dear self, 

Do not fret... Do not worry.  I know how you can replay things over and over in your head until you're mentally exhausted.  Don't.  Stop.  Trust God precious soul. 

Have grace with yourself and others.  Grace that God gives.  He knows your thoughts-each and everyone. 

Don't fret self.  

Now look out look at that beautiful day waiting for you! 

Go, enjoy! 

Love, 

Phoenix and Sarah

Shall have no want...

You know when you've heard scriptures a million times but it hasn't quite been an experience or fallen deep into your heart... Well the scripture , Psalm 23, has been settling into my heart. 

"I shall not be in want". This is being completely content in the Lord. When we are in his presence there is nothing we need but Him.  

Can I stay here in this place forever? A place of peace... Of love... Of joy.  What could be better...  

Would you be in want if you knew your daddy has everything in the world?

 

Love, 

Phoenix and Sarah

Happy place

Ah what a blessing it is to recieve post!  It's nearing my birthday and so this was a very special sentiment. 

What a delight it is that we have the ability to make people happy...  It's been on my mind lately to really trust in the Lord and not in men.  To seek him for comfort and company rather than things or other people.  But sometimes He surprises us and gives us things and blesses us with people.  When Jesus is all we have, we truly have everything. He is my happy place.

May you trust in God to provide for your every need.  No one knows you better!

Love,

Phoenix and Sarah 

Love yoself!

Today it was as clear as day or as flogged as mud.  My ears started ringing and my colleagues voices started dissipating into the distance. My stare became blank and it was as if a silver screen was in front of my eyes.  I was feeling light headed.  I sat down while they were talking and couldve stayed down all day.  

This light headedness didn't seem to fully leave until lunch but it was so clear that if I don't look after myself aka love myself then I can't love others.  I won't be physically able to.  So I took a lie down and am recovering.  

To love well we need to love ourselves well and the only way to love ourselves well is to know that God loves us well.  

You are loved ! 

Top knot day

Friday 

My favourite day 

Sometimes it's a bit more difficult to recognise that it's a good day and that God loves us.  The comman cold has had me blowing my nose between sentences and sneezing at any given time and it makes me feel a bit blue.  

I lead exercise time at school this morning and it made me all hot and sweaty.  Which made my hair all messed up.  Sigh!  It's rather humid and hot here (32degrees and 69% humidity) so my hair was all over the place.  Plus I wanted to wear it down so I didn't put in clips when I set out to school, I just stuffed it in my hat.  Naturally my hair is curly and sometimes fluffy but this heat does something new.  

At break i looked in the mirror and thought to myself "ahhh I hate my hair. it looks so horrible."  I realised that God wouldn't be too happy at these thoughts of hatred towards his creation so I VERY quickly repented and said "God give me love for myself where I don't have it"...

This is a lifelong journey for us all.  I walked upstairs and then downstairs where my colleague had just had her hair done.  It looked really nice.  She asked if I wanted mine done ...So I said yes!  I had my hair put in a top bun.  Let's just say God hears every cry and attempt to love (even if that means loving ourselfves better)...

No matter how small

A small change can make a big difference.  I've cut down on coffee and my headaches have decreased.  Been eradicated in fact!  It's sometimes the small things that can make a big difference to your day which can become a week, month or year 

Enjoy your today where you are now! 

Love, 

Phoenix and Sarah

Design and dragons

I've taken up a design course online and so it's stirred up thoughts of design. Design is used everywhere... Everyday...

As a young girl I remember gathering a4 pages together and drawing outfits on them... I remember not really wanting to show anyone.  I kinda kept them hidden.  But I loved to dream about what can be done with cloth.  Still to this day is this fear of what others think.  The fear of process and things not being perfect.  I love creating.  I love designing.  Really i do but sometimes it takes more than reminding myself that.  You see there's this invisible dragon that eats my motivation. But day after day we slay this dragon and will continue to do so...

May we find the courage to do those things that we are afraid to do or show anyone!  May we slay those dragons...

I am continually confronted by people here who attempt to speak English and then when I try speak chinese im usually too shy to open my mouth and end up giggling.  Some do so fearlessly and some don't attempt at all.  May we dive into life fearlessly!

Contentment

7/21

This characteristic: peaceful and content.  In my twenties this has not been a word that I have valued much.  It seemed unambious, vague and directionless. 

Although not as im creaping closer to my thirties.  I hound myself with thoughts like, " is there peace there?" And "Do I feel peaceful about this decision?" These thoughts are in high alert for anything that threatens to steal from my peace.  Living alone has allowed me to amplify my inner dialogue.  It's made me very aware of what directly steals from me, adds to me, drains me, unsettles me and annoys me. I am a somewhat "yes mam".  I battle to say "No" and only process things later and realize that hey I don't want to do this or that or better put... I don't feel peaceful with doing that.  

Spending money easily was one thing that unsettled me-Not taking care of what I have and just spending.  I'd end up wondering and feeling anxious if I would make it to the end of the month. But taking control of my finances created more peace.  Being on the streets too long make me feel antsy. 

So it's a continual journey of learning to illuminate the whispers within and of coarse ask God for help. 

May you listen to Gods whispers... 

May you be lead by love... 

Love,

 Phoenix andSarah 

S m i l e

Wednesday 

7/20

I love smiling! It makes me feel better about my situation- no matter what the situation may be.  On Monday I went to gym (yayy me!) and upon arriving the lady at the counter smiled and said, "Sarah!" Now Im pretty sure she's chuffed that she remembered some English and heavens yes she should! But it made me feel so loved in that moment. 

God calls us to be child like.  Since I work with kids everyday I think it's safe to say but they find joy in just about anything and everything.  May we smile the largest smiles.  May we be like children. 

This is me posting again everyday!  

Love, 

Sarah

Use what you have

So this weekend I got a present and it was wrapped in a christmas ribbon.  I was happy that it was decorated and nicely put together even if it was christmas ribbon. Some may think differently?

Then last night I went for a massage.  Here they are twenty minutes and quite cheap.  Twenty minutes is all I can handle and boy does it take me into intercession quickly.  The masseur was young and chatty.  He looked like he had been in a car accident.  I didn't ask but he wilingly volunteered his story.  He was indeed in a car accident . He lost sight in one eye and so he decided to learn a trade and boy did he do that.  He is great at massaging and his fingers are strong.  He's been doing it for ten years. That's what I love about the Taiwanese if there is no work- they make work! 

This is a photo of a tarred road.  Great you may think.  I cycled down a dusty old road on Friday night.  On Monday morning it was no longer dusty.  I love the work ethic here! 

Embrace what you have.  It has the potential to bless you and others.

Love, 

Phoenix and Sarah

R e s t

Rest is one of those daily blessings that I often take for granted.  How ️wonderful that we have to stop and sleep every single day!

An expected typhoon has caused my mom and I to trash the travelling and stay indoors.  The typhoon didn't come near us as expected (prayer works ^.^) but we still snuggled in, picnicked and watched movies.  My body now feels refreshed and reenergized for the last push of the school year!  

May you allow yourself to rest. 

May you wake up refreshed.  

Love, 

Phoenix and Sarah