Switched to Wordpress

Hello to everyone! I just wanted to let you know that, due to bugs and interface problems with Blogger, I have now switched my blog over to a Wordpress blog!

If you'd like to continue following my blog, go to www.SarahEllenBrown.wordpress.com.

Let me know what you think of the new look!    

Where've I been?

Where've I been? Well, I've not been shirking my blogging duties, I can assure you! I have faithfully posting a weekly update... on my other blog! With the puppies growing so fast, I've been spending all my blogging time posting updates about them on Countryside Cavachons. You might like to see the pictures and the info about the puppies. Just go to www.CountrysideCavachons.blogspot.com, and you'll find all sorts of interesting things.

Also, I've been trying to put together a writing Wordpress blog that will feature my books, links to buy them, list my future projects, and show a calendar of writing/publishing timelines and upcoming book signings and things like that. Once I have it up and running I'll let you all know!

Another thing that I've been very busy with is my school. Yes, I know it's supposed to be summer break, but I like school so much that I can't seem to ever put it down. I just recently graduated (on June 2nd, actually) from high school, and I'm already enrolled in a local community college. I'll be taking a two year degree in Business Management with an emphasis on Child Development. I'm really excited to start--which I'll be doing on July 8th for the summer term. I'll just be taking a couple classes until next quarter, just to get the hang of it.

I already have all the generals out the way, thanks to the wonderful program called PSEO (basically early college classes for free while one's in high school), and so the two-year program will only take me a year and a half at the most. Actually, though, I was just able to test out of at least one class (hopefully two--I haven't gotten the results on the second test yet, since I just took it today), so that lightens my course load even more. You see, I've already been working in my parent's family owned & operated business as a bookkeeper/secretary for many years now, and so I wanted to see if I couldn't at least test out of some of the rudimentary basics.

The class that I tested out of yesterday was Professional Communications. It was a grueling four-hour test in which I had to prepare (if I remember right) six professional documents, such as an email, a memo, a permit request, a proposal and so on. It was difficult, but I did alright, made a passing grade, and actually had a little bit of fun preparing the documents involving fictitious scenarios.

The test I did today was Computer Applications in Business System Concepts. It consisted of two parts. The first part was a 41 question multiple choice quiz regarding basic computer knowledge and use. There were a few things (8 questions in all) that I had to guess on and got wrong, however, it was still a passing grade. The second part of the test involved creating three documents again involving fictitious scenarios. This was a lot of fun! In this scenario, I "was" the Consultant for a Travel Agency and I was advertising a Vacation Plan Package deal. First I had to create a Word document advertisement for an upcoming seminar discussing the Vacation Package. Then I had to create a PowerPoint presentation that I "would" give at the seminar, and lastly I had to create an Excel document with the financial records for the people who "had" signed up for the Planned Vacation.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to, in case you've been wondering! :-)

Mother's Day, 2013

You’re my      M entor when I don’t know what to do,
                      O ther than to go to God and you.
You are          T here for me through thick and thin,
                       H elping me to see my need for Him;
                       E ver by my side until the end!
But what’s      R eally great is that you are my friend!

Love you Mom!

 

 

Chester!

It was Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013. Early morning. Before breakfast.

The dogs were barking frantically at something they had treed on the woodpile. Probably a chipmunk (sigh).

Hosea went out to investigate.

He returned with... a cat! Not a nice, pretty cat, but a cat with completely matted, dirty, long, white fur and scratched and bleeding ears who was in definite need of medical attention. But, nevertheless, underneath his harried appearance, we could tell that he had potential.

So, naturally we took him in. We couldn't possibly let him go again in that condition.

First up, we got a vet appointment. Then we tried snipping out his mats. He was amazingly agreeable to our handling, which meant that he was either in shock, or he had been a tame house-kitty at one point in his life. Snipping out the mats, though? Impossible! He was that matted!

So, next up was the vet appointment. It turns out that this poor guy had a chronic case of ear mites, which is why he had scratched his ears to torn and bleeding bits!

The vet cleaned and treated his ears as best she could around the clotted blood and torn pieces (this was a condition he had had for some time!). She treated his ear mites. Then they took an electric clippers to his mats. That worked.

Then we took him home. On the way home, I suddenly said to Mom, "We should call him Chester!" She exclaimed, "I was actually thinking exactly the same thing!" It couldn't be anything else! He was a Chester.

Over the next few days this little guy wormed his way into my heart.

His ears were in pretty bad shape. Time, prayer, and good doses of aloe vera would certainly help them though!

With one ear already fusing itself back together in a cocked position, a scratch on his nose, and slanted eyes, it was sometimes difficult to tell if he was glaring at me or not. :-)

If he looked rough when we found him, he really looks odd now! Thankfully fur grows back, though!

*     *     *     *     *

Two weeks later...

Chester is making definite improvements! He has (a little) better manners, he's now gotten his de-worming and rabies vaccination, and has been neutered. He's still living in my room, although our plan is to get him and our dogs used to each other so he can be an outdoor kitty again. That's what he would like. He's always sitting by the window meowing to go out.

See the improvement! Not completely out of the water yet. Not only did he have ear mites, but he also had a really bad infection from the open sores. That still needs to clear up.

And so, we saved a kitty! I just hope that he'll stick around after he goes back outside again. Maybe he will, now that he knows we love him.

Comforting Words

“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23, 24. “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” “Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy.” Micah 6:8; 7:18. “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do well.” Isaiah 1:16, 17. – {6T 148.3}
These are the words of God to us. The past is contained in the book where all things are written. We cannot blot out the record; but if we choose to learn them, the past will teach us its lessons. As we make it our monitor, we may also make it our friend. As we call to mind that in the past which is disagreeable, let it teach us not to repeat the same error. In the future let nothing be recorded which will cause regret in the by and by. – {6T 149.1}

Book Report

Ok everyone! Here's the "book report!"

First, "Learning Lessons from Furry Friends":
In 2011 I sold 61 copies.
In 2012 I sold 81 copies
In 2013 I sold 10 copies so far.
That's a total of 152 copies of my book!
Next, my newest release, "The Prodigal Pup":
In 2013 I sold 34 copies so far.
That's a GRAND TOTAL of $186 copies of my books sold! YAY!!

But here's the deal. In order to just BREAK EVEN, I need to sell OVER 6,000 copies of books. Want to help me out? Take a look at my books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and www.TeachServices.com. If you haven't already, buy a copy for a child that you know. If you've already done that, then please take a moment to rate and review the book. This will help to get it noticed.

Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement! I really appreciate it!

 

Conviction and Encouragement

This was written by my friend Hannah, and posted on her blog (which I encourage you to subscribe to!): http://www.hannah-rayne.blogspot.com/. If the message that she has shared in this post does not convict, challenge, and encourage you, then I don't know what will. And I repeat her question: Will you join the ranks? Will you lay yourself on the alter of sacrifice in order to let the Lord take control? I want to! But I know that I can't do it alone! I need the Lord's help, and I need your prayers!

Revolution's Flame

I’m tired of dreaming Revolution but not acting it. I’m tired of the complacency that follows me everywhere. I’m tired of the fact that it’s so easy to spend hours talking with friends, and yet so hard to spend an hour on my knees. I’m tired of reading those quotes about young people finishing the work, and not doing a thing different. I’m tired of having plenty when there are children starving with nothing. I’m ready for a change. Aren’t you?

 

I might not be going to Africa tomorrow. In fact I know I won’t be. But aren’t there people starving here in America too? Starving for love—starving for Jesus?

 

Isn’t it time for a change? I mean a real one. Not one that just begins and ends in our imagination; but one that changes us, our friends, and eventually our corner of the world?

 

Isn’t it time to pray like we’ve never prayed before? Not just for ourselves but for each other? To not even think twice about spending an hour on our knees, at any time, if that’s what the Master calls for?

And isn’t it time to put aside all foolishness? I mean, when was the last time we got together and our first thought was to talk about Jesus? And even if it was, somehow it wasn’t what came out. I’m tired of how awfully easy it is in the moment to burst out laughing at the end of a funny story and soon be on to one of my own, and yet how hard it is to keep a straight face and totally change the direction of the conversation. Where do funny stories fit into the Revolution?

 

I’m only sharing what He’s put on my heart. And I know it’s not just my heart He’s working on. Because this whole Revolution—it’s something we embark on together.

And yet somehow we’ve got to start living it, not just for a day, but for a lifetime. How? This is the question I’ve been pondering, and I’m coming to the conclusion that the only way is through a total heart change.

 

Because you know what it’s like. One morning I wake up all ready to jump out of bed and spend time with Him, and the next day I have no enthusiasm. That’s got to change.

 

And I’m sure I’m not the only one who has those times when I’m so close to Him that I can almost sense His heartbeat, but then a few weeks (or days) later I feel a million miles from Him.

And yet somehow, I just don’t think we can be living the Revolution one day and not the next. He’s got to change our hearts so that we get out of bed whether we feel like it or not, and fall on our knees. He’s got to place in us the burning desire to live in His presence, so that when He feels a million miles away, we won’t rest until we know our heart is knit with His.

 

And we’ve got to put aside our feelings and live by faith. We can’t just live it when we feel like it and just dream it when we don’t.

 

Luther lived revolution in his day. What was his key? Prayer. Bible study. He didn’t just read a daily devotional and pray a “help me be good today” prayer. It was hours of prayer, hours of time in the word. It’s what gave not only Luther, but the fathers of our faith their power.

 

And so, I am challenging myself, and I’m inviting you to join me. An hour of uninterrupted time on my knees everyday. Maybe you’re all doing it already, and I’m the last to catch on…

As for all I’m going to say on my knees for an hour, or how it’s going to fit into my schedule when I’m traveling, to be honest, I don’t know. But He does. And this Revolution is because we love Him.

Let me share a prayer from my journal this morning, and let me tell you again—I want to live this Revolution together.

 

“Revolution’s flame, begin in me. Put me heart and life aflame. More than anything this world offers, light my heart with loyalty. Self—let it be no more. Only the dead wood is ignitable. Take away my plenty; my all is Yours. Just let that fire burn bright in me. Bring the furnace seven times hotter, until I am pure gold, reflecting You. Change my heart—make it like Thine, until my life matches my words. No more dreaming about Revolution—let me live it.”

 

The enemy is waiting to knock us flat. But in my mind I see a battlefield with a line of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder. The enemy tries to break through their ranks, but he can’t. Sooner will they give their lives than give him the victory. Their prayers are constantly ascending for each other. They stand, a solid line of soldiers—fighting together.

 

I’m ready for Revolution. Jesus, I’m looking forward to that hour tomorrow morning. And I’m thinking I won’t be the only one. Do whatever it takes to make us live Revolution. I’m in, if You’ll lead me.

--Written by Hannah Rayne, inspired by the Lord

The Larger Prayer

This hymn has really spoken to me the last couple days. Read it slowly and prayerfully, and I pray it will touch your heart as well

At first I prayed for light:
Could I but see the way,
How gladly, swiftly would I walk
To everlasting day!

And next I prayed for strength:
That I might tread the road
With firm, unfaltering feet, and win
The heaven’s serene abode.

And then I asked for faith:
Could I but trust my God,
I’d live infolded in His peace,
Though foes were all abroad.

But now I pray for love:
Deep love to God and man;
A living love that will not fail,
However dark His plan.

And light and strength and faith
Are opening everywhere!
God waited patiently until
I prayed the larger prayer.

"But the Greatest of These is Love"

I would like to thank my friend, Chris Dickerson, for allowing me to copy his work in its entirety to share with you all. This little article is very thought-provoking and meaningful, and I hope you all take the time to read it and be blessed (and perhaps changed) by it. Thank you!    ~Sarah

This is What Love Looks Like...

 
"This is something I have been mulling on for a few weeks now and decided to write it down and share. Too often we get hung up on the rules of Christianity and forget that the foundation is love. We zealously espouse our rules rather than showing others why those rules might be of value; I know I am guilty of that and to those I have done it to, you have my apologies.
 
"What I want to do is think about the foundational rules of Christianity, the Ten Commandments, but instead of stopping with them, try to explain, in my limited understanding, the real reasoning behind them. Maybe we Christians can live them better if we look into the rules rather than just at them. I will be putting verses in part because they are well known and this will allow you to look them up rather than just taking my word.
 
"When asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
 
"This summarizes our duty to God as set forth in the first four of the Ten Commandments.
 
"1. 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' I am your Creator and your Savior, without Me you don't even exist. And I performed both of those acts because I love you and want to be with you forever. There is no one else quite like you and without you My universe would not be quite complete. I want you to love Me totally because of what I have done for you in love. Having other gods means you don't appreciate what I have done, continue to do, and want to do for you, but have limited your vision to yourself those things right around., including human power which is weak and failing in all its forms, including money.
 
"2. 'Thou shalt not make any graven images or idols.' If you are making an image that you claim is Me, how can you do me justice? I am huge, the creator of the entire universe, I am greater than your mind can comprehend which means something you make to represent Me doesn't nearly capture who I am and what I can do. If you are making something out of wood, stone, metal, etc., what can it do for you; it has no life, just an object. You are depriving yourself of access to real help and power when you limit yourself to these items no matter how large they may be. Why limit yourself to what your mind can comprehend when I am and have so much more I want to give you because I love you.
 
"3. 'Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord they God in vain.' Loving someone mean respecting them, if you love me, why would you use my name in a vulgar, insulting, or simply low and common way? Just because I have to power to destroy does not mean I wish to or take pleasure in it, especially just over minor human disagreements. Why would I want to destroy people I created so I could have a special relationship with each? Yes, the day will come when I am forced to allow sin to consume itself and all those who have become one with it, but I will take no pleasure in those lost; I will miss them. Of course that is only one way My name is taken in vain, the more hurtful is those who claim to be mine but then do their own thing as though what I asked is unimportant. Misrepresenting Me hurts Me not simply because you are lying about who I am but are hurting others I have created and want to have a relationship with; you damage those relationships by your actions while claiming to follow me. Seeking your own pleasure while saying you are a Christian shows just how much you are missing, you want all the benefits without any of the 'responsibility' but don't realize that the real benefit is the intimate friendship I want with you, one that is truly freeing because I take away your guilt.
 
"4. 'Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy.' I have set aside a specific time each week where I want to meet with you and deepen our friendship. Come and meet with me because you love me for creating you and saving you from evil. The time I've set aside is a reminder of what I have done for you both in making you and the world you enjoy and in freeing you from the slavery of sin. I don't demand your time and attention and if you love something more than me, then go do that, but I miss your company. Meeting with me is to be a time of joy though people have often made it a burden, please don't let their misinterpretation of who I am prevent you from knowing me personally and realizing the happiness I want to give you. Just as you would make special time for close human friends when they are available, I simply ask that you make the time for me when I am not only available but have made the time for you and promised special blessings because I love you.
 
"And then He added, 'And your neighbor as yourself.' This captures the qualities of the last six commandments because our love for God is expressed in our love for those He created and loves just as much as each of us.
 
"5. 'Honor thy father and thy mother.' I used them as my special helpers in creating you. They have more experience and hopefully wisdom with which to guide you both in avoiding mistakes but also in developing your friendship with Me. They were asked to put up with a lot when I gave you to them and, ideally, they accepted the challenge without a second thought simply because of love for who you uniquely are. They were supposed to represent me and, while some have failed miserably, I still love them and you and remain your truest and most involved parent.
 
"6. 'Thou shalt not kill.' For to kill is the antithesis of expressing love. It shows that you value something or someone as being more important that life I created and, if it is a person, died for. I did not spare My life, though I had every power to do so, but trusted Myself to My Father's love and allowed Him to take care of things; He protected Me against the worst Satan could do and does the same for all with a close friendship with Him. I did that because I valued your life as being more important than My own and My example is to be your example. While I recognize there may be times when the relative value of life means you need to hunt to sustain yourself, but if it is unnecessary then why is there a need to kill My creation for your person pleasure; be it appetite, power over life, or other reasons.
 
"7. 'Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Love does not willfully injure another and consciously tries to avoid unintentionally hurting another. If you love Me then you will not hurt the one I gave you to share the challenges of life with. This means even the thought will be guarded because the love will mean you wouldn't even want to have thoughts that might hurt them if they could read your mind. I can read your mind and so I can know whether you appreciate My gift and love us both as a result, or whether you are merely seeking selfish pleasure at the expense of one of those I love until such time and you can obtain that pleasure at another's expense. They may not always be perfect, but look in the mirror and understand that what they have devoted themselves to is not perfect either but both in a relationship with Me will grow into perfect love.
 
"8. 'Thou shalt not steal.' Have I not met your needs and more, or have we not developed a relationship where you can trust My word completely? I have promised to take care of all you need, but that isn't sufficient and your patience is lacking so you injure another for your benefit. You value your immediate pleasure over the security of one I love, wounding them mentally and emotionally so you can feel a false measure of short-term pleasure. Trust Me and My love for you and I will give you what you need, when you need it, and so much more that you won't be able to keep it all.
 
"9. 'Thou shalt not lie.' Love means being honest, even when it is painful, though one should never be careless or thoughtless when expressing the truth. Being right does not give you a right to self-righteous, mean, or vindictive because in doing so you are lying about what truth is really like. It is kind and considerate, tries to limit pain as much as possible, even is a world where pain is normal. Failing to be honest is an attempt to benefit oneself over that of another whom I love, whether it is a bald-faced lie, a white lie, or an implied lie where the other is allowed to assume something that isn't true. You are valuing yourself as more important than they are which is neither how I value you nor the example I lived.
 
"10. 'Thou shalt not covet.' This is the thought process that leads to killing, adultery, stealing, and lying, the precursor of a sin simply looking for an opportunity. As with stealing, it demonstrates the lack of trust you have in Me and my love for you. Because that is lacking you are continually looking to self-satisfy rather than looking to Me to satisfy; we have a tenuous or even broken relationship that I would like to fix. Please raise your eyes above the temporary things of Earth and look to Me where all needs will be permanently met because I love you.
 
"This is the standard we are expected to meet as Christians and because we didn't as humans Christ demonstrated what love is more directly and in doing so made an escape for His friends. That is what we should seek to be, His friend just as He is already ours and then the friend of all those other people He loves and wants to be friends with. Oh how much we miss in our religion today either making God a God of rules or a God of desperation forgiving all sin because He can't bear to destroy anyone. Neither is true, He is a God of love whose rules express that and a God of justice whose love demands letting go of those who have become so integrated with their sin that they would not be happy with Him. 'Love seeketh not its own,' whatever that may be.
 
"Those are some of the thoughts I have had rolling around, you are welcome to add or comment because I know this is just barely scratching the surface, but my hope would be scratching it just a little more deeply than we often do. All I would ask is that you please be gracious if responding, I know that religion is a touchy subject but true Christianity is not; the problem has long been all the people masquerading as Christians, including me too many times."

**Written by Christopher Dickerson; used with permission.**

Yes, I would readily welcome your questions and comments! How has this post touched you or caused to you think differently? Is there any points that you agree or disagree with? Thank  you again!   ~Sarah

The Lord's Prayer

Here's just a short paragraph from an article I read for school that really stuck out to me.

In Matthew 6 Jesus teaches his disciples how (not what) to pray. His method helps us understand whose we are. Calling God holy reminds us that we are his creation, placed on earth to worship and enjoy him forever. Asking that his kingdom come and will be done reminds us of our part as instruments of his redemption on earth. Requesting daily bread and the forgiveness of sins points to our need for physical and spiritual food. Asking for freedom from temptation and Satan reminds us that without God we are the devil’s quarry. --Bill Strom, "The Anchored Self", p. 7

I hope this gives you food for thought today.

What One Hot Water Bottle Can Do

I have never felt a headache like that before. It felt like my head was about to burst. And that, coupled with a fever and chills, aching muscles, and stuffy sinuses made for very disagreeable sleeping conditions. Yes, I had a bad cold and was suffering the worst of it at about 12:00... midnight. I had tossed and turned for hours, exhausted and yet unable to sleep because of that terrible headache and all the above. I tried sitting up, but that only made me feel faint and nauseated.

Finally, I couldn't take it any longer, and I called for and awakened my mother. You are never too old to be soothed by the cool hand of a loving parent on your forehead, the gentle brush of the hair from your face, and the quiet, calming voice filled with love and understanding. But even all that couldn't take away the grueling headache, the fever, the aching joints, and yeah... all of the above.

Suddenly, Mom had an inspiration. "Sarah, I'm going to get you a hot water bottle for your feet. That will draw the fever away from your head."

I wasn't sure if it would work, but at that point I was willing to try anything. Soon, Mom slipped the toasty warm bottle under the covers and I pressed my feet against it. Mom also propped me up in bed with pillows so that my sinuses could drain while I was reclining in comfort. Lastly, my loving mother got me a fresh, cold ice pack for my head, as the one I had was about as warm as my fevered body at that point.

Within minutes, I began to feel the effects of these simple remedies. I stopped moaning and tossing, my stomach began to settle, I began to feel calm and relaxed, and within ten minutes I was sound asleep. I slept solidly until morning, and when I finally awoke, I felt like a new person. Gone was the upset stomach, the aching joints, and that awful headache. Not only that, my fever had broken during the night. All that was left was the sniffles, which would clear up in a day or two. What a difference one loving mother and one hot water bottle can make!

You know, God has provided so many natural remedies for us to use when we are feeling the effects of this degenerated, sinful earth. Sicknesses, flus, upset stomachs, and "all of the above" do not have to be treated with pills and painkillers. Sometime something as simple as a hot water bottle can be used to break a fever, or charcoal tablet to soothe a soar throat, or an ice pack to relieve a headache. On top of that, there are sickness preventions, such as a healthy, natural diet, fresh air and exercise, and much more. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit; we are not our own. Let's take the time to learn more about how to stay healthy and get well so that we can present ourselves as living (not dying) sacrifices--holy and acceptable--unto God. God bless!