Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #40

I'm thankful for:

0781. seven great weeks of Fuge

0782. Regeneration next week!  I've been looking forward to this all summer; plus, the youth group from my church is coming, along with Ellie!

0783. "Jesus Paid It All"

0784. my natural hair color.  A bunch of people had a "group dye" party yesterday, and for some of them, it didn't turn out so well.  I'm so grateful I've never dyed my hair!

0785. only two more weeks till I'm done with my first education class!

0786. being able to spend 11 weeks with the people here

0787. a bunch of different cultures and ethnicities all coming together here; it's really showed me what the Body of Christ is like as it spans countries, races, and peoples

0788. a good, well paying job

0789. a car!!!!  Only by the grace of God.

0790. getting mail

0791. music majors

0792. computer plugs that work.  I've been having such horrendous problems with mine, but I'm getting a new one tomorrow!  Yay!

0793. a wedding to go to on Sunday!  Congratulations, Hope and Matt!

0794. my Fuge sweater.  So warm.

0795. fast Internet.  You never know what you had at home till you're away from it for 11 weeks.  I think I just waited half an hour so I could fully listen to one song on youtube.

0796. friendships that will last a lifetime

0797. getting up at 5:30 today to go watch the sunrise!

0798. a pretty easy week of work

0799. the opportunity Ellie's had over these past few weeks to go on mission trips with Samaritan's Purse

0800. getting to spend all day Sunday with my family!

make me a servant

At the very beginning of this summer, when I first arrived at Glorieta, I hated the idea of serving others.  When I began my training in the dining hall and realized that I was actually going to be serving food to people, I felt truly wronged.  I was above this kind of work!  I didn't want people to see me as inferior.

It took me a few days to struggle through the concept that I am here this summer so that I can learn to serve people.  I'm not here on vacation, or for fun, or anything like that; my foremost purpose here is to be like Jesus in all my service, whether I'm washing dishes or making food or mopping a floor or praying with someone.

During my time here at Glorieta I have been attending Blaze Christian Fellowship as often as I can, and this morning they began a new series on marriage.  I didn't know how applicable the sermon would be to me, but I actually really enjoyed it.  The pastor's main point was that, in any given marriage between two people of God, they are not the point of the marriage--the point is God, and His glory.  A man and wife are to be focused on how they can best honor God through their marriage, not how they can get as much from the other person as possible.  The point of a marriage is for each person to see how best they can serve the other.  That point really struck me, and I want to live that out in my life, though I'm obviously not married.  I want to serve my family, and my friends, and just be the light of Christ wherever I am.  I want to lose my life, and find it again in Jesus.

Sorry if this post is all over the place!  It's just something I wanted to share. :)

"He existed in the form of God...but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men."

Philippians 2:6-7

five weeks

I can't believe that I've already been here at Glorieta for 5 1/2 weeks!  Time is just flying by; I love this place so much!

My time mainly consists of working five days a week, and then hanging out with people or doing laundry.  Last Saturday afternoon I played paintball for the first and last time. :) The first wound I received was to my temple, and I couldn't hear for a few moments.  After that I was shot another time in the head, four times on my back, twice on my arm, and once on my leg.  I finally bowed out halfway through because I just wasn't having a good time, but more power to all those paintball fanatics out there!  I certainly admire your courage. :)

This week is Christmas week for all the summer staff.  We each drew a name, and we give our person little gifts throughout the week, finally culminating this Sunday.  We each filled out a form that kind of described what each person was like.  I'm having a great time thinking up stuff for my person!

Today I received my first gifts from my secret Santa.  First was a box of corn Chex on my doorstep, since I'd said that that was one of my favorite foods.  The second gift came tonight when I was eating dinner.  I had finished my meal, and I noticed that one of my fellow staff members had his guitar with him.  It was definitely strange to have it with him in the dining hall, but I didn't give it more than a passing thought.  Suddenly, however, he came over to my table and starting yelling for everyone in the dining hall to quiet down--and I mean everyone: Fuge kids, Fuge staff, volunteers, and everyone in between.  I still didn't know what was going on, though, until he suddenly announced, "This is a Christmas present for my girl Sarah here."  I literally almost fell out of my chair.  It was such a surprise!  Then he played me a song, but I don't know what it was.  There were a lot of ooohs that everyone sang along with.  Halfway through another one of the guys on staff came up and gave me some flowers and a card, because on my form I'd written that I've never gotten flowers from anyone.  It was probably the best gift I've ever gotten!  I felt so loved. :)

Have a great week, everyone! :)