The following is an excerpt of April’s live “Seasonings with Sarah” presentation held at Dunn Bros Coffee in Eden Prairie, MN. Please join us next month on the third Wednesday, May 18 at 9:30 a.m. in the upstairs conference room. (8107 Eden Prairie Rd.)

It’s sometimes hard to get through Good Friday and the reality of the great pain Jesus endured for us thousands of years ago. We feel guilt, shame and deep sorrow as we contemplate the actions of citizens that could have even been us! The fierce brutality alone is enough to send us running for the hills…

But we have the benefit of knowing the rest of the story – the Resurrection is just days away! As we praise God for this miracle that makes our eternal life possible, we cannot forget the part we play in the Resurrection.

Jesus proclaims in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” I believe his purpose in returning to Earth for 40 days after the Resurrection was to be sure we knew the Way, so we could show it to others.

In the 40 days after Easter, Jesus did many important things…quelling the doubts of Thomas, appearing to the disciples behind locked doors, commissioning his followers to GO and make disciples, speaking to Peter and Mary, even doing a little fishing.

But I love the simple, long walk he took on a road outside of Jerusalem most of all.

This walk is described in Luke 24:13-35 - commonly called “The Road to Emmaus”. If we look to Jesus’ example here, we find “roads” we too, can walk in order to show others the Way.

Jesus took the Relational Road when he walked “alongside the disciples” (v. 15), went out of his way 7 miles from Jerusalem (v. 13), asked them questions (v. 15,17), patiently answered their questions, (v. 27) and shared a meal with them (v. 30).

As we show the Way, we must comprehend Jesus’ great love and his investment in relationship. He walks with them. He doesn’t not shove them down the road…

Are you building relationships or are you working on projects?

As Jesus nears the end of the journey to Emmaus, he appears to be traveling onward. The followers (who have not recognized him yet to be Jesus) urge him to stay for dinner. Jesus takes the Flexible Road, changing his plans to join them for supper. And in case you forgot, he had just walked 7 miles OUT OF HIS WAY to Emmaus to earn that opportunity.

Are you flexible enough to change your course when it comes to God’s call on your life to show someone the Way?

The 2 followers in this passage were distraught as they traveled along the road because their “King” had died just days before. They were confused about all that happened in these last days, (v. 20-24) and there was no sign of Jesus still, even though the grave was empty. They headed away from Jerusalem likely because they feared persecution, like many others (hiding in locked rooms.)

And then Jesus shows up, and takes the Bold Road. He has established a relationship, remained flexible and then he senses it’s time. He boldly proclaims, “How foolish you are and slow of heart to believe!” (v. 25) And then he walks them slowly through the scriptures from Moses to the prophets – what was said concerning him. (v. 26)

1 Peter 3:15 says, “be prepared to give the reason for the hope you have but do so with gentleness and respect.” Jesus was all over that.

Are you saying what others want to hear? Or are you ready to give the reason for the hope you have?

This week, all eyes are on the Resurrection.
And you know the end of the story.

Will you walk down the Road and show others the Way?

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I recently had a huge scare – as some of you faithful readers might know.

I temporarily lost my blog. When I logged on all I got was the “white screen of death.” I couldn’t even get to my site from the internet on another computer, or to my administrative dashboard.

When I went online and Googled “white screen of death” there was a multitude of hits. It seems I’m not the only one who’s faced this frustrating and fearful situation. Interestingly, my website administrator, Yahoo, did not have the solution. But I will give them high marks for getting back to me promptly. But in the end, it was the collection of WordPress folks via online forums that saved my hopes (and data).

With limited understanding of all the WordPress jargon, my husband and I had 2 computers open and began to attempt to fix it ourselves. We managed to restore a few posts, but it would have taken hours to recover all of them using that method. At last, after reading some obscure chat from a year ago, we tried removing the theme that corrupted my data, and reverting back to my original theme (think what you see on the screen, colors, columns etc.) And voila! It was back!

I cried tears of joy! Over a blog. Ha.

But really my tears were for the 3 years worth of writing.

Then why did I leave this to chance? Why don’t I have a copy of my files anywhere else?

Because that would take time. And cost me lots of cash in printer cartridges to print all those puppies out on my printer at home. And didn’t think I needed to, because it’s all in the computer already. And I’m lazy.

Here’s what my little lesson with WordPress is teaching me today – and I hope you too. We shouldn’t wait until things are desperate to proactively invest in what matters to us. We shouldn’t wait for the proverbial _ _ _ _ to hit the fan before we seek what is necessary in our lives to maintain and create sanity.

If you haven’t read between the lines yet, I’m talking about more than just my writing.

Are you putting God on the back burner even though you know he’s your lifeline because you’re busy, overwhelmed, lazy, tired?

If you hit a crisis, do you have a reliable “backup”?

Are you taking your faith community, family or friends for granted?

Are you in a “white screen of death” situation – unsure of how to get things right again?

Apathy is easily remedied. Take steps now to end the excuses and procrastination.

Get to church. Call a friend to pray. Start a new study. Ask someone for help. Invest in your faith and relationships with a renewed passion.

God’s word says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

God’s love is unending, unconditional, complete and grace-filled.
And he is ready and waiting to restore your files.

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Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. And as I reflect on the year spent writing and speaking in churches, the coffee shop and everywhere in between, I wanted to say thank you to those of you who faithfully support Salt and clay ministries.

Your prayers, encouragement and attendance spur us on all year long. Not to mention how inspiring it is to look into your eyes and see God’s love, to share your joys and sorrows, and witness your wholehearted seeking of truth in Him. Sharing in your lives confirms our passion and desire to serve God with all our hearts.

The celebration of our Savior’s birth is just days away, and my heartfelt prayer for you and your beloved is that you make room in your hearts, minds and homes for His arrival. Whatever you need to do, however you need to find “room in your Inn”… there’s still time.

Maybe you are wondering how this babe born in a manger could mend your broken life. Could this person called Jesus be the answer? I can tell you if you’re ready to make room in the inn of your heart for him to come in, he’s just waiting at the door. You will find him willing and able to forgive your sins and redeem your soul. May you seek him now as the greatest Christmas gift you will ever receive. He’s ready to lead your life.

Or perhaps you know Jesus, but feel far from him in this space and time for one reason or another. May you find a renewed heart and allow him to reveal the barriers between you now, so you can let him back in to your life afresh this Christmas. Don’t leave him out in the cold. Make a place for Him in your Inn.

Don’t let Christmas come and go without cherishing the gift He brings on Christmas day -true life in Jesus.

Christmas Blessings to you and yours.

With love and gratitude in the one whose name saves us,
Salty Sarah

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I spent the morning with the most delightful group of kids today. I was at a local Christian K-8 School as the chapel speaker. And though it would seem I was there to teach them, as God would have it, they taught me instead!

We were talking about what it looks like to be a “Godly Container” (if you missed our recent blog about that, check it out)

And Wow! These little Godly Containers BLESSED me profoundly today. During their worship time they were singing “Your Love is Amazing” – in which the Chorus says,

“Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Your love makes me sing.”

And as I stood there listening to 200 kids singing in their loudest voices unabashed praises to the heavens, I was dumbstruck.

What would it look like if we – as adults – were more reckless in our abandon praising our Heavenly Father? Does his love stir up a joyful noise of praise unto the Lord? I’m reminded of the passage in 2 Samuel 6:14-15 where it says,

“Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.”

Certainly David was not ashamed of his love for the Most High. He was in front of the whole city letting it all go…and he was the KING, no less. Someone who might be concerned about appearances.

Both David and these darling kids demonstrated there is nothing more beautiful to God than unadulterated worship and songs of praise. I think we could use a lesson or two.

Thank you CHA children for lighting the way and filling my “container” with love!

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Our family got a new puppy a month ago. And as darling as she is, and as much joy as she brings, she is still a PUPPY – and she’s a lot of work! The middle of the night trips outside for a potty break, the accidents in the house, the relentless chewing and puppy bites…all add to the complete experience.

But for us, the greatest challenge right now is that our sweet little “Millie”, or Millicent Rose, doesn’t want to be walked on a leash. She simply locks all four legs and puts her head down and STOPS! So, 60% of the time, we end up dragging her across the driveway, yard or kitchen floor.

At our first puppy class the teacher suggested we turn our back on her and PULL. She said if we face her, then we are in an “argument” or having a showdown. If we turn our back on her, we are theoretically demonstrating we are in charge, we mean business and she’s doesn’t have a choice.

Only, it doesn’t work.

And have you ever dragged 8 pounds of dead weight by the neck? It isn’t pretty.

So the next week at puppy class I told the teacher of our woes…and she suggested we try to carry her for a bit, set her down, then walk. If she stops then we are to do it again. So, now we are spending 1/2 of our walk, not walking, but carrying the dog!!!!

I suppose this is how God feels with me, huh?
Some days he has to pull me, kicking and screaming because I am just too stubborn to listen to reason – to realize ultimately HE is in charge. Other days he carries me. Then I might see the way and walk a bit on my own. But often I fall down again and need his grace to pick me back up.

Ultimately, he IS showing me the way. I just have to choose to walk in it.

As for the puppy, we’ve decided to go with the slow and steady, grace-filled approach. Because after all, she’s really more like us than we’d like to admit.

Does God drag or carry you?

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