HELLO FROM GAINSVILLE, GEORGIA!!!!
Imagine this, I am living out of a tent, it has been raining a lot (think dampness and mold), we take bucket showers, we do our own laundry in a bucket and and use a clothes line, mom is not here to cook, and we have the pressures of fitting in with a lot of new people…And yet, I have never (ever, ever, ever) felt so close to God and so in love with the people that I am around and my friends and family from back home (even though I am not around them). This past week, we named my squad Manna (hopefully, I can do a blog on that soon) and had a squad competition, which we won. That was so much fun!!!
(Our laundry– I borrowed this picture from a teammate.)
K Squad on competition day (Thanks Jett for the picture!).
Our Bible study sessions have been amazing. One lesson from yesterday that hit home with me was on the Biblical truth that a person reaps what she sows. Galatians 6:7-8 says “Don’t be misled–you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” There are a lot of paths that a discussion on this topic could lead. For example, I could discuss Karma and the world view that a person gets what they deserve. However, that is not Biblical. Because of our sinful nature, we don’t deserve anything good, even if we are considered a good person by the world. Rather, by God’s grace alone, there are rewards (often times for others) for doing what God commands of us. Likewise, there are negative consequences for sinful decisions.
As I laid in my tent last night, I began thinking about this topic and what it meant to me. Can a farmer plant corn and expect to harvest cotton? If she does, she is not a wise farmer and is living on irrational worldly “hope.” Faith in Jesus is different–it is knowing that if I plant corn, I will harvest corn. As I was growing up, my dad always said, “If you plant an acre of peas, they yo peas,” meaning that my actions have consequences. I have to take ownership of my actions. Sure, I know that I will sin and make a bad decisions. I also know that I can ask God for forgiveness and that I am 100% positive that I am forgiven for that sin. However, there are negative consequences or a bad “harvest” that follow sinful actions. Often times we see those consequences and sometimes we do not. We can choose to do what God tells us to do only some of the time or when it is convenient for us. However, 2 Corinthians 9:6 says “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Shouldn’t we all strive for a bountiful harvest by living daily in God’s will?
With that said, my thoughts went back to something that we also discussed last week…Gossip. As a teenage girl, I have been hurt by gossip and I suspect that I may have hurt others. Talking with members of my team, gossip seems to be something that has hurt several of us. It was tough in high school finding out that a “friend” was talking bad about you. It is especially hard for a teenage girl trying to fit in. The Bible is clear that “Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats that matter separates close friends”–Proverbs 17-9.” The harvest of gossip is the loss of close friends. However, I Peter 3:10 reminds us of that if we don’t gossip the harvest is amazing: “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.” Our actions have consequences even if God has forgiven us. I pray from this day forward God will continuously remind me to use my words for His Kingdom and never to intentionally bring someone else down.
Cheers, Sasha
Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. The words of gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. Proverbs 26:20-22.
Love it. It’s hard to be loving God when we don’t love those made in His image. Gossip does so much damage to what Kingdom love is.
Hi Sasha. My name is LaDonna. I graduated from high school with your Dad. I’m enjoying your blog. Your writing is amazingly mature and I can hardly wait to see what’s next. You are taking so many people on this journey with you through your blog. Thanks for sharing. They say the only thing you can spend money on yet be enriched is travel. I believe that to be true. I’ve done some traveling of my own and those experiences are some of the best of my life. You are in my prayers.
Great blog….you made me smile with the title. Always try to treat people with kindness, recognizing that your actions impact others and God’s ability to use you for His purposes. Love you girl. Dad
Hi Sasha! Thanks for sharing pics and all that you are learning! I’ve never heard the phrase your dad taught you about the peas – and I love it! Great truth about how God wants us to act, and the benefits of walking in His truth! Praying for your squad!
Enjoyed the blog. I would like to say that I do not gossip as much since I’ve grown older (75) but I have to continue to remind myself to listen more and speak less. Speaking less to me means not spreading gossip. It’s hard for gossip to grow if I remind myself not to spread gossip. Continue with your blog it makes me think and pray more.