Wednesday, December 16, 2015

It's really not the kid's fault.

Okay, so first off let me say that this will, to most, be very offensive. And no matter HOW MUCH I ask people not to be rude back or get offended they will anyway. But if you're typically thin skinned or are easily offended, stop reading now.
If, on the other hand, you are open to change and are going to read this, then please read all of it!

As a follower of Christ and someone who loves God with all of my heart I’m not immune the disrespect of distraction during a service.

This happens in so many churches, every service. I can't say this in my church because my father is the pastor and I know the congregation would only be offended because they are a bit too stuck in their ways.

This is something that has and will always bother me. It's rude and inconsiderate to the others in the room and that is: keeping crying babies, toddlers or just noisy kids in a church service when there is a perfectly suitable nursery, just outside the room. It won't kill you, or your kid or anyone to take them out, BUT by keeping noisy children in the service the parents could be and ARE hindering the Holy Spirit from moving in the hearts of others.

Crying kids are a huge distraction, no matter how you slice it. They are. It's distracting. Rude of the parents and disrespectful to the pastor who either continually has to raise his voice to be heard or gets totally drowned out by the kid's unnecessary screaming, babbling or the parent talking to them as if they're just hanging out at home. Church services are NOT the time to hold a conversation with your child, they are NOT a place to read a book out loud while the preacher is preaching. It’s not preschool. It’s not a place for your kid to be playing games on your phone with silly sound effects going off. It’s a place of worship that should be reverenced and respected.

The hard, cold truth is this, your sweet, spoiled, precious, princess or prince, miracle baby CAN AND WILL BE USED BY SATAN TO DISTRACT SOMEONE WHO GOD MIGHT BE TRYING TO WORK ON.
That's hard to hear. It might sound rude. But it's the truth. Your child is NOT above being a tool that the devil will use to distract someone from getting saved or hearing something they need to hear. Yes, it's the person's choice to or not to accept God BUT Satan can use a crying, babling kid to distract them just that one time that they finally decided not to accept.

Then there are those of us like me, the ADHD, ADD people, teens, and adults who just simply CANNOT FOCUS. We can't help it, it's all we can do to focus when there aren't any kids making noise. And when they do start babbling, crying or screaming, that is ALL we can hear. We can't, like the parents obviously can, block out the noise and listen to the drowned out pastor.

So PLEASE next time your baby starts screaming, your toddler won't stop talking, your kid is just babbling, or you feel the need to give them a school lesson in the middle of ansermon, take them to the nursery, someone could possibly not accept God because they were too distracted by extra noise in the room.

Pastors study and prepare for these sermons they’re giving and if innevery service they just get drowned out then what’s the point?!

I would never want to discourage anyone with young kids to not come because of the kids. Just for those churches who offer nursery services and have workers in them, they're a good thing to use! Forcing kids to sit with the parents in a service they can't even understand isn't going to make them all learn to listen and sit quietly.

Kids are critical to the world, I get that but in a place of worship there is a place for kids to be kids and it’s not the sanctuary.

*Again this is not to be offensive.*
It's just food for thought.
Sincerely,
Sarah

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

I want to be an Astronaut.

I saw earlier today where NASA will be taking applications for astronaut candidates in December through February and will be announcing the winner in 2017. It has been a life-long dream of mine to go into outer space. Star gazing is one of my favorite things to do, and although I am by no means an astronomy nerd, (I can find Orion and the big and little dippers that's about it! Haha!) I have just always been interested and enraptured by space. 

While the requirements for this application are far above anything I have or will ever achieve this whole space exploration thought//desire hasn't ever been about space cred (lol), being cool, or even learning science-y things. For me going into outer space, seeing the vastness of our solar system, seeing the perfectly crafted Earth in all of its glory, seeing the other planets as more than tiny balls of light, being out there in the nothingness. It's always been, for me, about wanting to see the hugeness of God's creations and His incredible ability to make something out of nothing. His power, might and creativity are so beautiful to me. 

The same God who created the Sun, planets, moons, other suns, complex solar systems, galaxies and keeps them in order and in their places made ME! And YOU! How awesome is that?! That fact will never cease to astonish me.

Today as you look around you at the trees, the sunlight, the rain, the oceans, the mountains, where ever you are or tonight when you see the stars and Moon, know that the God who holds those beautiful works of art in His hands also is holding you!

XOXO,

Sincerely,
Sarah

Monday, August 24, 2015

Fire and Wings and Supernatural things.



Lately I have been suffering from the most intense writer's block (and readers block if that is a thing...more like a reading slump.) and I have never in my life experienced anything like that, where my imagination just shuts down and locks me out. I have always had an overactive imagination, creating pictures, stories and art in my head so in all of this I have felt a sense of loss. My mind has been feeling extremely depressed and walled in a way. I feel the deep desire to feel some cold weather, see some orange, gold and green leaves and drive to some place to take a memory card full of pictures to get my creative juices flowing again. 
The only thing that will in the slightest grab my attention or interest is Supernatural, fire and wings. I LOVE wings, I am always editing them onto people in pictures on my phone and I not so secretly wish I had a pair of my own. Also, the Phoenix has been on my mind for the past few days thanks to a friend, hopefully like the Phoenix this burning out feeling will lead to a rebirth of some sort!
Anyway, due to my current state here are a couple of edits I have made featuring such things!
And me, also Elle Fanning.



Me in the top left,. <3

Hope all you lovelies are having better luck
with your creative adventures than I am!



Sincerely,
Sarah

Friday, July 24, 2015

Moon Swoon.

Nothing like the moon to get you feeling that spacey,
super tiny, what is my purpose in life, why can't we live in space yet mood!
I have ALWAYS LOVED the Moon and the stars, these few shots I
snapped a few weeks ago make me even more in love with this floating orb
of shimmery goodness!

Normally silvery or white, the Moon appears orange here due to light being filtered
through the Earth's atmosphere. Dust, pollution and even smoke from wildfires
can cause the Moon to appear orange, pink, yellow or even red!


Swoon worthy, Moon worthy!


All three photos were taken by me, Sarah Jones, using a Canon t2i!
Thanks for reading!

SINCERELY, 
SARAH!

Monday, July 20, 2015

PINEspiration

Just some visual inspiration.
I took a sort of break from my biggest project to work on a couple of smaller projects that have been burning a hole in my brain lately and I'm just getting back to editing (ugh.) Life in the Pines and I totally need some inspiration and motivation for finishing up this manuscript!
So! Here are some pretty scenes of Pines, Lakes and Mountains to help push my brain along. Lol. 

Have a lovely day guys!
Sincerely,
Sarah

Monday, February 16, 2015

Writing and coffee.

It has been far too long since I have written anything on this blog of mine! So here is a quick update on whats going on with me!

In one of my previous posts I mentioned a "project" that I was starting and I just want to share what that was/is....drum roll.....It is in fact my very first YA novel! (I guess this is me going public lol!)

It has been in the works since May of 2014 and I have completed it!(For the most part I think) I am now in the heavy editing process. I write, edit and drink coffee. Lots of coffee. When I am not working on my own books I am reading and writing reviews of other author's books on AskSeekKnockReviews.Blogspot.com or watching Gotham, Agents of Shield, or NCIS! (While drinking more coffee of course.)

My imagination has always been overactive, (I'm guessing that is from my ADHD.), and I have decided to put that to good use by writing! I feel like my imagination is a gift from God and I just have to use it for Him. I am currently working on a post-war fiction novel about twelve young adults who live in a tribal community called the Pines. I haven't settled on a name yet I'm between two similar names.

Once I feel like the editing is completed I will begin to query literary agents and hopefully get an agent who will help me to get a totally rad book deal! Until then I am just working hard on polishing my book and writing others! I never thought I would end up perusing a writing carrier seeing as how I have learning disabilities that hindered me all throughout school but I have fallen in love with this art form. The writing community I have found is welcoming and supportive and that is always helpful! I hope to be able to keep posting more updates as I go forward on this journey!


Sincerely,
Sarah

Until next time enjoy these gifs of Lucy Pevensie waving :)




Also...
You can find me on Instagram!
Instagram.com/AskSeekKnock
Instagram.com/WithinTheBookcase