• Devotional

    Comfort in Affliction

    March 15, 2023

    In Acts 27, we find the Apostle Paul caught in a terrible storm. He is journeying to Rome as a prisoner, where he would eventually be put under house arrest. On his way, we see the provision of God in granting him favor and ultimately preserving his life (and the lives of those with him). In verse 10, we find an early warning from Paul to the centurion not to put out to sea, for there would be loss of life and property. Unfortunately, they did not heed his warning and eventually found themselves in a life threatening tempest. Luke gives…

  • Devotional

    Simplicity Unfolded (Plus a personal note)

    March 20, 2024

    Note to readers: Greetings, friends! I’ve received some feedback that posts sometimes get buried and revisiting topics can be helpful. This, paired with taking some time away to write new content, I’ve decided to re-post the series on simplicity. I hope you enjoy! I am looking forward to this new season. All the best from my home to yours, Sarah Simplicity “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and Godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” 2 Corinthians 1:12…

  • Book Review

    Book Review: Raising Kids to Follow Christ

    February 29, 2024

    This post is a little different than the usual content seen on Labor of Lilies! Today’s post is in association with The Blog About Blogger network. I’m excited to discuss a new title from Whitaker House, Raising Kids to Follow Christ, by Lee Ann Mancini. This is a topic near and dear to my heart! While I am not a parent, I have had the privilege of teaching in a variety of settings, and feel very passionate about the role of the church in the lives of the children within their congregation. Parents are certainly the first line of defense…

  • On a personal note

    Do You Still Believe it?

    February 28, 2024

    There are seasons where a believer passes through a valley. There are seasons where prayers become places of simple words. I have sat near some broken places lately, and mourned over so many broken things, holding them in broken fingers. Have you ever been there? I don’t think I could count the times I’ve just whispered, “Father?” and that was the whole of my prayer- just my hand reaching into the air above me. “Do you still believe it?” It was a question I heard, not out loud, but in my heart. It was a sneering question, a bitter question,…

  • On a personal note

    Rest in January

    January 20, 2024

    “Rest, the gentle kind that comes with a still heart before the Shepherd. A sheep that can close tired eyes and just sleep.” Ah, it’s been a minute! I lay in bed today, before the day began, thinking. I thought about my best laid plans for the month of January. I thought about my plans for the year. I thought about life, and pace, and goals, and unmet expectations, and met expectations, too. In the middle of this analysis, I was stopped. It wasn’t a thunderclap from heaven that stalled my run-away-train of thought or even a whisper in my…

  • On a personal note

    A Personal Note

    January 3, 2024

    January has arrived! We’ve entered that time of year where change, passion, and purpose are all around us. In the rush of setting goals and looking with expectation to what 2024 might bring, we can find guidance and take comfort in the unchanging character of God. I hope this year brings beauty and grace for everyone reading this. Happy new year! Taking a look back today at this excerpt from, “How to Find Your Purpose!” Labor of Lilies will be back with new content (for a new year!) next week. In the meantime, I invite you to follow along on…

  • Devotional

    Knowledge and Discernment

    December 30, 2023

    “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV). In the last post we talked about the beginning of this prayer- how abundant love is the direct result of abiding in Christ. The apostle didn’t stop his intersession for the church with his request that their love would abound more and…

  • Current Series - Devotional

    In Love

    December 27, 2023

    “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV). Over the next couple posts, we’ll be exploring this entire prayer! Today, we’ll start by looking at the beginning. Anytime the apostle Paul references specific aspects of his walk or prayer life, my feet come to a halt. “And it is my…

  • Devotional - On a personal note

    Portion

    December 20, 2023

    When I was thirteen, I began studying the Bible. I’d been steeped in Bible stories since infancy, but at thirteen I participated in a Bible reading challenge that quickly turned into something life changing: I met Jesus in the pages of scripture. As a side note to youth leaders and those who work with kids: God used the youth pastor in my life in a big way- the effects of which are still present in my walk with the Lord! Discipleship for teenagers is so important. As someone who grew immensely from those foundational teachings in youth group, I just…

  • Devotional

    Sincerity Unfolded (Part II)

    December 8, 2023

    In our last post, we explored the Godly simplicity with which the apostle Paul behaved in the world (that article can be found here!: Simplicity Unfolded). We also talked about how that simplicity takes on the connotation of being “unfolded.” Paul and the brothers with him didn’t walk in the world carrying a myriad of hidden motives- they were simple (unfolded) in their dealing with people. Today, we’ll explore the other word that is used to describe their behavior and how it helps to complete the example they left for believers today. Defining sincerity “For our boast is this, the…

  • Devotional

    Simplicity Unfolded

    December 6, 2023

    “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and Godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” 2 Corinthians 1:12 (ESV). This verse hangs above my desk. It’s not on anything fancy, just a piece of paper from a notebook. I haven’t adjusted to it’s presence there (and I hope I never will!). This verse stops me every time I read it. The apostle Paul encouraged the early church to follow after his example, as he followed after Christ (if you’d…