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Sarah Martin

@oneanother.blog

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Real relationships in real time. Have you thought about this? If you’re on the socials on a regular basis you’re probably seeing what I’m seeing: people crying, bearing their souls to their phone cameras, lots of one way monologues followed by commenters itching to weigh in on the topic but who have no real relationship with this person on the other side of the camera. We are swimming in oceans of content like this now. But this is not what we need. It’s not what the person filming really needs and it’s not what we the audience need. What we do need is more face-to-face dialogues - where the tears can flow and laughter can be had in the same breath. Why? Because it’s what we were made for. We were made for God and we were made to be in connection with each other in real time. How do we do that?

Prioritize it. Do you prioritize eating & sleeping? If your soul needs that friend time it’s time to talk with your spouse or support system about how and when you can make this a built-in part of this season of your life.

Lead it. We can’t wait for people to come to us. We just can’t. But you can invite it: “Hey friend, do you want to meet regularly? Monday morning walks? "First Friday coffee shop date?" "What do you think about reading a book of the bible together this summer?" It’s vulnerable but worth taking the risk to invite someone into a deeper, more meaningful relationship.

Calendar it. Plug in that regular meeting time. If this is really important to you, don’t say, “We’ll find a time.” or “I’ll just wait to hear from you…” Nah man. Get it in your calendar and commit to it - ride it out. Of course you will miss days due to sickness or unforeseen circumstances, etc. but make time and space for the people who you want to go deeper in friendship with.

And pray for God’s blessing as you meet together. by @oneanother.blog

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3 months ago

Salt
Mrs. Meyers basil scented dish soap
Popcorn popper
The light hitting just right - a higher design
Lilacs in full bloom
Butter on toast
Friends who check in
Coffee served at perfect temps
Holy Spirit bringing scripture to mind
Good socks
Spring in general (minus the allergies)

I got a hand written letter from one of my mom’s friends last week and that simple gesture warmed my heart in a way that I didn’t even know I needed. Life is tough. Layers of relational complexity, different spiritual journeys, sin, all of it. But God in his mercy gifts us with these seemingly small tokens of his generosity, personability and kindness. Like salt to make things taste good- what a gift. Good smells. I love a good scent. God, you gave us the gift of scent! Amazing. And he has given us one another. Receiving that letter from my mom’s friend reminded me of this passage- Proverbs 15:23, “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!” Thank you God for being a part of the body - your Chruch.

Prayer: God give us eyes to see how we can bless each other as you have richly blessed us. by @oneanother.blog

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3 months ago

I inherited this china cabinet from my mom’s best friend, Suzanne. I feel very honored to have it, it’s been in her family for generations. Time for a little re-fresh & purge.

My mom and Suzanne really taught me everything I know about hosting. They were really good at it, too. What I cherish about both mom and Suzanne is that they were good at hosting the everyday, paper plate kind of hangs and they were equally good at making something special at the table. What I’ve been thinking about lately though is I think a lot of women don’t have a mom or mentor or family friend to demonstrate what Christ centered hospitality even looks like. Maybe that’s you! But you don’t host or have people over because all you see on social media these days are people who have large homes, lots of resources and lots of time to cook all the things from scratch, etc. It’s overwhelming and disheartening. Well, I have good news for you: Hospitality has no rules. Maybe you need to hear that again: If you are a Christain, you are free. We are no longer under the law or bound by man made rules and that includes the area of hospitality. I could say so much more about that but for now I’ll end with this:

1.You are free to host however you want to serve and love on your people. Be free.

2. God cares about the posture of our hearts in hospitality, rather than what our hospitality looks like. I think you can have the-most-beautiful-home, with all the amenities, the finest foods and drinks but if hidden on the inside you are stingy, withholding, proud or showing off, well, that’s between you and the Lord.

3. Perhaps most importantly, look to the Bible and Christ’s perfect example to learn what hospitality even is for the believer. I think Christian hospitality is as beautiful, diverse and unique as its people (albeit there are some common threads as you will observe over time). We need less social media and influencers and more saturation in the Word of God. We need mentorship from older Christian women from your local church who have already learned how to host and serve so well. If you don’t know where to start, start here: Acts. 2:42-47. by @oneanother.blog

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6 months ago

This October mom passed away 8 years ago. Eight years feels like a lifetime ago at this point. I can hardly believe it. Some memories have faded. I see pictures of mom, but in my mind’s eye I can’t see her face the way that I used to. She was a singer and we have recordings of her shows and concerts but I can’t hear her talking to me in her normal speaking voice anymore. Once in a while in dreams I see and hear her the way she was but not when attempting to recall a memory like in those early years after she passed away. The passage of time has been a healing balm when it comes to death and loss, but it has also been a thief in the night. Memories I had stored away have just vanished.

Which makes this so sweet: One of the most precious ways that I have felt comforted and seen in grief over the death of my mother is when friends, even strangers help me remember her. Like when people remember the anniversary of her passing, when they recall a personal memory they have of her or simply ask, “What do you remember about her?” Even more specifically, if someone offers a memory of me with my mom as a child. That is such a delight to me because now as a mother myself I understand that a mother is the primary memory holder of a child’s youth. And so my mom was for me. Now that’s she’s gone only those who also witnessed those early days can say stuff like, “Sarah, your daughter looks like you! I remember when you were a little girl...” Things I want my mom to say to me, ya know?

Often I think that death, loss and grief seem like scary and unapproachable topics if you haven’t yet walked through it. But don’t be afraid. If you have a friend who’s lost a parent, family member, close friend, etc. I want to encourage you that this topic is likely a point of real meaningful connection if you have the courage to ask even the simplest of questions. So be fearless in friendship today pals. My mom was! And that’s one of the many reasons she was so beloved.

Love you mom. by @oneanother.blog

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10 months ago

Mom passed away the fall of 2017, but her legacy lives on. I knew this when she lived but I see it so clearly now: She loved the outsider. She loved the off-beat kids. She loved those who were beaten and bruised from church trauma. She loved the poor. Together my mom and dad loved on the orphaned and the widows. I have many memories of making house calls with my dad meeting with these people. I can’t say I knew as a child what I was experiencing, but through the years I have come to see so clearly a powerful display and demonstration of the love of God in how my parents just met people where they were at.

I am reminded of this passage this morning:

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27

Prayers:

Father, who would you have me go to?
Who would you have me visit and sit with?
Who would you have me make food for?
Who needs financial help?
Who needs clothes?
Who needs a listening ear?
Who needs someone to cry with?
Who needs to be reminded of the truth of the Gospel?
Who needs a friend?

We are your church Lord, send us. by @oneanother.blog

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2 years ago

Switched to a binder cook book maybe a year ago and I’m really enjoying it. Thanks @naptimekitchen!

What’s in mine…

Current Recipes + notes
Old family recipes
Old meal planning menus
History of supper club meals
History of Holiday shopping + meal planning + notes from years prior
Party food + notes

Here are some party notes from our last family Halloween potluck:

Goal: For the kids and fams to have-a-blast. Fun - not perfection!

What Worked:

-We had more than enough food (I’d even say could remove one or two side dishes)
-Two organized kid friendly games worked well
-Heat lamps, outdoor lights, candles and glow sticks worked well
-Bounce house for the win
-Good feedback from friends
-Amenities table: tissue box, wipes, paper towels, etc. for families with babies and small kids was helpful
-Hot cider for parents while trick or treating
-Praying to not be anxious or worried about the details

Try Next Year:

-Remind guests that this is an outdoor hang so dress appropriately
-Family style/kings table set up
-Extra kids high chairs OR designated kid seating area.
-After trick or treating set up fire for those who wanna hang longer/pass out candy in front
-Have a good back up plan if the weather goes south!

#holloween #party #oneanother #oneanotherblog #family #friends #holidays #potluck #learningwhilehavingfun #notes #cookbooks by @oneanother.blog

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2 years ago

Fall is a real bitter sweet season for my family and I. Lot’s of things to celebrate as well as a time to call to remembrance what has been lost. I’d go as far as to say that in the last ten years I changed from loving the Fall, to dreading it. So many hard things have happened in the fall time. This time a year ago I’d say was the beginning of one of the darkest seasons I’ve known so far. I really thought my 30’s would be my best, most favorite, most thriving and “successful” season. It’s just been the opposite.

I was moved to tears by the sermon this past Sunday. It was nothing new, it was a the Gospel. But I’m telling you when you are a person who is in need of the Good News of Jesus Christ, it just hits and it hit me hard. God has saved me. He has saved a wretch like me. If I’m being honest with myself, I am a recovering pharisees, legalist, hypocrite and a host of other things. But when I look back on the events that have happened this past year I am just undone. The Lord loves me…a girl like me! Wow. And he laid down his life for me and my husband. This is the first time in a long, long time where I sense the Lord is redeeming what has been lost. He is redeeming the fall for me. He is redeeming things that I didn’t have faith to believe could be redeemed.

This is 39, friends. I have walked through the valley and I’m here to tell you that God is still good. by @oneanother.blog

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2 years ago

What is working for how I host…

1. We live with less. So there’s just less inventory to manage on the daily. I am 100% one of Dawn the Minimal Mom’s biggest fans. See her YouTube Channel for all the tips and tricks about lowering inventory.
2. Tidying up is a rhythm of our daily lives. And tidying is something that our family does together, it’s never all on me to do alone. Kondo-is-the-queen of all things tidying. Highly Recommend her book, “The life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up.”
3. My mom demonstrated one of the best examples of what it means to be a good host. I continue many of her best hosting practices. I have also discovered my own practices within the good boundary lines of our home, family values and finances.
4. My hosting and our home will never be perfect but the Gospel anchors my heart in such a way that I truly feel free and happy to serve strangers and friends alike with what God has blessed us with.

Do you long to host and serve people in your home but feel afraid or insecure? Start with the Gospel my friends. Then just take a leap of faith and extend a simple invitation to come over. See what the Lord does next. You might be surprised.

@the.minimal.mom @mariekondo

#oneanotherblog #dawntheminimalmom #marikondo #hosting #gospel #home #hosting #friends by @oneanother.blog

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2 years ago

I’ve made it a regular rhythm of life the last several years to take a break from social media during the changing of the seasons. This has been great for many reasons as you can imagine. Here’s the most important reason for me:

I use this time off social media (and re-acclimating myself to using my phone less in general) as a time to intentionally reflect, refocus and grieve. Intentional grieving might sound odd but it’s important work. Example: have you grieved changes in relationships? Have you grieved not getting what you want from your church community? Have you grieved the death of a loved one? Have you done the grieving work and invited the Lord to be your all-in-all? Grief unchecked leads to such hard stuff; bitterness, anger, perpetual frustration and much more. Do that good work friends. Friendships will never be perfect. Churches will never be perfect. But there is one who IS perfect, Jesus Christ! It is He who unites us in his perfect peace through all seasons of life.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, be our all-in-all. Help us to surrender our deepest desires relationally and communally to you. Let not pride, let not jealousy, let no evil thing grow in our hearts when we take inventory of the things that are to be grieved. Come satisfy our souls with your love as we wait on you.

Invitation: This is your official invitation to take a social media pause, fast, whatever you want to call it with me this August. I’ll see you on the flip side friends. If you want to stay close subscribe to my blog newsletter (link in bio). Got some good stuff coming out soon.

Blessings on your heads,

Sarah by @oneanother.blog

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2 years ago

Looking for a good book or resource to get some fresh ideas about authentic community? Struggling to have deep meaningful relationships? Longing and even aching for a church culture that is thriving where you feel like you belong? You might be looking in all the wrong places, friend. The best place to start and establish a foundation for all of these topics is right here: The Bible.

There are so many wonderful resources out there (and I’ve read many at this point), but none compare to the living Word of God. I want to beg us all to be a “primary source” generation (the Bible) not a “secondary source” (conferences, topical Christian books, IG influencers and accounts, etc.). We are fooling ourselves if we think we can have a God glorifying life, fruit bearing ministry, meaningful relationships and authentic community apart from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am not interested in pleasantly coasting on the coattails of the “Christian Culture” that was established for me in the 90’s, early 2000’s and whatever it is we are experinceing now. God is alive and moving today here in you and in me. How is he leading you to be the Church today?

Is your heart longing to be known and satisfied in your soul? Read the Gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke & John). Read Hosea and if you’re brave enough read the Song of Songs. Learn how deep, how wide, how extravagant the love that Jesus has for you and for humanity.

Is your heart longing to have an authentic community? Start with the book of Acts. And honestly, of any of the books written to the early churches (Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians). These people are bound together by a vision of Jesus Christ, their experience of the Holy Spirit and their passion to collectively share the Good News.

Is your heart longing for meaningful friendships and relationships? Read Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Titus and then read the Gospels all over again. If this blog does nothing else, I hope it communicates this: Jesus is the love of your life and he is worthy of our whole lives.

#oneanother #oneanotherblog #community #gospel #bibletruth #churchfamily #meaningfulrelationships #jesus by @oneanother.blog

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2 years ago

A friend told me that a few years ago she asked an older woman to be her mentor but she kindly refused her invitation (for various reasons). Yikes! That’s hard on the heart. The good news today though is that a very special relationship has grown between this older woman and my friend. It just took some time. So, to you friends who are praying and seeking out mentorship but might be getting rejected, ghosted or asked to just wait, take heart. What the Lord has for you today is his good and perfect boundary line. The good news is perhaps He has something even better for you in the future or just around the corner.

Hosting practices I’ve learned from my dear mentor, friend and counselor, Suzanne:

- You don’t need to cook to make something special and meaningful (AKA sushi to-go served on a well dressed table)

- She purposefully would spill red wine on her white table cloths once everyone was seated so everyone felt comfortable and not afraid to “spoil” the aesthetic

- She always was the first to start the conversation with a question

- If there were leftovers from a meal she made, Suzanne would always send them home with her guests

#mentoring #hosting #homemaking #dinnerparty #gathering #friends #serving #homemaking by @oneanother.blog

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2 years ago

“Since mom passed away in 2017 I have wrestled with a lot of grief and change. But in the area of hosting I feel like I have really come into my own. I have learned to discern to take the good lessons from my mom’s hosting and surrender all the other aspects. I can appreciate her and how she did things, but I no longer feel like a slave to being something that I am not. I have learned to embrace grace, my season of life, our financial circumstances, our home in all its glory and brokenness. Lastly I’d say I’ve worked really hard to educate myself on the topic of cooking and how I like to cook. I know if my mom was here she’d be like, “You go girl!” (said in her best raw-raw cheer mom voice). So here are a few things I’d like to share on the topic…”

Full story on the blog to us week. Hosting + ADD + Tips and Tricks.

#oneanother #oneanotherblog #hosting #serving #add #adhd #motherhood #cooking #tipsandtricks #newsletter by @oneanother.blog

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2 years ago