Monday, November 22, 2010

Word

1 Chronicles 16:33-35
Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.”

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Take time for a visit

I have several blogs that I follow almost daily linked to this one.  Today one of my regular blogs The Stay-at-Home Missionary lead me to one of her favorites, A Holy Experience

I have been secretly dreading Christmas this year.  Although it is fun for my children, Christmas has really lost its meaning in so many aspects.  We get away from celebrating Jesus or celebrate Him so we can hurry on to celebrating how much we "get".  At our house we try to limit how much our children receive in an effort to keep them humble, but still we are all just not getting it.  Its not how it should be!

In NEED of shelter and someone to take care of them


When I clicked on A Holy Experience, it was the right idea.  The perfect way to celebrate Christmas - giving to the least of these.  They don't have any wrapped gifts under their tree.  They give to people who truly NEED something.


NEED shelter


NEED food

How many times have you shopped for "the person who has everything"?  Every year we do this for people in our families, just to have something to give.  Blech, blech and more blech I say!

I hope you will take time to visit A Holy Experience and think radically about celebrating Christmas this year!  It is not too late!  It takes so little to sponsor a child at Wesley Home for Youth.  Consider your gifts.  What will you give to Jesus for His birthday?

Thankful, Sheryl

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Word

Psalm 100:3-5
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Faith

Why does our human nature need to see, touch, smell, taste, hear in order to believe?

On Saturday night I had the privilege to be in the worship service with Good News Church (the international church skyped between us and the Wesley Home in the town of Liloan, Philippines).  It was so moving to see the children in live action, singing and worshipping God IN REAL LIFE!  Since I haven't returned to the Philippines since WHY opened I have yet to meet them in person.  I have written about, seen pictures of, heard stories of these children for one year.  Seeing them in real life brought me to tears. 

While I watched and listened to them singing songs, reciting memory verses and giving their interpretations of those verses my mind wandered to where they were only months ago (for some a few weeks).  Living in the trash dump, being used inappropriately to put food in the bellies of their families, not knowing the one true and living God exists and they can know Him personally.

I think sometimes that we, in this rich country, are at a disadvatage because we have too much, we know too much.  I pray that we can again have child-like faith and trust our God to do just as He promises -- supply our needs.

Thankful, Sheryl

Friday, November 12, 2010

Word

In preparation for my favorite holiday of the year....
Thanksgiving, only 2 short weeks away....

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Thankful, Sheryl

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

UPDATE!

PROJECT PILLOWCASE UPDATE! 

please visit the project pillowcase page

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Nope, it's not Christmas!

As I was shopping this past weekend Halloween candy was flying off the shelves at 75% off.  Meanwhile workers were frantically making room for Christmas decorations, trees, cards, etc.  What's missing here?  Oh that's right, we skipped that holiday that seems to be forgotten, overlooked, unimportant each year....uhhh, it's coming to me, oh yeah, Thanksgiving.  That's it, Thanksgiving.  That holiday when Charlie Brown doesn't want to invite Peppermint Patty to his house for dinner because he has plans with his grandparents.  But of course, she being Peppermint Patty and Charlie Brown being the push over he is can't say no to her.  Come on people!  I don't think our forefathers were quite that shallow to celebrate a holiday just to have a roast turkey and stuffing.

The holiday is celebrated because we (ALL OF US!) have so much to be thankful for every day, every moment of our lives.  Check out what Wikipedia lists as "Thanksgiving".

Thanksgiving is a holiday to express thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation to God, family and friends for which all have been blessed of material possessions and relationships. Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. This holiday has since moved away from its religious roots.

As an American I have so many privileges - going to church, getting an education, freedoms that some around the world couldn't even imagine!  Yet we have become so spoiled and ungrateful that I am sickened by my own society.  Sadly, Wikipedia even states that the celebration has moved away from its roots.

thankful for a drink

Read it again; "appreciation to God, family and friends..."  That's right, God!  Thankfulness to God.  Oh friends, even in our darkest moments of sickness, pain, heartache, despair, as victims, as perpetrators, as whatever we find ourselves to be, WE can be thankful to God for all He does for us.  

Here is a chorus of a song that reminds me of what we must do to truly become humbled and thankful -- lay down ourselves at the cross. 
Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

"Lord I lay me down" is my favorite part....the hardest, but the best.  I pray that each of us will lay ourselves down and receive the mercy and grace God offers us.  I pray that we will become softened as we count our blessings and remember daily the bounty we have to be grateful for in this life.

Thankful, Sheryl

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Word

God's Word is chock full of goodness.  Goodness for predicaments we get ourselves into, goodness for sad times, goodness for when we are praising God in wonderful mountain top times...but sometimes we run across some kick-in-the-pants goodness.  
When we start thinking, "I'm doing a good job" and words like I and me and my and we and our creep into our conversations, it is often then that God needs to remind us that HE alone is in charge.  We can't do anything without His power in us.


1 Cor 1:26-31
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”


I hope and pray that as you go through your day, you will boast in the Lord!

And add a smile to your wardrobe....

Thankful, Sheryl

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Good News Church

The Good News Church has now had its first official service.  It is wonderful to see the children singing and playing worship songs for Jesus.  The children are also memorizing scripture and giving prayer requests.  It is a blessing to have these children who have come from deplorable conditions praising the one true and living God that they are coming to know.

We are thankful for the donors who have provided the funds for the necessary technology tools so that the Sunday services can take place.  It is a way that we can stay connected with the children half a world away!

Thankful, Sheryl