Word

Today, I feel a bit weary.....in my body, in my spirit. 

I'm so ready for the end of the school year, ready to return to the Philippines, hoping it is soon that we can move our family there, not liking myself when I am grumpy mama and wife, praying for strength of body, mind and spirit.....

So I felt this scripture appropriate to share with you.  I hope you will draw strength from The Word.

Galatians 6

9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Thankful, Sheryl

Right or Wrong?

Have you ever stood up for something you believe to be right?

Were you standing alone?

Sometimes it takes that one brave soul standing up for what's right to give others the courage to stand with them.  That lone soul stands feeling a little lonely, a lot scared and very insecure.  But that soul stands......believing.  Believing Christ will sustain them.

These days, even in churches worldwide, Christians lose sight of Christ, of what is right and true.  We lose sight of why we even attend church, why and what we teach our children about Jesus, why we reach out to others.  Some go to church out of habit, some go to be with their friends, others go to be seen as "good".

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Our world is terribly cluttered and it is MUCH easier to float along in our little boat, still, not making any waves.  Not facing change, not looking a challenge square in the eye.  But we must row against the tide, go against the normalness of society, we must make sacrifices.  Change is good, but it sure is uncomfortable and can even be ugly. 

2 Corinthians 4
1Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

People may see us as the enemy when we stand for the right.  We may feel "pressed on every side", but we will not be destroyed.  God is in control.

I pray today that you and I will be standing in our own corners of this wretched world for Jesus....and standing only to further His kingdom.  To give Him glory for what is accomplished through His jars of clay.

Thankful, Sheryl

Just Another Sunset

I am currently reading the book, "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller.  Today I read this:

"We all are like spoiled children no longer impressed with gifts we're given - its just another sunset, just another rainstorm moving in over the mountain, just another child being born, just another funeral."

I would encourage you today to be thankful for EVERY gift whether in nature, transportation, physical health, wealth, even down to the socks on your feet.  We have so much! 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Thankful, Sheryl

Word

A word of scripture for today..... selfishly pointed at myself for opening my mouth when I should have kept it shut.

Psalm 19
12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Thankful, Sheryl

Questions

Dear Followers and Visitors,

This blog would be pointless if no one were reading it!  We aren't here to hear ourselves write.....

Did you know that you can make comments about any or all posts on this blog?  Come on people talk to me!  Have any questions that you want answered?  Hit me!  If I don't have an answer I'll get one!  If you aren't listed as a follower, become one today...get the word out.

Thanks for reading and please bring on the comments!
Sheryl

Passionate

I am an easily "picked on" kind of person.  My husband loves this quality and often tells me he loves my passion.  Mostly because when I speak about something that bothers me or excites me, I get a high pitched voice.  He sometimes jokingly asks me, "Why does your voice go up like that?"

What are you passionate about?  A clean house, organized toys, golfing, fishing, annoying drivers.....?  What are you truly passionate about?  Do you let your passion show?

I looked up passionate on Dictionary.com and these are the definitions listed.

Passionate: adjective
1 having, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling
2 expressing, showing, or marked by intense or strong feeling
Also listed was the synonym "fervid", so I looked it up as well...the definition was burning, glowing, intensely hot. Wow!

Revelation 3:15-17

15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

It must have have been a passionate act of love when Jesus Christ gave Himself as a living sacrifice to every human being....whether liar, murderer, lesbian, alduterer, thief.  He didn't discriminate with His passion.

Recently I spoke at an event for our mission team. I AM NOT A SPEAKER! But after I spoke, several people said to me that they could really see my "passion"....I used to take my husband's comments as negative...but after some thought, I really want to be known as passionate.  I want people to talk behind my back and know exactly for what I am passionate.  That I have a burning desire to get children off the streets and introduce them to a loving Saviour, my Jesus.

Thankful, Sheryl

My kids are.....

What are your kids like?

Prostitute
Beggar
Dirty
High
Alone
Hungry
Deaf
Rotten teeth
Dropout
Chained
Outcast

Maybe you wouldn't describe your children this way...but when people ask me about the children in the orphange this is exactly how I would describe "my" children. I feel like in a very small way God has brought these children to "me".

I would imagine also that this is precisely how God would describe His children. I fit many of these descriptions when I gave my life to God. I was a prostitute because I gave my body away trying to fill a need....not make it God's temple. I was chained because I allowed my past to hinder my future. I had rotten teeth because my mouth didn't speak of God's love. I was constantly alone although surrounded by people. How about you?

People, it's time to give back. We have SO much, we take SO much for granted! God has cleaned us up, fed our hungry souls and put His tender arms around our broken selves. If I don't keep focused on God it is SO easy to lose sight of His love for me, His will for my life and His beautiful face full of grace.

We still have a child who does not have a committed sponsor....maybe that child is waiting for you to give up something for them.

Thankful, Sheryl