Much is expected.
That is a loose translation from a verse in Luke 12. It's one that has been rolling around in my head the past couple days. That can only mean one thing - I am supposed to write about it. It's not the only thing repeating itself in my brain. The other is the song "Mercy Came Running". I've been waking up singing this song. So, let's see what it is that the Lord wants to teach me.
It used to be that I thought "to whom much is given, much is expected" meant money and material things. It does. But that's not where it stops. Whatever we have been given "much" of, we are expected to give out. So, what have I been given "much"?
Mercy. (hmmm?)
Forgiveness.
Love.
Grace.
Freedom.
Friendships.
Joy.
Peace.
Those are just the first things that popped into my head. (Remember I am writing this as I type, so I have to believe that God is directing this) I have been given those things in abundance. Today I believe that it must be mercy where I am supposed to camp.
Mercy in biblical terms means not getting what you deserve. As in punishment. Death. Grace is getting something we don't deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve. God in all of His love and goodness has extended both to me (and to you). However, his mercy has been extended over and over and over. A long time ago I wrote a post titled Running and Chasing which shows how much I ran from the Lord. Yet...His mercy came running!!
If I have been given so much then I need to extend just as much if not more. I need to pour out all that has been given. Not just the mercy. I need to seek out those who are feeling all alone since I have been given friendship. I need to find those that aren't feeling loved and show them love. There are many who are living joyless lives while I have been given joy immeasurable.
Honestly I have no idea of the purpose of this post. It may be just for me and to remind me that God is expecting me to pour out from all the He has given. My heart races when I think that I might miss the purpose and calling for my life. I don't want to! Lord, thank you for all that you've given me. Help me to know what to do with it. Show me who needs some of the "much".
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
New Thing
Yes, you are in the right place!! Don't you love it? Even if you don't, just say you do. My friends Kate and Heather over at Smitten Blog Designs were gracious enough to put up with me. They were incredible to work with!
It's time for new beginnings, so I thought I would start with an overhaul of The Perch.
My prayers for my family are changing. They are God directed now. (you know I tend to tell God what I think He should do and He really does know better) I have already seen incredible evidence of God's faithfulness just in the past 24 hours. He never ceases to amaze me.
It's hard to pray for people who have hurt you. Well, it's hard to pray with a pure heart. At least for me it has been. I am committing once again to praying Ephesians 1:17&18 for Don. I know his heart and it is one that wants so much to be a dad to his kids. Seeing the pain in the eyes of the kids, I know that his pain must be even deeper. Praying that God keeps my heart filled with compassion toward Don.
I am going to continue to try new things to push myself even when I am feeling symptomatic. It's hard - but it's a beginning! Put my feet in the lake today for the first time since the summer of 2006!! Amazing. Hoping to get to do lots more of that with David and Ellie. They are looking forward to having a bit more of their mom back.
My "bonus daughter" graduates from college next week. What a new beginning for her. Real life. A job. (or maybe more school?) She's scared, yet excited at the same time. Wish we could be there with her but it just isn't going to work out. She has a heart for the Lord and I pray that she would allow Him to direct her steps in this new path.
New beginnings are great!! Sure it is unknown. Sure sometimes they are painful. But if we remember who is allowing the new beginnings, we can look forward expectantly. I have always loved Isaiah 43:19, See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
HE (GOD) is making the way. I am excited for the new thing!!
It's time for new beginnings, so I thought I would start with an overhaul of The Perch.
My prayers for my family are changing. They are God directed now. (you know I tend to tell God what I think He should do and He really does know better) I have already seen incredible evidence of God's faithfulness just in the past 24 hours. He never ceases to amaze me.
It's hard to pray for people who have hurt you. Well, it's hard to pray with a pure heart. At least for me it has been. I am committing once again to praying Ephesians 1:17&18 for Don. I know his heart and it is one that wants so much to be a dad to his kids. Seeing the pain in the eyes of the kids, I know that his pain must be even deeper. Praying that God keeps my heart filled with compassion toward Don.
I am going to continue to try new things to push myself even when I am feeling symptomatic. It's hard - but it's a beginning! Put my feet in the lake today for the first time since the summer of 2006!! Amazing. Hoping to get to do lots more of that with David and Ellie. They are looking forward to having a bit more of their mom back.
My "bonus daughter" graduates from college next week. What a new beginning for her. Real life. A job. (or maybe more school?) She's scared, yet excited at the same time. Wish we could be there with her but it just isn't going to work out. She has a heart for the Lord and I pray that she would allow Him to direct her steps in this new path.
New beginnings are great!! Sure it is unknown. Sure sometimes they are painful. But if we remember who is allowing the new beginnings, we can look forward expectantly. I have always loved Isaiah 43:19, See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
HE (GOD) is making the way. I am excited for the new thing!!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Running the Race
"Don't you trust me?"
Those are the words that God has been asking me over the past several days. Oh, how I want to just say "yes, of course, I trust you". But my actions convey the truth. Stress. Anxiety. Anger.
There are so many scriptural cliches that we throw around. "Cast all your cares on Him" or "It all works out for good" or "He knows the plans He has for you". Yeah, yeah, I know it!! But it doesn't make it any easier for me to just know it. I need to believe those things and behave like it!
What does it mean for me to cast my cares? It does not mean to approach the Lord and tell Him my problems and hope that He keeps them. It does not mean to be in denial and pretend like I have no cares. What does it mean to cast? The dictionary says it is to throw or hurl, to throw off or away. That takes a lot of action!!
I want to picture myself - my cares - and THROW THEM OFF of me!! Right into the waiting hands of God. Trusting that He will catch them. Knowing that He will catch them. When they start creeping back up (which they often do) I will forcefully throw them right back to Him.
Tired of satan trying to defeat me. God has a plan for my life. I only have one chance at this. My life is meant to have meaning. So is yours. Let's throw off all that hinders us and run this race!
Those are the words that God has been asking me over the past several days. Oh, how I want to just say "yes, of course, I trust you". But my actions convey the truth. Stress. Anxiety. Anger.
There are so many scriptural cliches that we throw around. "Cast all your cares on Him" or "It all works out for good" or "He knows the plans He has for you". Yeah, yeah, I know it!! But it doesn't make it any easier for me to just know it. I need to believe those things and behave like it!
What does it mean for me to cast my cares? It does not mean to approach the Lord and tell Him my problems and hope that He keeps them. It does not mean to be in denial and pretend like I have no cares. What does it mean to cast? The dictionary says it is to throw or hurl, to throw off or away. That takes a lot of action!!
I want to picture myself - my cares - and THROW THEM OFF of me!! Right into the waiting hands of God. Trusting that He will catch them. Knowing that He will catch them. When they start creeping back up (which they often do) I will forcefully throw them right back to Him.
Tired of satan trying to defeat me. God has a plan for my life. I only have one chance at this. My life is meant to have meaning. So is yours. Let's throw off all that hinders us and run this race!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Overflow
Hey!! Yes, I am still alive. Just had some personal things going on that I needed to work through. Life is good on this Saturday night in Michigan. It's been a beautiful day and one that I have enjoyed immensely!! Love these days.
As most of you know I am doing the Beth Moore challenge to memorize a scripture every two weeks. It's that time again to pick the next one. I am typing this without any idea still what my verse is going to be this time. Hmmm...maybe as I keep typing it will come to me??
It's been awhile since I've given you an update on the kids. Thanks so much for all your prayers for them. David is doing really well. (Thank you, Jesus) He continues to see his counselor every couple of weeks and is making great progress. He and Don see each other about once a week and talk/text several times during the week. I know that David needs this and I pray that one day this will be the father/son relationship that they both want.
Ellie still struggles with seeing Don. (she refuses) I understand it, but it's sad. I would like to wave a magic wand and make all the relationships everything that each of them want. Yes, I know that's not possible, but a girl can dream. And we can pray. I do that. A lot!
God created us for relationship. With each other. But really he created us to be in relationship with Him. Isn't that so cool that He WANTED to have a relationship with each one of us. He didn't need to - he wanted to!! That really is more than my little brain can fathom. It should be enough for each of us to realize that the creator of the universe wants to be all we need!! Wow. If we could find our satisfaction in Christ alone then so many other relationships would just fall into place. They would be our overflow!!
This is such a transition period for me in my life right now. I know I'm being healed and that is more exciting than I ever thought possible! Not sure where God is taking me next but I want to be ready. I want my relationship with Jesus to be real. Genuine. Fulfilling. I want to love Him more.
Here it is: Romans 15:3 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Yep, that fits right where I am! He will fill me with joy and peace (which I need so desperately) but my part is to trust Him. The verse says He will fill me with those things AS I trust in Him. And I will OVERFLOW with hope! Doesn't get much better than that.
As most of you know I am doing the Beth Moore challenge to memorize a scripture every two weeks. It's that time again to pick the next one. I am typing this without any idea still what my verse is going to be this time. Hmmm...maybe as I keep typing it will come to me??
It's been awhile since I've given you an update on the kids. Thanks so much for all your prayers for them. David is doing really well. (Thank you, Jesus) He continues to see his counselor every couple of weeks and is making great progress. He and Don see each other about once a week and talk/text several times during the week. I know that David needs this and I pray that one day this will be the father/son relationship that they both want.
Ellie still struggles with seeing Don. (she refuses) I understand it, but it's sad. I would like to wave a magic wand and make all the relationships everything that each of them want. Yes, I know that's not possible, but a girl can dream. And we can pray. I do that. A lot!
God created us for relationship. With each other. But really he created us to be in relationship with Him. Isn't that so cool that He WANTED to have a relationship with each one of us. He didn't need to - he wanted to!! That really is more than my little brain can fathom. It should be enough for each of us to realize that the creator of the universe wants to be all we need!! Wow. If we could find our satisfaction in Christ alone then so many other relationships would just fall into place. They would be our overflow!!
This is such a transition period for me in my life right now. I know I'm being healed and that is more exciting than I ever thought possible! Not sure where God is taking me next but I want to be ready. I want my relationship with Jesus to be real. Genuine. Fulfilling. I want to love Him more.
Here it is: Romans 15:3 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Yep, that fits right where I am! He will fill me with joy and peace (which I need so desperately) but my part is to trust Him. The verse says He will fill me with those things AS I trust in Him. And I will OVERFLOW with hope! Doesn't get much better than that.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Miracles and a Giveaway
It is over 70 degress and sunny in Michigan today!!! After the longest, roughest winter in history (exaggeration) I am so excited to see nice weather.
Head over here to my other blog for a giveaway.
And...the weather is not the only miracle in my life that I want to share with you.
*I drove the soccer carpool last night
*I mowed the backyard today
WHOOP!!
Head over here to my other blog for a giveaway.
And...the weather is not the only miracle in my life that I want to share with you.
*I drove the soccer carpool last night
*I mowed the backyard today
WHOOP!!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Walking in Freedom
Here we go...
Nothing in my brain but fingers are itching to "write". Kind of tired of everyone being attacked by satan. Feeling pretty sick of him. There is a victorious life for us all to live but he keeps trying to trip us up. For me - I am letting him. He uses the same things, he is not very creative. So, why do I keep falling for it??
I asked a group of friends to "get real" yesterday and you would not believe the things that people are dealing with. Well, sure you would, because you all are dealing with them too. But for some reason most people keep those things to themselves. Like if they don't talk about them then maybe they'll just go away. That is exactly what satan wants. Secrets, things in the dark...we need to expose them to The Light!! Just because we struggle and have issues does not make us less than. We are not "worse Christians". We are not a burden to our friends. We are not alone!!
It has been a burning desire of mine to see others walk in freedom. I've tasted what that freedom walk feels like and it is GOOD! I want it back. I want to love the Lord more. I want to "want Him" in my life. Does that make sense?
God is giving me more physical healing and that is wonderful!! But...I want my heart to be healed. Not from the divorce, not from the heartache of the kids, not from fear (although all that healing would be great). I want my heart to be healed - I want it to be a heart that is sold out for Jesus. That is not so easily swayed by the lame tactics of the devil. I just want to be in love with the Lord Jesus.
Are you struggling? Are your burdens heavy? If you don't feel like you want to share them here (you can always be anonymous), please find someone to "get real" with. Freedom is ours. HE has already purchased it with His own blood. Let's live in it!!
Nothing in my brain but fingers are itching to "write". Kind of tired of everyone being attacked by satan. Feeling pretty sick of him. There is a victorious life for us all to live but he keeps trying to trip us up. For me - I am letting him. He uses the same things, he is not very creative. So, why do I keep falling for it??
I asked a group of friends to "get real" yesterday and you would not believe the things that people are dealing with. Well, sure you would, because you all are dealing with them too. But for some reason most people keep those things to themselves. Like if they don't talk about them then maybe they'll just go away. That is exactly what satan wants. Secrets, things in the dark...we need to expose them to The Light!! Just because we struggle and have issues does not make us less than. We are not "worse Christians". We are not a burden to our friends. We are not alone!!
It has been a burning desire of mine to see others walk in freedom. I've tasted what that freedom walk feels like and it is GOOD! I want it back. I want to love the Lord more. I want to "want Him" in my life. Does that make sense?
God is giving me more physical healing and that is wonderful!! But...I want my heart to be healed. Not from the divorce, not from the heartache of the kids, not from fear (although all that healing would be great). I want my heart to be healed - I want it to be a heart that is sold out for Jesus. That is not so easily swayed by the lame tactics of the devil. I just want to be in love with the Lord Jesus.
Are you struggling? Are your burdens heavy? If you don't feel like you want to share them here (you can always be anonymous), please find someone to "get real" with. Freedom is ours. HE has already purchased it with His own blood. Let's live in it!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
If You Ask Him, Be Ready for the Answer
The Lord and I have been having an ongoing conversation lately. Now that I am divorced. Single. A single mom. A single, sick mom. I've been asking God what should I be doing to earn money. Would He bring me something that I could do from home? I keep asking and do you know what He keeps saying?
Give.
Huh?
Hold on a second, Lord...You aren't even letting me get through my whole sentence and You keep telling me to GIVE??? Is that really what you're saying?
Yep! (ok, I know the Lord probably doesn't say YEP, but He does in my mind)
It has been the strangest thing. I do not hear God audibly but in my heart, my spirit, I just know it's Him. And truly each time I ask about earning money He tells me to give. So I have begun to do that. I am not relaying this story to you to boast about giving but to have a record of how God is working in my life.
Honestly there has never been a time in my life where I really NEEDED God to meet all of my needs. Sure there would be weeks where money was tight but this "new life" of mine is completely out of my hands. Completely!! I need Him in a way I've never needed Him before. I have no way to earn extra money. I have no way of healing myself. I have no way of protecting my kids from heartache.
But HE does. His ways are higher than my ways. (ok, as you know I write these things on the fly, I don't plan them out...I have to tell you what JUST happened) I was in the middle of that last sentence when my dad came into my house. He had taken my car to the shop because it's "acting up". He just told me that it will be ready tomorrow and it will be $800!!!! Okay I just cracked up.
Good thing I have decided that God is control and I am trusting HIM alone. I've been wondering what my next memory verse should be and I think it should be something about God supplying my needs but I'm led now to believe it's even more than that. I am going to memorize Malachi 3:10 (and no, I don't just know these verses, I googled verses that speak about supplying needs). Here is the verse:
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
What is God saying to you that seems ridiculous? Where do you need to trust Him?
Give.
Huh?
Hold on a second, Lord...You aren't even letting me get through my whole sentence and You keep telling me to GIVE??? Is that really what you're saying?
Yep! (ok, I know the Lord probably doesn't say YEP, but He does in my mind)
It has been the strangest thing. I do not hear God audibly but in my heart, my spirit, I just know it's Him. And truly each time I ask about earning money He tells me to give. So I have begun to do that. I am not relaying this story to you to boast about giving but to have a record of how God is working in my life.
Honestly there has never been a time in my life where I really NEEDED God to meet all of my needs. Sure there would be weeks where money was tight but this "new life" of mine is completely out of my hands. Completely!! I need Him in a way I've never needed Him before. I have no way to earn extra money. I have no way of healing myself. I have no way of protecting my kids from heartache.
But HE does. His ways are higher than my ways. (ok, as you know I write these things on the fly, I don't plan them out...I have to tell you what JUST happened) I was in the middle of that last sentence when my dad came into my house. He had taken my car to the shop because it's "acting up". He just told me that it will be ready tomorrow and it will be $800!!!! Okay I just cracked up.
Good thing I have decided that God is control and I am trusting HIM alone. I've been wondering what my next memory verse should be and I think it should be something about God supplying my needs but I'm led now to believe it's even more than that. I am going to memorize Malachi 3:10 (and no, I don't just know these verses, I googled verses that speak about supplying needs). Here is the verse:
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
What is God saying to you that seems ridiculous? Where do you need to trust Him?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Finding Shelter
Loving memorizing scripture this year! It really is life to me. The verse I am meditating on for this two weeks is Psalm 91:1 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty".
Love that! Love it!!
Dwells in the shelter of the Most High. Not comes and goes. Not on an as needed basis. But dwelling there. I want to dwell there. Live there. And it's not just any old place, it is in the shelter of the Most High.
What will I find there, what will you find there? We will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. He covers us. Everywhere we turn we will see His shadow going out around us. That scripture holds truth for each one of us. No matter our circumstances. No matter how hard life is or how wonderful life is. We need to dwell in His shelter. I don't want to just learn a verse and think "how cool" I want to claim it for my life. I want to know the truth of it, believe it and live it.
Praying that I will start dwelling with the Lord more. He desires to give me rest. He is still bringing beauty from ashes in my life. I would love to hear how you have seen Him bring beauty from ashes in your life, if you have something to share.
Let's start dwelling in the shelter of the MOST HIGH!!
Love that! Love it!!
Dwells in the shelter of the Most High. Not comes and goes. Not on an as needed basis. But dwelling there. I want to dwell there. Live there. And it's not just any old place, it is in the shelter of the Most High.
What will I find there, what will you find there? We will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. He covers us. Everywhere we turn we will see His shadow going out around us. That scripture holds truth for each one of us. No matter our circumstances. No matter how hard life is or how wonderful life is. We need to dwell in His shelter. I don't want to just learn a verse and think "how cool" I want to claim it for my life. I want to know the truth of it, believe it and live it.
Praying that I will start dwelling with the Lord more. He desires to give me rest. He is still bringing beauty from ashes in my life. I would love to hear how you have seen Him bring beauty from ashes in your life, if you have something to share.
Let's start dwelling in the shelter of the MOST HIGH!!
Friday, April 3, 2009
New Beginnings
"Today is the first day of the rest of your life". That quote has always been so silly to me. DUH? We all know that! Why is it a quote? However, today I am seeing it in a whole new way. My life as I knew it before is over. So, this really is the first day of my NEW LIFE! Divorce papers are signed. They just need to be filed at the courthouse, but it's over. Very surreal to sign your name a couple of times and end something that has been a part of who you are for 19 years. I am no longer someone's wife. I am no longer married. WOW!!
BUT...I am still Sheryl. Still a believer in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Still a mom. Still a daughter. Still a sister and a friend. Still a lover of shoes & bags! Still one who loves to laugh & cry. Still the funniest person I know (and the most modest) You get the point. I may have lost a descriptor of who/what I am, but I have not lost myself.
God has big things in store for me. I know it. It's scary and it's exciting. The healing begins today. I choose to walk into that healing, begging for the ability to forgive, willing to do whatever it takes to come out of this a better person. A stronger person. One who loves deeper. And one who is not afraid!!
Fun news? Yes, there is some fun news. At least I think so. You see that little button over there on the right that says "Go Ask Sadie"? Well...that is a new blog I am starting. I will NEVER leave The Perch, this is my baby. But, I wanted to try something new. I've loved being help to others with questions and issues that they have emailed me. Someone suggested that I start a blog just for those questions. Fun, deep, trivial, serious...whatever!! Just a place for us to gather and ask things and help each other!
Thanks for all your support. I know I say it a lot, but I really could not have done this without you. God is so incredibly good to give us things (people) that we didn't even know to ask for. Love you all and I hope you'll visit Sadie sometime soon.
BUT...I am still Sheryl. Still a believer in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Still a mom. Still a daughter. Still a sister and a friend. Still a lover of shoes & bags! Still one who loves to laugh & cry. Still the funniest person I know (and the most modest) You get the point. I may have lost a descriptor of who/what I am, but I have not lost myself.
God has big things in store for me. I know it. It's scary and it's exciting. The healing begins today. I choose to walk into that healing, begging for the ability to forgive, willing to do whatever it takes to come out of this a better person. A stronger person. One who loves deeper. And one who is not afraid!!
Fun news? Yes, there is some fun news. At least I think so. You see that little button over there on the right that says "Go Ask Sadie"? Well...that is a new blog I am starting. I will NEVER leave The Perch, this is my baby. But, I wanted to try something new. I've loved being help to others with questions and issues that they have emailed me. Someone suggested that I start a blog just for those questions. Fun, deep, trivial, serious...whatever!! Just a place for us to gather and ask things and help each other!
Thanks for all your support. I know I say it a lot, but I really could not have done this without you. God is so incredibly good to give us things (people) that we didn't even know to ask for. Love you all and I hope you'll visit Sadie sometime soon.
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