Are You Ready?

When you read my title for this post you might instantly want to finish it with "For Some Football?". For many of us, this iconic song signaled the beginning of fall and the exciting season of that hard hitting game to be seen on a Monday night! That is until some executives somewhere decided it should be Sunday or Thursday or any other day that was not the Monday we were used to! However, now the Monday games are back on and all seems right with the world again! Unfortunately, the world is not all right or back to normal because of something as simple as a tv executive decision. My title for this post actually comes from a statement my husband made last night that got me thinking a lot. We were discussing the impending death of one of the members of our community and Mark made the statement, "I hope he was ready." This was not a judgmental statement but rather just an observation that this was an unexpected happening and that none of us knows for sure when death will greet us. It made me stop and think "Am I ready?"

This life can turn on a dime. You can be on the mountaintop and in the blink of an eye the whole world can change. I'm sure all of you can insert your own example here but here are some of my own. Death of my grandfather of an unexpected heart attack. Life changed forever. Death of a former student soon after his college graduation. Life changed forever. Death of a former student twenty minutes after speaking to her. Life changed forever. Death of my brother from pancreatic cancer. Life changed forever. The truth is this. In this fallen world death is going to come. For all of us. It doesn't matter who you are, where you live, or what you have done in your life. All of us will face this moment eventually and for some sooner than we think. This whole idea of death used to make me shudder. It made me want to change the subject. It made me want to run for my life the other direction. It made me bitter. It made me scream "Unfair!" It scared me.

Then I started to learn something from God that was very valuable.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

I believe this statement with all my heart. For this reason I am ready. I no longer fear death. In fact the idea of living with God and his Son forever and seeing those who believed, that have gone before me is an exciting one. But don't get me wrong. I am not saying that death is easy. I am not saying that those who are left behind don't mourn and suffer. I am not saying that we don't miss those who have died. I am not saying that all my questions about this life and death are answered. What I can say is that each of us can be ready. It is not about who is good or bad. It is not about meeting an agenda of rules or expectations. It is not about understanding everything that goes on in this world. It is not even about you. It is about what God did for us because of his love for us. It is about believing what God says is true. It is about faith. It doesn't rely on logical proof or material evidence. So my question is this. Are you ready?

Walk By Faith

I'm not sure that anyone has noticed but it has been almost two months since my last blog. You see, I began to think as the world does. I wanted to feel important. I wanted to be recognized. I wanted others to respond to my posts. I wanted to feel like I was making a difference. You'll see that there was a lot of me wanting to take the credit for what I was writing here. I had to take some time off and think about what this blog is about-His Glory, not Cherrie's glory. Plus, I had to admit I was a little disappointed. I had felt God tugging at my heart to write these blogs for quite a while and I had expected something dramatic to happen if I answered yes. Perhaps someone would be touched by my blogs and come back to the Lord. Perhaps a person would be brought to faith. Maybe someone would react in a different way than they normally do. Maybe others would read the blogs and feel they could go on with life as they relied on Jesus, not on themselves.

I began to feel like my blog was not that important. So over the past two months I have been thinking and listening to God. This is what I have discovered. First of all, this blog is not about me. If I can't make it God's then I don't want to blog or at least not under the name of "His Glory". Secondly, it is not up to me to make things happen. God is the one that will open hearts and change people-not me! He might do it dramatically or he might do it quietly. I may never know the way he uses the words I write here. What it amounts to is that I will do what he asks and he will take care of the rest. One of my favorite songs is "Walk by Faith" by Jeremy Camp.
These words remind me I need to walk by faith and not by sight.

"Well, I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well, because this broken road
Prepares your will for me.

Help me to win my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all of my years
With one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do."

God also reminds me in his Word that whatever I write in his name will not go forth without results. He tells us this in Isaiah, chapter five, verses eight through eleven.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire."

So, I will continue to say yes and write for His Glory and He will accomplish what is needed and I will walk by faith. Thanks be to God!

Looking In

Several weeks ago I was reading about a man who was wanted by the authorities. He had grown up in the Middle East and was part of some suspect activities. It was known that he had many different names and based on what the authorities knew about his heritage and religion he was probably medium height, thin, darker skin and curly, dark hair. His name in his native language was difficult to pronounce and unfamiliar looking. From the reports it was apparent that this man had both supporters but also lots of non-supporters. Even those perhaps that would put out big money to have this man brought into custody or even put to death. From the description it sounded like somebody who many would think might qualify for the now famous "no-fly" list.

Soon after I had read about this man I read a story in my Bible about David. In this story God has sent Samuel to annoint a new king. The Lord sends Samuel to Jesse who brings out his sons for Samuel to look at. Now these sons were fine specimens for the title of king and after the first son came forth Samuel was sure God would have him annointed. But God said, "Do not 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) David, the shepherd boy, was to become the new king.

I love this story about David. Mostly, I love what it says about the way God looks at us. So many times we judge others based on what they look like. Perhaps we look at the clothes they wear. Maybe we think they look a little scruffy based on their cleanliness. Perhaps we look at their skin color. Or we listen to the language they are speaking. We see their name somewhere and struggle to say it and think it is strange. We become suspicious of something as simple as a food that they are eating. We struggle when they move into our neighborhoods. We decide for ourselves who they must be based on who their parents are or were. We decide they aren't good enough for our children to play with or be in school with. We question whether they should be in our country. We question their intentions without really knowing them. We become paranoid and look for the bad in them. We fear them without any real knowledge of who they are. We don't look at their heart.

Now I want to return to that man who was wanted. One of his names he goes by is this: Yeshua Ha-Mashiach. We know him better as Jesus. What did you think about as you read my description? What would you have thought of him then? Would you have known him if he walked by you today? Or would he have been dismissed at first look? I think there is a real danger of forming opinions based on these outward appearances or by what others tell us about a certain person. We should love our neighbors as God loves us. By looking on the inside.

Wisdom's Call

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5


There I was with 500 of my closest friends in the stadium at the University of Kansas. We were practicing for our graduation ceremony that would take place later that night. It was here! A culmination of my search for wisdom! I was on cloud nine. My friends and I had just completed our high school education. We had spent two weeks in a flurry of activities ranging from finals to senior fun. We were at the top of the world! I knew EVERYTHING!! Plus, I made sure my parents knew that I knew everything. That summer was filled with adventure. I turned eighteen and had my first "real" job at a local fast food restaurant. My friends and I spent warm, humid nights making memories. I was filled with so much wisdom I could hardly contain it.

Then my freshman year at the university began. I began early rehearsals for the KU Marching Band. I had been in band in high school. This would be a breeze. Then I went to my first practice. After seeing the first show plotted on paper and being called a freshman several times I started to sweat and it had nothing to do with the August humidity. I felt my wisdom slip a notch. Then came fee payment day. With 20,000 of my closest friends I got in line to pay my fees. When I finally got to the front of the line I was informed I was in the wrong line. Back to the end of a very long, long line. I felt my wisdom taking a slide. Finally, the first day of classes arrived. I was dressed in the fashion of the day. My backpack was full. I was ready to ride to campus with my brother who was a sophomore that year. We were off! After parking in the lower lot we started the walk up the hill that the university was built on. After navigating my way through the hot, humid day I was exhausted. My brother and I met at our designated spot and I asked him, "How do you do this every day? All this walking back and forth to classes carrying all these books??" He looked at me kind of funny, glanced at my full backpack and asked, "ALL of your books?" As I nodded he started laughing. The rest of my wisdom pooled around my sweaty feet! I knew nothing.

I don't know about you, my friends, but I have discovered that the more I think I know the less I actually do know. In my time with God this week he has been bringing me to a lot of scripture about the same topic. As I have gone from one passage to another I have felt God's insistence that I learn about HIS wisdom. There are many days in my life that I make decisions without much thought to him. I find myself scrambling for time and not taking the time to listen to him or ask for his help. Things go well and I find myself on that cloud nine of yesteryear. I am doing life and doing it all by myself!! Then something happens. My life starts slipping just a bit and before I know it things are spinning out of control and I find myself in a pool of my own wisdom.

What would have happened if I had just asked my brother about what I would need that first day of college?? He had been there. He knew just what I needed and would have shared the information with me. It would have saved me the pain of an aching back and sore feet. Thinking back on this situation I think about how much God wants us to turn to him and ask for his wisdom. How much pain and heartache would we be saved?? Jesus has been in every situation that we will encounter. He has been there!! So let's turn to him and ask him for wisdom in our everyday lives. I encourage you to read Wisdom's Call in Proverbs, Chapter 8. You will be glad you did!!

Pennies from Heaven

"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will that go among so many? Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down.' There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, 'Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.' So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten." John 6:9-13


This past year at school I took on a new role. I became the sponsor for our Student Council group. It was a new position so I probably didn't do everything "right" but I had fun with the kids and learned a lot. During the year we did several activities that dealt with fund raising for different groups. Toward the end of the year the students voted to have a penny drive. I had been part of penny drives before but just by bringing pennies and dumping them in the collection container. Great idea kids!! I was very naive! My plan was to collect all the pennies and then have the kids help me count and wrap them. It would work out well! Or so I thought!

Right now I have two very large boxes full of pennies in my dining room. Some things happened at the end of school that prevented the STUCO students from helping me with the counting and wrapping part. So the responsibility fell to me. This summer I have been counting and wrapping pennies. The problem is the more I count and wrap the more pennies seem to be in the box. When I think I'm getting towards the end there is a multitude of pennies left!
I keep thinking it's like the loaves and fishes! However, I have not been thrilled by the new appearance of more pennies. After reading this verse this morning I realize the people of Jesus' time must have been overwhelmed with this miracle and thankful for the food that was supplied!

Suddenly, I am very humbled. I realize that I have been seeing this penny counting as a terrible chore that just has to be finished. I have been dreading sitting and counting and wrapping. I have been selfish in my thoughts about how I wish the students had not voted to do this project. Now, I see the beaming faces of my students as they proudly added their pennies to the container knowing that their money is going to help children suffering from cancer. How many other small parts of my life do I see like this? Am I thankful for the clothes we have to wear or do I grumble about how much laundry I have to do? Am I thankful for the house I have or do I complain about having to clean it up? Am I thankful for my job or do I dread having to grade papers? Am I thankful for my husband while others are widowed or do I get upset that he's not romantic enough for me? Am I thankful for my three healthy children or do I get ruffled over their smallest offenses? I think you get the picture!

How many of us go through life with so many blessings from God and never pause to even acknowledge them? Sure, we are great at being thankful for the big stuff-the clear CT scan, the promotion or raise at work, the tornado that didn't hit our house, the accident that didn't happen and so on. How are we at the small stuff though? Check out this passage in 1 Thessalonians, verses 16-18.

"Be joyful always: pray continually; give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

The emphasis on the word "all" is mine. I see that it doesn't say "give thanks when you feel like it" or "give thanks when it's something really great" or "give thanks when you feel you deserve it". I might be naive when it comes to penny drives but I am not naive enough to think that I will suddenly start being thankful for "ALL" in my life. I do know though that if I ask God to start helping me in this area of my life he will. Then it will come more naturally. It is definitely easier to be a complainer or whiner in this world. So will you be thankful with me my friends? Let's give it a try with God's help! And, while I'm being thankful, I think I might take the advice of my principal who helped carry one of the penny boxes to my van. "Next year we'll do a dollar drive-it'll be lighter!!"

Living Waters

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

Back in the seventies when I was a young girl my family took a vacation to the southwest part of the United States. I don't remember exactly where we were but I know that we were in the middle of a desert and it was definitely a sun-scorched land! We had our trusty red and white water Thermos that traveled with us on all our family vacations. It had this cool little cup that fit inside the lid. We all used that cup and nobody complained that there might be germs or even thought about separate bottles of purified water! The Thermos had a spout at the bottom so usually when our family made a stop we would open the van/camper door, slide it to the edge and fill the white cup with water. We had pulled off the road (to probably take pictures of the glorious view) and everyone got their fill of water. That's when IT happened. Somehow the Thermos was knocked out of the vehicle. (I'm sure it had nothing to do with kids scrambling in and out of the vehicle!) Our precious drinking water was being sucked into the dry cracked earth!! We were in the middle of the desert with miles to travel before we could refill the water!! I don't really remember a lot about those miles except that we kids were THIRSTY-PARCHED BEYOND BELIEF!! I'm not sure how our parents put up with us during those miles but somehow we survived to tell the story!

Today opened with a verse from Isaiah in which we are assured that God will take care of our needs. He promises to make us a "well-watered garden". Although I know that God sees to our physical needs I also know there is more to this verse than that. Has there ever been a time in your life in which you have been parched?? I'm not talking here about some child's imagined thirst because she knows the water supply is limited. I'm talking about the need down deep inside that threatens to overtake us. The one in which everything seems like it will never be right again. The one that drags down our day until we are numb. The one that cries out for somebody to love us and cherish us. The one that begs to be understood when we are in the valley of the shadow. All of us have this parched feeling inside of us that far surpasses the physical. We all have a need inside of us that calls out for something to quench this thirst. Many of us flit from one worldly idea or product to another trying to find this "spring whose waters never fail". The problem is we will never find it in what the world has to offer.

Move forward into the new testament of the Bible to the gospel of John. Here in Chapter 4 Jesus has asked a woman in Samaria to draw some water for him to drink. The author has my attention now! The Son of God?- a Jew?-is asking a Samaritan woman to give him some water? That would have been unheard of during Jesus' times. She knows this to be true also and questions him about it. Jesus replies, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 4:10 She misunderstands him and questions him about the water in the well and how he could get the water without even having a jar. He responds to her with these words. "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

Now please feel free to turn to the fourth chapter of John and keep reading to see what happens to this Samaritan woman and her friends and neighbors! I know you'll love the ending! However, let's focus on what this means to you and me. This parched feeling we have inside us has to do with a separation from God that happened a long time ago in the Garden. There is nothing in this world that will satisfy this thirst, not even a red and white Thermos in the middle of the desert. But, you can find it through God's only son sent here because God loves us so much and desires for us to be with him for all times! Start quenching your thirst my friends!!

The Tongue

Have you ever thought about your tongue?

Okay, a weird question but it got your attention didn't it? Do you ever say something that you regret the moment it comes out of your mouth? Recently, I did this very thing. I was tired and frustrated with my oldest daughter and before I could stop it my tongue was in action. It was like I was spewing poison. The look on her face told it all. The next day I asked her to forgive me but I also gave some excuses trying to make myself feel better. But scripture kept coming to mind and then my favorite ministry website devotion that day spoke directly about this problem of the tongue. Yes, God speaks to us through many means and he was getting my attention!! I have this problem of speaking before thinking. Although I have improved over the years I find myself backsliding sometimes. As I looked over the last couple of months I could see words coming out of my mouth that I was not very proud of. In the devotion I read that day the author had us read a passage from James.

"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:3-6


Those are extremely harsh words! God wants us to understand though how important this issue is and that we need to work on taming the tongue. James goes on to say in the this section that no man can tame the tongue. I believe that to be true. No man can tame the tongue but Jesus can for us. If we ask him to help us with this problem he will! In Proverbs we read,

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
Proverbs 12:18

Jesus is the tongue of the wise. He is the wisdom that we need to heal up the wounds that we as sinners make. Only with him will we be able to tame our tongues. My plan is to ask Jesus to be my wisdom every day. Won't you join me in making this request my friends?

Make a Joyful Noise

Recently I was in the hospital with an intestinal blockage. This recurring problem is caused by the scar tissue left in my body after two life saving cancer surgeries. Unfortunately, these spider web-like adhesions can cause trouble in the abdomen by pulling and catching the intestine causing things to come to a screeching halt. This problem usually results in a trip to the emergency room, a hospital admittance and several days of waiting to see if the procedure being used will solve the issue. This time was extra stress filled for me as I had my son's graduation to attend over the weekend and I was not sure I would make it out in time. Fortunately the problem resolved itself and I was able to make it to the ceremony to watch this milestone in our lives.

Yesterday as I was thinking about my "spider webs" I was suddenly struck by how life can be very similar to this situation. We get caught up in the world and its ways and suddenly the way we want to live our life comes to a screeching halt. We forget to be thankful, our thoughts become very "me" focused and we even question God's ways. Let me give some examples to you from my own life and as you read them perhaps you will see some similarities.

I watch a home improvement show on television or go to a friend's home and what I see is a house that is so much better than mine I begin to covet what I don't have. Suddenly my house becomes not good enough! I am not thankful for the shelter that God has provided or for the many happy times that have occurred in this "lived-in" home! I forget how happy I am to be home after a time away. My mind focuses on what I want to have, not on what God has blessed me with.

At the end of a long work week I complain, "Is this all there is God?" Can't there be a better job for me? Why can't I make more money? It would be great to have that person's job. Can you imagine getting paid that much for what they do? Do I have to put up with that person that I work with? Perhaps I should get a different job-it has to be better than this one. I forget that I have been blessed with a job when so many have none. I forget the co-workers that work so hard with me. My focus goes to greener pastures on the other side of the fence.

My child has made a mistake. What were they thinking? Will I constantly be cleaning up after them? I know their father and I have taught them better than this! Does their life really need to have that much drama in it? Why doesn't he talk to us anymore? Am I just a taxi service? I forget there are crosses on the side of the road where a mother weeps and wishes to have a single minute again with her child. I forget there is a father who wonders where his child is and if he will ever return.

I lament my lack of time. How can I be expected to fit in excercise? Just when will I help at church and have a devotional time when someone is not clamoring for something? I list my excuses as I sit down to watch an hour of television, as I sit waiting to pick up my child from that one more important activity or as I sign in to Facebook. Where in the world would I find that kind of time?

I cannot believe that I am having this health issue again! Why couldn't God have given me a better body? Did he really think when he made me that this is what he wanted? In fact, what was he really thinking? Surely he could have planned this better. Why me? I forget that he made me perfect in his eyes. I forget that he spared my life so I could proclaim him to the ends of the earth.

Just a few examples but I could provide many more. Any sound familiar? A year and a half ago my surgeon performed a less invasive surgery to clear away a lot of my adhesions and has once again suggested this procedure. As I consider this possiblity I will also continue to think about clipping the other ties that bind in my life. While pondering all of this I remember a chapter from the Bible that I worked on memorizing many years ago. It allows me to become focused on what is important. Make it your verse, too!

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
Psalm 100
King James Version

Put Your Hope in the Lord

There are many things in life that I cannot predict but there is one thing I can be sure about. If there are several days without sunshine my body begins to react. Researchers usually say there is a lack of Vitamin D in the body and encourage eating healthy and exercising to increase serotonin levels. The problem is my brain tells me to do the opposite. I want to sleep more and eat tons of carbs. I absolutely hate to get out of the house especially if it is raining! My viewing of worthless television increases and my mood gets rather sour. I want to crawl under a warm blanket and not come out. I am not a fun person to be around. Life stinks! The problem with this is that life goes on whether there is sunshine or not. I have learned that through God's help our attitude and mood can change, though.

I love reading Psalm 42:11 when this mood attempts to overcome me. "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my
Savior and my God." My favorite part of this verse is the "put your hope in God" section. You see, God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!! Although my moods and attitudes can change and vary quite frequently he never changes. He is a constant throughout my life. I can come to him any time and he will always be there.

Earlier I said life goes on whether there is sunshine in our life or not. I was not just talking about the weather. Our lives can change in a fraction of a second. We feel we are at the mountain top and then we come crashing down to the valley. So, when the sunshine in your life seems to have disappeared, turn to him. Let him wrap his loving arms around you and give you peace. Let him melt away the sour mood in your life. Let Jesus be the light that you need when the clouds threaten to break you.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31


"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

Fear Not

Recently a friend of mine got some disturbing news. The kind that makes you sit for long periods of time and ponder what it is that is important in life. The kind that makes you take a look at your past and wonder if you should have done anything differently. The kind that makes you realize that you are not the one in charge and that you have to learn to give up control. The kind that you have to surrender everything you have and are to God.

I have been in this same situation several times in life. If you have ever had any of these life changing days then you probably have felt fear and uncertainty. Or perhaps you are feeling that right now with your own news. What I have learned in my situations is that there is actually good news in these periods of your life. If God was willing to give up his own son for us, then he will be there for us always even in these times of fear and uncertainty. Psalm 139:1-18 tells us of this great love of God for us and how important we are to him. Do not only read these verses with your head but also press them upon your heart. With God we have no reason to fear. Let him give you this peace in the knowledge that he is always with us!

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

He Heals the Brokenhearted

I think we have all felt this pain before. The one that pierces our heart like an arrow and causes us to stumble. The one that causes our conversations to be stilted or come to a halt altogether. The one that sucker punches us and takes us down for the count. The one where trust is broken and seems irreparable. It makes us feel broken and hopeless. It makes us feel that all is impossible and lost. It is BETRAYAL.

Many of us have felt the sting of this in our lives. Perhaps yours came in the form of a divorce. Others might have been duped in a business deal. The doctor who said not to worry, later gives you a crushing diagnosis. Maybe your co-worker or boss did not back you in a situation. The promotion you were hoping to get went to the boss' relative. The loving and understanding parent you wish you had in your life is really difficult to live and communicate with. The friend you thought you had turns out to be helping to shove the knife in your back.

Jesus felt betrayal. The same people who waved the palm branches and yelled "Hosanna!" were the same people who asked for his death less than a week later. Jesus felt betrayal. His life was sold for a mere 30 pieces of metal. Jesus felt betrayal. The man he called "The Rock", his disciple Peter, denied even knowing him or being part of his ministry not once but three times in one night. Jesus felt betrayal.

Because of sin in the world others will let us down. There is no one on this earth that is completely perfect in their actions. Not our bosses, co-workers, friends or even our spouses can live up to all of our expectations. However, our God can. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He will help us through these times of heartache. These precious words from the Psalms can give us strength.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1


"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

The Branch

In our front yard is a corkscrew willow tree. If you didn't know any better you would assume that we had purchased the tree at a garden center somewhere. However, this tree has an unusual story. We call it "The Grandma Tree". When my husband's maternal grandmother died there was a flower arrangement at her funeral that included several small branches of a corkscrew willow. The arrangement was taken home to my in-law's house and it began to die out. But then something interesting started taking place. The branches began to shoot out leaves and roots. After a family dinner my husband decided to take one home and try to plant it in our yard to see if an actual tree would grow from it. I remember laughing and thinking my husband would never get it to grow. Why would he want to spend his time on such a spindly little thing? That tree is now about twenty feet tall!! When I remember this small branch I think about what Jesus says about branches in the book of John.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:5-8

I am like the branch. There are times in my life that I try to do things by myself. I cut myself off from my Lord and Savior and go out on my own. I forget to read my Bible, going to church takes a back seat to other activities and my conversations with God come to a halt. Jesus' words are the truth. My activities and busyness do not fulfill me. What the world has to offer can never feed me in the way he does. What's amazing is that God is always there when we come back. No matter how many times we drift away he waits for us to return. As my husband tended that small branch so does God tend us. Through him we can grow and become strong like that tree in our yard. We can bear fruit for his glory!

Can't Get That Song Out of My Mind

When you are an elementary teacher you never know what might come out of the mouths of kids. The other day one of my students was working diligently on a handwriting page-okay- as diligently as a fourth grade boy can work on handwriting on a warm, spring day with the summer vacation count down in the twenties! All of a sudden he jumped up and said out loud,
"I can't get that song out of my mind!". Then he sat back down and continued his work. I chuckled along with the rest of the class but didn't think much more about it until this afternoon. After school I was relaxing, checking e-mail and scrolling through Facebook. All of a sudden "it" popped into my head---the song, "Because He Lives". In fact, I could actually hear those Gaither Brothers singing away in my head. In the early seventies my Dad used to listen to them all the time. I hadn't heard that song for several years since I had attended a Billy Graham Crusade. Time passed and I continued to hum, listen to in my head and actually sing that song out loud. I felt just like my student at school. "I can't get that song out of my mind!" So I actually went to youtube and listened to it!!

As I listened lots of memories flooded my mind. That song brings back days of childhood, my Mom's pot roast on a Sunday after church and that 33 spinning away on our stereo record player. Yes, a record player! Not a CD player, an I-Pod or I-Phone! As I listened to the words the goose bumps began to rise up. This song is so powerful! Check it out at the following site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYjj0R4ONlE

Each new day can bring uncertainty. Jesus tells us there will be trouble but he has overcome. If we allow our savior to take those fears from us we can live a life pleasing to him. I am reminded of this Psalm that I had my Dad read for me when I was recovering from cancer surgery and was fearful in the middle of the night.

"I lift my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep. The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121

I know because my Jesus lives I can face tomorrow. I am so glad that I can't get that song out of my head ... and my heart.

No More Tears

Today I did something that I did not want to do. I went to view my brother's headstone. It had been placed last week and although I wanted to see it I hesitated to go there. I knew going would bring sadness to my heart. However, today on a beautiful spring day I made the journey. When I saw the name "Watson" on the stone, the tears began to fall. The stone is beautiful-a testament of the love my sister-in-law has for my brother. On Thursday, my brother will have been gone for nine months. His illness and death from cancer has been the most challenging trial to my faith.

There are no words to explain how this grief feels. I've asked the question "Why?". I prayed for his life to be spared. My dreams often include him. Some days I still can't believe it is possible. His picture can cause me happiness or sobs that start deep inside. I share his story with others in a hope that it will help me heal. Memories will pop up at the most inopportune times and I will struggle to keep it together. My thoughts go frequently to his wife and boys and the unimaginable pain that they have been through. I call my parents frequently to make sure that it does not overwhelm them. I see his face the last time I said goodbye. How can this be?

There is only one way that I have gotten through this. God's promise of eternal life is my hope. Because I believe Jesus is my savior I will see my brother again! We will be reunited in heaven. Death is not the end!

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Revelation 21:4

One of Those Weeks

Have you ever had one of those weeks? You know the kind. The papers you need to grade are multiplying like rabbits. You've got a car in the shop and two more that need repairs. Your high school son's idea of a sentence is "Meh!" You argue with your husband about how he never is there when you really need him. The TurboTax e-filing system doesn't have a "Warning- Tax Incompetents Click Here Before You Do Something Stupid" button. Plus, on top of it all you don't have to put in a garden outside because the dust in your house will work just fine! This has got to sound familiar. Well, maybe not exactly like your week but you could fill in the blanks with your own version.



As you can probably tell my week has not been the best one. I imagine the small snowball starting down the hill. As it rolls, it picks up snow and by the time it gets to the bottom-BAM!
it hits us! At this point most of us are exhausted, grouchy and most likely not the most pleasant person to be around. It's at times like this that I just want to quit. Then I remember these words spoken by Jesus.



"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29



I can tell you now, that this verse can be like the cool air coming off a thunderstorm after a humid day. You see, Jesus wants us to give him all our troubles and worries. He wants us to lean on him. Finding rest in him is the best medecine for one of "those" weeks!

Grace is Suficient

Okay, I have a confession to make. I am a worrier. In my past I would worry about everything and I mean everything. In fact I was such a worrier that I would try to plan my life out to the next decade. I'm not talking about goals and how to reach those goals. I'm talking about trying to actually plan how things would go months in advance. I would even plan how conversations would go. I would make up what I would say and then how the person would respond. Whenever there was an event to plan for I would plan it down to the last detail. You would think this would turn out great because it was so nicely and perfectly organized. But there was one problem. As you know, life doesn't always go the way we want it to. Plans change, kids get sick, others can't be there because of their own busy schedule, the person didn't respond in the way I thought they would and my least favorite of all-the weather would not cooperate. The thing was though, there was always a positve side but I couldn't see it because my plan did not work out the way it was supposed to--so--everything was ruined and I felt like a failure. I wanted to be perfect but I failed miserably.

It's hard to be perfect when you are a young mother, working a full time job, trying to keep up a house, wanting to be special to your husband, having bills and laundry piling up around your head and trying to keep up with your friends. Unfortunately, for me, all this led to clinical depresson. Medicine helped raise serotonin levels and counseling helped me see the issues and how to help myself. But that was not enough. Having God in my life was the changing force. He led me to this verse that I come back to over and over.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Friends, we don't have to be perfect-in fact we never will. Because of sin in the world none of us will meet the standard- all will fall short. So, when you are feeling that pressure of this world and the need to do it all by yourself, remember that your weakness is perfect for him to show his power! Blessings on your day, my friends!!

Cherrie

Letting Go

I tried to wait patiently but I couldn't. Where were they? Why hadn't they arrived yet, like so many other couples? I kept looking for his car- not paying attention to the announcements of the other names. Finally, I saw his car pulling into the parking lot and I felt myself let out a breath of relief. My son and his date stepped out of the car at the Red Carpet event for prom!
A mixture of emotions swept over me as I heard their names being announced. How did the time go so quickly? Just yesterday I was holding him in my arms and wondering how I could keep up with two children instead of just one! In the next few months I will be sending my second child off to college. When his sister moved out two years ago I struggled with some strong feelings and emotions. I was worried about the steps she would take, the decisions she would make and how she could possibly get along with out me-her mother! Now I find myself at this point again but this time I already know the answer to my fears.

"Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Proverbs 22:6

When our daughter left the nest two years ago I read or should I say reread this passage. I thought about it for many days and also prayed to God to let the feelings of insecurity go away. What I found was peace about letting go. Ultimately, our children are gifts from God and they really belong to him. The amount of time that I could worry about my children would be a waste of time and would not help them in any way. So each day I place them in the arms of Jesus when I begin to get that feeling of worry. We have raised all three of our kids in the knowledge that Jesus is their Savior and the importance of that in their lives.

Now does that mean that their lives won't be filled with choices, decisions, heartbreak, sadness, mountain tops, valleys and so on? No! Each of their days will be filled with finding their way and maturing into beautiful adults. God has a plan for each of them and will be there every step they make. That fact makes letting them go easier.

Saying Yes

Dear Friends,

Over the past two months I have felt God tugging at my heart to use my gift of writing to touch the hearts of those around me. Automatically I had questions. Me, Lord? What could I say that people would want to read? Do you really think I have time for this now, God? Don't you think you should choose somebody with more experience? Anyone who knows me knows that I do not like change. I had pictures of myself running away and ending up like Jonah in the belly of a fish! So I started to pray and ponder this idea. I kept coming back to the fact that throughout the Bible God uses ordinary people to serve him. That's what I am- an ordinary person. So my answer to God is "Yes." I will take this step in faith and I will allow God to use me for his purpose.

If you live in Kansas you know that spring brings the sprouting of winter wheat, the yellow of daffodils, the white blossoms of the flowering pear tree and the song of birds in the yard. After the dead of winter I soak in these sights and sounds like I have crossed the desert and have a thirst that cannot be quenched. However, if you live in Kansas, you also know that in the spring we have many days in which the wind blows from the South. I'm not talking about a gentle breeze to cool your skin from the sun. I'm talking about gusts that threaten to pick up the two small wienie dogs that live in our house and carry them to states to our north! One day this past week the wind blew as if it would never stop. On this day I was reminded of the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-12.

"The Lord said, Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave."

Sometimes my life seems like that wind, earthquake and fire. From the time I wake up in the morning my life begins to "gust" as I go from one activity to the other. There's a clamoring inside my head as I try to sort out the many demands on my life. I look for God in little snatches of time-left over time. It is difficult to find him. Recently, my church did a Bible study on time. I realized that my life was too full of things that really weren't important. I started to look through the wind, the earthquake and the fire to see what really made a difference in my life. What I found was God in that gentle whisper in the quiet of the morning. So now, I am trying to make that quiet time of Bible study and prayer a part of my every day. I encourage you to take a look at your life and find God's gentle whisper! God's blessings on your day!

Cherrie