Sorry, this isn't about the weather...its about the seasons of life. I've been getting a lot of clarity lately about the direction of my life (from various books, messages, and other sources). Has anyone else ever wondered why some things are so much harder to achieve or attain than you would have ever imagined? So much so that it sorta becomes your biggest mission to achieve/attain it? Its like you almost obsess over it. Well, I've never fully obsessed, but rather constantly tried to figure out how to achieve/attain the unattainable it seems. I'm not even talking about anything tangible, but just dreams, goals, and emotions. My goals and desires have changed over the last two years, surprisingly. I never thought I would have a greater passion for anything more than my previous desires. God works in mysterious ways! Its not that I've given up hope on previous dreams, but I've just gotten a great sense of what I want more than others. Two very wise women recently mentioned to me, in so many words that God wants us to be content in the season we're in. I can't honestly say that I feel 100% content, but I feel content enough not to do anything erratic. So I'm reading Ecclesiastes 3:1-22, which I've shared below. Please share your thoughts and any scriptures that you think are relevant to this topic directly in my post or on facebook. Thank you and God bless...
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
15 Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.[b]
16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I said to myself,
“God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[c]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Brokenness
Today my job announced layoffs. I’m glad my department is not affected, but I am still saddened by this news - it is heavy on my heart along with many things. Just feel the need to get it off of my chest. I love a lot of things about my job, and it scares me a little to think about losing it, but I am going through a much greater tragedy to even dwell on that right now.
I’ve only been dealing with my personal tragedy since November 2009. I am experiencing a great deal of pain and grief every day, and sometimes every hour. However, I am getting a lot of support and encouragement from close friends and family and I keep hearing messages and scriptures about fear and faith (2 Tim 1:7). Most of the messages are from these daily devotionals about how to attack fear with faith. I also get a lot of encouraging comments from others about how to be hopeful and that things will get better, but how do they really know? I read that most people who go through what I’m going through believe things will be better afterwards, only to find that they have deep regret and things really aren’t better for them. So I’ve just decided to pray for God’s supernatural direction during this terrible ordeal and that things really will get better. Only God knows.
A few friends have mentioned some scriptures for me to meditate on: Romans 8:28, James 1:17, Numbers 6:24, Ecclesiastes 3:1,4, Matthew 7. I've also found these scriptures for dealing with grief: Psalms 16, 23, 34, 91, John 14:1-27, 2 Corinthians 5:1-9, Phillippians 4:6-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelations 21:1-22:5. Its too many to write out, but they have been helpful to me by bringing hope, strength, and peace.
Earlier today, I was listening to a Joyce Meyers message, and she talked about brokenness and what it really means. She said that God breaks us in the right places at the right time, and so much so that we can not do what needs to be done in our lives so we have no choice but to lean on God and let Him do what ONLY GOD can do. I feel like I’m in that place right now. Totally and completely broken, so much so that I hardly have enough energy to get through my daily routine of getting dressed, doing my hair, eating, doing laundry, dishes, etc. It is encouraging to know that others have been through this before, not because it feels good to see others suffer like me, but because I know that other people have gotten through this before. It hasn’t ruined them and they are still living great lives. In Joyce Meyer’s message, she said that Jesus is for everybody, but he was especially for those who were hurting. It is comforting to know that He is with me during this time. I feel like the smallest things that happens only adds to my grief. The fact that my job did layoffs today adds to my grief even though I'm not directly affected. My hurt is deepened by the fact that I’m not close to my family and the fact that a certain family member hasn’t reached out to me yet and has never fully embraced me the way that she should. I’ve never told her how her cruelty and distance in my life has affected me since childhood, so I guess it’s not entirely her fault. I know she probably treats me this way because she’s dealing with her own hurt. Hurting people hurt people they say…
I am crying out for your prayer and encouragement. Please pray for God’s supernatural direction in my life and that I hear His voice and make wise major decisions in the future. Please pray that I will be restored sooner than later and that I will receive God’s favor and beat the odds of having an abundant and prosperous life afterwards. Please pray that my desires will be realigned with God’s will(because I don’t know what His will is for my life anymore). I appreciate all of those who have reached out to me during this time in any way and hope that you know it means a great deal to me. A while ago, I read an alarming statistic that everyone goes through something tragic approximately every 10 years. I hope that it’s not true. It saddens me to know that everyone is going to suffer. If you have ever experienced anything tragic in your life, please let me know what you did to get through it and any words of encouragement. You don’t have to mention any specifics if you don’t feel led.
God Bless,
Sherri~
I’ve only been dealing with my personal tragedy since November 2009. I am experiencing a great deal of pain and grief every day, and sometimes every hour. However, I am getting a lot of support and encouragement from close friends and family and I keep hearing messages and scriptures about fear and faith (2 Tim 1:7). Most of the messages are from these daily devotionals about how to attack fear with faith. I also get a lot of encouraging comments from others about how to be hopeful and that things will get better, but how do they really know? I read that most people who go through what I’m going through believe things will be better afterwards, only to find that they have deep regret and things really aren’t better for them. So I’ve just decided to pray for God’s supernatural direction during this terrible ordeal and that things really will get better. Only God knows.
A few friends have mentioned some scriptures for me to meditate on: Romans 8:28, James 1:17, Numbers 6:24, Ecclesiastes 3:1,4, Matthew 7. I've also found these scriptures for dealing with grief: Psalms 16, 23, 34, 91, John 14:1-27, 2 Corinthians 5:1-9, Phillippians 4:6-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelations 21:1-22:5. Its too many to write out, but they have been helpful to me by bringing hope, strength, and peace.
Earlier today, I was listening to a Joyce Meyers message, and she talked about brokenness and what it really means. She said that God breaks us in the right places at the right time, and so much so that we can not do what needs to be done in our lives so we have no choice but to lean on God and let Him do what ONLY GOD can do. I feel like I’m in that place right now. Totally and completely broken, so much so that I hardly have enough energy to get through my daily routine of getting dressed, doing my hair, eating, doing laundry, dishes, etc. It is encouraging to know that others have been through this before, not because it feels good to see others suffer like me, but because I know that other people have gotten through this before. It hasn’t ruined them and they are still living great lives. In Joyce Meyer’s message, she said that Jesus is for everybody, but he was especially for those who were hurting. It is comforting to know that He is with me during this time. I feel like the smallest things that happens only adds to my grief. The fact that my job did layoffs today adds to my grief even though I'm not directly affected. My hurt is deepened by the fact that I’m not close to my family and the fact that a certain family member hasn’t reached out to me yet and has never fully embraced me the way that she should. I’ve never told her how her cruelty and distance in my life has affected me since childhood, so I guess it’s not entirely her fault. I know she probably treats me this way because she’s dealing with her own hurt. Hurting people hurt people they say…
I am crying out for your prayer and encouragement. Please pray for God’s supernatural direction in my life and that I hear His voice and make wise major decisions in the future. Please pray that I will be restored sooner than later and that I will receive God’s favor and beat the odds of having an abundant and prosperous life afterwards. Please pray that my desires will be realigned with God’s will(because I don’t know what His will is for my life anymore). I appreciate all of those who have reached out to me during this time in any way and hope that you know it means a great deal to me. A while ago, I read an alarming statistic that everyone goes through something tragic approximately every 10 years. I hope that it’s not true. It saddens me to know that everyone is going to suffer. If you have ever experienced anything tragic in your life, please let me know what you did to get through it and any words of encouragement. You don’t have to mention any specifics if you don’t feel led.
God Bless,
Sherri~
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Untold Secret: We can enjoy life...
For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ~Galations 6:8
We can enjoy our life (and avoid trouble) if we follow the Holy Spirit's leading. The Word tells us not to grow weary from doing what is right, because God promises that whatever we sow today, we will also reap sometime in the future. ~Galatians 6:9
Be courageous, act nobly, and continue doing what you know is right.
I came across this in the morning devotional from Joyce Meyer today, and I wanted to blog about it because for a long time, I never understood the concept of sowing and reaping. I had no idea what others were talking about. For all I knew, sowing was something you did to clothes and reaping - huh? I always had trouble grasping some of the concepts and messages from the older bible versions that use the Hebrew language and dialect so I figured that's why it didn't make sense to me. It's easy to talk about this scripture now because I actually understand it and realize why some people are so passionate about this scripture. Basically, sowing refers to the things that you do, which are seeds you plant in life. If they are good honorable things, you will reap or be rewarded with the benefits by God. If you plant bad seeds, then you will reap the consequences.
With the sudden death of my father-in-law last week, I am even more inspired by this scripture because he was an example of a man of noble character who sowed A LOT of good seeds! To name a few, he served honorably in the Army and received military honors and awards; he was also a hardworking husband and the father of several adopted kids. That is sowing! I didn't know him that long, but what was special to me was how welcoming he made me feel the few times I talked to him on the phone and when I visited. He even sent me a Christmas gift last year! Like, the fact that he thought about me when he has so many other kids and things to think about is astounding! He definitely sowed a lot and I know he will reap his rewards in heaven. His children love him dearly and are crushed by their loss. They respected him. Everyone did, and although it's an unfortunate situation, it's admirable to see how well they are coming together to take care of their father's funeral arrangements and to get his paperwork in order. May God rest his soul. I pray that he is at peace now and in heaven with his wonderful wife...
If you are ever tempted to sow (or do) things that you know are not right, just be reminded that the scripture says that you will reap (receive) the consequences of your actions, whether good or bad. We all struggle with this at some point or another, so its not being judgemental by any means. We just have to constantly remind ourselves and consult with our conscious when we are in these situations so that we can do the right thing and live a joyful life. There is joy and pleasure in living a holy life ya know :) I know because I'm a Christian, and I still do fun things without compromising my beliefs (i.e. I listen to great music that's not vulgar or offensive, I still go out with my friends, wear nice clothes that aren't provocative, shop, travel, take vacations, go to movies, b-day parties, BBQs, and more!) lol I say all that not to be petty, but just because I feel like it's important to appreciate those small things we take for granted that make life joyful!
There are of course things I still struggle with because I'm not perfect, but overall, I have a joyful life! Sometimes it seems like people think Christians don't have fun, but the secret is, we do! LOL - all in Jesus' name... :)
Overall, my point is to demonstrate that we all can live this scripture of sowing good things. It may require us to make some changes in our current lifestyle and it may not happen overnight, but when we do, the good news is that we can still enjoy life while sowing those good seeds...and not only that, we'll reap the rewards during our journey!
May God bless you in your journey...
We can enjoy our life (and avoid trouble) if we follow the Holy Spirit's leading. The Word tells us not to grow weary from doing what is right, because God promises that whatever we sow today, we will also reap sometime in the future. ~Galatians 6:9
Be courageous, act nobly, and continue doing what you know is right.
I came across this in the morning devotional from Joyce Meyer today, and I wanted to blog about it because for a long time, I never understood the concept of sowing and reaping. I had no idea what others were talking about. For all I knew, sowing was something you did to clothes and reaping - huh? I always had trouble grasping some of the concepts and messages from the older bible versions that use the Hebrew language and dialect so I figured that's why it didn't make sense to me. It's easy to talk about this scripture now because I actually understand it and realize why some people are so passionate about this scripture. Basically, sowing refers to the things that you do, which are seeds you plant in life. If they are good honorable things, you will reap or be rewarded with the benefits by God. If you plant bad seeds, then you will reap the consequences.
With the sudden death of my father-in-law last week, I am even more inspired by this scripture because he was an example of a man of noble character who sowed A LOT of good seeds! To name a few, he served honorably in the Army and received military honors and awards; he was also a hardworking husband and the father of several adopted kids. That is sowing! I didn't know him that long, but what was special to me was how welcoming he made me feel the few times I talked to him on the phone and when I visited. He even sent me a Christmas gift last year! Like, the fact that he thought about me when he has so many other kids and things to think about is astounding! He definitely sowed a lot and I know he will reap his rewards in heaven. His children love him dearly and are crushed by their loss. They respected him. Everyone did, and although it's an unfortunate situation, it's admirable to see how well they are coming together to take care of their father's funeral arrangements and to get his paperwork in order. May God rest his soul. I pray that he is at peace now and in heaven with his wonderful wife...
If you are ever tempted to sow (or do) things that you know are not right, just be reminded that the scripture says that you will reap (receive) the consequences of your actions, whether good or bad. We all struggle with this at some point or another, so its not being judgemental by any means. We just have to constantly remind ourselves and consult with our conscious when we are in these situations so that we can do the right thing and live a joyful life. There is joy and pleasure in living a holy life ya know :) I know because I'm a Christian, and I still do fun things without compromising my beliefs (i.e. I listen to great music that's not vulgar or offensive, I still go out with my friends, wear nice clothes that aren't provocative, shop, travel, take vacations, go to movies, b-day parties, BBQs, and more!) lol I say all that not to be petty, but just because I feel like it's important to appreciate those small things we take for granted that make life joyful!
There are of course things I still struggle with because I'm not perfect, but overall, I have a joyful life! Sometimes it seems like people think Christians don't have fun, but the secret is, we do! LOL - all in Jesus' name... :)
Overall, my point is to demonstrate that we all can live this scripture of sowing good things. It may require us to make some changes in our current lifestyle and it may not happen overnight, but when we do, the good news is that we can still enjoy life while sowing those good seeds...and not only that, we'll reap the rewards during our journey!
May God bless you in your journey...
Monday, August 17, 2009
A Good Reason to be Patient
Have you ever asked yourself why God wants us to be patient? It's so hard sometimes, right? Well, the following story is an example of why we should listen to him even when its not easy.
As I was driving out of my apartment complex today, this slow poke was driving in front of me and I was getting annoyed. Instead of blowing my horn and yelling (aka road rage), I just sat there in total frustration. Then, he went over a speed bump at 0 miles per hour. Then he completely stopped and I felt my blood boiling, then suddenly, he stuck his head out of the window and said to me, "Your hood is open! Its not closed." So I said something like, "oh no, thank you!" I double parked and checked the hood, and he was right! My hood was definitely opened! I pushed it shut and got back in the car and thanked him again.
Now there is an important lesson in this story. First of all, neither me nor my husband opened my hood recently, so my guess is that it was probably like that since I got an oil change at the beginning of this month! Can you just imagine what could have happened if it flew up while I was driving, cracking my windshield and potentially causing harm to me or an accident with someone else! God is SOOOO good and he teaches us when we least expect it. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
If you struggle in this area, I hope this story will encourage you to be patient when something isn't going your way because God may be protecting you from harm or making a path for a huge blessing in your life. When we aren't patient, we could be blocking our blessing and putting ourselves in harms way! I know I may be making a big deal out of such a small story, but I just thought it was the perfect example of why we obey God when he tells us to be patient...even when it doesn't make sense to us. Proverbs 3:5-6 : Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Thank you God for your saving grace and unlimited favor!
In Jesus Name,
Sherri~
As I was driving out of my apartment complex today, this slow poke was driving in front of me and I was getting annoyed. Instead of blowing my horn and yelling (aka road rage), I just sat there in total frustration. Then, he went over a speed bump at 0 miles per hour. Then he completely stopped and I felt my blood boiling, then suddenly, he stuck his head out of the window and said to me, "Your hood is open! Its not closed." So I said something like, "oh no, thank you!" I double parked and checked the hood, and he was right! My hood was definitely opened! I pushed it shut and got back in the car and thanked him again.
Now there is an important lesson in this story. First of all, neither me nor my husband opened my hood recently, so my guess is that it was probably like that since I got an oil change at the beginning of this month! Can you just imagine what could have happened if it flew up while I was driving, cracking my windshield and potentially causing harm to me or an accident with someone else! God is SOOOO good and he teaches us when we least expect it. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
If you struggle in this area, I hope this story will encourage you to be patient when something isn't going your way because God may be protecting you from harm or making a path for a huge blessing in your life. When we aren't patient, we could be blocking our blessing and putting ourselves in harms way! I know I may be making a big deal out of such a small story, but I just thought it was the perfect example of why we obey God when he tells us to be patient...even when it doesn't make sense to us. Proverbs 3:5-6 : Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Thank you God for your saving grace and unlimited favor!
In Jesus Name,
Sherri~
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