Monday, January 19, 2009

Random Reflections

What an amazing weekend! Wow! Is life supposed to be this much fun? 

I had the best weekend! I laughed so hard that my aging process was hindered a bit (thank you, Jesus!). I think this because it was announced Sunday at church that laughing is so healthy for you........if you laugh good and hard for 20 seconds several times a day it is like doing a workout! I think we, my friends and I,  laughed enough Friday night that we can just skip the physical work out for the next week or so! Whew! That makes me happy enough to laugh some more!

The slumber party was so much fun. We had deep moments of sharing godly testimonies, godly thoughts, godly wisdom and then goofiness would just creep into the moment and lighten everything up! It was an awesome combination! Deep and Fun! 

Four a.m. came unbelievably fast! I was still awake! It is true that time flies when you are having fun! I think my eyelids finally settled in for rest around 4:30. I am still recovering!

I got up around 8 a. m. or so then prepared to head for Kansas City where I had planned to meet with Shelley Hollis........my dear friend that I worked with in India and Sri Lanka. She is a beautiful! She is a missionary home for a rest. We were planning to meet but plans fell through last minute. I was on the way to Kansas City when I got her message.

I felt like I was supposed to keep going. 

So I kept going.

I was also planning to make a stop at IHOP........the International House Of Prayer. I was going to sit in the prayer room and just have some special quiet time........

On my way I got hungry. I was thinking that Tomato Basil Soup from Applebees would settle the pangs so I left the freeway to find an Applebees. There was a sign for one but there was also a detour that led me around and around and I nearly gave up trying to find the place.

Funny........when I pulled in the parking spot I had chosen, "I finally found where I belong........" were the words I heard the worship leader singing on my new cd.  Had to smile about that! Yep, I had finally found the restaurant...........!

The hostess seated me at a very large booth. I knew what I wanted. The waitress was very sweet. My mind was on getting my food and getting to IHOP........Cortney was sweet. She waited on me.  I was totally absorbed in eating that wonderful food.......I finally glanced up and there was Cortney.....she had lots of questions........all of her questions led to life, prayer, God, and more stuff like that. 

Finally she began to unload. Her life is rough. She is hurting. She has made some mistakes. She had moved back in with her mom. She needs good friends. She doesn't believe in God.......

angels............yes........

other spiritual beings..........yes.............

a higher power..........but not God........

I had to say it, "If what you believe isn't true would you want to know it?"

She looked at me.........thinking.........."hmmmmmm.........yeah...........I see what you mean......."

She wanted to know how long I would be in town..........

"I am heading back home tonight..." I say. It is one hundred miles back home.........

"Oh, because I would like to go to the prayer room with you.........but I can't right now because of work,"  she says........

I must have had the look of "seriously?" all over my face..........

She felt like I was sent for her..........she wants to find help........I was wishing that I could stay.......I couldn't..........

She hugged me. 

She had to go back to work.........

I gave her my phone number and e-mail.......

I went to the prayer room...........she was the only thing on my mind.........so I spiritually carried Cortney into the prayer room and put her in the arms of Jesus praying that she would find him. I prayed that  her search would lead her to Him............that someone would come into her life right behind me with more of the truth........In fact I prayed that she would be bombarded with truth and love until she receives and is able to lead someone else to truth and love.........

Cortney took a lot of my time........I didn't have long in the prayer room..........just long enough to lay down the burden that I had picked up along the way........down the road a bit.........at an out of the way Applebees........(I had passed several)...........

After the prayer room I was back on the rode again.........heading home but.........

there was more to come......... I will not go into that now...........I can only tell you that there are times when the Lord makes your assignment obvious.........We think we are searching for a restaurant.......and suddenly what used to be all about us becomes totally about someone else.........their soul...........and suddenly life is put in perspective.........Life here is temporal.........very short........eternity beckons many who have never heard of eternal life.....and we are called to sow, or water, or reap..........

Just wondering..........would you join me in prayer for Cortney because I didn't leave her having confidence that she knows Jesus.........in fact she has no idea who He is.........will you join me in pleading for her soul????? 

She needs Him.........

She wants peace........so she needs Him.........she wants stability..........so she needs Him.........she wants to have a healthy life........so she needs Him.......so if you and I are praying perhaps she will find what she is really looking for.

 Thank you friends for joining me in this quest! I am believing that together we will have a part in her salvation.........eternity will reveal the facts because it will all be recorded...........by then we will have forgotten..........and I probably won't even recognize Cortney when we meet again on the eternal shore, because she won't even look the same.........hmmm maybe I won't either!!!!

Isn't the Lord good? Isn't He amazing? I am so in awe of Him! His ways are higher! And better for all!





Believing for Cortney's soul!!!!!!!!

And you know what..........let's believe BIG and ask for her whole household to be saved!!!! 
Nothing is too difficult for the Lord!

Believing Him for Big things!
Cheri




7 comments:

Unknown said...

I love you! Hope you have a happy birthday!

Paula V said...

Wow. This is absolutely awesome. I mean every step of your travels. Your friend canceling but yet you still traveled on for what you thought was some good time with the Lord at IHOP. No, instead He led you right to Cortney. How wonderful it would be to share with her how He specifically and divinely led you to HER....He cares that much for her that He'd have you travel 100 miles to a place where you were to meet a friend but canceled yet He had you go anyway. Had your friend kept the plans, you would've never been to that one of many Applebees. What details our Lord has...even to you cravy tomato basil soup only from Applebees. It's very rare that someone will be so open with their heart like Cortney and open about not believing yet wanting something.

By the way...Happy Birthday, I see from Shala's comment.
Love,
Paula

Joyful said...

Cheri, your reflections may be random, but God's plan for you certainly wasn't! WOW! I love hearing stories like these. What obedience to His prompting. The Lord wanted you to meet Cortney - nothing random there at all.

I will pray for Cortney. How special to think of all those who are lifting her name to the Lord right now. May she surrender to His call upon her life.

Blessings my friend...and happy birthday!
Love ya,
Joy

Van said...

Adventures with God- I love it, love it! Thanks for you kind words on my blog.

Corrie said...

I want to be used by the Lord like this. Thank you for the inspiration to be more sensitive to Him.

Laura said...

Cheri, you just amaze.

He is written all over you, and others can't help but be drawn. Bless you for being there for Cortney. I pray, pray, pray for this sweet girl to find Jesus, because we know that He is what she is looking for.

I'm glad you had fun at the slumber party...

Laugh more for me!

Laura said...

Where are you, my friend? I miss you...(sniff) Hope you are having some fun...

:)Laura