Dad's Letter Jacket

When our son, Caleb was in high school, he loved to wear his dad's letter jacket. 

Funny thing..........his dad never would wear it when he was in high school...........he thought it too boastful........

So it was like new.........it didn't have his dad's medals on it (there were many)........they had never been sewn on........he wouldn't wear it anyway.......

It had some award patches sewn on it that boasted of his achievements.............His mom had sewn them on even though she knew the jacket would not be worn.......

It had Scotty's name on it..............

Caleb loved walking around in that jacket displaying his dad's achievements...........

He would not have worn his own letter jacket...........he is a lot like his dad.........it would have been too boastful...........

But he loved boasting in his dad's accomplishments.................

Senior picture time came..........of course there would be a picture of Caleb in his dad's jacket.........

Isn't this a picture of how we will stand before the Lord.........."dressed in His righteousness alone.........."

You and I walking around displaying the Lord's achievements........

Ephesians says we cannot boast in ourselves.............Oh, but we can boast in Him...........

We can wear His righteousness so that all will see it..........

Romans 13:14 says, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.........."

Put Him on...........

Wear His righteousness.............

Display it..........

Wear His humility...........He is gentle and humble in heart...........

Wear His compassion.............His discernment.............His wisdom..........

His nature...........

Luke 15..........Jesus tells about a son who returns home........the son had lost everything........he didn't have a robe of his own.........he was expecting to receive servants garments..........but the father commands his servants to go and "get the BEST robe" for his son.............It most likely would have been from his own closet.........the prodigal son's closet was empty........The best robe in the house would have most likely come from the father's closet..........(we know for sure it came from the father's house).........

The "best robe" would have boasted of the father's accomplishments.........not the sons..........and it would have covered the brokenness and shame of the son.............

Paul says: "For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.........(1Corinthians 2:2)

So today...........I am wearing my Father's robe........."putting on the new self, which is in the likeness of God that has been created in righteousness and holiness and truth........." (Ephesians 4:24).........

My old life has been covered..........who can see...............I am wearing "the best robe" from my Father's closet.........

Displaying a righteousness that is not my own.........it is an expensive robe.........bought with a great price........what a privilege that the Father would let me put it on.........

so that I may boast to the world that He is my Father!!!!!!

Because He Lives!

Cheri

The Search for Favorites

The search began with Caleb. He would run into the room saying, "Mom, I found your favorite song." 

He would proceed to play the song (on You Tube or such) for me to evaluate and confirm that it was indeed my most favorite song. 

The quest was passed on to Luke and now Josiah has picked up this trend. They all three have been on this mission for several years now to discover the song that will be deemed my very favorite.

This is a very difficult quest as I love so many songs that I am not sure I have ever had one that has been my very favorite.....I have lots of favorites.

Sometimes their choices are just to get a rise........they KNOW that I will not favor the song that they share with me........

They love to see me wince at the thought of making their selection my favorite. Sometimes I surprise them by making them think that I am falling in love with their pick. They love it when I do this. They quickly recognize that I am playing their game!

Last evening Josiah burst into the kitchen confident that he had found my favorite movie!!!!

Movies now!!!!

I couldn't imagine what it might be that he had discovered..........

He put in a video of a very old cartoon of Gulliver's Travels. I had just put supper in the oven so I joined him on the couch and we watched this delightful tale together. It was soooo cute! It had a lot of operatic singing........not sure Josiah was really into that part........I am not sure that it was my favorite video in the whole world..........but it was a treasured moment shared  with Josiah...........

Josiah is seventeen. Last week he enrolled in his senior classes for school for next year. He is our baby. The last to fly away from this nest called home. 

It blesses me that he thinks of me when he hears a song or sees a movie........it blesses me that he would think, "I wonder if this one will be her favorite?"

Is this normal for teenagers.........boys..........to try to find their mom's favorite of anything??????????

I don't know if it is possible to find my favorite song..........

or movie..........

but I can tell you for sure that there are three boys that are among my favorite people in the whole world..........

Caleb, Luke, and Josiah.............

Have I mentioned Josh, Ashli, and Drake...........in that line up?????? They are in my group of favorite people too.........and now we have a new Ashley........

Do you think that the Lord is looking for something that is your favorite today?

Maybe your favorite verse...........

sunset.........

flower............

or moment?

I think He loves us so much that He is always trying to wow us with a new favorite..........

I can just hear Him saying, "I think I found your favorite...........!" Then He waits for you and I to come and share it with Him.

I hope you find a new favorite today............and when you do, think of Him who picked it out (or made it) just for you!!!!!

You are my favorites!

Blessings,

Cheri

Leaning

I am leaning.

I would rather be running, skipping, jumping, dancing, and singing in the rain, but at this moment in time I find myself resting on the only steadfast pillar in my life.

It is not that anything is wrong..........circumstances are aligned to my liking........for the most part......

There are a few things that I find myself wanting to bend and twist and tweak.........

My fingerprints will mar not mold..........I must wait for Him......for His breath to breathe inspiration and life into these things.........His signature will be fired into the clay, not mine.........

It is not that there is a present conflict or sorrow or shame to confront, it is that there is quiet. A stillness. A time of reflection.  A time of waiting for revelation. A time to consider the pain of others.....A time to look into the eyes of the One who knows me best.........and wait..........

Inactivity is not comfortable for me..........

Others ask, "What are you doing?"

"Listening........."

I have to be patient as they wonder about me..........

"I hear His heartbeat...........it is drawing me to a deeper place.........." I wanna say.........

I don't share the last part..........they aren't ready to hear about my journey to His heart.......so dressed in His grace I wait in the presence of God and wait for Him to whisper sweet nothings to me........His words are precious life to me..........they escort me through another day.......

"Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?" Song of Solomon 8:5

It is I! I am familiar with the wilderness. I have been there.........a few times.........

It is I who am leaning on this beloved One........

He is so patient.......

so sweet.........

charting my course.........

watching my footing...........

I will never leave His side.......

If He runs..............I will run.........

If He dances..........I will dance.........

If He feasts...........I will feast with Him..........

Because I have found my Beloved and my desire is for Him.........

Presently, He is my pillar.........my delight. My joy on which I lean.........

 

Starbucks

I love Starbucks! Now you know! I haven't really been trying to conceal this fact. We don't have a Starbucks in our town. In fact the closest one is about one hundred miles away so there is no way I can be addicted! 

I don't know what it is but I love the atmosphere of a Starbucks. You walk in and there is an amazing aroma that greets you at the door and beckons you to make yourself at home. So I usually make my way to the bathroom first.........after one hundred miles this is usually a necessity not what I really want to do...........just what I really need.

 I LOVE their bathrooms by the way..........first of all I fit nicely in them. They are Very Big.  They are usually clean and well stocked and the toilet paper holder will usually let the thing roll so you can actually get your normal handful of paper. I hate it when public restrooms only allow you a corner off a square of toilet paper because it tears off in your hand...........Does this only happen to me? 

I didn't really mean to get into all that.........I probably posted too much information........we call that TMI in our house!

After my trip to the RR, I find myself drooling over the baked goods that are artistically displayed in the food counter........I hardly ever get anything from there because I usually want to eat at a good restaurant when I am out of town so I need to save some space for a good meal........so I just gaze at it as long as the people behind me will allow........

Then I order a venti latte with whipped cream..........I live one hundred miles away so I figure I can work off the cream before I get back home........

Then I often go to the shelves to window shop, looking at their wonderful mug selection. I usually have to pick up and hold in my hands the different styles of mugs and imagine what my morning cup of coffee would feel like if I owned that cup. A few times..........a mug has begged to come home with me..........and let's just say I have a tender spot for Starbuck mugs........and I have weakend under such pressure.........My husband always reminds me that we have boxes of coffee mugs in the garage in storage so we don't really need anymore and there are starving children in Africa.....and probably even in the USA if I think about it very long.........but sometimes I just have to succumb to the pressure of a cheery mug..............Somehow I get convinced that drinking out of a cheery mug in the morning will brighten my whole day...........I think I have brainwashed myself into believing that.

Sometimes I get two or three of the same kind of mug because I picture my friends sitting around the table with me enjoying a cup of coffee in a smiley Starbucks mug.......That has actually happened. My friends have come over for Bible study or sometimes just a visit.........And you should see their faces when they actually get a little bit of the Starbucks atmosphere at MY house which is one hundred miles away from an actual Starbucks store!!!!! This is the reason there aren't ANY Starbucks mugs packed away in our garage storage room...........I might just send those nameless mugs off to Africa......maybe I will put some rice in them before I ship them...........I feel better just thinking about it.........

I also love the music in Starbucks...........you are not going to believe this!!!!!! This is so unlike me but I bought a Swing CD in Starbucks a week ago........I love the music from the forties.........I grew up with it! I was not even alive in the forties..............I am MIDDLE aged so let's not take me any further over the hill than we must...........but my grandmother played the piano..........could play anything..........so I know music from the twenties, thirties, forties.........and just about every decade following........NOW that is a heritage!!!!! For the last several years, 90 % of the time  I listen to music or (possibly even higher) is spent listening to worship music..........That is my favorite all time music........I LOVE praise and worship.........But that swing is just fun!!!!!

I had the swing cd on in the kitchen the other night when I was fixing dinner and suddenly I felt the urge to make coffee..........not to drink necessarily but it seemed that the aroma should be in the room dancing to the rhythm of the moment..........and it was so much fun! I don't even remember what I fixed for dinner, I only remember that I had a really good time swinging to the beat of the music with the aroma of the coffee in my kitchen.........I don't know if anyone was peeking in the windows or not........but I loved the freedom of it........I just really had a great time........This is something I could never pull off one hundred miles down the road in an actual Starbucks location. I was so happy that I brought that cd home with me.........it really made a difference in my day........and probably in the meal too..........

So now you know...........I really like Starbucks..........I haven't ever really had the opportunity to just sit in one and enjoy the atmosphere for a long period of time........I always have so much to do when I am out of town.........and who would sit with me? I wouldn't really want to sit in there and read the newspaper.......as some do........or work on my computer as some do.......not that those things are wrong, but my dream would be to sit with a friend for a couple of hours and just visit.......and drink my venti latte with whipped cream with swing music accompanying our fellowship........now that would be fun wouldn't it????? Do you want to meet me there sometime? I kind of have to plan ahead on these things so give me plenty of time to prepare.........in the meantime I will be enjoying my morning cup of coffee from my Starbucks mug and thinking of you!!!!!

Love you lots!!!!!

MMMMMM!

Cheri

ps. I think it is healthy to visit the lighter side of life...........it brings some energy to the mundane!

Fabulous Fun Fridays/Childlike

My husband and his brother look soooo much alike. In fact they look more alike all the time! We live in Kansas and Scotty's brother lives in Houston, Texas so we hardly ever have the privilege of being together. Whenever we area together questions always arise:

"Are you twins?"

"Which one is older?" 

It is always mind boggling to everyone who sees them together. 

One time I was hugging my husband in my in-laws kitchen. My father-in-law walked in and with a wild, "Hey!!!!!!!" 

He thought I was hugging Terry! No, I was hugging Scotty! "To have and to hold..........." It was okay!

I can keep them straight so far!!!! 

We had not been to Houston to see Terry and Kathy and all their many kids and grandkids for over a year.

While we were there a couple of weeks ago we went to visit Terry's son, Kyle and his family. Kyle has two very cute little girls, Haley (5) and Emily (3).

Terry stepped into their house first with Scotty following close behind him.

Haley ran into the room to jump into her pappa's arms when she looked up and saw what seemed to be two of him. 

"Pappa, how did you do that?!!!!" she exclaimed.

I couldn't help but think how Haley had demonstrated childlike faith. 

She believes her pappa can do absolutely anything.........even clone himself!!!!!

She didn't ask Terry "IF" he had made another one of himself, she asked "HOW?"

I wish you could've heard the wonder in her little voice and the amazement in her eyes when she asked her pappa how he had made another one of him. I have replayed it in my mind over and over hoping that it will stay with me forever.

I read a book recently by Ravi Zacharias that spoke of childlike wonder. It is one of my favorite reads ever. It is called Recapture the Wonder. Haley demonstrated what Ravi so wonderfully expresses in his book. 

Just four quotes:

"Wonder is that possession of the mind that enchants the emotions while never surrendering reason."

"Wonder knows that while you cannot look at the light you cannot look at anything else without it."

"It (wonder) is not exhausted by childhood but finds its key there."

"Wonder and music go hand in hand. Wonder cannot help but sing. Even nature recognizes that."

I pause and reflect on the wonder I saw in Haley's eyes and look at my Lord with a fresh awe and say  "How did You do that?????" 

How did you hang the stars in place?

How did you form that beautiful baby in the womb?

How did you tell the birds how to build their nests?

How do you take a sinner and make a new creature in Christ?

Isn't He Wonderful??????

Have a fun weekend, friends!

Love you,

Cheri

Letters From Prison

I love a good worship service! I mean the kind of worship service where the Lord goes beyond our singing and praising to shake us into our destiny. 

Imagine the kind of worship that would shake a prison. Shake it to pieces!

Imagine a jailer, a lost soul getting saved as a result! Not only his soul brought to light but every member of his household saved!

Wouldn't you love for every member of your family to be saved? What about in one day? 

A good beating preceded this worship service. 

Two bloody servants of God worshiped because they know that God is worthy!

They began to sing and praise! Because He is always worthy of our praise! 

They did not know what was about to happen...........a church was about to be born! 

Years pass..........Paul writes a letter to his brothers where the Philippian church was born.  He writes the letter while in a prison in another city. His time was short. He was facing death. His assignment here was nearly finished. 

Imagine the believers in Philippi thinking "Sing, Paul! Just sing! The Lord shook prison doors free for you once before, He can do that again! You don't have to die! He is able to rescue you once again!"

But friends that would not happen again. Paul was executed. Death came. 

You cannot threaten a Christian with heaven.......Paul was homesick for heaven. He was ready.

Yesterday I told you about a pastor who was raised from the dead. Today I will share a different story.

While I was in Sri Lanka a pastor and his wife were shot by a gunman who had been paid twenty dollars to take their lives. The gunman broke into their home while they were in bed and shot both of them many, many times. Their 18 month old child lay between them. He was not hurt only severely traumatized.

Pastor Neil died that night. His wife lay beside him dying in their blood. 

Pastor Neil had just completed a forty day fast the day before he was killed. During the fast the Lord spoke to him that his time on earth was very short. He would be coming home soon. The day after the fast he was killed. He had hinted to his wife over and over that he knew his time was short. The Lord had spoken.

Sherimy, his sweet wife finally got to go back to their home December 23 after being in the hospital since last February. She is going to pastor the church that her husband left behind. She returned on his birthday. She is girded up and ready to take over the work that her husband began. 

Sherimy drags one leg behind her, and her right arm does not work well. She still has a bullet lodged near her spine. It cannot be removed. She has a work to do..........and she is willing. Pain often grips her...........she endures. She believes that she is called.

There are times when the Lord brings a great deliverance.........He resurrects, He heals, He delivers, He restores, etc. and there are times He takes His servants home to be with Him.

I love the story of Enoch. It is one of the most amazing stories in all of scripture. The Lord just took Enoch home! They were such good friends that the Lord said, "Let's just go on to my house!" Can you imagine that kind of relationship with the Lord? I totally love the idea!

But think of the consequences of his going........one day he was just gone! I wonder what his wife thought about it, his children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors. Imagine their world with such a paradigm shift! Their loved one was just GONE! That is a lot to deal with. 

The Lord wants us to pray and believe. He loves to see faith put into practice. He is not moved by our need but by our faith............Faith moves God! It does! He rewards faith! But sometimes real faith is proven when we can trust Him in death. Living here is not what it is all about. Living here is temporary for everyone. 

So when death comes into our living experience may we have grace so that others might see faith and be moved to believe!

Because He Lives!

Cheri

What If

Can you imagine hanging out with someone who has been raised from the dead?

I am talking about someone who was dead lying on a mat with a white sheet over his head for 36 hours. Gone to heaven. But sent back to work for the Kingdom! 

Imagine a woman totally blind in one eye and without a left eye. Watch as the Lord heals her right eye..........she can now see with the eye that she has........but wait........He is doing more. Water is gushing out of the left socket........where an eye should be.......an eye is formed as you stand by and watch the miracle.  A woman leaves the meeting with 20/20 vision. 

Signs and wonders are happening in the midst of unbelievers. The mute leaves with a new song in their mouth.........The deaf now hear the mute ones "hallelujahs" ringing.......

Soon churches need to be built..........people are getting saved. Jesus has come to another village to heal, save, deliver.........

My friend was there.........she was a witness to these very miracles........

The resurrected man is her interpreter these days.........she and he work together to spread the gospel.

I have been hanging out with her recently. We were at a church.........a small church.......she taught about prayer.........I came away changed........It was like a spiritual eye was created for me........I believe at a whole new level.......

I wish you could have been there........I wish I had her words on cd..........I don't ever want to lose what I have gained.........

One thing she taught was that the disciples followed Jesus day and night..........they were witnesses to mighty wonders and incredible works of God but the thing that they asked Him was, "Lord, teach us to pray." (Luke 11, Matthew 6) They did not say, "Teach us how to heal, teach, etc.........." They asked for Him to teach them to pray.........

Prayer. It begins in a secret place.........alone........with Jesus.........Just lingering in His presence........leaving your list on the counter while you find a place on your knees.........and just come........to sit, to stare, to listen, to worship, to receive strategy, to bless, to know, to allow Him time to reveal..........

What do you suppose is on His heart today? Perhaps something that is on your list is on His heart........perhaps He just wants you to come.........just rest in His sweet presence.........

I had a vision of the Lord reaching out to embrace someone but they turned away.........they shunned the embrace........"Don't get too close, Lord.........." and "I don't dare get that close, Lord!".........were words they were saying as they turned away from Him.

It broke my heart.....Why do we push Him away?

We can only come away empty...............broken..........lonely..........

What if we ran into those arms and just lingered for awhile............

The One who can create an eye can take care of those things on our list.........

The One who still raises the dead can take care of those things..........

Nothing is impossible for God.........What if we really believed that?????

What would we see? Would we witness what missionaries are witnessing? 

Would we need to build more churches because so many are coming to Jesus needing a place to worship..........

There is a quiet place for all of us where we can meet our God. When we leave that holy chamber, we will be filled, we will see what He sees,  and we will have the power we need to change the world!

What if?

I intend to find out!

Blessings,

Cheri

More Answers

To those who took to heart to pray for Sri Lanka, I thank you!!!!!

The bill has been delayed! My Christian friends in Sri Lanka are declaring this a miracle!

God answers prayer!!!!!! This gives the church more time to pray! Praise the Lord!!!!

Truly this is awesome!!!!!

I am nearing some normalcy after being gone so many days! It was like a whirlwind of 

needed activity when I returned. Hopefully I can return to Fabulous Fun Fridays soon! Also

just more activity with my bloggy world!!! I have missed you!!!

Love to all! 

May your weekend be filled with joy and blessings!

Cheri

Answers to Heart Cries

In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me. Psalm 120:1

One of my close friends called the other day. I caught words between her sobs.......

Her child was making wrong choices. Despair had shrouded peace....

The enemy was dangling a prize before the eyes of her daughter, hypnotizing her will to his ways. She was intrigued, drawn, intoxicated with his false promises. Light left her eyes and she began to run after the lie. 

My friend could read the danger on the path, "Bridge Out Ahead! Turn Around!" Her daughter could not see it, not believe it when warned.

Heaviness. Restlessness. Despair. Garments designed for those without hope shrouded my friend.

A fight began. My friend turned up the praise, got on her face, shouting the Word in the face of her foe. The enemy had met a tough match. Tenacity began to well up and faith began to rise. There would be no letting up until the victory had been won. 

Breakthrough! Sleep overcame my friend in the presence of God. The Lord did not sleep. He continued the fight as she lay on her face before Him.........

She awoke with new hope in her heart. 

She looked around at the circumstances..........no evidence of change  welcomed her. 

Her knees began to buckle.

The enemy sneered at her moment of weakness. 

"Turn up the praise! Speak the promises! Believe!"

My friend wrestled for her daughter's life!

"Destiny, Lord, I am believing for my child's destiny in You!" 

It was intense! Hard! She persevered!

She thought, "I must DO something!" 

She tried! The Lord stopped her.

She praised! She prayed! She believed!!!!!

The battle lasted for days! Moments of breakthrough. Moments of peace intermingling with intense war for a child's destiny in the Lord!

Days passed. A week passed.

In the middle of the night.........last night........victory came! 

The Lord's presence filled the room of the daughter. She was afraid. He began to speak.

"I love you, child!" 

Over and over He reassured her whispering His affection for her. She felt His embrace.

She knew that nothing else could satisfy.

She heard. She repented. She was delivered. Now she is free. Really free! 

Deception is gone! Every trace of the power of the lie has been erased!

My friend called moments ago.......tears sown has brought a harvest of joy........

My friend's shield of faith is still in place, the sword of the Spirit is out of it's sheath..........her heart is yielded........she is standing firm........

When she called I mentioned my son to her and she began to pray...........and take up another fight for a child's destiny.....

We share a common desire, this friend of mine and I........we want the next generation to live out their God-ordained destiny! And until we see and know that they are strong and the baton has effectively been passed to them, we will continue to do battle, together! May they come along behind us stronger than we have ever been! 

Praising Him for the Victory!!!!!!

Amen!

Cheri

Prayer Request

It has been awhile since I have been able to post.

How I have missed all of you!!!! 

Scotty and I went to Texas and spent several days there. We got to see family and some friends. 

I will be sharing stories from our trip as the Lord leads. 

This morning I come with a request.

Last year at this time I was in India.........

I spent several days in India and then went to the country of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is a beautiful island off of the east coast of India. 

It is a worn torn country as civil war rages all around. Many have been killed in the hostile environment there. Many that die are innocent bystanders who are victims of war.

I was humbled as I met members from the church there. They rise at one or two in the morning to spend hours in prayer before their work day begins. Their faces shine with His presence and when I met them I could barely hold back the tears when I beheld  the beauty of their countenance. 

The precious orphans that I met in Sri Lanka stole my heart! I received a card they had drawn for me on my birthday that said, "Happy birthday, Aunty Cheri!"

 Many of them watched their family members killed. Some watched their moms, dads, sisters, brothers buried in mass graves following the tsunami. 

They were rescued and are presently in a Christian orphanage and are cradled in the Father's love for them. They attend a Christian school.........all public schools  teach Buddhism so private schooling is necessary to help them in their godly training. 

My plea is this. Sri Lanka will be voting on a bill tomorrow that will take away all Christian freedoms. If this goes into affect the church will have to go underground. There will not be Christian anything! Publicly that is! This is scary for all.  Would you join me in prayer. The next 24 hours are crucial for Sri Lanka! 

I realize that an underground church is usually the most prosperous, powerful, and thriving church.........persecution breeds tenacity in true believers..........but my heart is for those that I love there..........

Please, please pray!

Thank you dear friends!

I will be back soon!

Love you,

Cheri