Fabulous Fun Fridays/ Just As I Am

It had been one of those days! 

Luke was a baby, number four,  the Speedy Gonzalez of our family!

The church we attended at that time had Wednesday night services.

Getting four children fed, dressed, and prepared for the public was quite the chore on some

occasions. 

One evening I didn't have time to get Caleb (2) as ready as I would have liked. I had a standard.......perfection........yep it was pretty much perfection that I was after.

This particular day it just wasn't coming together for me, but we were going to church regardless.

I dropped Caleb off at the toddler nursery whispering to the teacher as I left the room, "Caleb would like to sing 'Just As I Am' tonight."

I didn't know it then, but the teacher didn't understand which song I said so she kept trying to get him to tell her which song he would like to sing during his class time.

He just kept looking at her with those big baby blues like "I don't know what you are talking about."

After church his teacher wanted to know which song it was that Caleb wanted to sing to which I replied " 'Just As I Am'. Did you look at him? The poor child was rushed from the table to the car with a barely wet cloth that only removed the biggest remains of his dinner from his face, hair, hands, and clothing. Tonight he was arriving "Just As He Is"......... We both laughed!

Today I look back and marvel that I ever got to church on time! And usually my kids looked perfect.........(well when I still decided what they wore and such)! I probably looked a bit frazzled.......because I was! 

Hope your Thanksgiving was amazing! 

Be blessed with smiles, laughter, and many joys!

Love to all,

Cheri

Fabulous Fun Fridays/ Josiah's Haircut

I guess this is Josiah week.

I love the memory of the day I took him to see Ray, the barber.

First of all, let me introduce you to Ray. He is the most gentle, kind, loving man you ever met. My boys really love him. He had to retire from cutting hair, but we all still adore him!

When Josiah was three........bet you all can picture him..... : ) (November 18 post)

I took him to see Ray to get his hair cut.

Ray was always so good to give the boys a piece of Super Bubble Bubblegum after their

haircut was finished. Ray stored the gum in a little round tin on the counter. After Josiah's haircut that day, Ray reached for the tin, opened it and let Josiah take his piece of gum. Ray started to put the lid on the tin when I said, "Josiah, what do you say?" He looked right up at Ray with those charming blue eyes and said, "Oh yeah, Ray, can my momma have a piece?"

It had not even occurred to the child that I wanted him to say "thank you!"

Well, girls, I got a piece of gum that day! I happen to love Super Bubble!!!!!

Oh that boy can make me smile!!!!!

Have an awesome weekend filled with bubbling laughter, sweet smiles, and a multitude of joy!

I love you all!

Cheri

Balloon Bouquet

It had been gray for awhile.

Days had been dreary........wintry, sullen.......

Josiah, three, played about my feet, sunshine naturally beaming from his cherub face.

Giggles and smiles spilled from his joyful heart.

Our friends at the nursing home needed some of his rays.....some of his joy.

We would share.

We put his little blue hat on his head.........(the hat had been passed down from grandpa. Grandpa had worn it at the age of three...for Easter. It was a little man's hat that fit just perfect on my little man's head.).....We found his little red sweater and wrestled both arms in..............his blue eyes twinkled..........we were going to visit our friends.........

We stopped by the flower shop........balloons............that would add to our gift of joy..........

like the bow on top of a beautiful package.........

A big bouquet please...........mylars............sunshiny, bright, colorful balloons.........

Every balloon had a message......

"God Loves You!"

"This is the Day the Lord Has Made!"

"God Bless You!"

"I Love You!"

We got the biggest bouquet we could handle...........me and my little man........

Josiah's smile grew bigger, his eyes brighter as he gazed at the colorful cloud of mylar above his head....

Long faces instantly turned happy as we entered the nursing home.........Josiah handed balloons to the residents........ he sat on laps..........offering big wet kisses to time worn cheeks.......followed by a gargantuan hug, then we would move on to the next pair of open arms..........

Sonshine went before us and behind us.........giggles, momentary happiness filled the home.........

Our joy doubled as we loved on our friends............

One of our friends was losing her sight......blindness overtaking her ability to see......

Several days passed.

One day I returned to her bedside, to visit, pray, and love on her.........

The balloon we had given her days before hung on the door right in front of her bed.

It was very bright, colorful, displaying the message, "God Loves You!" in very big letters......

"Honey"..........I knelt in close to speaking softly........"I see you have your balloon on the door.......the balloon that Josiah gave you..........."

She squeezed my hand and a tear fell from her eye........."Yes, dear, it will be the last thing I see on this earth. I look at it every morning. When my eyes no longer see, I will remember what it says."

I could not swallow the lump in my throat...........tears freely fell as I left her side.......

I had been totally unaware of how much that balloon would mean to her......

It was just a balloon...........

Josiah doesn't remember that day..........

And our friends are all gone now..........

The Lord speaks in so many ways.........we do not always have the blessing of knowing how He has spoken through us.........I think we will be surprised when we get to heaven by the times others have heard Him through something we have done, said, or the way we have lived........

We will be asking Him, "When did I.........?"

He will be answering, "When you did it unto the least of these...."

And we will enter into the joy of our Master.

And sometimes He gives us glimpses while we are still here......

Blessings,

Cheri

Happy God

God is angry, isn't He?

He is ready to find a flaw that can never be corrected and squeeze it out of me until it is no more. Once that flaw is well hidden away, He discovers another one the size of Mount St. Helen's and He begins processing again, twisting, turning, challenging, forcing, hating the flaw, discontent until it is out of sight.........gone......forever.

I have seen my Lord this way in the past. 

He has been unhappy with me, wondering why I continue to fall short.

The mural painted on the coffee shop wall made me stop to ponder...........

An image of a happy Jesus was brushed upon the wall in pastels, running, skipping, laughing, singing with children....lots of children. They were having a great time.........

I have not seen very many pictures of Jesus laughing........

I have not had very many thoughts of Him laughing either...........have you?

The fruit of the Spirit is: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control...............

Did Paul leave anger out?

How about disappointment?

Fruit is produced when we are grafted into the vine........Jesus..........."it is to my Father's glory that you bear much fruit"

The fruit represents His Spirit...........His Divine Nature and Character........

He is Love:  1 John 4:7-8 "Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because GOD IS LOVE."

He is Joy:  John 15:11 "I have told you this so that MY JOY may be in you and that your joy may be complete." 

He is Peace: Ephesians 2:14 "For He Himself is OUR PEACE......."

He is Patient: Romans 15:5 "Now may the GOD OF PATIENCE and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

He is Kind: Titus 3:4 " But when the KINDNESS and love of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy."

He is Good: Psalm 136:1/ Psalm 145:9

"Give thanks to the Lord, for HE IS GOOD. His love endures forever."

"The LORD IS GOOD to all; He has compassion on all He has made."

He is Faithful: Lamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS."

He is Gentle: Matthew 11:28-29 "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." 

He has Self-Control: Isaiah 53:7/Matthew 26:63

 "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth."

"But Jesus remained silent."

He is the fruit of the Spirit.

The Great I AM is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Beautiful God! Joyful Redeemer! Patient beyond understanding! Providing Peace! You are kindness that leads to repentance! Faithful to the finish line! Gentle Lamb! Lover of my soul! Master of the Universe! How great is our Happy God!

Jesus is the Bridegroom preparing for a wedding. The Bride has been purchased, a feast is being prepared. He is looking forward to that day when we will stand by His side! His pure one! Made pure by His sacrifice! Precious Redeemer! 

Glory to the one who saves! He is rejoicing over me! He is smiling..............mansions rise in His presence that will soon be a holy habitation for the ones He came to save! The day is approaching..........anticipation arises in His heart! My heart beats faster with the thought!

When I stand before Him there will be the most beautiful smile on His lovely face I have ever seen. With a gleam in His eye, He will wrap me up in His holy embrace and I will see Him as He is...........not with a scornful scowl, but with a glorious smile.....the smile reserved for His beloved.......

Hasten the day, Lord!

I long to see Your happy, joyful, peaceful beautiful face!

Cheri

ps. I love the fruit of the Spirit. They are wonderful virtues that I long to have in my life. The one that has been blessing me so much lately is Patience. God is so patient. He has proven His patience with me in various ways, demonstrated through various ones. I long for a patient heart, desiring to follow in His steps........Thank you, Lord Jesus for patience.

Fabulous Fun Fridays/ Creamy Down Under

We think we will never forget.....you know those cute little things our children say, but somehow they escape. But there are a few things that are truly unforgettable!!!!

A friend of mine shared one of those moments. 

Her little girl was just learning to read when her little brother was born. My friend was a Desitin momma. You know the kind, the baby got Desitin every diaper change. (Desitin is a diaper rash cream).

One day her little girl was watching her momma change her little brother's diaper when she saw the word "creamy" on the tube of Desitin. She asked, "Momma, does it come in "crunchy" too?"

May your day be full of fun, smiles, laughter, and many joys!

Sweet blessings, 

Cheri

Preparation For the King's Chamber

Sarah invited us to her home to celebrate her birthday.

She prepared a meal for us. It wasn't fancy, but so delicious, simple, filling, delightful. Friendships were rekindled as we, twelve ladies,  broke bread enjoying her delicious chili.

The movie, One Night With The King began to play as we gathered around the television. Our hearts were united as we watched Queen Esther being prepared for her king and then plead for her nation.........with determination, wisdom, and grace. We all wanted to be Esther. Her dresses were very pretty! She was very pretty! However every outward appearance paled compared to the  inner strength she so ravishingly demonstrated.

Next, Sarah opened the book, Finding Favor With The King by Tommy Tenney and read a few pages. The pages described the chamberlain who had prepared Esther for her night with the king. 

"We don't succeed by doing things our way to please 'me, myself, and I'. Success comes when we heed the wisdom passed down from the King's chamberlains about what most pleases the King." (T. Tenney)

Ointments described seemed to invite their fragrance into the room as we listened to the delicate words..........Esther was in the finest spa of the day.........and we all wanted to be her!!! But it was so much more than that.......Esther  surrendered to the King's ways........She wanted to please the King so she willingly bowed to the wisdom of one who knew Him well, knew Him best.....She was preparing for an encounter with the King.....an encounter that would make history turn and take a bow, so she listened to one who had been in the King's most inner courts. One who had captured His secrets.

Tears fell from Sarah's eyes as she read the words. She looked into our eyes......each one had gathered to celebrate Sarah...........and she was celebrating us...... thanking us through tears for being like chamberlains in her life like the one described from the pages she had just shared....... the one who prepared Esther to meet her king. She was gratefully celebrating that we had been mentors, friends, godly examples for her........Our hearts were humbled.......we were saying "when did we?"..........

Her gratefulness was demonstrated as she took an oil, made to be an exact representation of the anointing oil used in Bible times she had saved for this special occasion, bowing over each one of us with prayers of blessing. Tears fell, fragrance filled the room, humility danced in our hearts, wonder spilled........as she prayed over each one of us.....

She turned to me with oil in her hand, tears in her eyes, a question in her heart, "Would you anoint me?" 

I took the oil from her hand, placed a drop on her face, and began to pray as we all gathered around her..........embracing the beautiful young woman she had become........and we all wanted to be like her!

A hush settled in the room as if an unseen stranger had come to celebrate the beauty of the moment with us...........the King of glory........He had found His chamber.......

Gifts were shared......... beautiful photos Sarah had taken, given to each one.........verses chosen through prayer carefully selected for each special guest inscribed on the back.

Sarah was 22.........

Today is Sarah's 23rd birthday...........

A year has passed, but a memory is etched in my heart, treasured, archived.........I will take the gift of honor Sarah gave me that night into an eternal chamber prepared for me.

We all left Sarah's home knowing that we had been in the chambers of our King......... a fragrance escorting us home.........anointing, blessings, gifts, love, gratitude, beauty.........abundance of grace..........

Isn't that we can expect in the chamber of our King...........

Happy Birthday, Sarah!!!!

Lovingly,

Cheri

Esther 2:15 & 17 "When the turn came for Esther.............to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the harem had suggested. 

(17) And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.  Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti."

Sowing and Reaping

Sowing...............

Casting seed on all kinds of soil hoping to find a fertile field where roots will be nurtured, plants will thrive, fruit will form.........I pray while scattering.........

Sowing.................. 

I sow believing I will reap, in season, expecting a rich harvest.

In due time. 

Weariness threatens my step......... 

Storms mock my hope........... 

Thirst threatens my endurance.....

Is a harvest possible here, Lord? Am I wasting effort? Believing for the impossible? Expecting foolishly? Waiting, investing, hoping...........will I ever have the reward of seeing what I have believed?

You reward faith! 

You bless efforts..........

You equip me........to fertilize, provide seed for sowing, bringing rain to nourish the seed..........

I feel yoked with  You in this venture........

You do not waste time........

Glimpses........You encourage me with glimpses......... You give me a peek into a heart once appearing barren, now beginning to sprout........

It is enough for me.....I tighten the strap on my bag of seed and set out on another lap......

Scattering, praying, believing.............

Mockers come........I speak Your Word...........

Storms come........I persevere.........

Doubt comes...........I remember the glimpse..........

I pick up my pace......

I will continue to believe until I see...........what my heart is believing for..........

Should I die sowing without seeing...........I will die believing......... and expecting a harvest.......

Cheri