Life has a funny way of continuing, doesn't it?
Lately I have been bombarded by events that have left me punch drunk. There have honestly been times when I have longed for a period of cease fire on the battlefield of life. I have thought how nice it would be to run away for a time, just step out of my problems and disappear.
I have lived long enough to know, though that when I run from one set of problems another set is waiting to take its place.
I have been dealing with the unexpected of late, and although I can clearly see His hand in the situation I long for the resolution.
In the midst of this I have found myself coping with the proverbial thorn in my side. The thorn is not unwanted, but causes me so much pain and discomfort that it is almost unbearable at times.
I long for normality in life, but then I am no longer certain what normal is.
So instead of running away, I will run to Him. I will hide in the shelter of His wings, if only for a time.
I'm not afraid, not in the least, and that would seem strange to someone who does not know Him.
While I cope with situations that I have been coping with for some time now, and learn the steps of this new path I am on, I think on the things of the Word.
I think of the times that my Father has had to scoop me up and carry me in His arms, I think of the times He infused me with His strength to face my giants, I think of His comfort when my strength was gone and I wept at His feet.
And I press on, knowing that this too shall pass, and I will begin again on a new adventure, a new calling, a new time, and the old things will pass away, and all things will be made new.
He is still the BEST thing that ever happened to me...my Love, my Life, my All.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Living in a Fairy Tale
I attended a breakout session at the convention the other day that was so wonderful. The title was "Leadership Principles of Sleeping Beauty."
One of the things it brought out was the pattern of a fairy tale.
The first thing would be age of innocence where everything is relatively good, normal, quiet, kind of a lull in life.
Then you would get the call to adventure where you would leave safety and security to strike out in search of something better, bigger, more exciting, etc. It is during this time that you would actually start out on your journey to find whatever you feel is waiting out there.
After the call to adventure you would go through the initiation period. During this time you would enter into the big dip. This is the critical moment where you either sink or swim, pass or fail, live or die. A lot quit at this point.
During the journey you develop allies who help you to get through. They may offer advice or give you tools you need to make it through.
Then there is the breakthrough, when you overcome the dip, survive that critical moment. This leads to the last stage, the celebration.
If you think of any fairy tale you have ever read, you can see this pattern. You can also see it in everyday life.
As I sat and listened to them explain the way this all relates to the work force, I could not stop seeing how this relates to our walk with God, especially as a young person.
I know so many that have been in a beautiful, contented place, truly living in the age of innocence, only to hear some distant call to adventure and begin a journey going nowhere fast.
During that journey they are initiated into the things of the world, things they may have never even been aware existed before. And, as usually happens, they hit bottom, they reach that critical moment where all can be lost. It is wise to be careful who you ally yourself to, because they could be an incredible negative influence during this time.
As you travel further from the comfort and security of the church you find yourself in critical situations that can shape your entire future. You will literally find yourself standing at the proverbial crossroads.
The choice you made with determine the battle. Do you fight to retain all that you have ever believed in, or do you fight to let go?
And if you have let go, who celebrates?
I implore you tonight to make your choice based on forever, not based on the moment. Use your Sword when the battle comes, for the Word of the Lord is "sharper than a two-edged sword." Make your journey a Hero's Journey, a journey to new height and higher places. Fight for something that truly matters, not the *Fairy Tale* of an exciting life beyond the security of God. Then and only then will you achieve Happily Ever After.
One of the things it brought out was the pattern of a fairy tale.
The first thing would be age of innocence where everything is relatively good, normal, quiet, kind of a lull in life.
Then you would get the call to adventure where you would leave safety and security to strike out in search of something better, bigger, more exciting, etc. It is during this time that you would actually start out on your journey to find whatever you feel is waiting out there.
After the call to adventure you would go through the initiation period. During this time you would enter into the big dip. This is the critical moment where you either sink or swim, pass or fail, live or die. A lot quit at this point.
During the journey you develop allies who help you to get through. They may offer advice or give you tools you need to make it through.
Then there is the breakthrough, when you overcome the dip, survive that critical moment. This leads to the last stage, the celebration.
If you think of any fairy tale you have ever read, you can see this pattern. You can also see it in everyday life.
As I sat and listened to them explain the way this all relates to the work force, I could not stop seeing how this relates to our walk with God, especially as a young person.
I know so many that have been in a beautiful, contented place, truly living in the age of innocence, only to hear some distant call to adventure and begin a journey going nowhere fast.
During that journey they are initiated into the things of the world, things they may have never even been aware existed before. And, as usually happens, they hit bottom, they reach that critical moment where all can be lost. It is wise to be careful who you ally yourself to, because they could be an incredible negative influence during this time.
As you travel further from the comfort and security of the church you find yourself in critical situations that can shape your entire future. You will literally find yourself standing at the proverbial crossroads.
The choice you made with determine the battle. Do you fight to retain all that you have ever believed in, or do you fight to let go?
And if you have let go, who celebrates?
I implore you tonight to make your choice based on forever, not based on the moment. Use your Sword when the battle comes, for the Word of the Lord is "sharper than a two-edged sword." Make your journey a Hero's Journey, a journey to new height and higher places. Fight for something that truly matters, not the *Fairy Tale* of an exciting life beyond the security of God. Then and only then will you achieve Happily Ever After.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
I Know...
I have been slack. We have had some busy times lately with work and church and getting Ethan well. I have some stuff that the Lord has given me that I'm going to get on here soon and very soon.
DON'T GIVE UP ON ME...hehehe.
I am heading to Atlanta in the morning for the GCHA Convention, I am excited about that. I know I will come home with even more stories!
Stay Tuned!!
DON'T GIVE UP ON ME...hehehe.
I am heading to Atlanta in the morning for the GCHA Convention, I am excited about that. I know I will come home with even more stories!
Stay Tuned!!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Love Notes
Yesterday I met with a Physician in his office. I have known him for quite some time and was discussing a contract with him.
He was very busy, as you can well imagine. He had come out of patient room with his laptop and told me to follow him as he hurried ahead to his office.
I sat across from him and he spoke to me while typing in notes on his last patient.
He apologized because his desk was a mess stating, "I just haven't had time to tidy it up."
He then proceeded to straighten it up while I reassured him that I understood.
It was then that I saw it, while looking at this man's desk.
Written in his bold hand across the top of his desktop calendar were the words "I love *my wife*."
Although the rest of his desk was covered in clutter, this little note was entirely visible, as if he left it open for his view.
I was moved almost to tears.
During his running from room to room, as he cared for those that had put their trust in him, there written in plain view was a declaration of love for the woman he had married all those years ago.
This little love note was private, personal, yet so visible to me, as if he wrote it as a reminder "this is why I'm here, this is why I work so hard. It is this love that drives me."
What I loved the most about it was it was probably written while he was in the midst of doing something else, perhaps on the phone, yet it was his love he was thinking of, his love that was drawing him.
And she probably has no idea that little declaration of devotion even exists.
Yet it does.
Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
Brother Martyn Ballestero preached a message one time "He's In My heart, I'm In His Hands" using this verse as an illustration. That message came back to me sitting across from this man. Obviously he is loved by his wife with a great love to inspire this devotion from him.
What an image that carried me through the rest of the day. I could imagine my God with MY name in His hands, looking at it and thinking "I love her."
Verse 15 says: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee."
He is saying as He looks upon my name, "This is why I did it, this is the reason for it all."
I can hear Him as I stumble through my busy day, as I face disappointments and as I face sorrows, during my triumphs and my times of great joy, I can hear Him in a soft sweet voice, "I remember you, for your name is ever before Me, written in a love note here on the palms of My hands."
He was very busy, as you can well imagine. He had come out of patient room with his laptop and told me to follow him as he hurried ahead to his office.
I sat across from him and he spoke to me while typing in notes on his last patient.
He apologized because his desk was a mess stating, "I just haven't had time to tidy it up."
He then proceeded to straighten it up while I reassured him that I understood.
It was then that I saw it, while looking at this man's desk.
Written in his bold hand across the top of his desktop calendar were the words "I love *my wife*."
Although the rest of his desk was covered in clutter, this little note was entirely visible, as if he left it open for his view.
I was moved almost to tears.
During his running from room to room, as he cared for those that had put their trust in him, there written in plain view was a declaration of love for the woman he had married all those years ago.
This little love note was private, personal, yet so visible to me, as if he wrote it as a reminder "this is why I'm here, this is why I work so hard. It is this love that drives me."
What I loved the most about it was it was probably written while he was in the midst of doing something else, perhaps on the phone, yet it was his love he was thinking of, his love that was drawing him.
And she probably has no idea that little declaration of devotion even exists.
Yet it does.
Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
Brother Martyn Ballestero preached a message one time "He's In My heart, I'm In His Hands" using this verse as an illustration. That message came back to me sitting across from this man. Obviously he is loved by his wife with a great love to inspire this devotion from him.
What an image that carried me through the rest of the day. I could imagine my God with MY name in His hands, looking at it and thinking "I love her."
Verse 15 says: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee."
He is saying as He looks upon my name, "This is why I did it, this is the reason for it all."
I can hear Him as I stumble through my busy day, as I face disappointments and as I face sorrows, during my triumphs and my times of great joy, I can hear Him in a soft sweet voice, "I remember you, for your name is ever before Me, written in a love note here on the palms of My hands."
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
It's A Dirty Job....
There you sit, in front of your computer, a real flesh and blood person.
You have a heart, you have a soul.
More than likely your life means something to someone else, and hopefully you are not alone in the world.
But, if you can imagine just for a minute. Look beyond where you sit, look beyond your person to the bigger picture.
If you could, right now, rise above yourself and go beyond, straight into the heavens, your physical body would not even be visible. You would be smaller than a speck of sand.
Now, what if when you get up from the computer and look down, you see a piece of dirt in the chair where you once were. You may have to get right down on it to be able to see it. But that little speck of dirt, just sitting there in the seat of your vacated chair will have little meaning, and will make little difference.
Have you ever thought about how, in the whole picture, your existence is really small. There is not much to you if you compare yourself to the billions upon billions of others wandering this place we call earth.
What makes you significant?
Everyday you wander this planet with people all around, from all walks of life, will all manner of circumstances. You are just one more person. One more speck of dirt.
Alone, a grain of sand cannot really do much, but when there are MANY grains of sand they can fulfill a purpose.
You need each other.
You want to see growth in the church, join together to reach the lost.
You want to see revival, join together to pray and fast for a breakthrough.
Bind with each other to make your church a fertile field, ready for the planting of something new.
When you work together you become more than a solitary, useless speck of dirt, together you can become a road that leads others to salvation, you can become a foundation that can be built upon.
Together you can bring forth a bountiful harvest!
SOMEBODY'S Got to do it!! Let it start with ME!!!
You have a heart, you have a soul.
More than likely your life means something to someone else, and hopefully you are not alone in the world.
But, if you can imagine just for a minute. Look beyond where you sit, look beyond your person to the bigger picture.
If you could, right now, rise above yourself and go beyond, straight into the heavens, your physical body would not even be visible. You would be smaller than a speck of sand.
Now, what if when you get up from the computer and look down, you see a piece of dirt in the chair where you once were. You may have to get right down on it to be able to see it. But that little speck of dirt, just sitting there in the seat of your vacated chair will have little meaning, and will make little difference.
Have you ever thought about how, in the whole picture, your existence is really small. There is not much to you if you compare yourself to the billions upon billions of others wandering this place we call earth.
What makes you significant?
Everyday you wander this planet with people all around, from all walks of life, will all manner of circumstances. You are just one more person. One more speck of dirt.
Alone, a grain of sand cannot really do much, but when there are MANY grains of sand they can fulfill a purpose.
You need each other.
You want to see growth in the church, join together to reach the lost.
You want to see revival, join together to pray and fast for a breakthrough.
Bind with each other to make your church a fertile field, ready for the planting of something new.
When you work together you become more than a solitary, useless speck of dirt, together you can become a road that leads others to salvation, you can become a foundation that can be built upon.
Together you can bring forth a bountiful harvest!
SOMEBODY'S Got to do it!! Let it start with ME!!!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Did You See......
My OTHER blog??
Check it out at sheriboulet.com
This is where I post my pictures...And you HAVE to see Angela and Devin...
Feel free to comment!!!
Love you guys!
Sheri
Check it out at sheriboulet.com
This is where I post my pictures...And you HAVE to see Angela and Devin...
Feel free to comment!!!
Love you guys!
Sheri
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