"Martha, Martha." The Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42
I've read the story of Martha and Mary over and over and I know Mary did the right thing. I get that, but today as I read this story again these words jumped out at me.
IT WILL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER!
Wow! Jesus said, that the time Mary spent with Him could not be taken from her. That is an incredible promise.
It seems we live in a world where people take whatever they feel like taking.
We know there are thieves that steal all sorts of things from money to cars and lately we hear alot about "identity theft", but what about stealing the "credit" for a job that someone else did?What if that sort of stealing caused you to receive a job promotion you really didn't deserve?
In a world that seems to be all about SELF, it's easy to get caught up in an "every man for himself mentality" or I am going to work harder and harder so I will get the glory the next time.
Unfortunately, I have even seen this type of mindset in the church. Seeking position, trying to outshine others, and seeking praise and glory.
And yes, at times I have had to check my own motives and examine if I am doing this or that because Jesus has instructed me to or am I doing it for myself and my glory?
So........as I sit and ponder about what Jesus said to Mary, I crave to hear those words and desire to have His peace and His promise in my heart that no one or nothing can take from me.
Thanksgiving is just a few days away & it is my prayer that I will not neglect the ONE to whom all thanks and glory is due! May my Thanksgiving preparation be spent by being alone with my Savior and then all these other things............................
Long after the turkey is ate and the dishes are clean, I can still have His abiding peace and joy, which will not be taken from me!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Cheri
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Have a Very "Mary" Christmas!
This is an article I wrote back in 2005 for the Women's Ministry Newsletter at my church. Do you realize that we have just under 8 weeks before Christmas Day? I am not trying to cause you anxiety, but I thought it would be a good time for us to challenge each other to keep our focus. If your calendar is like mine, it starts filling up fast with party invitations, family gatherings, etc. Let's pray for wisdom to know how to respond to each invitation.
Blessings, Cheri
"Have a very “Mary” Christmas!"
Christmas is just around the corner! Does that thought bring you joy or anxiety? As Christian women, we know that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many of us start out every December promising ourselves that THIS YEAR we will not lose our focus. We promise ourselves everything from, “I will not over commit myself,” to “I will not overbuy!” What happens to all of those promises? How can one stay focused with so much to do?
Let’s look at the Bible story of Mary and Martha. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and immediately went to work preparing to serve Him a meal. Martha had a sister named Mary who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him. Martha being distracted by all of the preparation, approached the Lord and said, “Do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” Jesus answered and said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
Let’s remember during this Christmas season that in the midst of our long “To-Do” list we must take the time to sit at the feet of Jesus. He has much to say to us. He desires to give us a gift that cannot be taken from us. As we sit at His feet He will help us stay focused. He will keep us from being worried and troubled about many unnecessary things. He is calling us to sit at His feet and have a very “MARY” Christmas. Will you accept His invitation?
Blessings, Cheri
"Have a very “Mary” Christmas!"
Christmas is just around the corner! Does that thought bring you joy or anxiety? As Christian women, we know that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many of us start out every December promising ourselves that THIS YEAR we will not lose our focus. We promise ourselves everything from, “I will not over commit myself,” to “I will not overbuy!” What happens to all of those promises? How can one stay focused with so much to do?
Let’s look at the Bible story of Mary and Martha. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and immediately went to work preparing to serve Him a meal. Martha had a sister named Mary who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him. Martha being distracted by all of the preparation, approached the Lord and said, “Do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” Jesus answered and said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
Let’s remember during this Christmas season that in the midst of our long “To-Do” list we must take the time to sit at the feet of Jesus. He has much to say to us. He desires to give us a gift that cannot be taken from us. As we sit at His feet He will help us stay focused. He will keep us from being worried and troubled about many unnecessary things. He is calling us to sit at His feet and have a very “MARY” Christmas. Will you accept His invitation?
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Me, Myself and I
Several years ago country singer, Toby Keith, wrote a song called, "I Wanna Talk About Me!" Isn't that so true? How many of us really want to talk about ourselves? How many of us will be honest enough to admit it?
Why would Christian author, Max Lucado, even have to write a book a few years ago called, "It's Not About Me."?
Could it be that we have made the Christian Life all about us? Has church become all about us? Do we read the Bible and esteem the men in the Bible that God chose to use over God himself?
How many sermons have you heard calling PAUL a spiritual giant, and then you hear someone say...."I could never be like Paul."? Or any other Bible Character that we lift up and compare ourselves to.
God has not called us to be like any other person, nor did He call us to salvation to make us more like US. We are called to BECOME more like HIM.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Galatians 2:20
I want to share with you something I learned from T.W. Hunt several years ago and I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me. I have to constantly remind myself that "It's Not About Me." The flesh doesn't die easy and I find myself wanting to feed it when it gets hungry instead of letting it starve to death.
We have already established that our lives are not about us, but Christ.
T.W. Hunt reminded me a few years ago that the Bible is about GOD. Now you may say, I know that, but do you practice it? He challenged me to think about how I teach the Bible and to think about how many times I have heard lessons and sermons where the REAL story is missed.
Here are some examples of the "supposed story" we often teach or hear taught and then the REAL story where God is the focus.
Story/Supposed Story/RealStory
David-Goliath/"heroism"/God does not need help.
Jehoshaphat/ "trust"/God does not need an army
David's hurts/ "sin lasts"/ A heart right with God always returns to God
Hannah/ "God rewards"/Prayer changes history.....
Job/"remained faithful"/ God reveals Himself in suffering
Corinth/"superior attitudes"/God's love is greater than our superiorities
Peter /"all are weak"/ God foreknows and provides for our weakness
It's all about GOD!
Let's tell His Story!
Why would Christian author, Max Lucado, even have to write a book a few years ago called, "It's Not About Me."?
Could it be that we have made the Christian Life all about us? Has church become all about us? Do we read the Bible and esteem the men in the Bible that God chose to use over God himself?
How many sermons have you heard calling PAUL a spiritual giant, and then you hear someone say...."I could never be like Paul."? Or any other Bible Character that we lift up and compare ourselves to.
God has not called us to be like any other person, nor did He call us to salvation to make us more like US. We are called to BECOME more like HIM.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Galatians 2:20
I want to share with you something I learned from T.W. Hunt several years ago and I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me. I have to constantly remind myself that "It's Not About Me." The flesh doesn't die easy and I find myself wanting to feed it when it gets hungry instead of letting it starve to death.
We have already established that our lives are not about us, but Christ.
T.W. Hunt reminded me a few years ago that the Bible is about GOD. Now you may say, I know that, but do you practice it? He challenged me to think about how I teach the Bible and to think about how many times I have heard lessons and sermons where the REAL story is missed.
Here are some examples of the "supposed story" we often teach or hear taught and then the REAL story where God is the focus.
Story/Supposed Story/RealStory
David-Goliath/"heroism"/God does not need help.
Jehoshaphat/ "trust"/God does not need an army
David's hurts/ "sin lasts"/ A heart right with God always returns to God
Hannah/ "God rewards"/Prayer changes history.....
Job/"remained faithful"/ God reveals Himself in suffering
Corinth/"superior attitudes"/God's love is greater than our superiorities
Peter /"all are weak"/ God foreknows and provides for our weakness
It's all about GOD!
Let's tell His Story!
On Mission
As I have mentioned before on my blog, I follow Ed Stetzer on Twitter. He works for Lifeway Research and travels all over doing conferences. I heard him speak at a conference last September in Orlando. The link below is Ed teaching on "Missional Leadership".
Extremely thought provoking..............................
http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/missional/
Rethinking,
Cheri
Extremely thought provoking..............................
http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/missional/
Rethinking,
Cheri
Monday, October 26, 2009
Got REST?
Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST, Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find REST for your souls. For My Yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
It's one of those Monday's that I do not feel rested. Our family had a busy week last week. My son was in the school musical which meant late nights and early mornings along with 4 performances this weekend. WHEW!
Being in the school musical meant he has stayed after school every day for the last nine weeks as well as an all day dress rehearsal last weekend. Yesterday he had a two hour Orchestra rehersal at church.
He still has school work to finish up and tomorrow is the last day for this quarter. Poor guy, he was up until 1am this morning trying to get it all done. He slept in the car on the way to school. Oh Lord, we need REST. We need you to fill our cup. While it was fun and it was a good opportunity for Andrew to see how far he can be stretched, HE NEEDS SOME REST. We all do.
Tonight is the Cast Party. That will be a lot of fun! God really pulled this cast together and it was neat to see how they leaned on the Lord for strength and gave Him all the praise!
On Thursday, Mollie has a field trip to St. Augustine and our whole family will be going on this trip. Andrew is going to check out a college in St. Augustine and we plan on staying through Saturday.
Thanking the Lord for this opportunity.
We need time together to reconnect. We can run hard and we can run long, but we cannot run hard for very long. Our bodies were made to need REST. Even Jesus took time to REST.
May we all remember to H. A. L. T.
To never let ourselves get too.......
H ungry (physically or spiritually)
A ngry
Let's remember to Pray for one another. Encourage one another and build each other up. Let's remind each other to lean on Jesus, to depend on Him for our strength.
"Grant us wisdom O' Lord to know what we need to let go of and what we need to do, teach us our Lord to abide in you."
It's one of those Monday's that I do not feel rested. Our family had a busy week last week. My son was in the school musical which meant late nights and early mornings along with 4 performances this weekend. WHEW!
Being in the school musical meant he has stayed after school every day for the last nine weeks as well as an all day dress rehearsal last weekend. Yesterday he had a two hour Orchestra rehersal at church.
He still has school work to finish up and tomorrow is the last day for this quarter. Poor guy, he was up until 1am this morning trying to get it all done. He slept in the car on the way to school. Oh Lord, we need REST. We need you to fill our cup. While it was fun and it was a good opportunity for Andrew to see how far he can be stretched, HE NEEDS SOME REST. We all do.
Tonight is the Cast Party. That will be a lot of fun! God really pulled this cast together and it was neat to see how they leaned on the Lord for strength and gave Him all the praise!
On Thursday, Mollie has a field trip to St. Augustine and our whole family will be going on this trip. Andrew is going to check out a college in St. Augustine and we plan on staying through Saturday.
Thanking the Lord for this opportunity.
We need time together to reconnect. We can run hard and we can run long, but we cannot run hard for very long. Our bodies were made to need REST. Even Jesus took time to REST.
May we all remember to H. A. L. T.
To never let ourselves get too.......
H ungry (physically or spiritually)
A ngry
L onely
T iredLet's remember to Pray for one another. Encourage one another and build each other up. Let's remind each other to lean on Jesus, to depend on Him for our strength.
"Grant us wisdom O' Lord to know what we need to let go of and what we need to do, teach us our Lord to abide in you."
Peace, Cheri
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
"BE"
I originally wrote this post back in October, but as I got up on this Thanksgiving morning, I started thinking about this post again. Maybe it is because I have a LONG list of "To-DO's" to accomplish by the 2 pm meal. Again, I have revisited the Martha/Mary story and I long to BE today, not just DO. And because it is Thanksgiving, I'd like to add one more BE......."BE THANKFUL!" Love YOU ALL! Blessings to you and your family!
I was raised "going to church". In fact, I went to church the entire time I was in my mother's womb. I have never questioned the importance of "going to church", but I have questioned if the "going" and "doing" is all there is to the Christian Life and if some of the activity is really of God.
O.K., before you think I have lost my mind, hang with me. It seems to me that in all the "going" and "doing" one thing tends to be overlooked, "being".
BE Holy:
Lev. 11:44-45, Lev. 20L7-8, Lev. 20:26, Lev. 27:9, Eph. 1:4, 1Pet. 1:15-16, 1 Cor. 7:1
(separate-we see what the world cannot see!)
BE Merciful:
Luke 6:36, Ps. 86:15, Is. 55:7, Mic. 7:18-19
(it is a fulfillment of the covenant to show God's kind of mercy)
BE Perfect:
Gen. 17:1, Deut. 19:13, 2 Cor. 13:9, 11, Col. 1:28, Col. 4:12, James 1:2-4
(blameless, unblemished, mature, complete, or finished)
BE One:
Jer. 32:39, John 10:16, John 17:11, 21-23, Acts 2:46, Acts 4:32, Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 1:10, 1 Cor. 12:25-26, Gal. 3:28, Eph. 4:3-6, Phillip. 1:7, Philip. 2:2-4
(UNITY-not divided with jealousy or quarrels as mentioned in 1 Corth. 3 or fighting over who is the GREATEST as in Luke 9:46-48)
I hear a lot of pleas to GO & DO, but not many sermons on BEING or BECOMING!
Becoming as mentioned in Phil. 3:12-15.
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made PERFECT, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But ONE THING I DO,: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Recently, I have been challenged by a friend of mine, Jason Dukes, who wrote a book called "Live Sent: You Are A Letter" to not just GO TO CHURCH, but BE THE CHURCH.
His book is available on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Live-Sent-you-are-letter/dp/1604943408/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256052020&sr=1-1
Here are a few questions that have been going through my mind lately....Have we forgotten that "We are God's fellow workers, God's field, God's building?" (1 Corth. 3:9)
"Don't we know that we are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in us?" (1 Corth. 3:16)
I've been pondering these thoughts since 2005 when I heard T.W. Hunt teach on "Being". For some reason it seems much easier to obey a command to "do" something than it is to obey a command to "be" something. It seems to me that Christians have a tendency to ignore the commands to "be" something.
Am I BEING God's love letter sent to this world?
I was raised "going to church". In fact, I went to church the entire time I was in my mother's womb. I have never questioned the importance of "going to church", but I have questioned if the "going" and "doing" is all there is to the Christian Life and if some of the activity is really of God.
O.K., before you think I have lost my mind, hang with me. It seems to me that in all the "going" and "doing" one thing tends to be overlooked, "being".
BE Holy:
Lev. 11:44-45, Lev. 20L7-8, Lev. 20:26, Lev. 27:9, Eph. 1:4, 1Pet. 1:15-16, 1 Cor. 7:1
(separate-we see what the world cannot see!)
BE Merciful:
Luke 6:36, Ps. 86:15, Is. 55:7, Mic. 7:18-19
(it is a fulfillment of the covenant to show God's kind of mercy)
BE Perfect:
Gen. 17:1, Deut. 19:13, 2 Cor. 13:9, 11, Col. 1:28, Col. 4:12, James 1:2-4
(blameless, unblemished, mature, complete, or finished)
BE One:
Jer. 32:39, John 10:16, John 17:11, 21-23, Acts 2:46, Acts 4:32, Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 1:10, 1 Cor. 12:25-26, Gal. 3:28, Eph. 4:3-6, Phillip. 1:7, Philip. 2:2-4
(UNITY-not divided with jealousy or quarrels as mentioned in 1 Corth. 3 or fighting over who is the GREATEST as in Luke 9:46-48)
I hear a lot of pleas to GO & DO, but not many sermons on BEING or BECOMING!
Becoming as mentioned in Phil. 3:12-15.
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made PERFECT, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But ONE THING I DO,: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Recently, I have been challenged by a friend of mine, Jason Dukes, who wrote a book called "Live Sent: You Are A Letter" to not just GO TO CHURCH, but BE THE CHURCH.
His book is available on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Live-Sent-you-are-letter/dp/1604943408/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256052020&sr=1-1
Here are a few questions that have been going through my mind lately....Have we forgotten that "We are God's fellow workers, God's field, God's building?" (1 Corth. 3:9)
"Don't we know that we are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in us?" (1 Corth. 3:16)
I've been pondering these thoughts since 2005 when I heard T.W. Hunt teach on "Being". For some reason it seems much easier to obey a command to "do" something than it is to obey a command to "be" something. It seems to me that Christians have a tendency to ignore the commands to "be" something.
Am I BEING God's love letter sent to this world?
I guess to Be or not to Be.....is still a good question!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Quiet Time
From the first time I heard my daughter cry I knew she was uniquely different from her older brother. I remember telling my husband at the hospital, "She cries like a girl!" Her cry was different, unique, and when I heard it, I was filled with excitement about getting to know her.
She is a delight, uniquely crafted by the"Master's Hand" and a blessing to our family! I have always said that Mollie is my child that truly takes time to smell the roses! She is exactly what this fast paced mama needed.
I remember her as a preschooler saying to me, "Why are we rushing?" and she still asks me, as she sees me rush around in a frenzy, "Are we late?". Oh, how I have needed her. Her questions have always pierced my heart as they remind me of how I need to slow down and enjoy life, not rush through it.
Tonight, she spoke at my mother's church. She has had the privilege of going to GA Grandmother/Granddaughter Camp with my mom for the last 3 years and tonight was their opportunity to speak about it. She walked up to the microphone and my normally cautious child who usually doesn't speak in front of crowds boldly gave her testimony.
She said, "My favorite part of Grandmother/Granddaughter camp was my quiet time with my Grandma because we GOT to hear the birds sing and watch the squirrels play!" My heart melted. That's my girl! So in touch with God's world. So in touch with what I believe the psalmist was trying to communicate when he said, "Be still and know that I am God!" (Ps. 46:10) To her having a "Quiet Time" means just that.........be quiet, get still, listen and see! Thank you Mollie for reminding me once again the importance of slowing down, getting quiet and connecting to the Creator of the Universe.
Last summer, my step-dad passed away and while we were not very close, I still experienced a variety of emotions. One day, I had become extremely anxious as I was processing some pretty overwhelming feelings. I went outside to try to quiet my mind. I took my Bible, but was so overwhelmed I could not concentrate enough to read. All of a sudden two squirrels ran in front of me and began to play. I remember breathing a sigh of relief as I realized that while my world seemed to have stopped, no one had informed the squirrels. They were still playing! Then I worshipped my Creator and then I could read His Word delighting in the fact that HE NEVER CHANGES! Hallelujah!
If you haven't read Psalm 46 in a while I highly recommend it, but most of all I recommend going outside and marveling at His creative hand!
Mollie's childlike wonder has reminded me to make sure my "Quiet Times" are not so full of
"my agenda" that I can no longer hear or see.
Selah!
She is a delight, uniquely crafted by the"Master's Hand" and a blessing to our family! I have always said that Mollie is my child that truly takes time to smell the roses! She is exactly what this fast paced mama needed.
I remember her as a preschooler saying to me, "Why are we rushing?" and she still asks me, as she sees me rush around in a frenzy, "Are we late?". Oh, how I have needed her. Her questions have always pierced my heart as they remind me of how I need to slow down and enjoy life, not rush through it.
Tonight, she spoke at my mother's church. She has had the privilege of going to GA Grandmother/Granddaughter Camp with my mom for the last 3 years and tonight was their opportunity to speak about it. She walked up to the microphone and my normally cautious child who usually doesn't speak in front of crowds boldly gave her testimony.
She said, "My favorite part of Grandmother/Granddaughter camp was my quiet time with my Grandma because we GOT to hear the birds sing and watch the squirrels play!" My heart melted. That's my girl! So in touch with God's world. So in touch with what I believe the psalmist was trying to communicate when he said, "Be still and know that I am God!" (Ps. 46:10) To her having a "Quiet Time" means just that.........be quiet, get still, listen and see! Thank you Mollie for reminding me once again the importance of slowing down, getting quiet and connecting to the Creator of the Universe.
Last summer, my step-dad passed away and while we were not very close, I still experienced a variety of emotions. One day, I had become extremely anxious as I was processing some pretty overwhelming feelings. I went outside to try to quiet my mind. I took my Bible, but was so overwhelmed I could not concentrate enough to read. All of a sudden two squirrels ran in front of me and began to play. I remember breathing a sigh of relief as I realized that while my world seemed to have stopped, no one had informed the squirrels. They were still playing! Then I worshipped my Creator and then I could read His Word delighting in the fact that HE NEVER CHANGES! Hallelujah!
If you haven't read Psalm 46 in a while I highly recommend it, but most of all I recommend going outside and marveling at His creative hand!
Mollie's childlike wonder has reminded me to make sure my "Quiet Times" are not so full of
"my agenda" that I can no longer hear or see.
Selah!
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