FOCUS ON ETERNITY

Never before have my eyes and my thoughts been so focused on Eternity, on Heaven. You know that should be our focus. But if you are like me…we get so caught up in the ordinary, the common we forget we have a very uncommon destiny.

Phil 3:20 says But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not ordinary or common at all!

2 Corinthians 4:18 - 8 So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.

Uncommon Focus…the things that are not seen! Our wonderful God who loves us, gives us hope and purpose and provides everything we need through every trial. I pray you never lose your focus on God! You are greatly loved!

UNCOMMON FOCUS - FOCUS ON WHO GOD SAYS HE IS!

This is part 4 of the message I shared 2 months after my husband passed away, Uncommon Focus – How to keep your focus when your world is shattered. My notes are unedited and God has brought much healing in my life in the past 4 years.

This is what God spoke to my heart in response to my desire to do Grief God’s way…Make a demand on me. Make a demand on my promises. On who I am. I’m here for you. Ask me for help. God is near to the brokenhearted. God is near to us all the time! God is near to you! The Holy Spirit is here! With us right now, every moment of our lives. He said, Sherry, I’m your comforter. Make a demand on me. When the tears are uncontrollable and I was consumed with grief, I learned to say God, you are my comforter, I need you. And he came and calmed me down and filled my heart with the peace that passes understanding. When I felt like I couldn’t go on another minute or I just can’t do it…He is my strengthener. I’m learning I can do things I never thought I could do. When I need wisdom, He gives me wisdom. No matter what you are going through…Make a demand on God. He wants you to. He is waiting for you to ask! Whatever you are going through…go through it God’s way! You are greatly loved!

UNCOMMON FOCUS - FOCUS ON YOUR CALLING

Do you know that you have a call on your life? Not just a small, insignificant call but a HUGE, GOD sized call. It’s bigger than you can imagine and greater than you will probably ever know. You are destined for impact! To impact lives that is, to make a difference in this world…a great big God sized dent in the universe! No one knew this better than Lawrence Miller. He knew his calling. Without a moment’s hesitation he would tell you he was called to help our pastor, Pastor Jeff, build our church and that meant to do whatever Pastor Jeff needed. He worked fearlessly and tirelessly until the day he died doing that. When he got so sick, he couldn’t be at church to serve him anymore he prayed for him.

Often times when tragedy or difficulties come, we think our calling is to deal with them. No, that’s God’s job! Our job is to continue to do what God has called us to do! We can always share God’s love with others no matter what we are going through. Lawrence is my hero. He took every opportunity to share God’s love and wisdom to everyone in the hospital. Many times, once I was able to go home in the evenings the first thing he would say when I walked through the door in the morning was not how he was feeling that day or what the doctors said but it would be about how he had the opportunity to share God’s love with someone. You might be saying but

FOCUS ON HIS LOVE FOR YOU

Uncommon Focus continued…

When someone’s world is shaken very often one of the first things they do is question God. Where is He? Why is He letting this happen? How could a good God let this happen? Have I done something wrong? God, I don’t understand. During these times it is vital that that we focus on the fact that God loves us. You will never know the depth of God’s love for you more than in the midst of a season of deep pain, hurt and disappointment. His love will not fail you, but you must set your mind on that truth and hold on to it even when it’s hard to believe.

 Most of us live our lives feeling pretty ordinary, just maybe average, nothing really special, just pretty common if you will. When you wake up in the morning and take that first look in the mirror what is your reaction? Is it mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Or rather is it mirror mirror on the wall, I think I need an overhaul?

UNCOMMON FOCUS

What do you do when your world is shattered? You open your eyes and look around and life as you know it no longer exists It seems like nothing is normal. Sadly, we all face times like these. Some of them are more severe than others, some are for a season and some are for a lifetime. In the fall of 2016 just two months after my sweet hubby passed away, I taught a lesson titled Uncommon Focus. You see from the very beginning of the most difficult, heartbreaking journey of my life God spoke one word very clearly to me. That word was focus. At a time when it seemed everything around me was out of focus God was reminding me to focus on him. I don’t know about you but lately I feel like our world is out of focus. I recently revisited the lessons God taught me about keeping my focus and this week I would like to share them with you.  

For starters I want to encourage you to look up! It’s so tempting to focus on the chaos around us. God’s word says to set your mind on things above, not on the things of this world. Remember God is good, his plans are good, his ways are higher than our ways and he promises to perfect that which concerns you! We are all in unknown territory. We can try to find our own way in this fog or keep our eyes on the one who is above it. He will make a way when there is a roadblock at every turn. I pray you will start your week out with focus. You are greatly loved!

DAILY DEVOTIONAL - DOES YOUR SOUL NEED TO CATCH UP?

 

There is a story about an archaeologist that hired some Inca tribesmen to lead him to an archaeological site deep in the mountains. After they had been moving for some time the tribesmen stopped and insisted they would go no further. The archaeologist grew impatient and then angry. But no matter how much he cajoled the tribesmen would not go any further. Then all of a sudden the tribesmen changed their attitude. They picked up the gear and set off once more. When the bewildered archaeologist asked why they had stopped and refused to move for so long, the tribesmen answered, “We had been moving too fast and had to wait for our souls to catch up.”

I don't know about you but I feel a little like these tribesmen. I just want the madness to stop. My mind can hardly take it all in. What happened to common sense? What is going to happen next? Nothing is normal anymore. Could we just stop and put it in reverse?

 

Again, as always God has a promise. He says, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 Today is Friday, the beginning of the weekend. I don't know what that means for you but I do hope you will take a break from the craziness that surrounds us all. Go to God. Tell him you are tired. Let your soul catch up. You are greatly loved! ❤️

DON'T FORGET!

If you are a parent you probably can't count the number of times you said to your child, now don't forget. Or if you are like me I'm constantly reminding myself, Sherry don't forget. These days I have to write it down or set the alarm on my phone to help me remember. Did you know God is saying to you, don't forget? In Psalm 103 he tells us that he loads us daily with benefits and then he reminds us not to forget them. Benefits are important. We accept job offers based on the benefits the company provides. Yet God's benefits are far greater than any employer could ever offer. Sure you might be let off the hook this time if you mess up at a job but God offers forgiveness for every failure. Your job might offer health insurance but God offers healing. And those are just a couple of the benefits he provides daily. God's benefits are not subject to approval by some benefit coordinator. If you know Jesus they are pre-approved! You just have to claim them. We do that by knowing them and receiving them. So this is a reminder, not to forget! You can find the section on benefits in your Bible. Psalm 103. You are greatly loved!

MY BEST VS GOD'S BEST

You know how it is when you are listening to someone preach or teach and one sentence or phrase just resonates with you? Some of us call that a "take away." It doesn't have to be profound to have a profound effect. It can even be something you already know but it's like a wake up reminder. I heard one of those take aways recently about prayer and wanted to share it with you. It is simply this, PRAYER IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE BEST I CAN DO AND THE BEST GOD CAN DO. We often hear about how God has a plan, God makes a way, God's ways are higher, God can work it out for good and on and on. And yes all of those things are true. But did we ask? In other words did we pray? The Bible has a lot to say about asking. It even says you have not because you ask not. Not only that but sometimes we ask for everything except God's plan. You know those prayers. You may have prayed some of them. God please just help me endure.... Friends, God's best is not just to help you endure. He will and does give you grace but he also has a great plan and purpose for your life and every situation. Lets decide today that we won't settle for anything less than God's best! He may be just waiting for you to ask! You are greatly loved! ❤️

BEATING YOURSELF UP LATELY?

 

Feeling a little beat up lately? It's almost as if there's someone with boxing gloves on following us around throwing blows to our minds. Take this (coronavirus), take this (loss of income) take this (kids can't go to school), take this (riots and violence), well you get the picture. And if that isn't bad enough we are guilty of beating ourselves up. Have you ever thought to yourself, it's all my fault? I know I have, a million times over. Just last night I looked down and there was a line of ants marching right inside my house. One of those vicious little creatures actually bit me. I found the source, killed every one but then as I was walking away itching like crazy from the bite I had this thought, well it's all my fault. My fault? I should have gotten an exterminator, I should have cleaned the floor better, I should have...

I'm in no way suggesting that we shouldn't take responsibility for our own actions but here I was taking responsibility for the actions of an ant. God's word makes it very clear that the devil is out to destroy us but sometimes I think we help him out with his job. We can be our own worst enemy. God's word also makes it clear that there is NO condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8) God is not pointing a finger of accusation at you, don't point that finger at yourself. Is there something in your life you are beating yourself up for? I encourage you to take it God. Ask him for forgiveness if needed. Ask him to show you the real enemy. Then pray and be on your way loved and faultless. You are greatly loved! ❤️

GET WISDOM

How many of you are tired of being blasted with an overload of information? It's coming at us from every direction. Facts and more facts about everything, then more facts to dispute those facts. And all that knowledge is causing more confusion than providing answers. What are we to believe? There is a great quote by Billy Graham that is a good reminder for us today. "Knowledge is horizontal. Wisdom is vertical; it comes down from above." If we ever needed wisdom I believe we need it now. There is nothing wrong with having knowledge. God instructs us to get knowledge and understanding but first and foremost to get wisdom. Wisdom is the God given ability to apply knowledge. He promises to guide us in that wisdom. I think we would all agree our world needs that guidance today. We need it, our leaders need it and the entire world needs it. And just how do we get that wisdom? We simply ask for it and when we do God has promised he will supply it to us generously! None of this a little dab will do ya or just a pinch. No he will pour it out in abundance. We will find ourselves making wise choices and decisions and knowing what to dismiss and what to store up. The next time you see or hear a report take a moment and ask God to give you wisdom. He wants you to be wise! You are greatly loved! ❤️

PERMISSION GRANTED!

"Adulting" is a fairly new phrase many young people use to describe meeting all the responsibilities that come with being an adult. I doubt Peter Pan would have ever allowed anyone in Never Never Land to use that phrase. No matter what your age sometimes you just need a break from being grown up! And you know what else? I feel like God is saying permission granted!

 

It reminded me that Jesus said in order to inherit the kingdom of God we must all become like children. (Matthew 18) Simply put, I believe God is telling us to keep it simple. Things in our world are pretty complicated right now yet children are still being children. I love the laughter of my grandchildren when their dads tickle them. It's pure joy. Children are not worried that their needs will be met. They are trusting their parents will do whatever it takes to meet those needs. They know who to look to when there is something they don't yet know how to do and never hesitate to ask for help. They have faith in the ability of their parents. They lay down and sleep peacefully without a care in this world knowing they are safe and secure. They aren't worried about the future. They just enjoy today. Is God giving us permission to stop adulting? Not at all, but he given us permission to be his child. We can live our lives with joy and expectancy, faith that he will meet our needs, freedom from worry and fear and most of all with the security of knowing it's all in his hands. Have a wonderful day friends! Permission granted! You are greatly loved!

HE REALLY LOVES YOU!

Our family didn't attend church when I was a child. We didn't say the blessing before meals or bedtime prayers at night. There was no Bible in our home except the little New Testaments that they gave out at the end of the school year. Yes, they used to do that. No one talked about God in my house except when my dad who was a sailor used him name sometimes. However growing up I did hear things about God. They weren't things that would really make you want to know him. As a matter of fact they made me want to stay as far away from him as I could. Once, when I was hit by a train and miraculously lived through it, a nice Christian lady told me, "well you know bad things happen to you when you aren't living right." I remember thinking wow, I'm so bad God sent a train to run over me. What I can't remember anyone telling me was that God loved me. No one ever explained that Jesus died for my sins, not because I was so bad, but because he loved me so much. Yes, I know the Bible clearly tells us that but I'm not so sure it's always clearly communicated. One of my favorite prayers for someone is that God reveals his love to them. The Bible tells us that we love him because he first loved us. It's a love story y'all! When you realize how much you are loved by God you can't help but fall in love with him. No one and I mean no one loves you like Jesus does! That's my prayer for you today. That you will know, really know and be reminded how much God loves you! You are greatly loved! ❤️

SET THOSE SPRINKLERS

I was excited to see a wet lawn this morning. Did it rain? No, that would be nice but it was the next best thing. My sprinklers are working again! I have to admit when we built our house I did not understand why my husband was so adamant that we include a sprinkler system in the plans. I really thought it was an unneeded expense when we could just buy a garden hose. He actually asked the builder to take it out of the plans and God gave us a miracle but that's another story for another day. My hubby thought he needed a sprinkler system but God knew I would need it. Keeping flowers and grass alive in this Texas heat is a challenge and those sprinklers have been a blessing. I've always thought it was interesting that Jesus called himself living water. The Bible has a lot to say about the subject of water, spiritual living water, bringing life. I know my little flowers are so happy to get a drink after a 100 degree day and it amazes me how they just spring back to life. Even our physical bodies need to stay hydrated to function properly. How much more does our spirit need the living water that only comes from Jesus? Just as I had to learn to set times for the sprinklers to water my yard we have to set times so God can water our soul. We need time in his word that will wash over and cleanse us from the heat and dust that drains us and clouds our minds. We need times to rest and enjoy the fountain of living water that springs forth from our Lord. We need times of refreshing and filling in the deepest part of who we are. I pray you will remember to set your spiritual sprinklers today! It's hot out there! You are greatly loved. ❤️

HIGH HOPES

  

Anyone remember this song? 🎼Just what makes that little old ant think he can move that rubber tree plant? Anyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant. But he's got high hopes, high in the sky apple pie hopes. 🎼This morning I believe the Lord is reminding us not to give up hope! Given what's going on it can be hard not to allow hopelessness to creep in. But we have something that little old ant didn't have. His hope was in what he could do. Our hope is in what God can do! Hope is a powerful force!. It gives purpose to our faith. Hope dares to believe the impossible! God tells us to be overflowing with hope. One version says, overflowing in confidence in God's promises. We don't have a high in the sky apple pie hope. No, we have a living hope because it's in a living God! That ant might move a rubber tree plant but we can move mountains! I pray your hope will remain strong and will overflow. You are greatly loved! ❤️

FEAR VS WISDOM

 

I believe wisdom (God's wisdom) is a precious gift from God. While having a conversation with a friend recently I said there is a difference in fear and wisdom. As believers sometimes we get caught up in in the faith vs fear mindset and forget that there is also wisdom. We know fear isn't from God. He makes that very clear. We know that we are to live by faith and God even tells us he is pleased when we do. His word instructs us to ask for wisdom and promises he will give it to us in abundance. I believe more than ever we need God's wisdom. These are very difficult days. It's almost as if a virus of insanity has been unleashed on our world in addition to the unseen Covid19. It's not a time to be fearful. It is a time to remain strong in our faith. But it is also a time to ask God for wisdom. God knows and has the answers. He doesn't give us a spirit of fear but he doesn't just stop there. He gives us love and power and a SOUND MIND! If ever we needed a sound mind it's now. I pray you have a blessed week and are filled with the wisdom of God! You are greatly loved! ❤️

Flowers in the Covid Dessert

Lately are you feeling a little like you're stranded in the middle of some kind of lonely Covid dessert? You can see people in the distance but you can't get too close to them. For me it seems like I'm caught up in some kind of dust cloud that has blanketed the entire world. No one has a clear picture of the what, the how and the when it will lift. It would be enough to make one lose hope except of course, you guessed it, God! Never underestimate our great God and the human spirit. God has placed survival in the heart of man and one of the ways some of us have survived being stranded at home is working the land. Well, maybe that's a stretch but we've spent time in our yards growing and planting beautiful flowers and plants. I've enjoyed seeing posts with pictures of everyone's beautiful gardens. It seems that the flowers are just showing off this year. And we shouldn't be surprised. God's word tells us that he will make the dessert and the wilderness sing and burst forth in blooms. Isaiah 35:1 He goes on to say, take courage, he is on his way to make things right and to save us! And in the meantime he makes this dessert place we find ourselves in break forth with his beauty. I hope you have a chance today to enjoy it and when you do I pray every flower reminds you he is at work! You are greatly loved!

The Parts Are All There

I couldn't help but chuckle a little this morning when I read this verse. I certainly don't feel very complete or "put together." Immediately the Lord said, "Sherry, all the parts may not be put together yet, but they are all there." My mind flashed to a DIY video I had just watched a day or so ago. It was a video of a table a couple purchased at IKEA and were going to makeover. On the outside of the box was a picture of the table but when they opened it what came out resembled nothing like that picture. Their purchase was in what seemed like a hundred different pieces. It was a table alright but just not put together yet. Did you know when God sees you he sees the picture on the outside of the box? He doesn't see all the pieces scattered all over floor of you life. He's not concerned that they won't fit into his plan. He designed you so that they will. And if you let him, he will put you together perfectly. His word says he is the author and finisher of our faith and that he makes everything beautiful in it's time. You may feel like a jumbled mess today but God sees a masterpiece. I can see God now, putting this part of your life in place and just maybe giving a little chuckle. You are greatly loved!

EVEN THOUGH

EVEN THOUGH..July 5th and 6th mark two of the darkest days of my life. On July 5th, forty one years ago Lawrence and I lost our son, Dustin. He was a healthy full term beautiful baby boy who died during birth. Four years ago on July 6th my precious husband breathed his last breath on this earth. I wrote recently about how I dreaded the approach of these days. Yes, they represent the darkest, most deeply painful events of my life. And yes they also represent the extraordinary love, faithfulness and power of God. He doesn't make idle promises, ones he can't or won't fulfill.

I always say that God's purpose for me is to give others hope Does that mean there haven't been days in my life when I felt hopeless? No. The days after the death of my husband were filled with heartbreak so intense I physically hurt and thought I might surely die from the pain. It was an indescribable pain that I had no idea existed, especially in the life of a believer. I'm so thankful for God's promises and EVEN THOUGH it was hard by sheer faith I believed them. One of those great promises is found in this familiar Psalm, "EVEN THOUGH I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." God has kept his promise to me. He has been with me every step. He has been my help, my hope and my healer and continues to be every day of my life. I want you to know today that EVAN THOUGH you may be going through the darkest days of your life, EVAN THOUGH we may be going through the darkest days of our nation that most of us have seen we do not have to fear. He is with us and he always will be. You are greatly loved! ❤️

The Best Me

One would think that when you get my age you would have it figured out. I'm sure there are those that have but I'm not one of them. It seems that just about the time you "figured it out" it changes. I think 2020 is the year of Everything Changes. Even if you thought you had it figured out you probably don't anymore. I'm thinking the real question is, how do you know when you have it figured out? What's the standard? Who sets it? Is it the same for everyone? So as always the answers to these and every life question comes from the one who created us in the first place. He tells us he made us perfectly with a purpose in mind. And we are all different, wonderfully different. The Message Bible puts it like this. Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. (Gal 6:4-5) I believe some keywords here are your own life! It's your life, your purpose and it's no one else's. No one else can be you! So instead of praying, God help me to figure it out we can simply pray, God please help me to be the best me I can be! And you know what! He will! Have a wonderful day being the best you, you can be! You are greatly loved! ❤️

A Hunk of Burning Love

I never know what's gonna come out of my mouth when I'm talking to God. This morning was one of those times and I heard myself saying, "Lord, thank you for letting me love people from my living room." Just a few minutes before that I was thinking about how we are created to be loved by God and to love him and others. It reminded me of an Elvis song, Burning Love. So of course I had to Google it. That'll get you moving in the morning! Anyway the chorus of the song says, I'm just a hunk, a hunk of burning love! And you know what, that's exactly what me and you are! If you know Christ and are filled with his Spirit you are a hunk of burning love and hope and light! And you know what else? It has to get out! Jeremiah tells us if it doesn't get out our hearts will be like a fire shut up in our bones. We are made to love God and to love others and I believe God is saying don't stop! You can't quarantine God's love! You can love others from your living room or wherever you find yourself today! After all you're a hunk, a hunk of burning love! God's love that is! Have a great day friends! You are loved greatly! ❤️