What Makes The Difference?

I see so much pain and suffering in the world around me.  When I take my eyes off of myself I see it.  It’s everywhere; in my friends lives, in the newspapers, in my own family, in strangers.  I see hurting, hurting, hurting people wondering why, why, why?

“I feel like killing myself.”  Quote from a young lady who is suffering from depression.  “I am blessed.”  Quote from a lady who underwent a biopsy to see if she has cancer.  “He didn’t check on the injured player for over 25 minutes.”  Quote from a hurting mother of a high school soccer player who is unhappy with the coach.  “God is in control.”  Quote from a single mother struggling with the consequences of her divorce.  “Whatever my lot…it is well with my soul.”  Quote from a blind wife and mother of two.  “Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds.”  Quote from a writer.  “Everything is OK.”  Quote from a mother of two children in the hospital.  “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”  Quote from a man in prison. 

As I think back on the last couple of weeks and the conversations I have had with people, I am struck by the huge contrast in how people view their painful circumstances.  What makes the difference?  What it is that causes some people to be positive in their suffering and some people to be negative in their suffering? 

Tonight as I pondered that question, I sat down to do my Bible study.  While reading  the Word, God impressed upon my heart that it is He that makes the difference.  It is He that causes people to be positive in their suffering.  It is He that allows people to look past their circumstances and say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”  It is God Himself, rising up out of His Word and consuming us with His grace, goodness and mercy, so that we can “give thanks in all circumstances.”

I had to ask myself tonight; how will I react when my circumstances become painful.  It is my decision to make.  Will I run toward the devil by reacting negatively and allow him to have a foothold in my life.  Or, will I run to Jesus, dig into The Word and pour my heart out to God, allowing Him to be in control of every circumstance, knowing that “all things work together for good to those who love Christ and are called according to His purposes?” 

Am I going to claim that I am a Christ Follower, but in name only?  Or, am I going to live The Word?   “If you love me you will obey me.”  John 14:23.  Am I going to “be content whatever my circumstances?  Philippians 4:11.  Am I going to “consider it pure joy when I face trials of many kinds”?  James 1:2.  Am I going to “do everything without arguing or complaining so that you may become a blameless and pure child of God.”  Philippians 2:14.  Will I allow my circumstance to cause me to say, “it is well with my soul”? 

What makes the difference?  Living Jesus Christ, that’s what!

Encouraging You In Christ!
All Praise, Honor and Glory To God!

Where's My Treasure.....Horses?

Those of you that know me personally know that I LOVE horses!  One of my favorite things about traveling in Arizona and New Mexico is that I get to see horses.....lots and lots of horses.  I can literally hop on my bicycle at The Encouragement House, ride one block and I can see horses.  Oh yeah, horses.....lots and lots of horses!

It has been my dream for the last year that I would be able to find a place to ride close to The Encouragement House.  Every time I would come to The Encouragement House I would tell myself that I would look for a ranch close by where I could ride.  There are trails everywhere surrounding Apache Junction that wind among the Saguaros, around and through the mountains.  The Arizona desert is an amazing place to ride a horse.  Well, a whole year went by without me having any time to even look for a place to ride. 

And then this past week, it happened!  Quickly!  So quickly that it took me by surprise.  I heard of a ranch just 5 minutes from The Encouragement House, made a phone call and before I knew it, I was riding a horse among the Saguaros at the base of the Superstition Mountains.  And it was amazing.....everything I had dreamed it would be.  Wonderful.....just plain wonderful!  Truly a dream come true for me!

So now that I'm riding again, I'm really getting into horses.....REALLY!  Twice this week I went to the Arizona Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale to watch horses and riders from all over the country compete with their Arabians.  Today, as I was watching a pleasure class  of Arabians and their riders, I began to think about what it was like to compete in a horse show.  I used to do that when I was a teenager.  I didn't have an Arabian but I had a hunter/jumper horse that I rode in horse shows all over Indiana.  And let me tell you, it was fun.....fun to ride, fun to compete and fun to win those trophies.  Way Fun!

As I watched the show, I began to think that I would like to show horses again.  I began to think that I could show horses again.  I began to think that I could win trohpies again.  I began to think.....

And in my thinking about showing horses again.....God began to speak to me.  He said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:21.  When he said that to me, I looked at the horses in the ring.  I looked at the equipment in the ring.  I looked at the people in the ring.   As I looked at the horses and the equipment, I realized the massive amounts of money it takes to own and show horses.  As I looked at the people,  I saw how important showing the horses was to them.  I saw great joy in the faces of the winners and I saw great disappointment in the faces of the losers.  I saw the ribbons and the trophies the winners received.  As I looked at the ribbons and the trophies, God reminded me that one day those would all burn up.  God reminded me that all the money invested, all the time invested, all the work invested would one day all burn up.....unless it was done for the glory of God. 

So tonight, God has asked me to spend some time evaluating where my treasure is.....is it in horses or is it in Him?  And I've come to the conclusion that as much as I love horses, I love Him more.  He is the One who created the horses!  He is the one who created the Saguaros and the mountains that I ride among!  He is the one who created me so that I can ride among the Saguaros and the mountains.  He is the One!

Soooo.......... shoud I just stick to riding my bicycle with Rick?????

LOL!!!!!  Uh.....NO.....I don't think so!  LOL!!!!!  I will keep riding horses.  Riding horses among the Saguaros at the base of the Superstition mountains.  Riding horses.....Praising God all the while for the beauty of his creation.  Riding horses, riding horses, riding horses.....cause that's what God created me to do.  All the while riding horses, giving Him my Heart.....because I am His Treasure, He is my Treasure!  "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenants, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession."  Exodus 19:5

Encouraging You In Christ!

All Praise, Honor and Glory to God!

A New Perspective

God has blessed me with a dishwasher.  I am thankful for my dishwasher.  My dishwasher washes my dishes for me so that I have more time to spend with the people in my life.  Yesterday, my dishwasher did more than wash my dishes.  My dishwasher taught me a life lesson that I would like to share with you today.  (Actually it was God that taught me the life lesson and He used the dishwasher to do it.)

After I put the dishes from our lunch in the dishwasher, I attempted to close the door.  I have found that the dishwasher works better and cleans the dishes better when the door is closed.  But, unbelievably, I could not get the door to close.  The bottom rack was stuck half way out of the dishwasher and it would not go in; no matter how hard I pushed, that bottom rack would not go in the dishwasher.  I pushed and pushed and pushed.  I looked under the rack and on top of the rack for the problem.  I must have looked at the bottom rack, pushing and pulling for at least 5 minutes, but I just could not figure out why the darn thing wouldn't close. 

Usually when I have a "mechanical" problem, I go straight to my husband who is a "mechanical" genius compared to me.  But this time, as I looked at that rack on that dishwasher, I just couldn't bring myself to say, "Honey, I can't get the dishwasher door closed."  That just didn't seem to me to be the thing to do.  Actually, the more I looked at the problem and the more I tried to shove that rack in, the more foolish I felt.  It was just unbelievable to me that I could not get the door to close!

Finally, I decided that I needed to step back, walk around the door that was laying open in front of me and go look on the other side to see if I could find the problem.  As soon as I stepped back and walked to the other side of the door, I saw the problem.  A knife had slipped down through the silverware tray and was stopping the rack from closing.  As soon as I saw that knife, God said to me, "You just needed a different perspective, Sherry."    By stepping around the door and looking on the other side, I had a new perspective and I found the problem.

At that point, God showed me that there are times in my life that I just, "need a different perspective."  When life is rough and I find myself struggling, God showed me that I sometimes just need to step back and look at life from His perspective and not mine.  My perspective on that dishwasher door was limited and frustrating, but when I stepped back, my perspective expanded and I saw a bigger picture that took me beyond my limitations and frustrations resulting in a solution to my problem. 

That's what God wants to do in my life; take me beyond my limitations and frustrations expanding my perspective, so that I see situations through His eyes and not my own.  In order to do that, I need to surreder my will to Him so that I am not limited by what I know, but I am limitless by what God knows. 

But how do I surrender my will to Him so that I can move beyond my perspective and experience his limitless perspective?  I believe the answer to that question can be found in Joshua 1:8 which says, "Do not let the book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night."  and then again in Psalm 119:15-16 which says, "I meditate on our precepts and consider your ways.  I delight in your decrees, I will not neglect your Word."  

God's perspective on life is found in His Word.  Meditating on it day and night can take us far beyond what we know and show us what God wants us to know.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to be limited by my knowledge; I want to experience life through God's knowledge and gain all the benefits and blessings that come along with it.

Encouraging You In Christ!

  All Praise, Honor and Glory to God!

Caught In The Middle

I am caught in the middle.  I don't like being there.  It is miserable.  I didn't choose to be caught in the middle.....it just jumped up out of nowhere and it won't let me go.  No matter what I have done to get myself out of the middle it doesn't work.  I am still caught in the middle.  I feel beaten up because of it.  I have suffered much heartache because of it.  Some days all I want to do is just run away from it all and permanently remove myself from the middle.  But alas, I know that is not the solution.  If I run, I might feel better for a while but then it will all come crashing in on me and the situation will probably be worse than what it is now.  Too many people would be hurt if I run.  I know that the feeling of running is just an emotion that I need to work through.  I know what the right thing to do is; stick it out, pray over it and just keep giving it over to the Lord. 

As I was dealing with yet another situation from this "caught in the middle" syndrome that I have found myself in and feeling quite grumpy over the whole thing, God spoke to my heart.  He told me that is where Jesus was when He walked on this earth as a man.  He was "caught in the middle".  He was caught in the middle between mankind and God.  He was caught in the middle between sin and Holiness.  He was caught in the middle between doing His own will and doing the will of His Father.  And, unlike me, He never complained.  Unlike me, He suffered much physical pain.  Unlike me He willingly did the will of His Father through it all.

I tend to feel sorry for myself, get angry at my situation and/or get grumpy when the whole thing is imploding on me.  I get frustrated with myself when I fail to pray over it and surrender it to God when I should do so.   Doesn't God's word say in I Peter 5:7, "Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you." and then in I Thessalonians 5:17, "...pray without ceasing..."?  Why do I so focus on my comfort in life instead of God's will for my life.  Why do I sometimes take the situation into my own hands instead of "waiting patiently on the Lord"?   Psalm 37:6 

God showed me this week that my "caught in the middle situation" is spiritual warfare.  He also showed me this week that Jesus endured "caught in the middle" spiritual warfare when He was tempted in the desert for 40 days.   And so again, God reminds me that I need to put my focus on Jesus and how he handled his situation when I am enduring mine, instead of letting my emotions run away with me and hurting those around me.  

Where, oh where, would I be without God in my life?  Where would I be without Jesus to look to.....Jesus who endured every heartache that I have endured and always looked to His Father for his solutions.  Thank you God for loving me so much that you gave me Jesus to be the soluation to every issue in my life.

If you are suffering from a "caught in the middle" situation, or if you are suffering from any other situation in your life.....I encourage you to do what God has reminded me of this week, "Cast your cares on God" and "pray without ceasing".  And then, if you need encouragement in your situation, let me know.  I would love to encourage you in the Lord.

Encouraging You In Christ!

All Praise, Honor and Glory to God! 

Allow Him.............

My heart is heavy tonight as I just received word of a drunken driving accident that killed two people on the Navajo reservation this evening.  Who is exempt from this evil?  What horrible consequences will come for this drunken driver?  Where can one run when the addiction of alcohol is pulling at their soul?  When will the destruction end?  Why does this have to be? 

So many questions, so few answers…..but there is one answer; one answer that can make a difference in the lives of those hurting tonight.  There is one answer that can push back this darkness.  There is one answer that can stop this destruction.  There is one answer and that one answer is found in God’s Word.  That one answer is a personal relationship with Jesus. 

A personal relationship with Jesus brings life, not death (II Corinthians 5:17).  A personal relationship with Jesus brings purpose to life, not hopelessness (Colossians 1:27).  A personal relationship with Jesus brings Joy, not despair (Psalm 33:21).  A personal relationship with Jesus brings power into your life, not weakness (Acts 1:8).  A personal relationship with Jesus brings eternal life, not eternal damnation (John 3:16). 

Everyone reading this Blog has tragedy in their life that brings so many questions.  Please, please, please, run to Jesus, not to alcohol.  Allow Him to give you answers.  Allow Him to give you hope.  Allow Him to give you joy.  Allow Him to give you power.  Allow Him to give you eternal life.  Just please, allow Him……………….

Encouraging You In Christ!

All Praise, Honor and Glory to God!

Life's Instruction Manual

I had to purchase a new phone this past month. I really hated to give up my old phone because I had grown very fond of it, but after 6 years it was no longer meeting my needs . I was not looking forward to figuring out how the new phone worked. When I got my new phone I immediately began pushing buttons trying to figure out how the thing worked. One of the buttons said, “Update now.” So I thought, “OK, why not?” and pushed it. Well, to make a long story short, that little button didn’t know what it was talking about (or I didn’t know what I was getting in to when I pushed it) and that little button caused my phone to completely shut down. After pushing that little button, I couldn’t get my phone to do anything!

Now I really had a situation on my hands. Not only did I have a new phone that I didn’t know how to use, but I had a new phone that was not usable. It was at that point that I knew I needed help. This situation needed more knowledge than I possessed. In other words, I didn’t have a clue what to do. So, I did what a lot of wives probably do when they are in over their heads…..I said, “Honey, can you help me with my phone?” I could have, should have, gotten online and looked at the instruction manual but I chose to take the easy way out and ask my husband for help.

And, of course, my sweet husband promptly took the phone out of my hand and began to investigate what I had done when I “pushed that little button”. At that point, my husband could have gotten online and read the instruction manual but he didn’t and, after about 45 minutes of not being able to figure out what I had done to that phone, he decided he now needed help. To make this long story short, 3 hours later he got off the phone with the manufacturer of the phone and handed it back to me, all fixed…..ready to go again.

As I held the phone in my hand, I realized how frustrated I had become over this situation and the fact that I now held the fixed phone in my hand, but I was still no closer to knowing how the thing worked than I was 3 hours ago when I caused it to stop working. It was at that point that I wondered, if I had read the instruction manual before I even began fiddling with the phone, would I have avoided that 3 hour mess? Uhhh, probably!

I don’t know about you, but I typically disregard instruction manuals and dive right into using the product that comes with the instruction manual. This mentality has gotten me into trouble more times than I can count. After this phone fiasco, I began to think about life. I realized that when I dive right into a situation in life without reading the instruction manual, I can make a mess of things just like I did with my phone. But when I have read (and memorized) my life instruction manual, my life seems to fall into place better and I have a better attitude when things get rough.

I am so thankful that God chose to give me the Bible, my life instruction manual, so that I won’t have to bumble through life like I bumbled through learning to use that phone. He taught me a long time ago that if I read my instruction manual every day and commit it to memory, my time here on this earth won’t be a mess like my phone was. My time here on this earth can be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

Over the years, as I have dug deep into my instruction manual, the Bible, I have found that God has used His instructions for my good, and through my obedience to those instructions, I have attained a deep abiding peace and joy in my life that I know I would not have had without them. His instructions have given me guidance through my life struggles, along with direction and comfort in the midst of those struggles. No matter what situation I have found myself in, I have found instructions in the Bible that speak to my situation.

God knows me intimately and is always right there with a verse for me that ministers to me when and where I need it. God knows that I worry so He spoke Matthew 6:25-34 into my heart…..…”Do not worry........” God knows that I struggle with discontentment so He spoke Philippians 4:11-12 into my heart, “I have learned to be content no matter what the circumstances……..” God knows that I don’t understand so many things that happen in my life so He spoke Proverbs 3:5-6 into my heart, “Trust the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding……..” God knows that I can be fearful so He spoke II Timothy 1:7 into my heart, “God has not given me a spirit of fear……..” God knows that I am selfish so He spoke Luke 9:23 into my heart, “…if anyone would come after me he must deny himself……..” God knows that I have a weak mind so He spoke II Corinthians 10:5 into my heart, “…take captive every thought……..” God knows that I am impatient so He spoke Psalm 37:6 into my heart, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently on Him."

Do you struggle with anything like I do?  If so, do you run to your instruction manual, the Bible, for direction?  If you do, I praise God with you and encourage you to share what God is doing in your life with others.  If you don't, and your life is a tangled mess, it is my prayer for you that you read God's Word every day letting His instructions seep deep into your soul, allowing Him to untangle the mess.  It's not too late!  He can do it, you know, if you just let Him.



Encouraging You In Christ!

All Praise, Honor and Glory to God!

Living Like An Heir

During my recent Encouragement Trip, I had lunch with two lady friends.  During lunch, one of the ladies shared a very emotional story.   While she was in the waiting room of a hospital during a recent visit to a relative, a man engaged her in a conversation.  During the conversation the man told her that he was hungry.    Through this conversation, my friend was able to discern that not only was the man hungry for the food of this world, he was hungry for the food of the spiritual world. 

After purchasing some food for him, she sat with him while he ate and they continued their conversation.     My friend listened to the man’s problems and when he was finished, she began to share Christ with him.  He listened at first, but as she delved deeper into the spiritual realm of who Christ is and what He could do in this man’s life, the man’s persona began to change.  He became defensive and angry.  He began to speak in a very high pitched voice, like that of a little girl.   He began to verbally attack her.

My friend said the man became very intimidating to her and she realized, at that point, she was speaking to a demon that had taken up residence in him.   Upon this realization, my friend began to rebuke the demon in the name of Jesus as well as quote scripture to him.  You see, because my friend loves Jesus with all her heart, she knows the scriptures well.  Because she knows the scriptures well, she knows I John 4:4 which says, “greater is Jesus who is in her than the enemy who is in the world.”  Because she knows her scriptures well, she knows that when she asked Christ to be her Savior, she became an adopted child of God and that God gave her the same power and authority that He had given Christ (Ephesians 1:18-23).  My friend took all the authority that God had given her through Christ and used it to cast the demon out of the man in the waiting room.

When my friend came to faith in Christ, she was delivered from her addictions to drugs and alcohol as well as her compulsion to steal.  As a result of what Christ did in her life, she decided to totally surrender her life to Christ and follow Him, regardless of the cost.  And, as with this incident, she has found that cost can sometimes be high.  By the time she finished telling me her story, she was weeping.  Weeping over the emotion of it all.   Weeping over the man.  Weeping over the power that she has in Christ.  Weeping because God is so very real to her.

As I wept with her, I thanked God for our friendship.  I thanked God that He would use me, in all my weaknesses, to be a part of encouraging my sister in Christ.  I thanked God that I too have surrendered my life to Christ and have the same power that my friend has, which she used to cast the demon out of the man in the waiting room. 

If you have come to faith in Christ, you are an adopted child of the King (Galatians 1:1-7).  As an adopted child of the King, you are an heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).  As an heir with Christ, you have the same power and authority that Christ has.  It is my prayer for you that you embrace this truth and live like an heir. 

Encouraging You In Christ!

All Praise, Honor and Glory to God!