Mental Filter?

Proverbs 29:11, 20 NLT:  Fools vent their anger but the wise quietly hold it back.  There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.


How many times have we had "diarrhea of the mouth" and just blurted out everything we thought of without being sensitive to others around and how your words would affect them?  Or in the heat of the moment and anger, just given someone the verbal beating they deserved?  I've been guilty.  


Lord, help me to keep a watch on my tongue.  There is life and death in the tongue.  There is power in the spoken word.  Help me to always be mindful to speak positive, edifying things.  I want to build others up and be able to testify of your wonderfulness.

Your Great Name

What a wonderful name! No other name is greater! How my heart rejoices hearing his name!

He is my Savior. He is my freedom. He is my healer. He is my redeemer. He is my provider. He is my everything!

JESUS!

Joyful & Passionate

In talking with some friends, I was questioned about my joy and passion for God.  How did you find your joy again?  How are you able to stay so passionate? 

I answered as best as I could in sharing a small portion of what I've gone through and faced in the last years.  I truly hope that I was able to convey a few key points

Here are some key nuggets of truth that I've learned and stand on:

1.  God never leaves me nor forsakes me. He never fails! (Hebrews 13:5 NLT:  “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.”)  I had failed him.  I had walked away from him, but he never let me down.

2.  I had to take action; I had to make a choice.  I couldn't just expect to be rescued without making an effort on my part.  God was there all the time, but I was running away from God creating a greater distance between him and me.  I had to stop, humble myself, turn to God, and repent of my shortcomings.  God isn't going to force himself on us.  I had to turn to my 1st love again.   (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT:  "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.")

3.  I fell in love with God again.  Oh sure, I said that I loved God, but when I truly humbled myself before him, let his love completely wash over me, and his healing process in my heart and emotions began, I learned that my skewed view of God was wrong.  He revealed himself in a totally new way to me.  He became my loving Father.  

  

4.  Looking to anywhere or anyone besides Him for my every need only leads to disappointment. Turning to things or people didn't fix my problems.  Yes, God used a friend to help reach me.  I'm thankful that I have someone who supports me and whom I can totally trust, but ultimately, I had to put God at the center of my world and turn to Him for all my needs, wants, desires, hopes, dreams, etc.

5.  God is my shelter and I trust him.  (Psalm 91:1-2 NLT:  "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.)

6.  I am free!  (Psalm 119:45 NLT:  "I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.") (John 8:32 NLT:  "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.")  God broke the bondage of sin and continues to demolish strongholds in my life (a future blog subject).  I know where I was headed and where I am headed now.  God is continuing to undo the mess I created.  He is replacing all the dark with his light and love.  He is continuing to heal me.  He is so loving.  

7.  I am wearing the armor of God.  I am learning God’s truth, His Word and how to apply it to my life.  (Ephesians 5:10-18 NLT"  "A final word:  Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.  For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  Put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.  Then after the battle you will be standing firm.  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  In addition, to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.  Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.")

8.  I am learning the importance and power of prayer.  Through prayer, I communicate with my friend, God, just as Moses and God did (Exodus 33:11 NLT:  "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend").  Through prayer, I am able to praise him.  Through prayer, I am able to lay my burdens at his feet. (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT:  "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light'")  Through prayer, I am able to speak his truth into my life.  Through prayer, I am able to hear him and learn from him.  We are only as strong as how often we pray, how we pray, and what we pray.

9.  God loves me.  How can I not have joy and passion for my Savior who loves me for me?  He loved me enough to reach to me.  He loves me enough to dream about me and sing songs about me? (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT:  "For the Lord your God is living among you.  He is a mighty savior.  He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.")  


Lord, help me to always bask in your love and joy.  Help me to keep the the love and fire for you burning deep within me.  Restore your joy to your people.  Restore the passion within their souls.  Revive us Lord!

Thoughtless or Thoughtful?

Ephesians 5:17 NKJV:  "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Ephesians 5:17 NLT:  "Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants to do."


Do we just "go with the flow?"  Or are we actually seeking God for His wisdom and finding what it is that He wants to use us to do for Him that day?

This is one of the places I am with God.  I want His wisdom.  I want to be in His will and not miss an opportunity.  Do I fail at times?  You bet!  But I pick myself up, learn from it, and move on.  I continue to strive to be more Christ like each day.

Lord, help me to be mindful of You at all times.  I do not want to be foolish and depend on my own understanding.  Give me Your wisdom.  Let me see with Your eyes where You want me to be and what You want me to do for You at that moment in time.  Search me, God.  Continue to change me, remove SJ from within me, and completely fill me with You.  

A Song In My Heart

Psalm 108:1 NLT:    "My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with my heart!"


Each day I wake up with a song in my heart and find myself praising God through singing.  Beforehand, I couldn't sing.  I was miserable and bound by the chains of sin.  But now that my confidence is in the saving grace of Jesus, I now have the freedom and joy to sing continuous praises to him.


Lately my song has been this:

Glory, Glory, Glory to the Lamb

Glory, Glory, Glory to the Lamb

For You are glorious

And worthy to be praised

The Lamb upon the throne

And unto to You

Do I lift my voice in praise

The Lamb upon the throne

Lord, let your praises continually flow from my heart and mouth.  You are a glorious, merciful, and wonderful God.  You are my love and joy.  Continue to make me into your perfect masterpiece.

An Ouch Moment

You know God speaks to each one of us according to our personalities.  I'm amused by the conversations that he and I have.  But he always speaks in a manner that I "get it".   


I was having one of those parental moments of having to correct my usually very well-mannered son of how rudely his tone and words were towards me.  In the middle of that, God smacked me upside the head (like the NCIS Gibb's slap) and said in his gentle loudness..."Sherry, how often have you done that to me?  How do you think I feel?"  Oh man!  That hit home!  


I had to stop right there and take a moment with God to ask for forgiveness of my failures, the times I acted like a spoiled brat, and the times I cause him pain and suffering.  


God, continue to change me into your image.  Help me to be mindful of you at all times and to never take for granted your love and mercy.

House Of Prayer

Matthew 21:13 NLT:     "My Temple will be called a house of prayer..."


While reading this morning, I read this scripture, and in God's gentle loudness, he spoke to me about it.  I know in this scripture he was talking about his temple (building), but another thought came to mind...We are not just his temple collectively as a church, but individually we are his temple.  (I Corinthians 3:16 NKV:  "Do you not know that your are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?")


If we are not praying as individuals in our personal lives, how can we pray collectively as a church?  And how effective of a Christian and church will we be to reach others?  We are only as strong as how we pray and how often we pray.


Matthew chapter 6 gives us the prime example of how to pray, The Lord's Prayer.  But prior to his giving that example to us, he stated 3 times (verses 5, 6, & 7), "when you pray."  Not that praying was a suggestion, but WHEN you pray, stating that it is something that we are to do.  Jesus, himself, prayed while here on earth.  What makes us think we're any better than he?


We should always pray.  (I Thessalonians 5:17 NLT:  "Never stop praying")  Now that doesn't mean that we don't have other responsibilities and are on our physical knees 24/7, but we are also to keep our hearts and minds in line with God and keep the communication open to him at all times.    


God, help me to always take time to pray, to just magnify you, to worship you, to lay my burdens at your feet, and to lift others to you.  Teach me to pray your will.  Teach me your wisdom.  Help us to know the importance of spending time with you and seeking you in all things.  I want to be an effective servant for you.  Thank you, Lord.  I love you!

My Praise & Prayer for Today

^{Psalm 40:1-3 NLT:
1} I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
      and he turned to me and heard my cry.
    ² He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
      out of the mud and the mire.
   He set my feet on solid ground
      and steadied me as I walked along.
    ³ He has given me a new song to sing,
      a hymn of praise to our God.
   Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
      They will put their trust in the Lord


This passage and praise to God sums up the miracle life transformation God is doing in me.  I'm no longer in the pit...no longer in despair.  My feet are placed firmly on THE ROCK of Jesus.  My soul praises him all day long.  I find myself waking up with a song in my heart and continuously singing to him because of his wonderfulness.


Thank you, Lord, for never failing me!  Thank you, Lord, for never leaving me!  Thank you, Lord, for hearing my cry, reaching for me, and pulling me from my mess.  Thank you for your transformation of my heart and life.  I will continue to praise you all my days!


Lord, use me.  Let others see you through me.  Let me in some way touch others who are lost, hurting, down and out.  Use me to share your love, greatness, and saving grace.  I know first hand of the freedom of your awesome love and power.   


Thank you Lord for your mercy, love, and grace.  

A Friend's Love

Proverbs 17:17  A friend loves at all times...


I am thankful for my friend, God, and my Christian friends who have stuck by my side even during the good, bad, and ugly!


Sad to say, I've been on a spiritual roller coaster ride the last 10 years of my life.  I wasn't seeking God.  I wasn't praying daily.  I wasn't reading His Word.  I wasn't feeding my spirit.  I wasn't serious about God or anything that had to do with Him.  I had my "pocket Jesus" and would pull Him out only when times were rough.  I wasn't serving Him during all circumstances.  At times, I appeared that I did.  I was "playing Christian."  Knowing what others are looking for as a checklist to see if you're a Christian or not, I was able to fool many.  But thankfully, my true friends who were plugged in to God knew differently.  


God burdened their hearts for me.  Not knowing how to approach me, prayers went up first.  God was still working on my end of the spectrum.  I wasn't ready to receive what He wanted to do for me, but through earnest prayer (not the 2-minute-bless-her-God kind of prayer but the get-down-to-business-go-get-her-God kind of prayer),God began that work in me.  It wasn't instantaneous.  I fought it, but He was still working.  


As my heart was searching for something more to this life than what I was living, God was speaking to me.  I did NOT want to hear it, I ran...ran far away...hoping to escape the misery I was in.  But running from God only made it worse.  Every aspect of my life seemed to fall apart.  The more I tried to fix it, the worse it got, and the worse it got, the more I tried to fix it.  And the vicious cycle continued.  The "I can do it on my own" attitude is great at times, but in this case, I slowly sunk deeper and deeper into the darkest, most miserable, God-forsaken place I've ever been.


I'm normally a strong, don't-need-anybody-to-comfort-me individual (I'm a little prideful on being able to take care of business and do it on my own), yet inside I was crying out, screaming for help, hoping that just one person could see the hurt, anguish, and despair..."Someone please look into my eyes and see that I'm struggling!  Help!  The storm of life has overtaken me, and I'm drowning!"  All to no avail because the front I put up on the outside fooled many.  Plus, they had their own battles to fight, and their strength was depleted like mine. Little did I know that God had someone on their knees for me daily.  I was looking for rescue in one certain form, but God was answering my prayer a different way.


When the ground of my heart was ready to receive from God what He wanted to do, I was approached by a special friend.  This friend was on a mission from God to tell me that God loves me, and in love, not condemnation, exposed the deepest, darkest secret of my heart.  Now, I freaked out, about threw up, and about peed myself.  I was like..."Uh oh!  I'm done for now!"  It's a God thing when someone can tell you exactly what you've been going through, and they haven't been there to see it.  As scared as I was about this moment of truth, the weight of the world seemed to lift at this moment.  God cared enough, loved me enough, to use someone whom I've always held in high regard to love me and reach out to me. Did you hear that?  God reached out to me!  Wow!  As ugly, stinky, awful, gross, sin-covered as I was, God wanted me, the prodigal daughter to come home, to look to Him, to rest in Him, to grow in Him.  Yet, I still ran!  What a case of stupid!  I was looking for God to reach to me.  He did.  And I still ran like a moron!  God had to get my attention.  I dream a lot.  But one summer night in 2008, He gave me a vision.  I died and went to Hell.....talk about a powerful, attention getter!


As my friend continued to just be my friend, pray for me, listen, counsel, speak God's Truth into me, my life began to change.  I turned it all over to God.  He began and is still continuing a major transformation of my heart and life.  But it took action on my part.  I had to be willing to give it all to God.  I had to be willing to obey His commands.  I had to be willing to open up and say, "God whatever it is You have for me, then let's do this."  I had to be willing, period.  God will never force Himself on us.  He gave us a choice.  I had to make the choice to choose Him, to choose life everlasting!  Thank You Lord for never giving up on me and for using Your willing servant to reach me!  You are an awesome God!


Today I was listening to my Casting Crowns cd like I have so many other days, a couple of songs really spoke to my spirit.  "Prayer for a Friend" made me stop and think about this time in my life when that's all a friend of mine was able to do...pray for me.  


There is power in prayer!  I'm living proof of it!  Prayer is not a now and then thing to do only when we get in trouble.  Prayer is a daily communication with God, our Lord and Savior.  Prayer is just as simple as talking with a friend because God is our friend.  


Do you really love God or are you just "playing Christian?"  Do you really appreciate Him for Him?  Are you thankful for his grace and mercy?  Are you thankful that He sustained you during your lost times and that you are not living an eternity in Hell?  Are you saved?  If not, why not?  Do you really want to go to Hell?


Have you prayed lately?  Have you really gotten down to business with God and given Him every fiber of your being?  Have you read His Word to get your daily jolt of "Jesus Juice?"  Are you striving to be more like Him each day? 


God call us to repentance!  You are a merciful, loving God just waiting for Your children to turn around and run into Your arms of love.  You are always there!  We may walk away from You, but You never change!  You are constant.  You are truth.  You are love.  You are willing to forgive.  God let the desire to know You more and want more of You burn in our hearts and souls.  Thank You, Lord, for loving me and changing me.  Continue to remove me and make me into Your image.   I love you, Jesus, my friend and Savior.

My Willful Choice

Thought for the day...


If we choose not to live a life in Christ that will bring glory to him and to live a life of disobedience instead, we can anticipate God's judgement. ~Trask & Goodall




God forgive me of the times I've failed you and blatantly chosen disobedience.  I cannot fathom the hurt and anguish I've caused you.  Thank you for your mercy and grace.  Thank you for your understanding and patience during the times I've acted like spoiled, ungrateful brat.  


Lord, help me to continue to humble myself and submit my will to your will.  I'm yours Lord.  Break away all the pieces of me and mold me into your perfect masterpiece to be used for your perfect plan.

Who Are You and What Did You Do With Sherry Jo?

Recently, I've received a few comments and questions as to my new found excitement for God.  "Who are you and what did you do with Sherry Jo?" sums it up. This has caused me to be puzzled, concerned, and excited all at the same time.


Those who know me expect me to act and speak a certain way...like SJ.  But there's been an absolute, undeniable change in me that is bursting forth - a hunger for God like never before in me.  To some the questions are to explore what caused the spark in me because they are hungry too.  But others aren't as receptive.  And that disturbs my spirit because I want them to desire to seek God and to have more of Him.  To be totally sold out to Him!


On the other hand, I'm totally stoked about these comments.  I want all of SJ to be removed and replaced with God.  I want people to see God instead of me.  Not for me to receive recognition but for God to receive the glory, honor, and praise for His miracle in my life.  So when you don't see me but see God through me, I'm EXCITED!  


So, SJ, where did it come from?  2 places:  (1) Unconditional love and (2) I finally GET it!


It comes from the undeniable, unconditional love of God!  God could have easily snuffed me out, but instead, He loved me, just me, enough to reach down, touch my heart, and deliver me from the bondage of sin and the pits of Hell.  God's Amazing Grace!


This quote says it all - Dennis Jernigan A Mystery of Majesty:


"and I'll never forget the night God finally set me free from my past and from my sin.  For years I had struggled to free myself, but my attempts were in vain.  It was as if he were waiting for me to settle down and give up striving.  It appears to me that when I finally gave up, he sovereignly stepped in and called me to his side.  All I had to do was accept his proposal...The moment I saw my Father's face of mercy and forgiveness-the moment I realized he would love me no matter what-my life was radically changed and irrevocably changed forever!"


I've always been a strong-willed individual - sometimes for the good and sometimes for the not so good.  But the realization and truth of the matter is that I cannot do it all by myself.  I finally GET it!  I've been raised in church and have a certain amount of God knowledge, but it finally made that 12-inch drop from my head to my heart.  That drop made such a profound and forever life-changing impact on my life.  God has become real to me.  He revealed Himself in such a way to me that I never understood before.  


God has a plan for me.  There's more to this life than just being here.  But it took my getting me out of the way, so God could take control; to decide that my desire for Him and His righteousness is greater than any other desire.  The desire to know more of Him.  And His love burns inside me.  


Jeremiah 29:11-13 MSG:


"I know what I'm doing.  I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.  When you call on me, when you come to pray to me, I'll listen.  When you come looking for me, you'll find me.  Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed."


I'm on a journey with God.  Some days are more exciting than others.  Some days hurt, really hurt, when God has me take a good, long look at myself and deal with sins and shortcomings.  But the reward is great!  


Psalm 139: 23-4 MSG is my heart's cry:


"Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; See for yourself if there is anything offensive in me, Then guide me on the road to eternal life."




I thank God everyday for His mercy, grace, and unconditional love.  That He saw me in my worst condition and decided that there was something good in me. That He used other willing servants to love me enough and reach out to me. I pray that God continually molds me into His image, uses me in some way to further his Kingdom and reach others for Him, and for His love to continue to flow through me.  Do you love others enough?  What are you willing to do to keep them from going to Hell?


Thank you Jesus!

Revival In You?

This is today's Connection devotion.  Love it and wanted to share with all.

We need God.  We need to share the news of Jesus Christ with others.

VERSE:

   O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

    -- Jeremiah 22:29

     

THOUGHT:

   What is absolutely essential for your country and your people to experience revival? First, the Spirit of God must move in a mighty way. Second, the people must open their hearts to hear and respond to the Word of the Lord. So let's commit to pray together, all over the world, that our people will open their hearts to the Spirit and the Word of God!

PRAYER:

   Holy and Almighty God, please move powerfully in our day to bring revival. Open the hearts of the peoples to your truth and enable those who proclaim your Word to speak your truth with power.

Please use me to help make a difference in the lives of those around me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.