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!