Sunday Something...

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Take the mercy...accept the help. 

yes!

Believing anyway

What do you do ... when it wasn't what you expected.

Sometimes...
we mistakenly view our faith as a guarantee  that life will be good.

Our kids will be safe.
Plans will follow their prescribed course.
Things will move along...smoothly.

We will go to church.
We will send money to needy children.
We will give money to dig fresh water wells.
We will sing on the worship team.
We will read the bible...
and encourage other believers.

Our life will be ideal.

Until it isn't.

Too often, more often than not...

a life of faith
leaves you hanging on by a thread...

part of growing your faith-
is learning to walk in some really scary and dark places...

and part of faith-
is just simply holding on...

Holding on when your heart is broken...
holding on when your child rebels and disappoints you...
holding on when your life, becomes a series of things stacking up, seemingly against you...
holding on when your mother gets Alzheimers...
holding on when your friend walks away...
holding on when the cancer comes back...
holding on...

because, regardless of what our eyes see...
and what our ears hear...
we can trust and believe what our Spirit knows...

That He has a plan-and ultimately it IS good.
That He is with us and will NEVER leave us.
That He is holding our hand...
even when we are barely holding on...

For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you.

Isaiah 41:13

Grace that is greater than all my sin [archive dive May 2006]

I yelled.

Today I yelled at my oldest child. I'm not proud of it. And I can say that I am not a yeller in general. Because really, yelling accomplishes nothing. And when someone yells at me...I simply tune them out. So for me I've always worked pretty hard not to be a yeller.

Well all that went by the wayside and I yelled.

And then I cried and felt like poo. I apologized for handling myself wrongly and asked for forgivness and it was given.

Later in the day I must have apologized again or mentioned it. Then as I was tucking him in I apologized again. He kind of sighed and said ''momma you've already apologized three times today. I forgive you''

And at that moment my son modeled Jesus to me, yet again. How often do I go to God and ask forgivness..only to go back and remind him I need forgivness time and time again. And all the while He's saying ''Cheri you've already asked, I've already given it...MOVE ON''

Why do we let our failures consume us? I'm not saying we should just brush it off when we fail. But the fact of the matter is we are human...we are flesh. We are not perfect. We ARE GOING TO FAIL. But the thing is, while failure is assured, wallowing in it is optional.

Sometimes I'm amazed at how blessed I am with these kiddos God has trusted me with.