Archive for the ‘Not Food’ Category

2 Aug

Counting Our Blessings At The Trash Dump

Posted by Sherry in Not Food. Tagged: , , , .

My husband called at 3:30pm:
“Honey, we need for you to come pick us up. The Trailblazer has a problem.”

The ole’ Trailblazer is down.
Broke down, that is.
Where did this happen?
Of all places, the trash dump.
On  a busy Friday afternoon.
Her shifting cable snapped in half, and she wouldn’t budge from the prime real estate in front of the household waste dumpster.
The girl has over 200,000 miles on her, and things just happen.
Still, my immediate reaction was not evident of anything understanding.
No peace fell upon me as I started calculating the cost of the repair and the discomfort of living without her for a few days.
None.
This unexpected fix would cost money we hadn’t budgeted for.
That stinks!

The big red bus needs some attention!

The big red bus needs some attention!

Thankfully, the short drive to rescue my husband and son was long enough for me to be reminded of all the blessings that abound around this mini distraction.

*  Thank goodness this “break” didn’t happen two weeks ago when my husband and son were on the road between here and North Dakota!

*  And thank goodness this “break” happened now, instead of three months from now when my oldest son will be driving it!

* Hallelujah, we are paid ahead on one of our bills that will allow for us to cover the cost of this repair!

* How furtunate we are to have another vehicle at home that we can drive this week!

* Could there have been a better place to break down?  I think not!  The car was PARKED, and in a place where the traffic flow is cautious and forgiving, as well as the Waste Management attendents!

* We had opportunities to serve others while waiting for the tow truck (helping empty the truck beds and trunks of others)!

* And we had the good fortune to visit with our Music Minister while we waited, since he spied us and the twinkling hazard lights of our car when he was passing through!

I am so thankful for God’s blessings and for His protection.  Always, and in all ways.

It’s Friday night, and we got to squeeze in some quality family time a little early today, as we hanged out together at the trash dump.  It’s been a great start to the weekend.  Seriously!  It has!

30 Jul

A Boy Without A Story

Posted by Sherry in Not Food.

Several years ago, there was this little boy without a story.
Or so he thought.

He had overcome the obsticles of divorced parents and blended families.
But that didin’t define him; therefore, this was not story-worthy.

He had overcome the fears of being “different”, in a world that wants “same”.
But that didn’t define him;  therefore, this was not story-worthy.

He wasn’t a recovering drug addict.
Didn’t come from an abusive household.
He did not have any skeletons in his closet that were rapping to get out.
He went to school and had decent grades.
He had a  part time job.
Drove a sixteen year old Jeep.
Played a borrowed guitar, because he could’t afford one of his own.

None of this “non-story” stuff was brought to the table for discussion, until…

American Idol.

American who?

Yeah, the television show.

See, this boy had a passion for music.
Lyrics and rhythm didn’t just come naturally to him, they were him.
Lyrics and rhythm were as much a part of who he was as his heartbeat and fingerprints.
Music just was.
There was no time when it became a learned thing.
There was no time when it didn’t exist in his every day.

Because music just always “was”, it was not seen as story-worthy.
Not by him.
At least, not yet.

After getting the “golden ticket”, and continuing to a second audition (not a televised audition, sort of like a pre-audition to the audition, if you will), he was told, “Be thinking about your story, so if one of our producers asks you about it, you’ll be ready to share it.”

What?

And this is when the “non-story” subject became a “thing” worth pondering.

Isn’t it that way with everyone?

I mean, about our stories.

For years, I lived beneath the lying voice that told me I wasn’t even worthy of a story, let alone story-worthy.    I excused away every coincidence, every defeated obsticle, every battle scar, recognition and praise-worthy accomplishment.  I lived in a world I filled with negatives, like self-doubt and self-imposed guilt.  I listened to the lies of the enemy telling me I was nothing.  No one.  Nobody.  A mistake.

If it’s not Hollywood encouraging exageration or realities that just aren’t, well, real,  it’s the rest of the world around us.  Strangers. Our peers.  Our collegues.  The people nextdoor.  It may even be our own relatives or – go ahead and gasp – our church family.  The world doesn’t want us to recognize our stories, and it doesn’t want us to share them.

How crazy is that?  Bear with me…

I am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
The one and only Son of God.
I believe in the Holy Trinity, as one – God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I believe Jesus came to earth, where he brought the message of salvation to us.
I believe that Jesus was crucified.
I believe He died for my sins.  For yours, too.
I beleive that three days after His death, He was resurrected.
I believe that He is coming again.

I believe, completely, 100 % without a doubt, that everyone has a story waiting to be realized.  Waiting to be told.  One that is worthy and a vessel for sharing The Truth.   That’s why the enemy works so hard and creatively to silence it.

The enemy is sneaky.  He’ll use those American Idol execs to tear us down, or build us up.  He’ll use the world to determine our value.  He’ll work diligently to keep us from knowing Truth.

So where is this little boy without a story today?

Well, he is no little boy any longer.  He’ll be 21 this year. He is traveling the world and sharing the greatest story of all – The Story of Salvation Through Jesus Christ.  And he’s doing so using music as his platform.

See, what this little boy figured out was that once he stopped listening to the world around him – once he tuned the business and chaos out – he was able to hear the voice of The Savior.  And after listening to The Father, he began to understand that his own story was indeed one worthy of sharing.

That’s what our testimony is, you know.  It’s our story.  It’s the one that has been gifted to us so that we can share it with others for the sole purpose of spreading The Good News of Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for Your Little Boy and for His story.  

16 Jul

I Have Made Some Crappy Choices

Posted by Sherry in Not Food. Tagged: , , , , , .

It’s morning.

Driving to work.

Should I listen to the radio, Lord, or shall we talk on the way to work today?

I hit the radio button.

“It’s a good morning!”

It’s also a beautiful day.

Figures.

Clear skies and sunshiney rays of hello lend to poor reception.

Too many different sound waves happily traverse the space around my car.

Sorry, Mandesa, I have to turn you off this morning.

So, I guess it’s a talky-kind-of-morning.

I’m no different from the next guy.

Really, I’m not.

I sin.

I have a hard time learning a lesson.

Gosh, I’ve made a bad choice and decided against making the same bad choice, only to do it again.

And again.

And again.

Lord,  I’m so glad You love me and You forgive my shortcomings.

I’m so glad you’re patient.

I have made some really crappy choices.

Yes, but you’ve made some really good choices, too.

Thank, you, Lord, for pointing that out.

I have made some really good choices.

I HAVE made some really good choices.

I get it.

Thank you!

9 Jul

Day 677

Posted by Sherry in Not Food.

Cleaning out the china cabinet tonight, I found a stack of newspapers from summer of 2010.  They were tucked away for memory’s sake, but tonight, they were a sweet smile from the Savior.  No doubt His plan is far greater than any we could imagine, He knew exactly the moment I should stumble upon the words spoken by my son nearly 3 years ago, recorded in newspaper print.

IMG_4767

This has been one of those flash-forward moments.  God’s allowed me to see His hand in the days that have followed these words…words that have been spoken into life by The Creator himself.  Thank you, Lord.  Thank you!

1 Jul

Notes Sung Sweetly Over Seas

Posted by Sherry in Not Food. Tagged: , , .

What a blessing, to share an hour of conversation with my son, who is overseas…and to share a harmony or two.
Thank you, Lord.  
__________________

“Mom, I’m leading worship tomorrow.  Got any ideas for songs I should share?”

“Ooooo, you know I like ‘Forever’, that’s still my favorite.
I know it’s an old one, but it speaks to me.”

“Yeah, I know, but I need songs that are well-known, not ones I’ve written.”

“Oh, okay, like  ‘How Great is our God’?
Mr. Ed lead us in that song this morning.
I love that song!”

“I like that too, but I don’t know if that’s well-known over here.”

“How about ‘Mighty To Save’?
That’s a good one, too.”

“I’m thinking more like hymns, that would be more well-known.”

“Okay, the first one that comes to mind is ‘Satisfied’,
and you know that one.”

“But that’s not one that’s familiar to many.  Something more traditional.”

“‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face…“

“Yeah, more like that. But not that one.”

“Gosh, hard for me to just think of hymns right off.
And there are so many that are used in contemporary worship songs these days.
Like ‘Nothing But The Blood of Jesus’.
I think that’s in a Tomlin song, or maybe someone else.
But that’s a good one.
What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus…”

“Oh, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow.
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.  That’s a good one.”

“Oooo, or how about ‘Victory in Jesus’?
There’s victory in Jesus, my Savior forever.
That song is so uplifting.
You know, that was the song we all sang at the
beginning of Mr. Philip’s service.
It was perfect!

“That’s a good one, too.  Yeah.
He sought me, and bought me, with His redeeming blood.
He loved me ‘ere I knew Him, and all my love, is due Him.
He plunged me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood.
I like that one.  Okay, what else?”

“Well, wait a minute.
I’ve got a little hymn book right here.
You know, those kind that tell you the history of the songs?”

“I love those.”

“It’s like the one I gave you before you left.
I’m keeping this one here for you.
Let’s see…’Little Is Much When God Is In It’.
I don’t know that one.
And there’s ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus’.”

“Not that one, ma.”

“How about that!
It was written in 1922 by a woman.
I didn’t know that!
She was 55 years old when she wrote it.
Says that when she became blind, her husband left her.
She said that when she heard a statement that deeply impressed her,
she stood still, and there was singing in  her soul and spirit. “

“That’s cool, ma.”

“The verses of the song were written within a week’s time
and in ‘their usual manner of composition,
but nonetheless dictated by the Holy Spirit.”

“Wow!  I can relate!”

“That’s so awesome.
I always liked that song, and now I just like it even more!
Anyway, what about  some song that goes
...and He walks with me, and He talks with me,
and He tells me I am His own?

“I don’t know that one, ma.”

“That was grandma Flossie’s favorite.
It’s more like a song you hear at funerals.
This one makes me think of Kristen, ‘His Eye Is On The Sparrow’.
Remember her singing that one at Aroma?”

“Yeah.  She’s getting married soon – it’s crazy!”

“I know!  Love them.
You should try to see them when you’re home.
Maybe on your way to Alabama.”

“I should.  Man, there’s so many places I want to go when I get home.”

“Yep, I know.
Hey, how about  the one that goes
…here I raise my Ebenezer…”

“...hither by thy help I come.
And I hope by thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home...”

“Jesus sought me when a stranger
wandering from the fold of God…“

“…He to rescue me from danger
interposed His precious blood.”

“That’s such a good one!”

“Yeah, ‘Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing’.
I like that one, too.
I think I might use that one.”

28 Jun

I Own A Paula Deen Frying Pan

Posted by Sherry in Not Food. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Just one.
That’s all I need.
It’s pan-enough to handle all of my stove-top cooking needs.

My husband bought it, actually.
I’ve never fancied myself a Paula Deen fan.
Not really any kind of fan, for that matter.

I am Not A Fan.
             [Sorry, couldn’t resist.]
[But it’s true, I am not.]

This Paula Deen pan I have,
it’s blue and sort of speckled.
Not hard to miss in the sea of orange and silver pans in my cabinet.
It’s one of a kind.

Love my Paula D Pan!

Love my Paula D Pan!

I have always enjoyed cooking in that pan.
It’s sturdy.
It’s reliable.
Things cook up well in it.
The clear, glass lid fits nicely, too.
It’s easy to see what’s going on inside it.
It’s also unmistakable.
I could pick that pan out based on the sheer weight and solidness it has.
It does not waiver when it comes to even heat distribution either.

Sure, it’s over cooked some meals.
It’s even burnt one or two.
Okay, 12 or 18.
But what pan doesn’t make mistakes?

In light of recent current events and headlines,
I’m finding myself more and more fond of my Paula Deen pan.

Whenever I cook in it, or wash it, or even think about cooking in it and washing it, I am now constantly reminded of how much My Savior loves me.

How cool is that?

I mean, how wasteful and frivolous would it be if I every time I scorched a little food, or over salted it, I threw the pan away that the food was cooked in?

Thank you, Jesus, you haven’t and won’t discard me based on my mistakes and slip ups.  Thank you, Jesus, for your daily forgiveness of my sins!  I know, because of You, that I am to forgive as You forgive.  I am to love as You love.  I am to understand second chances (and third and fourth…), because You have given me so many.  Because of You, Jesus, I also know that I am not to judge others, lest I be judged by You in the same way.  I’m not to judge people who cook in Paula Deen pans, nor those who choose not to cook in Paula Deen pans.  Thank you, Jesus.

Yep, the Paula Deen pan has a permanent residence in my kitchen.
I’m going to keep it.

25 Jun

Day 663

Posted by Sherry in Not Food. Tagged: , , , .

My head hit the pillow heavy when I climbed into bed last night, but my heart was even heavier.  I prayed.  This is what the Father revealed to me, and instantly, I was comforted with lightness:

“You are all under My wings, together.  Protector.  Sustainer.  Shield from the storm.  I AM all of these things and more.  Do not worry.  I Am.  Always.  With them.  With you.”

I was tired yesterday.  Bone tired.  And sometimes, that’s enough to allow my thoughts to stray to places I know are not bathed in light.  As a mama hen — you mamas out there know exactly what I’m talking about! — It’s my desire (frantically so, sometimes) to gather everyone up and tuck them nice and safe under my wings for the evening.  It’s so satisfying to know exactly where everyone is.  To check off that box at night, you know?

Backyard lights off?  Check.

Doors locked?  Check.

Dogs fed?  Check.

Boys tucked in?  Check.  Check. Check.

One of those boy boxes I’ve had to leave unmarked for a long time.  663 days, to be exact.  He lives in a different country.  Another boy box is unchecked this week.  He’s on vacation with his dad and their family for the week.  The third boy box?  It’s check marked with a permanent, over-protective Sharpie.  Tucked in super tight!

I don’t know where my oldest son has been laying his head for almost 2 years.  I don’t know where my middle son has been laying his head all week.  But what I do know is that The Heavenly Father does, and He is in the business of tucking in and watching over, too, and He does so constantly and with more love than I can imagine.  Thank you, God!

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer” (1 Peter 3:12).

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep
(Psalm 121:1-4)

19 Jun

Against the Flesh

Posted by Sherry in Not Food. Tagged: , .

He says, in Romans 12:2:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—
his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The world tells us how things should be.  It tells us the order of things.  I’m finding that not conforming to the “ways of the world” throws most people for a loop.  They scratch their heads.  They don’t understand.  They criticize.  They judge.

Oh, the flesh can be nasty.

Recognizing this, though, is liberating.  It truly is!

Someone recently caught me way off guard.  This person, for whom I have great respect, asked when my oldest son would be coming home.  Small talk.  This is something I’m asked all the time, and I enjoy the opportunity to share about the ongoing ministry.  Before I could finish my reply about his anticipated return, though, this person told me HIS thoughts on what my son should be doing instead.  His exact words were, “I know he’s having fun over there and all, but I’d really like to see him come home and get some college under his belt.”

I was without response.   How do you respond to that?

My son has been following God’s prompting since he was 16 years old.  It was very uncomfortable (for me, not my son) as his senior year in high school was half way finished, and the conversations amongst parent groups revolved around “so what colleges has your child applied to?”.  My son wasn’t applying to college.  It didn’t mean he wasn’t ambitious.  It didn’t mean he wasn’t smart.  It didn’t mean that we, as his family, were slackers.  Just as my son recognized he didn’t have a desire of any kind to go to college, I recognized that I didn’t have the desire to press him on it, either.  Going to school events the end of that senior year….running into parents of his fellow classmates at the grocery store….facing people at church who were preparing to send their kids off to college….it was uncomfortable.  Not because I wasn’t proud of my son’s obedience to a call on his life, but because NOT preparing for college or a military career as a next step in the life of our son was going against the flesh.  It was going against what the world says comes next.

I can say, four years later, as my son’s friends are graduating from colleges, getting married and seeking places to begin a career…I couldn’t be more proud of my son in the choices he’s made and for following the voice of The One who matters most.  Time and time again, God’s blessings over him have been obvious.  Thank you, Lord.  

__________

Father, thank you for your hand’s direction and your soft, quiet voice that offers direction.  Thank you for always teaching, and exercising immeasurable patience.  Lord, I ask that you continue to reveal areas where the flesh binds me and help me instead break free from what the world says I should do, think, or say.  I desire to walk on the path you’ve created for me.  I want to make choices that follow your will.  It’s so easy to conform to the world, Lord.  Please help me conform to the word, instead, so that I can confidently go against the grain, when called to do so.  Amen.

18 Jun

Do You Know Me?

Posted by Sherry in Not Food. Tagged: , , .

This is one of the most chilling, poignant passages in the Bible to me:

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matthew 7: 21-23

I want The Father to know me, don’t you?  I want Him to know me by my name, not as an evildoer!  His word tells us that though there are many who think they are doing the will of God, they are not and they will not be known to Him by any other descriptor.

The Lord sees above all else the condition of the heart, and I believe this is where our name tags are worn.

What does your name tag say?

Father, I desire to live your will for my life, unashamedly and boldly.  I want you to know who I am, Lord.  Please help me live a life that is in accordance to your desires.  I love you, Father.  All that I am is yours.  Please empty me of self so that I may be filled with a heart easily recognized as Yours.  Amen.

17 Jun

Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

Posted by Sherry in Not Food. Tagged: , , .

It’s been one of those days, you know?
One where you get up late and spend the rest of the day trying to get back those lost few minutes, certain that it’s their absence that has made life overly-frustrating today.

Hurry up!  We can’t be late to school again.
Do you want overnight suspension?
You owe lunch money.
Do I have any change in the bottom of my purse?
How about on the floor?
Deadlines to meet.
A budget to tweak.
The dog threw up on the new carpet.
Nothing in the fridge for dinner.
I need gas in the car & it’s pouring rain.
What do you mean, the washer’s not working?
Who left the garage door open so the dogs can get to the litter box?
Piles of laundry.
Did you feed the iguana?
I said, DID YOU FEED THE IGUANA!!!???
5th grade project due tomorrow.
Do we have any poster board?

Just life.  All of the things on that list above are not normally tasks or responsibilities that freak me out and leave me winded.  I’ve learned to take things one at a time and check off boxes.  BUT, with those few minutes from the morning missing, normal tasks and responsibilities seem amplified and too many and mighty to deal with today.

Enter 5th grade son (the one who waited until this very afternoon to mention that he has a project on the USS Arizona due in the morning, in less than 14 hours).

He carries his little CD player/boom box combo with the broken antenna into my bedroom, where I’m putting clean sheets on my bed.  Without saying a word, he plugs it in and tunes it to WMHK, 89.7.

In that very second, the missing minutes from the morning come crashing down on me.  They are heavy, heavy, heavy…like lead.  I don’t even recall now what song was playing, but I do recall the face of my precious, all too understanding eleven year old as he hugged me and said, “The music always seems to make you feel better, momma.”

Yes, the music does, this particular music.  Songs of worship and praise.  Rhythmic, soul-filled scripture, brought to life in lyrics and stories.  Melodies so beautiful, so uplifting, so inspiring…bringing the face of Our Heavenly Father into focus.  Worship.

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.  Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!  The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” Psalm 118:14-16

I am so thankful for how my son reminded me in a quick, sincere gesture of what is really important.  When you hold up a very bad, terrible, horrible day to the light of the Savior, how easy it is to see what’s important in comparison.  Just like the hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus…and all the things of the earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.”

No, I am not smarter than a 5th grader, but I sure am glad to have one living in my house.  He makes me happy when skies are gray.  🙂

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