It Belongs To God

This Blog is updated each Tuesday.

(This isn't the greatest picture of me, but I wanted to show off my new necklace Klorissa gave me. It's name is "Patina." I love it! It reminds me of something God allowed me to overcome and accomplish. I wear it and am thankful. I had a book published. Little 'ol me.)

I am in recovery. (Aren't we all?) I went into labor a little over a week ago at only 15 weeks and we lost another baby. This is my fourth miscarriage. I don't think anyone wants to process this kind of thing out in the open, but I feel like it is what God wants me to do. As I was in the emergency room I kept hearing a phrase in my head repeatedly. "We lose our joy when we hold onto things that belong to God." My children belong to God. All of my children belong to God. Another thing I thought of is how people try to console those who miscarry with telling them that their children are in heaven. I know there is no promise of that in scripture. I trust God anyway. 

This Thanksgiving I am thankful to God for pain and restoration. I know that hurt has caused more healing in my life than most anything else. There is something about times where you are raw and emotional that allows walls to be torn down and kindness to spring up. Perhaps we are too tired to fight it. No matter, I am grateful for it. I am not the same person I was two weeks ago. As I slowly go through this hand in hand with Jesus I know that ten more losses would be worth one more gain. I am grateful for the most beautiful little girl. I am thankful for a husband who wouldn't leave my side in the hospital even for a minute until I was taken to surgery. I am grateful for a mom (and Babe) who rushed down and helped soothe my broken heart. I am thankful for the hundreds of flowers I received from the women at our church bringing roses to me. I am blessed to have a wild and crazy husband who is willing to give up all the normal entitlements to buy, remodel, and open up his home to people who are hurting. I am thankful for friends and the love of God displayed by His Spirit. What are you thankful for?

... everything comes from You, even what we give you comes from Your own hand.

1 Chronicles 29:14

* I posted a mini book review on Sunday (see below).

I have no idea how I did this to Denbigh

My Rockin' Husband

our niece, Millie

Laomai celebrating a Baylor win with a good brushing of the teeth!

Water into Wine

I recently read a great book written several years ago by Kelly Minter. If you are looking for a beautiful, easy to read, reminder of what Christ does in our lives, I recommend this to you. One picture I have loved thinking about since is the fact that those servants poured water into a jar and went to serve it. How simple. How trusting. That water became wine on the way. I love how that is a beautiful picture of how we must trust and endeavor with Christ. He did not turn the water to wine and then pour it into the serving jars. It happened as the servants were obedient to a very simple call. Pour the water into the jar. Because of that simple obedience, many people took and drank the wine of Christ.

Here are some nuggets that I loved from the book:

"...even on my best days, I can't make wine."

"Simply doing all the "right" things, in and of themselves, only leaves me with colored water. It looks authentic from the outside, but when others get close enough to imbibe, they discover that it is tasteless--because my good works and my attempts at righteousness are not of miracle caliber. I need God to transform my jealous heart."

"This transformation of my heart is not about me trying harder to rid myself of jealousy, but about allowing God to do a deeper work in my heart so the root of jealousy can be pulled out. This can never be accomplished through the strength of my life; it can only be accomplished through the weakness of my death."

"We have too often reduced the glory of the gospel to bumper stickers, condemning slogans on t-shirts, and awkward quotes on church billboards. We have unthoughtfully pushed verses or tracts on those who needed our time, love, and attention more than a quick overview of our beliefs. And we have demanded that people clean up their lives before we introduce them to the boundless love of Jesus."

Tagged by Kyna

I was tagged by Kyna to post the 6th picture from the 6th folder and talk about it. Here it is: my mom. I think the picture speaks for itself. My mom always says, "the higher the hair, the closer to God."

I tag Jen Baker and Jennifer Dancer. Go to  your 7th photo folder and tell about the 7th picture.

Love Regardless

He has chosen and called you to this specific place with a specific agenda. You have been called out of the safe Christian diet to live and cultivate life in your personal Ninevah. Thrive there. Love regardless. Tend to the lost regardless. Press on regardless. Give no regard to the lies the enemy will throw at you. Persevere. Instead of seeing the obstacles, look for the opportunity in serving and giving your very life like that of Christ. Sacrifice and be blessed. Let go of entitlement and pursue God. Share Him among these people. Rise to the challenge. Teach your children to be missionaries among these people. This is an opportunity He has trustingly placed into your hands. Live out who you say He is. 

I'll see you at the finish line.

© Stephanie Cherry 2008  stephaniecherry.com

He Gives and Takes Away

A part of my heart walks around outside my body. Another part will soon be laid to rest in a grave with many tiny hearts that did not make it.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, 
       and naked I will depart. 
       The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; 
       may the name of the LORD be praised."

Job 1:21

Glory Baby by Watermark

Glory Baby, You slipped away

As fast as we could say baby, baby

You were growing, what happened Dear,

You disappeared on us baby, baby

Heaven will hold you before we do

Heaven will keep you safe

Until we're home with you

Until we're home with you

(chorus)

We miss you everyday

Miss you in every way

But we know there's a day

When we will hold you, we will hold you

And you'll kiss our tears away

When we're home to stay

We can't wait for the day

When we will see you, we will see you

But baby let sweet Jesus hold you 

‘Til mom and dad can hold you

You'll just have heaven before we do

You'll just have heaven before we do

Sweet little baby, it's hard to understand it

Cause we are hurting, we are hurting

But there is healing

And we know we're stronger people

Through the growing and in knowing

All things work together for our good

And God works his purposes

Just like he said he would

Just like he said he would

(chorus)

I can't imagine Heaven's lullabies

And what they must sound like

But I will rest in knowing

Heaven is your home

And it's all you'll ever know

All you'll ever know

A Student Becomes Like the Teacher

This Blog is updated each Tuesday.

Denbigh in the spaceship at The Oasis Restaurant on Lake Travis. Following scenic views also from The Oasis. At one point Denbigh says to me, 

"Sit down, Ansel Adams, and eat your food!"

Luke 6:40 has brought conviction to me on many fronts. Recently, it became very convicting to me 'about me.' In a nutshell it says that a student becomes like their teacher. As I thought about that I thought about all of the people in my daughter's life that teach her just by exposure. I became deeply convicted to pray for friends and family because who they are mold who she is. Then the word hit home. 

  I am her most powerful teacher. 

I am her most powerful teacher.

Do I want her to be like me? Thus began my personal evaluation. Are there things I hang on to via pride and arrogance that I desperately do not want my daughter to assimilate into her character? What do I model to her that I never want to see her model? Am I showing her how to navigate this life with God's word? Am I modeling modesty? Faith? Kindness? Grace? Christ?

I teach other people. In seven days I will be addressing a room of people I have never met. Based on the truth of Luke 6:40, do I want them to be like me? Is what I have to offer viable truth? Do I offer victory? Hope? Salvation? Vitality? Depth?

Do I want them to be like me?

Who do you teach? Do you want them to be like you? Do you need to get alone with the Lord and evaluate what you are offering to others?

Philippians 2:3says, "Do nothing out of vain conceit."

 This can kill a ministry, a child, a marriage.

humility: lowliness of mind, modesty

from Nancy Demoss:      

"To be modest is to:

know how to be appropriately embarrassed

be discreet

be reserved

be ashamed if your attitude or dress were ever to dishonor Christ

To be immodest is to:

be showy

talk too much

be arrogant

be aggressive, controlling, or domineering"

    (even men can be immodest)

Preaching as worship.

Teaching as worship.

Living as worship.

A Little Something Happy

2 Timothy 4

"Preach the Word"

 1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:

 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

 5 But you, 

(you) be sober in all things, 

(you) endure hardship, 

(you) do the work of an evangelist, 

(you) fulfill your ministry.

www.stephaniecherry.com

Pray for America

I thought I would post Nancy Demoss' prayer for America today instead of my normal witty banter. Please spend some time praying for our nation this evening and tomorrow. May the eyes of the people be opened long enough to vote in accordance to God's will.

 After this election hooplah, I shall post pictures of Laomai on her new bike in her super cool helmet. Stay tuned.

How to Pray for America

• Pray that God will turn people’s hearts toward Himself, and that He will be glorified in the outcome of the upcoming general election.

• Pray that God’s people will demonstrate a spirit of repentance and prayer--individually and corporately. (2 Chron. 7:14)

• Pray that God will raise up righteous leaders who will model integrity and authenticity. (Eph. 4:1-2; Prov. 14:34)

• Pray that Americans will see their spiritual poverty; that our nation’s citizens will awaken to their great spiritual need. (Joel 3:12)

• Pray that godly men and women will be placed in positions of authority so that God’s people can rejoice. (Prov. 29:2)

• Pray that leaders we elect will be just, fear God rather than men, and depart from evil. (2 Sam. 23:3; Prov. 1:7; 14:26; 16:6)

• Pray that citizens will seek wise leaders who listen to biblical counsel. (Prov. 1:3-5)

• Pray that citizens will vote with wisdom and discretion. (Prov. 3:21b)

• Pray that people will be able to see truth (Ps. 86:11), that error will be exposed, and that people with wicked agendas will be made weak. (Prov. 25:5)

• Pray that Christians will speak the truth, but in love, concerning those running for office. (Eph. 4:15)

• Pray that Christians will avoid negativity, fault-finding, and contentiousness, but instead, will stand out as God’s loving, pure children. (Phil. 2:14-15)

• Pray for truth in the media. (Prov. 12:22) • Pray that Christians will put their confidence in God, rather than any political candidate. (Ps. 118:8-9)

• Pray that Christians will look to God to overcome the enemies of truth and righteousness. (Ps. 60:11-12)

• Pray that those who love righteousness and truth will fulfill their responsibility to vote. (Matt. 22:21)

• Pray that God will work through leaders to keep the doors open for His Gospel to be proclaimed. (Col. 4:3a)

• Pray for God’s will to be accomplished in the elections. (Ps. 33:11; 103:19; 115:3)

“I believe if our people across this nation will get on their knees and repent, not only of their own sin but the sins of the nation, and cry out to God for His mercy on this upcoming election, that He will hear our prayers and answer them.” Shirley Dobson