Hope Speaks

What can I say, that hasn’t already been said?

I raise my eyes, I bow my head.

I cannot erase the sorrow

Or take away the pain

I cannot remove the tragedy, or replace the loss.

I cannot fill the void within a broken heart.

Tomorrow seems so far away.

Yesterday is almost forgotten.

But, here in the present,

There is life meant for today.

Platitudes, clichés,

Witty words and heartfelt idioms.

Are freely spoken -

Namely, “That which doesn’t kill you

Makes you stronger.”

But, does that ring true

In the midst of piercing pain?

Empty words –

Void of meaning.

Silent screams buried

Beneath a pile of sorrow.

Echoes of truth disappear

Carried away by the wind.

Breath has no understanding.

Touch unfelt.

Emotions usurp sanity.

Perception is swallowed up

In the sea of surreality.

The heart pounds.

The hands shake.

Wells of despair quake

And rumble within.

Even the strongest are persuaded

By the power of pain.

Alive?  Yes-

But no longer living.

Like the ocean’s waves

The pain ebbs within the tides

The fear seems to subside.

Yet, lurking in the shallows

It waits, ready to swell and crash again.

So, how does one defeat pain?

How does one survive despair?

How does one conquer fear

And become strong again?

Deep inside – Joy abides,

Waiting to drown despair.

Joy is a violent force

A jealous, courageous foe

Unrelenting, Joy battles the grip of sorrow.

In the hollowed blackness

The night must surrender its darkness –

It must yield to the dawn’s morning light.

Beauty lies beneath the ashes.

There are sights, yet to be seen.

There is life to be living.

Look up! Hope is on the horizon.

Hope is found in unexpected places.

It takes you by surprise.

Unaware, hope sneaks up on you –

Always there, hidden in plain sight.

Hope dances in the wind

And glimmers in the night.

Hope giggles in the shadows

Unafraid, hope engages the fight.

Hope thunders peace, and whispers courage.

Hope befriends the lost and forsaken.

Resolute, stubborn, and unshaken

Hope’s an anchor of immoveable might.

Defying the torrents of fear

Hope dares the tempest of despair.

Hope grins and winks

Challenging the unknown.

Hope beckons, it caresses

And wipes away every tear.

Within every breath, silent gasp

Choking sob, Hope cares.

With Hope, You are never alone.

Hope calls out guilt and shame

Hope wrestles the accuser

Hope bears the burden,

Hope shuts the mouth of blame.

Hope overflows, Hope is living,

A constant flowing stream.

Hope expects.

Hope does not disappoint

Hope triumphs.

Hope primes the stagnate soul.

Forever Joyful

Hope never loses control.

Hope holds on.

Hope renews strength.

Hope and future

Walk hand in hand.

Hope smiles from heaven.

Hope, a now and for always loyal friend.

Nothing left to say?

Broken, helpless, unheard,

Stumbling, weak and failing

Hold fast, be still and listen

Hope has the final word!

Hope is in the roar of the lion.

Hope soars with the eagle in flight.

Hope rests in the stoic silence.

Hope reigns upon the mountain’s summit.

Hope merrily surfs the surge

of the raging stormy sea.

Hope floats.

Hope is in the bloom of the flower

And in the melody of the falling leaves.

Hope springs eternal.

Hope’s power never ceases

Hope forever speaks.

Hope is in the flowing mane

Of a horse running free.

Hope is the hush of winter’s falling snow.

Hope is in the song of gleeful laughter.

Hope is the twinkle of every child’s eye.

Hope is among the breath of puppy kisses.

Hope is the oasis found within the dry and dusty desert.

Hope is in the valley, in the meadow,

And in the greenness of the field.

Hope is in the plains,

Stretching as far as the eye can see.

Hope is in the promise of the rainbow

And in the vastness of the galaxy.

Hope forever speaks to you and to me.

What Motivates You?

This morning my scripture studies began in the book of 1 Thessalonians.  As I read, I got stuck in verse three,
“Recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith and service motivated by love and unwavering hope...”

I tried to move on to the next verse, knowing this was just a part of the salutation to the church at Thessalonica, but the word “motivated” pierced my conscious.  Immediately, the question hit me straight between the eyes, and then forced me to really stop and think- What motivates you?  As I pondered a string of possible motivators popped up as captions in my head.  (You know like those floating thoughts you see in a comic strip.) 

   

Here it comes.... yes, I did a word study on “Motivate,” if you have read any of my blogs or books, you know this is what I do.   Motivate - a cause or reason to act.  It is a prompting.  When we are motivated, we are influenced by some sort of stimulus.  We are spurred on, incited, or provoked to move and take action.

What causes someone to run into the crashing ocean?  Or for that matter, what inspires the warrior to run into the fray of battle, or for the bystander to join in the fight?  Why do we engage in conversation?  Or search, plunge and dive into study, or even more curious - what causes us to desire love, or to be in a meaningful relationship?  What compels us to flee, turn away and shut our eyes?  Better yet, what stops us in our tracks, to be still or silent?  What provokes us to work, to serve or to share?  What moves us to laugh, to love, to live or to cry, become angry and quit?

These are some soul searching questions, aren’t they?  What motivates us is as unique as who we are?  We are all motivated by something.  My husband enjoys engaging and meaningful conversation, one of his favorite provoking questions is:  “What wakes you up in the morning?”  The answer to his question and to my long list above is personal.  There is a fire inside of each of us ready to be ignited. There is a gifting within each of us, waiting to be stirred up to benefit the world around us.  There is a longing deep to make a difference, to leave a lasting impression.  God placed within each of us a purpose, a rare and individualized call.  I believe we act and move according to this divine call. We are bent toward a destination; we are gifted for a cause.  I encourage you today, to ask yourself – What motives me?  It could be life-changing.

True or False - Can you handle the truth?

Imitation. Knock-offs. Fake, Mock-ups. Impostors. Hollow truths... What’s Real?

The world is always selling – if you cannot afford the genuine, no worries, commercial marketing has made millions off of peddling imitations.  “Give the people what they want” is their mantra!  Gucci, Armani, Rolex, Channel, diamonds, leather, etc. all have imitations. These “knock-off” versions all look good at first glance, but if you know the genuine product you won’t be fooled by the counterfeit.

Falsehoods are untrue ideas which suppress the truth with the intent to deceive.

The world sells many false gods and idols – replicas of hollow truths - purposely misleading the gullible with feel goods, quick fixes, fads, and fantasies. The repertoire of self-indulgence is designed to deceive. In a world where scientific and technical advances have manufactured 3-D printers and the cloning of animals, they replicate and copy, but they can never create the genuine.  False gods or idols look good, making promises of greatness, but they are no more real than a beautifully sculpted piece of plastic fruit.

As a child, my mother had a plastic fruit in a decorative bowl on the table.  In my childish innocence I took a grape from the bunch and put it into my mouth, only to discover I had been faked out! What looked good and enticing had no taste, no sweet nectar, nope nothing but a rubbery imitation that couldn’t be chewed or swallowed.  As a matter of fact, it had the potential of chocking me if I tried.

Beloved, do not be deceived or fooled (1 Corinthians 6:9).   Once you have tasted the goodness of Jesus Christ, you will never be satisfied with anything else.  Once you have received the robe of righteousness all other garments are mere rags. Once you have smelled the sweet aroma of our Lord’s sacrifice, you will spend a lifetime desiring to bask in its fragrance over and over again.  Jesus is the real deal!

Real versus Fake, I must ask, “Can you handle the truth?”  In Martin Luther King’s Sermon on “False God’s We Worship” he states:  “A man’s real God is that to which he gives his ultimate devotion, that unifying loyalty which draws his life together and gives it centrality and singleness of aim.”  We must be wary of what we bow down to.  What are we devoting our time, devotion and unquestioned loyalty to?  False gods have many faces, shapes, and sizes. Are you bowing down to a relationship, has your significant other become your god?  Or have you become devoted to your own self-image?  Has money and keeping up with the status quo taken precedence over life itself?  Have fame or celebrity and sports figures become markers for success?  Have you become enslaved to social and political causes? Are there any vain imaginations usurping or undermining your knowledge of Jesus Christ? (2 Corinthians 10:5)   “Little children, keep yourselves from idols, false gods – from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life. (1 John 5:21).

Evil, with its worldly schemes and ever-growing idolatry, desires to harden our hearts to the truth.  At the cross, the soldiers mocked Jesus, made sport of Him.  Unfortunately, mankind still ridicules Jesus today.  Many laugh, despise and scoff at the truth of the Gospel. In their arrogance, they claim to be smart in their endless arguments, but they are fools, devoid of understanding and empty inside. They attempt to ambush the truth but ensnare themselves with futility. In reality, they are lost, following transitory “here today, gone tomorrow” gods. Always striving after what cannot be obtained, caught up in a world of false promises, they have exchanged the love and salvation of the One True God for hollow vain imaginations.

Many impostors will cross our path in life. We will be deceived, and even betrayed by what we believe to be genuine and lasting unless we diligently yield to the Holy Spirit within us and test for truth.  Idols, graven images, fake reproductions entice and seduce, enslaving with false realities. However, the good news of the Gospel sets us free. The truth is this, it is impossible for God to deceive us (Hebrews 6:18).  He is incapable of deception (Numbers 23:19). Jesus is the real deal!  He is the Way, He is the Truth, and through His saving grace and infinite mercy, we have everlasting life (John 14:6).  God will do what He promised (Genesis 28:15). He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).  Why settle for knock-offs, fake idols, when the one and only begotten Son of God gave His life up for yours. Only Jesus can truly satisfy the longing of our hearts.

Success versus Happiness

I have been having God-talks [prayer dialogues with God] concerning success and happiness. I am going to share some bullet points of truth I discovered through these times of prayer and meditation.

Discovery #1- Success and happiness are not synonyms!

Discovery #2 – Success doesn’t guarantee happiness, but happiness does create pathways to success. 

Success is best achieved through the courageous pursuit of happiness, rather than striving for success hoping to discover happiness and fulfillment. 

Discovery #3 - Fame is fleeting, yet joy is everlasting.

Everlasting joy never runs out, it is a continual flow. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Set His joy before you and pursue life with passionate purpose.  “May your joy be full” ( John 15:11).

Discovery #4 - God wants us to enjoy life.

God wants us to go, do and enjoy! He desires for us to take pleasure in living and benefit from His goodness. He has plans to prosper you. He has a hope and a future secured and specifically designed just for you. (Jeremiah 29:11)  Trust. Believe. Follow Him...

Discovery #5 – A life beyond, thought, expectation or measure. 

Jesus promised an abundant life. In John 10:9, Jesus proclaimed "I am the door" beckoning us to follow Him. In verse 10, Christ promises an abundant life. It is a promise of freedom, assurance and an eternal destiny found only through Jesus.

An abundant living is a life greater than imagination. It is being assured and secured, bold and confident knowing you can't lose. Jesus has your back and your front, He envelopes you in love and protection. You are safe, stable and free from doubt. You are a child of God, what more could you desire?

Discovery #6 -Through Christ we find pasture.

Referring back to John 10:9 those who follow Christ have freedom. "He will come in and he will go out freely, and will find pasture." I love the idea of finding pasture - A place to rest and be sustained, to flourish and become nourished, to lie down without fear, and where creativity blooms and grows. When we find pasture we discover nourishment for the soul. We become our best selves.

Discovery #7- Joy and gladness in full measure, complete and overflowing.

All the true needs of humanity are satisfied in Jesus. "I have told you these things, that My joy and gladness may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing" (John 15:11).

Discovery #8 - Joy is consistent and is cultivated from within.

Joy is the driving force residing at the core of your uniqueness. It is the bedrock within you. Joy fights against sorrow and defeats doubt. Boldness is birthed from joy because there is no fear of failure. The purpose of joy goes beyond self-satisfaction. Joy urges us to be committed and connected, living life for the greater good.

Discovery #9 - Joy is resilient.

Nothing can steal your joy. Those who have lost or surrendered their hope and purpose still have joy within them. They just no longer recognize it. Bent and weighed down by suffering, pain becomes a shroud. Pain is real and refuses to be ignored. But, Joy is stronger! Joy is relentless. Joy rebounds, emits beauty and rises up.

Discovery #10 - Narrow is the road that leads to life, only few find it.

Choose wisely the path before you.

Although the road to wealth, power and fame is well traveled, it is often paved with harmful and self-destructing desires. Instead of becoming successful, it leads to ruin. Along the broad road lie wasteful wanderings, traps of temptation, land mines of immorality, sink holes of selfishness, relentless competition to get ahead, all lending to despairing days, and lonely exhausted nights. By the way, this road is always under construction and in need of repair. I would rather invest my devotion, time and energy traveling down the pathway that leads to contentment, happiness and a life worth living, wouldn't you? “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?” Matthew 16:26 

Discovery #11 - God makes our efforts successful.

We make plans, but it is God who directs our steps. Sometimes, He is our guide leading the way, and in others, He walks by our side. When we are weary He carries us and when we are immovable He nudges us forward. In my case, there have been times when He has given me a firm, but loving push forward and countless times of "would you please Be Still!"

May we find hope, joy, and satisfaction in the Lord. As we delight in God's presence, may our loving Father grant our hearts desires and "may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful" (Psalm 90:17).  Lord God, may your gladness and joy overtake us as we journey through life. Amen.

My final thoughts...

“Surely, goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell forever, throughout all my days, in the house and in the presences of the Lord” (Psalm 23:6 AMP). 

I recently had a conversation with a friend regarding the passing away of this life.  We touched briefly on the topic of bucket lists.  I have spent most of my life busy with a list of things to do.  As I approach the last leg of my journey on this side of life, I would rather count my blessings, than try to complete a bucket list.  Now, please don’t misunderstand me. If opportunity and time allow, there are many things I would like to do, see and experience. After all, life is a grand adventure.  However, I am not compelled or driven to fulfill them, nor will I feel a lack of accomplishment if I don’t succeed before I pass over to eternity. Instead, I prefer to live and capture the moment, to be content in the simple things and enjoy putting myself totally and sincerely into each day given me. Moments, after all, are precious and they add up to lifetimes.  Life is full of breaths of wonders, gasps of beauty, calming caresses, tugs of awe and alluring sounds.  If I am crossing things off a list, I might miss out on something rare in the here and now. 

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

If we endure life’s hardships, trials and inconveniences, “if we bear all of this with patience, kindness and love, we will be brimming with joy” (Francis Assisi).  Joy is a state of happiness, a continual glad feeling, a great and exceptional delight. If you have joy, you have achieved the greatest reward life has to offer.  

#successversushappiness #whatsyourstory #seekjoy #presentinthepresent #raremoments #livelife #Godisgood #thebestlife #bucketlists #eternallife #findpasture #godoandenjoy #nofear #freefromdoubt #heavenbound #hereandnow #joyoftheLord #joywins #abundantlife #surely #sureandassured 

Winsome

“Let your speech at all times be gracious pleasant and winsome, seasoned as it were with salt, so that you may never be at a loss to know how you ought to answer anyone who puts a question to you”  Colossians 4:6 AMP.  






Hey Everyone!  It has been a while since I have blogged.  Writing and reviewing have been monopolizing most of my time.  But, this tidbit of insight is too good not to share with you. 

As I was doing my morning reading, this verse jumped out.  The word winsome caught my attention. I was uncertain of its definition, so I quickly hit the dictionary app on my phone and looked it up. I love this word!  

But, before I get into it, I must explain why I am touched by the relevance of its meaning. I am notorious for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.  And to add insult to injury, I often speak quickly, interjecting my thoughts without giving pause or listening intently to the end.  I have struggled with this dilemma for as long as I can remember. (Yes, I suffer from foot-in-mouth disease.)   A few decades ago, I begin to diligently pray for God to help me to be “slow to speak.” With His help, I have made progress, but I am far from reaching my goal.  Thank goodness God is patient, if only everyone else would be, ha-ha. 

I am passionate about the Word of God and my relationship with Christ.  Colossians 4:6 gives instructions on how we are to speak to non-Christians, but I believe it should be a standard in all conversations. Let me explain. 

Winsome is defined as “sweetly or innocently charming; winning or engaging.”  Its word origin is joy + sum, or simply put - add some joy.  According to scripture, our speech should ADD JOY to conversations. Selah (Think and consider that for a moment). Our words should be seasoned, adding flavor by sweetening the conversation.

If we conduct our speech graciously and winsomely, we should never be at a loss as to what to say.  Look back at the definition.  Notice the graduated intensity:  from sweet and innocent, to winning and engaging.  We are to win the conversation!  But please be aware, this is not a license to manipulate.  Contrarily, winsome speech is the process of adding joy to each word spoken.  I told you it was good. 

My takeaway is this:  when in doubt add joy.  And when you can’t say anything nice, graciously bow out. Yes, I realize this is easier said than done.  Remember, we are a work in progress. 

Be winsome. 
Cheryl 

Moutain Moving Faith... hum?

Currently on my daily walk, I see the picturesque allegory of mountain moving faith.  Many people doubt that faith can move mountains.  Me, I have beheld it. I know it is as true as holding and sensing the touch of my child’s hand in mine.

Each day as I walk, the mountainside to the west is being excavated. Gigantic machines tear into the hillside, scooping away tons of dirt, rock and foliage. Every day the mountain is gradually being leveled.

Mountain moving faith... hum?  Fact or fiction? Wishful thinking or an undeniable reality?

The power of faith can erupt with a seismic force that can level the obstacles of life like a mountain melting like wax. Changing circumstances in an instant - God makes the impossible possible.  However, most of the time, faith in action is a process.  Daily, our faith whittles away adversity. Gradually, faith shifts the mountain of despair by digging into its insurmountable height, leveling its obstructive and overwhelming elevation.  And like the landscape being shaped by the earth moving machinery, God is making a way for you and me.

We may not be able to see above the summit that lords over us, but God can. Have no fear, God’s mighty arm can reach into the greatest of barriers and eliminate them.    Soon the mountainous scenery I see every day will make way for homes, businesses, playgrounds and schools.  A location where people can live, prosper and grow, a resting spot of security and refuge, a place to abide.  If we continue to daily walk in faith, we will discover our predestined refuge, our God crafted place to abide and grow. And in this place we can be hidden in the cleft of His Rock, knowing there ain’t no mountain high enough, that faith cannot have it removed, leveled or possibly completely annihilated- for nothing can separate us from the powerful force of God’s love.

I Don't Fit In and That's Okay

Throughout my life I have experienced the awkward state of being misunderstood.  You know that person who does or says something that causes the room to go silent, or faces to melt and contort with astonishment.  These “odd duck” occurrences have shaped me as an individual.

As a child, I was told time and time again, I had not tact.  I often just spoke, and at times I am sure, blurted out exactly what I thought in any given moment.   Yes, I suffered with the expertise of “come backs.”   Need-less-to-say, my mom worked diligently to correct my outspokenness.  And it paid off as an adult.  Plus it helps that I have an arsenal, a depot full of memories, in my underground bunker (better known as my soul) that remind me of the power of my explosive words.   I call this special hidden vault “times I should have kept my mouth shut, but didn’t.”

I have come to realize that I am a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.  My uniqueness sets me apart from normality. In a sense, if you stop and think about it,  this is a good thing. From a Biblical standard, the Apostle Paul exhorts us “not to conform to the world”(Romans 2:2).

Too many times, I have spent countless hours trying to whittle away my rough corners to fit into the required standard of the round hole.  As a result, many of my cornerstones have become nicked and chiseled over time. What I thought was softening and smoothing out rough edges to fit in, really means I am missing parts.  I use to think, this was a good thing.  Then I remembered, that God fashioned me together in my mother’s womb.  He gave me my personality, temperament, gifts and talents to be used to advance His kingdom, by doing my part, completing my destiny in HIS overall plan. (Acknowledging this truth has been liberating.)  No, this does not give me the right or privilege to say whatever I think, nor am I entitled to live however I choose fit. Contrarily, it opened the highway to discovery.  Namely regarding the “who I am and why I am here,” and placed the huge responsibility of living my life God’s way, according to His Word, applying His standard designated just for me. I believe God gives each of us a measure of grace, a standard to live by - no two standards are identical, but they are uniquely individual as each of us. (For more on this, read Ephesians 4: 7 and see what you think) I am required to live my life according to the standard designed for me. With this new found understanding, I was to stop trying to be what everyone else thought I should be.  I was not to yield to the standards of the world.  Mostly, I was to refrain from trying to fit in, and to embrace the fact that I was different.   I don’t fit in, and that’s okay.

All sounds wonderful, right.  Well honestly, it much easier said than done.    When God speaks and reveals truth to you, He means it!  His word does not return void.  Action is required.  Purification is coming.  Cleansing is inevitable!  This has been an arduous journey, and it is far from over!  It is a process of wonder and pain.  Squeezing and pressing through the narrow gate of life hurts, the gate you must pass through is contracted by pressure, that is why few find it (Matthew 7: 13 &14).

With this revelation, came responsibility. God would do His part, but I was required to do mine as well.  I had to cooperate with Him. This has proven to be a task, because I am not very patient, and I still ask too many questions.  Anyway, it was necessary for me to become a student, a student of life.  In essence, my thoughts and actions had to be schooled. I needed to be willing to be taught, I had to get down and dirty, wade among the muck and become bruised and battered.  I had to throw in the towel of spontaneity, and learn to be content with silence and stillness.  My risk taking mentality dissolved into weighing the cost and trouble-shooting decisions. I had to learn to sit at the feet of Christ, and be content just being there – doing NOTHING!  I had to dig, search, and find the hidden treasures of daily living.

Now, I’ve gone way too deep to ever be comfortable with the surface. Superficial, artificial, stereotypical, are not good enough, I want the real thing! To achieve the mind of Christ, to receive understanding and Godly wisdom, you must “experience life.”  To grow, you must be challenged.  Life hurts and it isn’t fair.  And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t fit in, and that’s okay.

The Dawn of Christmas...oh how magnificent!

Light is the absence of darkness.  One small flame, one slight flicker hollows out darkness, it weakens its strength. Light overcomes the power of darkness.  

The lights of Christmas are so soothing.  Whether young or old, they mesmerize the observer.  Set within the backdrop of darkness, these sparkling wonders stop and make us behold their illumination.  Children gaze at the twinkling lights on the tree. They coo, giggle, clap their little hands with awe at the shimmering radiance.  As I walk the neighbor at night, I can see the glow of Christmas beaming from each doorway and balcony.  This sight is so welcoming; I can’t help but smile, a smile that only Christmas brings.

Centuries later, the story of the Magi led by a mysterious light still holds true. “When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy.” (Matthew 2: 10) Mankind longs to find the source of such a glorious light - A light that guides.  A light that dawns eternal.  A light that shines in the midst of darkness.  A light that radiates hope, dispelling despair.  A light that glistens, bringing unfathomable joy.  A light that beckons anticipation- a lighthouse of expectation.  A light that a never loses its illumination. An unquenchable light that can never be snuffed out.

The birth of Jesus Christ heralded – “the Light has come.”  This Christmas, don’t be afraid to step into the glorious presence of the Light. Bask in its brilliance, until it fills you with peace, joy and resilient hope.

“A Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit us.  To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.”  Luke 1: 78b-79 AMP

#randomthoughts #exposed

A Gaze into the Cradle

Life is a battle, you can choose to attack or defend it, 

but never surrender to its mayhem. 

I know these are not exactly Christmassy words, nor are they full of Holiday cheer! Ok, to set the proper Christmas tone:  Peace on Earth, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, Deck the Halls... fa la la la la,  Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born,  Gloria,  Oh, Holy Night,  Joy to the World!

This Christmas I want something more than carols, nativity scenes, trees and shopping.  If I could have just one gift this Christmas, I would desire to have a deeper revelation of the purpose of life.  Not just my life, but yours as well. I have concluded that I cannot understand life, unless I acquiesce to the very essence Life.  Therefore, I dare to take a peek beyond my natural view and stray away from my normal ideology, regarding the genuine purpose of Christ’s birth.  I am risking all that I perceive, in the hope of seeing with startling clarity.   As I gaze into the cradle of Christ, I do not see a baby.  I see humility swaddled in the radiance of eternity.  I see pure unfathomable love.  I see perfection. I see the beginning and the end.  I see life, His, yours and mine.

From the moment of divine conception, Jesus' life was thrown into the arena of conflict. Back then, the whole embarrassment and isolation of being born out of wedlock meant a life of estrangement, you were an outcast, shunned from society. I guess one could say Christ was birthed into a sacred battle zone. His cradle was placed in the nursery of the ultimate Holy war - the war for all mankind.  The heavens declared His glory; meanwhile the hosts of hell strategized His demise.   God the Father entrusted Joseph and Mary to protect His Son, the Savior of the World, the Giver of Life.  After His birth, Christ’s chosen parents did not hesitate to act upon God’s instructions. They quickly fled the country, willing to live and start over in a foreign land. By following God’s orders, Joseph and Mary secured Jesus’ future by shielding Him from Herod’s diabolical massacre.  I don’t even want to imagine what would have happened, if they had chose not to obey.

When it was time for Jesus to step into his God-given destiny, His battle intensified.  He entered the desert, a dry wasteland, a place where there is no life, to be tested.  Take a few seconds and mediate on that... Selah.  Jesus purposely deployed himself into a place with no food, no water, and no shelter, it was just Him out in the open, surrounded by nothing.  Christ denied His humanity and embraces His divinity by engaging His enemy with supreme authority.  Jesus defied each temptation by declaring the Word of God –thus becoming “Rhema” the Living Word!  As a result, He walked out of this badlands devoid of life, into an oasis filled with the Holy Spirit, as the absolute ambassador of Life.

As He crosses into the threshold of ministry, Jesus was harassed by non-believing family and friends.  He counters this attack by gathering a force of special men (yes, Jesus trained up a special force team, He called them disciples.)  For the next three years, Jesus and His hand-selected band of brothers, travel from place to place, healing the sick, raising the dead and preaching the Kingdom of God.  At times, Jesus exemplified the battle strategy of “take the Kingdom by force.”  Jesus had no reservations when it came to pointing out fallacy of man-made righteousness, He called it like He saw it – the religious leaders of the day were a brood of vipers.  Furthermore, although angered, Jesus acted decisively... Yep; He stood outside the temple courts, and braided together a tightly woven whip. Then He took that whip and drove out the temple money changers, overturned their tables, and boldly announced that His Father’s house should be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves!   This ruckus certainly got everyone’s attention.

Most of the unbelieving world, regards Jesus as a passive individual, a good man.  This is true, His love is boundless, however, His goodness is divine, surpassing the scope of any carnal man.  Jesus Christ is no wimp; His meekness is not weakness, but unfathomable strength, divinely controlled. Jesus is the ultimate WARRIOR.  Jesus intimidated the pious Sadducees and Pharisees; He was threatening and subversive, so much so, that the Sanhedrin (the elite religious council) sent a legion of soldiers to seize Him under the cloak of darkness.

Jesus valiantly stood among His accusers, and defeated them with a silent resolve.   Christ never surrendered to the chaos, never cast blame, never threw a pity party and never sought retribution.
Upon the cross He truly endured the agony and the ecstasy of His life. The day turned dark, the earth quaked and a deafening holy decree erupted with the words “it is finished!”

The cross was not the end. No, not by any means, the war was just getting started.  Jesus descended into the enemy’s lair. He faced the devil head on, and on his own turf.  What a showdown this must have been.  Jesus rose victoriously with the keys of Hell and death firmly in His grasp. Jesus conquered ALL the hellish adversities of life, by giving His life.  Through Him we are more than conquerors!  The battles will come, BUT, if God be for us, who could be against us? No One!  The victory is ours.

With a renewed perspective, take a moment and gaze into the cradle, what do you see? 

#randomthoughts #cradleandthecross

The Cross and the Cradle

This is the first of my Random Thoughts about Christmas.

As we focus this season on "The Christ" in the cradle, we must not dismiss the salvation of "The Christ" of the cross.

As I was caught up in this thought, I was inspired to go deeper... As the sun rises we are birthed into a new day. With the setting of the sun, the day relinquishes itself into the Master's hand.  The day fades away, its light dies, willing to give itself up for a never beheld dawn.  Let yesterday pass away, fade into twilight. Every new day holds something never seen before ... look, gaze and wonder.  Don't let the bygone day blind you to today's glory.  For with Christ all things become new.

This season hold fast to the truth: The dusk of yesterday gives way to the dawn of tomorrow.

How Many?

How many words will it take to undo one ill spoken word?

How many beautiful scenes will it take to erase one horrific sight?

How many rights does it take to right a wrong?

How many births will it take to eradicate senseless death?

How many judgments will it take to eradicate prejudice?

How many oceans will it take to quench the fires of adversity?

How many faithful acts will it take to eliminate fear?

How many seeds need to be planted to rid famine?

How many goods will it take to purge evil?

How many freedoms will it take to abolish slavery?

How many stitches will it take to mend a broken heart?

How many surgeries are required to heal a wounded soul?

How many weights will it take to feel strong?

How many roads traveled will it take to arrive?

How many acts of courage will it take to be brave?

How many people will it take not to feel alone?

How many tears will it take to be joyful?

How many wins will it take to defeat loss?

How many” I love yous” will it take to disable hate?

How many lessons will it take to learn?

How many experiences will it take to gain wisdom?

How many successes will it take to achieve happiness?

How many dollars will it take to measure genuine wealth?

How many “to dos” will it take to finally be done?

How many cries will it take to be heard?

How many breathes will it take to breathe?

How many tasty morsels will it take to be satisfied?

How many washes will it take cleanse filth?

How many baptisms will it take to be refreshed?

How many confessions will it take to absolve guilt?

How many mistakes will it take to pass the test?

How many sacrifices will it take to be blessed?

My list could go on and on ... these question spew from the churning well within my soul. How many will it take?

The answer is so simple, although insane to many. ONE! How can there be only one answer to all of life's questions?   All the answers to our endless questionings are found in Jesus Christ – The Living Word- The All knowing, The All powerful, The Ever Present- The All in All -The ONE.  Seek and you fill find.  Knock and the door will be opened to you.  Ask and you will receive.  

A Place Called... home?

What do you call home?  There are many cliches regarding the meaning of home.  “Home is where the heart is.”  “Home is where ever I lay my head down.” “There’s no place like home.”  “Home is where our story begins.”  “Home is not a place, but a feeling.”  “Home sweet home.”  These all hold an element of truth.

This may sound silly, but what about the people you carry in your heart, where is their home?  And what about hearts that are walled and impenetrable? I am pretty sure, cold and foreboding castles and well protected, unreachable fortresses are not real homey. They are prisons!

Many people have to escape to find a comfortable place to rest. These folks take a vacation, visit a spa, frequent the local tavern,  as if they are running away from home, trying to find a home.  Contrarily, some people can sleep anywhere:  standing up leaning against a wall, laying their head down on a desk, in a chair a crowded terminal, reclined in a car, and on park benches. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t consider these venues, home.

I love the concept that home is where our story begins, those who have read any of my writings, understand my adoration for a good story.  But, not all stories begin well, some have tragic or inauspicious beginnings.  Let’s face it, not all homes are not sweet, either. Furthermore, the saying “home is not a place, but a feeling” is a bit hard for me to swallow.  I have discovered in my life’s journey, feelings distort truth, feelings lie.

Let us not confuse a house, a dwelling place, an abode, or whatever, with a home.  A house may be filled with contention, strife and envy. A house will crumble under the weight of adversity. We can tear a house down with our own hands.  But a home is weathered and made stronger with age, enduring every storm of life.  Homes have echoes, secret passageways called memories, distinct smells – scents of the familiar, keepsakes, trinkets and treasures, legacy and traditions, framed moments in time cascading along their walls. Homes are full of imperfections:  growth charts whittled into door frames,  chipped plates and cups, discolored tile, missing shingles, aged wood... homes are made perfect through imperfection.

I am homeless.  No, I am not living on the streets or in a shelter.  But, I am without a home.  For the last 14 months, I have been living in a state of “temporary.” I am not complaining or voicing a “woe is me.”  I have had a place to lay my head at night, a roof over my head, all the essential necessities of life.  Many times like Dorothy in Oz, I have stated, "Toto we are not in Kansas anymore."  I do not call my dwelling place, home.  It is not mine.... hum?   Does that mean that having a home, requires ownership or belonging.  I think belonging, more so, than ownership. I was discussing this theory with my aunt yesterday.  She told me as we get older, it becomes more important to us, to have a place of our own.  This concept is more like Mick Dundee from Crocodile Dundee II, when asked what he called his home in the outback, "Belong to Mick." The ideas of having “my chair," “my bed," “my bathroom,"  and we even laughed at “my remote control” are significant.  Although, “my stuff” sounds selfish, truly, it is not. These things are vital to our well being,  our measure of comfort, and our sense of belonging.   When we are at home, we can find our way in the dark, because we know where everything is. We do not fear the unknown, because our surroundings are known, familiar.   It is funny, when we are home, we can immediately sense when something is out of place, or that something is not right.  Home is where, you can be you, and no one expects anything else.   You can kick your shoes off, shake your hair loose, sit cross legged, and lay on the couch.

Home is a safe place, there should be no fear or anxiety. Going home should bring peace and joy, not dread or nervousness. When Dorothy spoke those infamous words “there’s no place like home,”  she held a profound truth.  She discovered this great wisdom, because she experienced a place that was not her home.  Sure Oz was beautiful, adventuresome, she met some unique and unusual people... but she still longed for home.   Kansas was where she belonged, it was her purposed landscape, her personalized setting,  the yellow brick road led her to her destination... a placed called home.

I do not know your defined meaning of home.   Or where you call home.  But I hope your home is peaceful, a place you can lay your head down and rest. I hope your home is full of joy and laughter, friends and family.  I hope your whole heart is in your home, not wandering to and fro searching.  But if you find yourself lost and in an unknown place, I hope you find the road that leads you where you belong.  I hope your home is full of charming, priceless treasures, making it “home sweet home.”  I hope your home is full of stories -  mystery, romance, action and adventure.  But,  most of all, I hope your homegrown stories are historical, full of timeless, ageless deeds and exploits. I hope you are dwelling in a place called home.

Until next time,
Cheryl

Reflections

The end of the year is rapidly approaching... I woke up this morning and immediately began remembering or reflecting on this last year.  I spent some time comparing 2014 to previous years; I even plunged into my distant past. (Scary notion – but it turned out alright).  It is an interesting process, pondering events, times, places and people that have passed through and left a mark on your life.

Reflection is not the snapshot of a “selfie” in your bathroom mirror, by the way.  When we reflect, we peer into, look deeply and see an image mirrored back. Time is warped! You might find yourself lingering in the memory or doing an about face, quick exit!  Sometimes the images are blurry and unclear. While other memories reproduce a crystal clear reflection.  Our emotions are shaken and may be stirred a little.  Spontaneous laughter, unexpected tears, hands-on-cheeks, “oh my gosh” astonishment and possibly the “wow, I’d forgotten all about that” are reflected back to us.  With our senses resurrected - we smell the aroma of the past. We taste the essence of the memory.  We spend time meditating on the touch of a breeze, the chill of a winter’s morn, or the caress of a loved one. If we still ourselves, we will hear the echoes. Sounds rebound, reverberating every pitch and tone –laughter, melodic voices, gleeful cries, encouraging words and the exciting animation of past events. Caught up in thought, your taste buds erupt, recalling the taste of that perfect meal or the salt of the ocean spray. In deep contemplation, smells are enhanced and beckon you - Granma’s fresh baked cinnamon rolls, the pine and spices of Christmas, the mustiness of an aged treasure or the scent of a Spring garden!  Warm, safe and serene, we can nestle up under the covers, and sigh like a child with their favorite cozy blanket, comforted by sweet memories.

Yes, I know.  Not all memories are sweet.  We all have our vexing remembrances. Regarding these recollections, use reflection to “work stuff out.”  I encourage you not to magnify their mirrored images.  Don’t dwell on imperfections; don’t examine every mistake as a flaw, or disappointment as a disfigurement.  Plug your nose, cover your eyes and ears, spit out the distasteful and shake off every disturbing reflection like a creepy crawly insect!  Disregard, move beyond, let go, cast down,  do “whatever” is required to relinquish the power of harmful memories. Instead, think on those things that are lovely, good, honorable, pure, and kind, reflect on images that bring lasting peace.

After reflecting, many individuals seek change or desire growth.  Every New Year people around the world promise themselves to break habits or begin new ones - “it’s time to quit” or “it’s time to start!”  Goals!  Plans! Self-Improvement! Corporations forecast production targets to boost morale and release creativity. Businesses, large and small, project and plan for increase and expansion. New slogans! Fresh advertisements! Grand Openings! And unfortunately – Going Out of Business Sales! Reorganization and downsizing!

If I were to ask you, “what lies ahead?” What is just beyond your fingertip reach? What are your resolutions? What do you want to change, do, or accomplish?”  What would you say?  Would you instantly have an answer?  Or would you need time to reflect?

At the end of my morning reflections ... I pondered this question:  What really should be studied, considered or reflected upon?  I concluded this:  At this very moment, a year from now, what reflection do you want to see? Selah...

One of my favorite artists is Claude Monet.  He would spend hours waiting for the perfect light to cast shadows and vibrant reflections. I cannot agree more with his words. “It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way.  So we must dig and delve unceasingly.”   I encourage you to wait and search for the perfect Light to illuminate your path in 2015.

Happy New Year!

Cheryl

Monet's Water Lilies...

Dealing with Disappointment

Cape Disappointment, WA 

Are you a Sinker, Swimmer, Duck or a Sailor?

Life is full of disappointments.  Some are harder to overcome than others.  There are people who never seem to get past being let down.  In contrast, there are those who have no problem letting go and moving on, completely unfazed by disappointment.  Of course, there are those who are situated between the two extremes.    

I call those individuals who can’t get over hardships,  “sinkers.” These folks let the woes of life weigh them down, causing them to sink, dragging them to the bottom, where they live life among the pond scum of despair. Yuck, no thank you.

Those in the middle are the “swimmers”; they tread the waters and become one with the waves of life. Although exhausted and often short-sighted, they are determined to fight the currents and rip tides of their situation at all costs. 

Next are the “ducks”, those that seem to peacefully glide upon the pools of disappointment, allowing the waters to flow off their backs.  Meanwhile, their submerged duck feet are frantically paddling, hidden from the view of others.



Lastly, are the “sailors,” those who sail the seas of disillusionment, by catching the wind in their sails, and tacking tenaciously through it.  Reveling in the breeze and the ocean spray, they breathe in deeply, daring the ocean of adversity to challenge their assured, “never gonna sink me” buoyancy.

I think I reside somewhere in the middle. I do my best to swim, but mostly I am a duck!  I have had my share of life’s disappointments, times of trial, betrayals, and unmet expectations. Like you, I have been sadden and disheartened in life. Ill-spoken and berating words have burdened my mind polluting my outlook. Countless times, I have been drenched with “when it rains it pours” mishaps and I’ve had my feathers ruffled by numerous “seriously, I can’t believe you did that” callous acts.  But, I keep moving my duck feet, skimming through the ripples of life, allowing for the waters of disappointment to bead and eventually roll off my back. 

Recently, I acknowledged to myself and my husband, that I have never really been much of a dreamer. (Maybe, it was one of those unique times to “confess your faults one to another.”  I am not sure; I’ll let you decide.) Anyway, even as a child, I did not set my hope toward any fulfillment of dreams. I cannot recall ever wishing for a certain gift for my birthday or Christmas, nor a trip to somewhere special like Disneyland.  I think I have journeyed through my life in a semi-content manner, taking the good with the bad.

Now, with my life past its midway point, I ponder this perspective.  I have spent my life encouraging others to dream, to be the best they can be, to stretch toward purpose and lean into their God-given destiny.  Yet, I remain a duck on the pond of life.  To be honest, I enjoy being a duck, especially the years of having and raising ducklings. My duck feet paddle with exuberance at the sight of my children taking flight and soaring, migrating the hopes and aspirations of their lives. I have been known to squawk as well, don’t mess with my ducklings, for if you do, you will hear a mouth full of complaint! At times, I have chased and nipped at the heels of unwanted predators.

However, in this season of life, I think I would like to be a sailor.  Even as I type, this thought causes me to smile and inwardly chuckle.  Is it really possible to change my outlook after all of these years?  The old adage, “People change, but not much” is whispering in my ear. Furthermore, I use to have a major issue with boats!  True, several years ago, I faced that fear by going to Catalina Island,  but still.  I guess we will have to wait and see.  Oh no, I didn’t! Oh yes, I did.  I said, “Wait and see.”  

Wait, hope and expect .... oh my!

“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord” (Psalm 27:14- Amplified). 

Wait, hope and expect, must be important because they were mentioned twice in one verse!   

By nature, I do not wait well.  However, I have worked diligently at improving my patience level.  (I can thank my children for helping me with this endeavor.)  Hope... I love hope; I choose to be a prisoner of hope (Zechariah 9:12).  Nothing breaks my heart more, than the words “I have given up, there is no hope.” Please, please never surrender your hope!  Expect... okay, now we are getting to the nitty-gritty. Expect means to look forward to and anticipate the occurrence of something.  Sounds a whole lot like dreaming to me. I guess in reality, I hope to be able to dream at some point of my life.

Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” still resounds today.   He had a dream, and he looked forward to the day when his dream would be realized. To our dismay, his life was taken prior to the fulfillment of his dream. But, you and I have the opportunity to live out Dr. King’s dream.  Joseph had a dream. Yet, he endured the pit and prison before he enjoyed his appointment to palace. Moses led a stiff-necked generation of people through the desert for forty years, enduring a sea of endless complaints. Moses never entered the Promised Land, but he entered the presence of God many times.  Dr. King, Joseph, Moses, the Apostle Paul, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Theresa, Thomas Edison, the list goes on and on.  These unique and honorable individuals faced disappointments like sailors.  They got hit, tossed and turned by gale forces several times, but each time they got back up. They suffered harsh conditions, yet, maneuvered their course, standing courageously against adversity. They never lost their resolve.

 

We admire these noble men.  Our mindsets should be challenged to move past admiration and into action.  We need to gather around “sailors,” men and women who defy disappointment.  We need to have them rub off on us.  We must gather the courage to get on board and set sail on the voyage of discovery, hoping and expecting that we will reach the other side, achieving our dream. Being surrounded by military personnel, I can hear my Navy friends, shouting “Go Navy!” Ha-ha  Regardless of what branch of military or walk of life we are in, it is our responsibility to “be present and accounted for” our preordained appointments.

“For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]” (Ephesians 2: 10 – The Amplified).

According to Ecclesiastes 3: 17, there is an appointed time for every matter and purpose and for every work. Simply put, an appointment is a prearranged, agreed upon, designated place in time to be. Disappointment occurs when we don’t show up, or we are late! Disappointment is a failure to keep an appointment. If I may go one step further, disappointment occurs when we are not on point. When we are on point, we have understanding of where we are to be at any given time (our appointment). When we are on point, we are “ready to perform and get down to business” (Urban Dictionary).  If we are not on point we are living haphazardly, without purpose, becoming open targets for failure and discontentment.  When the time came for Joseph’s appointment to the palace, he was ready, willing to get down to performing Pharaoh’s business.  Dr. King and Moses, both leaders of perverse generations, kept their appointments with their destiny as well.  They were in the right place, at the right time, they were on point, making a way for others to follow.

“What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves? This is the most important of all voyages of discovery, and without it, all the rest are not only useless, but disastrous.”  - Thomas Merton

So today, I ask you:  Are you disappointed?  If so, Don’t Sink! You have only been knocked down.  Don’t let the waves keep you floundering, reach out and grab hold of the Life Savior.  “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). In our weakness, He is strong. The Lord is our protector, our strong tower; in Him we find refuge.  Are you at your designated place?  If not, get on board, be on time and show up! I have spent most of my life, managing and controlling, which of course does not leave much time for dreaming. But, now I believe it is time for a change.  How about you? Our visions, our dreams are for an appointed time and they hasten to be fulfilled. Our purpose, our God-given dreams will not deceive or disappoint us. Though some may tarry, it is imperative that we wait for them. We can’t give up because they will surely come; they will not be late on their appointed day (Habakkuk 2: 3). Lastly remember, this is our time, we were born for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).

   

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

"Let us go over to the other side ... So they got into a boat and set out” (Luke 8:22 NIV).  

Join me as we set our sails into the great beyond.... beyond grief, beyond despair, beyond failure, beyond betrayal, beyond doubt, beyond fear, beyond guilt, beyond frustrated expectations. Set your bearing, pick your point on the horizon, and set sail. I’ll be waiting for you, see you on the other side.  

If you enjoyed what you read in my blog, I encourage you to read my book -  Exposed! 

You can purchase your copy at http://www.amazon.com/Exposed-Cheryl-E-Rodriguez/dp/149425591X/