Accepted and Restored

When I was 23 years old, my grandpa told me I could have my grandma ray's piano someday. He said, "If Harriett will let me, I will personally have it sent to you when you have a place big enough for it."

I cannot tell you what it meant for my grandpa to even offer the piano. It's not about the piano itself, it was about the statement he made when he offered it. I hadn't been a big part of my dad's family most of my childhood so I never really felt like part of the family. I spent my life feeling rejected and 2nd rate - dead last. 

But this day, my grandpa's words said to me - we love you. We value you. You are an equal and important part of my family! The fact that he would consider giving me such an awesome gift, I couldn't hardly contain my tears! I pretty sobbed all the way back to Oklahoma that trip. I sobbed tears of acceptance! 

I intentionally bought my house with enough room for the piano, but my GMA just couldn't give it up. So I never got it. 

They passed in 1998 & 2002. In 2002, my dad took the piano to his new home and it's been with him ever since. 

The initial joy of my grandpa's offer had faded. The statement of what it meant was gone...to the point that I wasn't even sure I wanted it anymore. 

But today, 2013 (21 years later) my grandpa's promise is coming to pass! The heart of my grandpa's promise has reminded me of how valued I was to him. That kind of acceptance, love & extravagant gift is just a tiny example the restoration God has done in my life! 

I sit here teary eyed (and most of you know I'm not a crier!). This old beautiful symbol of acceptance and my restoration is moving into my home. ��

And I'm thrilled!  

Sinner or Saint

Lets talk about names. 

Before we received Christ, our name was "Sinner." When we received Christ, our name changed to "Saint!" 

The word sinner implies we are a slave to sin, but romans 6:14 clearly states that we are no longer a slave to sin. It has NO power over us.

God doesn't see us a sinner barely saved. He sees us as the righteousness of God - holy- chosen and blameless. This is grace. Given a gift you never deserved. Receive it. 

Look in the mirror and say, "good morning Saint. You are the righteousness of God, sin has no power over you. So stop living as if it does! Now lean into God and your True identity."

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. (Prob 23:7) 

If you continue to believe you are just a sinner,  barely saved, you will always struggle and condemnation. 

Jesus paid too high a price for you to deny your new name! 

It Will Cost You Something...The Blessed Life

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

Living a sold out life in Christ will cost you something

It will cost you your comfort zone.It will cost you what the world defines as "balance."
It will mess you up, change the way you shop, and stop you in the street to pray for the hurting.
It will cause you to talk with strangers and "outcasts" when before you would have walked on by.

It will cost you harder work than you've ever known - for no pay.
It will cost you sleep because you will go to the hospital in the middle of the night to pray for a complete stranger.

It will cost you time because it will drive you to your knees to know the author of this ridiculous love, and drive you crazy if you can’t stay up all night reading the words He's written out for you because you are so hungry to know Him more.

It will cause you move to a new town to change the atmosphere because you know that the atmosphere changer goes with you! You may go to 7-11 just to pray for strangers just because you aren’t satisfied with living in your comfort zone anymore!

It might cost you the comfort of your hometown because you move to Africa or Peru, or be the mom of many orphans, or mentor a women being restored.

It will cause you to stop speaking your mind so you can encourage when you see nothing to encourage because you know HOW God sees them and you know His vision is better than yours.

It will cost you all your money because you will want to give it all away.
It will cause you to plant churches (or prayer rooms).

It will cause you to believe for miracles when no one else has any hope, and you will use your words to bring life and to know that at the very word "Jesus" spoken out of your mouth- sickness - darkness-depression- demons flee.

It will cause you to worship him publicly even when you can't even sing, and speak to a group of 1,000 when you didn't prepare & don't know what to say.
It will drive you to stay up late working on homework because you have tasted the fruit of your hard labor.

It may cost you your own dreams and sleep so you can help your sisters meet the dreams God has laid on their heart.

It will cause you to have ZERO tolerance for slavery, debt, or anything that steals, kills or destroys and it will cause you to war day and night over these things.

It will cause you to be sick at what's going on in this world and you refuse to be passive in the pathway of sin.

It will cause you shine your light from the hilltop because you never sink into the valley because your God is Worthy!

It will cost you time to encourage yourself in The Lord when everyone else is coming against you.

It will cost you ALL your time because you will seek The Lord so regularly you don't know of a moment you are not regularly in His presence.

It will cause you to overlook mere offenses, and see through people to know the motives of their heart because the author of this great love gives you His eyes! ....

It will wreck you!...change you...
You will never see the same way again.  
It will cost you something…really it will cost you everything!
But what a trade!

What a life! What a blessed life! I wouldn't trade it!

Love, 
~ Sheri

Break Free!

Are you discouraged, feeling rejected, lonely, hurting, doing very hard things, sacrificing for your family, looking for a job, but none are to be found? Maybe you just can't get above a certain point. 

There's a true help! There's a way! There's an answer! Breakthru is comin!! 

Sit and soak up this song. As you just rest in it, chains, lies, bondage, baggage, depression, torment, unforgiveness, & bitterness will fall off you! Blind spots are revealed, love busts out and overflows - an army will rise up on the inside of you and break every chain! 

Where the Spirit of The Lord is there is freedom! Hallelujah! 

There is power in the name of Jesus

There is power in the name of Jesus

To break every chain

Break every chain

Break every chain

Control Freak Me

Pastor Craig is preaching on controlling things, people, etc. great subject. We all try to control things.

I'm also wondering about people who are stubborn & control themselves so much that they are not even teachable. I can't learn anything from anyone else.

I use to be so proud like that. I couldn't let myself receive from others or be taught by them because it shook my foundation - my value of who I thought I was. Maybe I am not as smart as I thought I was. I just needed people to think I did a good job. I needed people's approval. No. I got this. I'm good.

I don't need your input. Oh. I'll pray about it because I don't need you to see my blind spots.