This Saturday, Randy and I will spend the day in NYC with friends. We’ll hop on a bus early in the morning for our second visit to the Big Apple. Our first visit was in May. Yeah, we drove. It was that weekend that caused us to finally break down and buy a GPS. The drive from Hoboken back to our hotel in New Jersey proved to be more of an adventure than we were up for. The next morning, we walked out of our hotel, up the street to the bus stop, and rode into the city as planned. But before we left that night, we found a Radio Shack and bought that simple little device that would not only help us navigate home but would give this directional impaired wife and mother a sense of freedom she never thought possible. A GPS.
Since our trip to NYC in May, I have frequently plugged that little device into my car and found my way to places that I would have never been able to find my way to before… well, at least not without having a complete emotional melt-down and calling my husband hysterical because I was lost.
Over the last 7 months, as I’ve been driving around with my GPS and my newly found freedom, I have noticed a lot of similarities between the relationship you and I have with God and the one I have with that that little 3x2 device fastened to my windshield.
Along with the GPS, named Lola, that guides me from my windshield, I have a two self appointed GPS's. Tomorrow, I'll tell you a little about them. Any guesses as to their names?
.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
"I Don't Get to Make That Choice"
I must say dozen times a day, “You get to make that choice.” Most often that is said to my kids. “You get to choose if you have a cell phone or not, because you get to choose to follow the cell phone rules or not.” I’m all about choices with my kids. Partly because then I don’t have to be the bad guy.
Funny thing is, as much as I tell others “you get to make that choice,” those closest to me often hear me say, “I don’t get to make that choice.” Hahaha! I guess I better explain since that kind of sounds like I have a double standard.
See, in March of 2004, the Holy Spirit softly asked me to make a choice. A choice to allow God to transform my character into something that looked a little more Jesus. He asked if I willing to allow Him to mold me into something that would be useful in His hands. What I probably didn’t fully understand in those moments, was that making that one choice made the choice for so many other choices. That night, like a good Christian girl, I said "Yes; transform away." Little did I know how hard that would be.
Last week, a friend said to me the words I hear so often, “I don’t know how you do it. I could never do that.” My response? “I don’t get to make that choice.”
When someone talks bad about me or tears me down to make them feel better about who they are, do I want to respond in love? Absolutely not! What I want to do is tell them and everyone else what butt they really are. But I don’t get to make those choices. I have to respond the way Christ would respond. With love, with grace, with understanding… without throwing up.
Why? Because in March of 2004, I made one of the top three most important choices I’ve ever made in my life. A choice that overrides every desired, selfish reaction … the choice to allow God to spend the rest of my life transforming my character to look a little more like the character of His son...
Funny thing is, as much as I tell others “you get to make that choice,” those closest to me often hear me say, “I don’t get to make that choice.” Hahaha! I guess I better explain since that kind of sounds like I have a double standard.
See, in March of 2004, the Holy Spirit softly asked me to make a choice. A choice to allow God to transform my character into something that looked a little more Jesus. He asked if I willing to allow Him to mold me into something that would be useful in His hands. What I probably didn’t fully understand in those moments, was that making that one choice made the choice for so many other choices. That night, like a good Christian girl, I said "Yes; transform away." Little did I know how hard that would be.
Last week, a friend said to me the words I hear so often, “I don’t know how you do it. I could never do that.” My response? “I don’t get to make that choice.”
When someone talks bad about me or tears me down to make them feel better about who they are, do I want to respond in love? Absolutely not! What I want to do is tell them and everyone else what butt they really are. But I don’t get to make those choices. I have to respond the way Christ would respond. With love, with grace, with understanding… without throwing up.
Why? Because in March of 2004, I made one of the top three most important choices I’ve ever made in my life. A choice that overrides every desired, selfish reaction … the choice to allow God to spend the rest of my life transforming my character to look a little more like the character of His son...
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
God's Dream
Today, I went to Emily’s school to have lunch with her and the rest of Mrs. Foltz’s third grade class. I learned some very important things while I was there.
After tons of hugs and high fives from kids that still remember Miss Sherry from when Emily started at East Penn in Kindergarten, I left the school thinking again, that I missed my calling.
You see, I wanted to be a school teacher. But then in high school, I made several bad choices that kept me from that dream. I justified it all at the time, because to be perfectly honest it was going to be very hard for me to go to college – there is no way my parents would have supported that decision and they certainly would not have financially contributed to that dream.
From time to time, I still have those “what if?” moments. Yeah, and then God taps me on the shoulder and says, “yeah, what if?” You know, when I allowed him to, God picked up the broken dream of 16 year old girl, held it in his hands, and shaped it into something more beautiful, something totally usable in his hands.
I love in Romans where it reminds us that we can be sure “that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Every detail. Not just our good stuff, not just our strengths. No, God takes all of our stuff… the good, the bad, and the ugly and he shapes it into something good – his dream for our lives.
First, the new principal is a dude so he much stricter than the other principal because she was a girl.
Second, the third grade class is going to Washington D.C. and we will all have to be at the school at 6:15 AM.
Third, everybody’s mommy wants to help me with the Fall Harvest party next month. Wonder if all those moms know that their third grader just volunteered their services?
After tons of hugs and high fives from kids that still remember Miss Sherry from when Emily started at East Penn in Kindergarten, I left the school thinking again, that I missed my calling.
You see, I wanted to be a school teacher. But then in high school, I made several bad choices that kept me from that dream. I justified it all at the time, because to be perfectly honest it was going to be very hard for me to go to college – there is no way my parents would have supported that decision and they certainly would not have financially contributed to that dream.
From time to time, I still have those “what if?” moments. Yeah, and then God taps me on the shoulder and says, “yeah, what if?” You know, when I allowed him to, God picked up the broken dream of 16 year old girl, held it in his hands, and shaped it into something more beautiful, something totally usable in his hands.
I love in Romans where it reminds us that we can be sure “that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Every detail. Not just our good stuff, not just our strengths. No, God takes all of our stuff… the good, the bad, and the ugly and he shapes it into something good – his dream for our lives.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Confession
I have a confession to make. I’m a dreamer. So there, I said it. I feel like I should be sitting in a circle somewhere saying, “My name is Sherry and I’m a dreamer.”
For real, I’m the weirdo that has just as much fun planning the vacation as being on it. Worse yet, I start planning the next vacation while on the current vacation. Many of you decided just now, that you would never want to go on vacation with me. Then there’s about two of you that, all of a sudden, feel like you’re not alone because you do the same thing. The rest of you… you just want to slap me.
Seriously, if I’m not dreaming and planning, there’s very little life in me. Why do you think I’m bouncing off the walls most of the time? It’s not the coffee (okay, so maybe some of it is the coffee). But when I'm not dreaming, there's not enough caffeine in the world to keep me going.
What many people fail to realize is that to some degree or another – they’re just like me. (Scary, I know.)
There are way too many people today that can’t figure out what’s wrong with them – they're miserable, lifeless, depressed, and they lack energy.
I tell you what’s wrong with them – they’ve grown up a little too much. They've lost the ability to dream.
If that describes you – I want to challenge you to take an elementary aged kid out for ice cream this week. If you don’t have one of your own – for crying out loud, just borrow one!
There is nothing like spending the afternoon with an eight year to inspire you to dream again!
For real, I’m the weirdo that has just as much fun planning the vacation as being on it. Worse yet, I start planning the next vacation while on the current vacation. Many of you decided just now, that you would never want to go on vacation with me. Then there’s about two of you that, all of a sudden, feel like you’re not alone because you do the same thing. The rest of you… you just want to slap me.
Seriously, if I’m not dreaming and planning, there’s very little life in me. Why do you think I’m bouncing off the walls most of the time? It’s not the coffee (okay, so maybe some of it is the coffee). But when I'm not dreaming, there's not enough caffeine in the world to keep me going.
What many people fail to realize is that to some degree or another – they’re just like me. (Scary, I know.)
There are way too many people today that can’t figure out what’s wrong with them – they're miserable, lifeless, depressed, and they lack energy.
I tell you what’s wrong with them – they’ve grown up a little too much. They've lost the ability to dream.
If that describes you – I want to challenge you to take an elementary aged kid out for ice cream this week. If you don’t have one of your own – for crying out loud, just borrow one!
There is nothing like spending the afternoon with an eight year to inspire you to dream again!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Welcome Home
For me, one of the most memorable things about going on a foreign missions trip is coming home to the United States.
I’ve been on two such trips and walking through immigration, immediately after landing in the United States, is truly one of my favorite mission trips moments.
This past Tuesday evening, our plane landed in Miami. My 14 year old son, Nick, and I step off the plane and headed for the immigration desk. We were greeted by a stone face clerk. As he looked over our information, checked to make sure we looked like the photos in the passports, and finally swiped our passports through the little machine, I wondered if he would say the words I was anxiously awaiting. I was not disappointed. Mr. Stone Face’s demeanor changed; he face began to light up. He closed our passport books, reached out to hand them to me, and said the words I was waiting for, “Welcome Home!” It was all I could do to keep from jumping the counter and hugging him. I fought back happy tears as I walked away.
There is just something about those two words that resonates deep inside of me. I wish I could fully explain it but I'm not sure that I even have the words to describe how it makes me feel inside.
Regardless of any challenges that may have been faced in the weeks and months prior to the trip or what difficulties that might have occurred on the trip itself, there is just something about those two little words that makes everything else seem insignificant for a few moments.
More importantly, it makes me reflect on that moment in time when I will stand before my Heavenly Father and anxiously await those words – “Welcome Home!” I don’t have to wonder if he is going to say them, I know he will. He’s not the immigration clerk; he is my Father. I won’t have to fight back the urge to hug him. I will be welcomed with his embrace. All the pain, the challenges, difficulties, and struggles of this life will be no longer be significant; not just for a moment but for eternity.
I’ve been on two such trips and walking through immigration, immediately after landing in the United States, is truly one of my favorite mission trips moments.
This past Tuesday evening, our plane landed in Miami. My 14 year old son, Nick, and I step off the plane and headed for the immigration desk. We were greeted by a stone face clerk. As he looked over our information, checked to make sure we looked like the photos in the passports, and finally swiped our passports through the little machine, I wondered if he would say the words I was anxiously awaiting. I was not disappointed. Mr. Stone Face’s demeanor changed; he face began to light up. He closed our passport books, reached out to hand them to me, and said the words I was waiting for, “Welcome Home!” It was all I could do to keep from jumping the counter and hugging him. I fought back happy tears as I walked away.
There is just something about those two words that resonates deep inside of me. I wish I could fully explain it but I'm not sure that I even have the words to describe how it makes me feel inside.
Regardless of any challenges that may have been faced in the weeks and months prior to the trip or what difficulties that might have occurred on the trip itself, there is just something about those two little words that makes everything else seem insignificant for a few moments.
More importantly, it makes me reflect on that moment in time when I will stand before my Heavenly Father and anxiously await those words – “Welcome Home!” I don’t have to wonder if he is going to say them, I know he will. He’s not the immigration clerk; he is my Father. I won’t have to fight back the urge to hug him. I will be welcomed with his embrace. All the pain, the challenges, difficulties, and struggles of this life will be no longer be significant; not just for a moment but for eternity.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Dear Billy Ray Cyrus
Dear Billy Ray Cyrus,
This morning in the Webb home you would have heard YOUR daughter’s song, “The Climb,” played on You Tube, over and over again, by MY daughters. You see, Emily, my 8 year old, and her class are singing “The Climb” this morning during the closing assembly at her elementary school and she wanted to practice.
I was saddened as I listened to the words and watched scenes from Miley’s movie, “Hannah Montana,” flash across my laptop.
Hannah Montana has been a part of my family for years. For crying out loud, my 3½ year-old daughter, Mia, has been pretending to sing like “Hannah Tannah” since she could walk.
My girls adore her and I have always adored her daddy, Robby Ray.
You see, I would have loved to have had a daddy like Robby Ray. A daddy that held me to a high standard and expected the best from me; a daddy that put his daughter first, held her, and gently taught her those things only a daddy can teach a girl. Robby Ray was that daddy. I can’t tell you how many episodes I cried through. I adored Robby Ray and in my mind Billy Ray and Robby Ray were the same. So I adored you too. Until recently. Not because of your success in music. I’m not a big country fan. I adored you because of the daddy I thought you were. Like I said, until recently.
Billy Ray, can I give you some advice? Perhaps this week, while the 85 “Hannah Montana” reruns play, grab a bag of popcorn, sit down with Trish, and watch them together. Check out the way Robby Ray parents his beautiful daughter, how he lovingly reigns her back in every time she starts to get off course, pay special attention to the high standard he teaches her to live by.
Perhaps when you watch those reruns, instead of grabbing the popcorn, pick up a notebook and pen. I think Robby Ray could teach you a whole lot about parenting.
Sincerely,
A Crushed Fan
This morning in the Webb home you would have heard YOUR daughter’s song, “The Climb,” played on You Tube, over and over again, by MY daughters. You see, Emily, my 8 year old, and her class are singing “The Climb” this morning during the closing assembly at her elementary school and she wanted to practice.
I was saddened as I listened to the words and watched scenes from Miley’s movie, “Hannah Montana,” flash across my laptop.
Hannah Montana has been a part of my family for years. For crying out loud, my 3½ year-old daughter, Mia, has been pretending to sing like “Hannah Tannah” since she could walk.
My girls adore her and I have always adored her daddy, Robby Ray.
You see, I would have loved to have had a daddy like Robby Ray. A daddy that held me to a high standard and expected the best from me; a daddy that put his daughter first, held her, and gently taught her those things only a daddy can teach a girl. Robby Ray was that daddy. I can’t tell you how many episodes I cried through. I adored Robby Ray and in my mind Billy Ray and Robby Ray were the same. So I adored you too. Until recently. Not because of your success in music. I’m not a big country fan. I adored you because of the daddy I thought you were. Like I said, until recently.
Billy Ray, can I give you some advice? Perhaps this week, while the 85 “Hannah Montana” reruns play, grab a bag of popcorn, sit down with Trish, and watch them together. Check out the way Robby Ray parents his beautiful daughter, how he lovingly reigns her back in every time she starts to get off course, pay special attention to the high standard he teaches her to live by.
Perhaps when you watch those reruns, instead of grabbing the popcorn, pick up a notebook and pen. I think Robby Ray could teach you a whole lot about parenting.
Sincerely,
A Crushed Fan
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Two Buckets
I seldom get angry. Do my feelings get hurt? Yep. Am I sometimes sad? Yep. Get frustrated? Yep, that happens sometimes too. But angry? Very rarely. Most times when I’m angry it has little to do with me. It’s when someone does something that could hurt someone I love.
I got angry last night. You guessed it. Something was being done that could hurt people that I love. At first, I couldn’t even define how I felt. Randy gave me a huge hug and asked what was wrong. I stumbled through a few words before I figured it out and blurted, “I’m angry. That’s what’s wrong. I’m angry!”
I know, many of you are laughing at me right now, but STOP it… or I’ll be angry again today.
So last night in my anger, in a weak moment, I was going to say something. Well, to be more accurate, type something. I had just about had it with a few individuals. I typed it and all I had to do was hit the “share” button on facebook. I didn’t want to be mean; I just wanted to nicely tell them to shut up.
Yes, I did just say shut up. Am I being a little too real here?
Then the Holy Spirit tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me of that stupid Two Bucket illustration Pastor Bob Kapp uses.
Of course, I only say it's stupid because it was the last thing I wanted reminded of last night. I wanted to react. Perhaps I am being too honest? But let's be real, I bet everyone reading this has felt that was at some point.
Anyway, those of you that are CLA’er might have heard the bucket illustration before. For those of you that have not heard it; basically we have two buckets that we can choose to throw on any fire. Water or Fuel.
Well, just for the record. I threw water on this particular fire the night before and that didn’t put the fire out. And I wasn’t really going to throw fuel, was I? I was going to say it NICELY.
Eh, perhaps it’s still fuel but what’s a girl to do? Well, since the water bucket didn’t work and God showed me that I was getting ready to use the big no-no of fuel, I asked God if I could just hit them alongside the head with the bucket instead. He said no.
Okay, okay, so the water didn’t work. The fuels out of the question and hitting them with the bucket would not be a good idea since God said not to.
The only thing left to do? Call the best Fire Fighter out there. So I’ll be praying for these individuals. First, I'll asked God to touch their hurts, because they wouldn’t be acting this way if they weren’t hurting. Second, I’ll be praying that he would softly whisper in their ears that they could hurt many other people with the words they have been saying.
I don’t need to play the Holy Spirit today… He does a very good job without my interference.
I got angry last night. You guessed it. Something was being done that could hurt people that I love. At first, I couldn’t even define how I felt. Randy gave me a huge hug and asked what was wrong. I stumbled through a few words before I figured it out and blurted, “I’m angry. That’s what’s wrong. I’m angry!”
I know, many of you are laughing at me right now, but STOP it… or I’ll be angry again today.
So last night in my anger, in a weak moment, I was going to say something. Well, to be more accurate, type something. I had just about had it with a few individuals. I typed it and all I had to do was hit the “share” button on facebook. I didn’t want to be mean; I just wanted to nicely tell them to shut up.
Yes, I did just say shut up. Am I being a little too real here?
Then the Holy Spirit tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me of that stupid Two Bucket illustration Pastor Bob Kapp uses.
Of course, I only say it's stupid because it was the last thing I wanted reminded of last night. I wanted to react. Perhaps I am being too honest? But let's be real, I bet everyone reading this has felt that was at some point.
Anyway, those of you that are CLA’er might have heard the bucket illustration before. For those of you that have not heard it; basically we have two buckets that we can choose to throw on any fire. Water or Fuel.
Well, just for the record. I threw water on this particular fire the night before and that didn’t put the fire out. And I wasn’t really going to throw fuel, was I? I was going to say it NICELY.
Eh, perhaps it’s still fuel but what’s a girl to do? Well, since the water bucket didn’t work and God showed me that I was getting ready to use the big no-no of fuel, I asked God if I could just hit them alongside the head with the bucket instead. He said no.
Okay, okay, so the water didn’t work. The fuels out of the question and hitting them with the bucket would not be a good idea since God said not to.
The only thing left to do? Call the best Fire Fighter out there. So I’ll be praying for these individuals. First, I'll asked God to touch their hurts, because they wouldn’t be acting this way if they weren’t hurting. Second, I’ll be praying that he would softly whisper in their ears that they could hurt many other people with the words they have been saying.
I don’t need to play the Holy Spirit today… He does a very good job without my interference.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Change
To say that my son, Nick, didn’t like change as a toddler, would be a huge understatement. When he was three, his grandparents took the carpet off of their stairs to replace it. Knowing full well that Nick hated change, my father-in-law took great joy in showing him the uncarpeted stairs and watching him melt down. Nick has been forever scarred.
Nick is not alone and while most of us wouldn’t do what he did at three – melt down about uncarpeted stairs, we don’t necessarily embrace change.
This morning, I read an article by Simon Barnes, entitled “People Like Change.” As I read the title I thought to myself, “this man obviously doesn’t know me.” I have had very few jobs in my life, I refuse to shop at Wegman’s no matter how great everyone says it is, and I actually enjoy vacationing at the exact same place each year.
Simon Barnes states in this article that, “Being totally change resistant seems like a very uncommon characteristic amongst human beings. Most people want new things. Most people want the latest gadgets and the newest deals. People want to move forward and make progress and be up with the times. If this wasn't the case then surely we wouldn't have mobile phones and ipods and the Internet.” He goes on to say that, “If people seem change resistant it’s probably because they feel vulnerable and powerless.”
Okay, so I have Blackberrry and don’t know how I ever survived without a laptop or the GPS we bought just a few weeks ago. So maybe I do like change.
Perhaps the change you and I don’t like really is the change that makes us feel vulnerable or powerless – change that we don’t know the outcome of. So maybe it’s not change that you and I dislike, maybe, just maybe, it’s the fear of the unknown that ties our stomach in knots and keeps us up at night.
As Christians, we don’t need to fear change. We can embrace it because we have a Heavenly Father that sees the beginning to the end of our journey – a journey that will include many changes and transitions.
This summer, when we get the upstairs re-carpeted in our home, I won’t melt down and neither will Nick. But I probably will never shop at Wegman’s regularly, because I do feel vulnerable and powerless in that store.
As for the other changes in my life; perhaps they will still tie my stomach in knots for a short while but the fact of the matter is, “My life is like an open book to God, he watched me grow from conception to birth; and all the stages of my life are spread out before him. He prepared all the days of my life before I'd even lived one day.” (Psalm 139)
It’s my job to simply trust him.
Nick is not alone and while most of us wouldn’t do what he did at three – melt down about uncarpeted stairs, we don’t necessarily embrace change.
This morning, I read an article by Simon Barnes, entitled “People Like Change.” As I read the title I thought to myself, “this man obviously doesn’t know me.” I have had very few jobs in my life, I refuse to shop at Wegman’s no matter how great everyone says it is, and I actually enjoy vacationing at the exact same place each year.
Simon Barnes states in this article that, “Being totally change resistant seems like a very uncommon characteristic amongst human beings. Most people want new things. Most people want the latest gadgets and the newest deals. People want to move forward and make progress and be up with the times. If this wasn't the case then surely we wouldn't have mobile phones and ipods and the Internet.” He goes on to say that, “If people seem change resistant it’s probably because they feel vulnerable and powerless.”
Okay, so I have Blackberrry and don’t know how I ever survived without a laptop or the GPS we bought just a few weeks ago. So maybe I do like change.
Perhaps the change you and I don’t like really is the change that makes us feel vulnerable or powerless – change that we don’t know the outcome of. So maybe it’s not change that you and I dislike, maybe, just maybe, it’s the fear of the unknown that ties our stomach in knots and keeps us up at night.
As Christians, we don’t need to fear change. We can embrace it because we have a Heavenly Father that sees the beginning to the end of our journey – a journey that will include many changes and transitions.
This summer, when we get the upstairs re-carpeted in our home, I won’t melt down and neither will Nick. But I probably will never shop at Wegman’s regularly, because I do feel vulnerable and powerless in that store.
As for the other changes in my life; perhaps they will still tie my stomach in knots for a short while but the fact of the matter is, “My life is like an open book to God, he watched me grow from conception to birth; and all the stages of my life are spread out before him. He prepared all the days of my life before I'd even lived one day.” (Psalm 139)
It’s my job to simply trust him.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Anniversary Weekend
Yesterday, Randy and I celebrated our 17th Wedding Anniversary... by taking three of our kids to the mall. Although that seems a tad odd, perhaps it was fitting, since we took Brandon on almost every "pre-marriage" date we ever went on. We started dating when Brandon was just a few weeks old and we took him everywhere with us. I will forever cherish the nights that we would lay him down on a blanket in the back seat of Randy’s Firebird and sit in Carlisle’s MJ Mall parking lot for hours just talking about our lives and our future together.
Times have for sure changed.
I assured you, there was no time for intimate conversation at the mall last night. Well, unless you count Nick advising me that, “that’s a grandma shirt, you can’t buy it or I won’t be seen at Youth with you.” Emily begging for an Aero shirt, “but Mom, look, this one really will fit me.” or Mia explaining to me that she “needs a cell phone.”
Okay, so I did tell Randy that he looked beastly in the black Aero shirt he bought for $7. Does that count as intimate?
Just like we do most years, we’ll celebrate our anniversary a few days late. On Sunday, we’ll sneak away for the day, have a picnic by a lake, and talk about our future together – about God’s future for us. If the last 17 years have taught us nothing else, it has taught us that it’s really not about our plan anyway.
I love how Eugene Peterson translates Proverbs 19:21, “We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.”
Eight years ago, we had a well mapped out plan for our future on the table. Then God tipped our little table over, gave us a different map, and sent us out on a new journey. An incredibly, amazing, but sometimes scary and frustrating journey; a journey that has forever changed our lives.
Randy, I can’t wait to see what the next 17 years of this journey together brings. I am so proud of you and Godly man you are. I love you for all the big things and all the little things. You are an incredible husband and father. I love that after all these years, you still remember to hold my hand and open my doors. I know God has an amazing plan for us and can’t wait to see it unfold. There is no one I’d rather take this journey with. And just for the record, you do look beastly in your new shirt. I love you like crazy!
Times have for sure changed.
I assured you, there was no time for intimate conversation at the mall last night. Well, unless you count Nick advising me that, “that’s a grandma shirt, you can’t buy it or I won’t be seen at Youth with you.” Emily begging for an Aero shirt, “but Mom, look, this one really will fit me.” or Mia explaining to me that she “needs a cell phone.”
Okay, so I did tell Randy that he looked beastly in the black Aero shirt he bought for $7. Does that count as intimate?
Just like we do most years, we’ll celebrate our anniversary a few days late. On Sunday, we’ll sneak away for the day, have a picnic by a lake, and talk about our future together – about God’s future for us. If the last 17 years have taught us nothing else, it has taught us that it’s really not about our plan anyway.
I love how Eugene Peterson translates Proverbs 19:21, “We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.”
Eight years ago, we had a well mapped out plan for our future on the table. Then God tipped our little table over, gave us a different map, and sent us out on a new journey. An incredibly, amazing, but sometimes scary and frustrating journey; a journey that has forever changed our lives.
Randy, I can’t wait to see what the next 17 years of this journey together brings. I am so proud of you and Godly man you are. I love you for all the big things and all the little things. You are an incredible husband and father. I love that after all these years, you still remember to hold my hand and open my doors. I know God has an amazing plan for us and can’t wait to see it unfold. There is no one I’d rather take this journey with. And just for the record, you do look beastly in your new shirt. I love you like crazy!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Jump In
I keep a handful of 5x5x5 Bible Reading Plans on hand. I love this particular Bible Reading Plan, especially for those that are just beginning to practice the discipline of daily Scripture reading. Reading the New Testament is laid out quite simply; passages are read in just 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Also included in the plan are 5 suggestions for meditation, journaling, or further study to use on the other two days. It’s a great tool for developing the habit of daily time in the Word of God.
When I share this tool with someone, I always encourage them to start with the current date; to not try to catch up, and to remember to do the same thing if they ever get behind – to just jump back in where they are; don’t try to catch up before moving on. I stress that they should only work on catching up after the current dates reading is completed.
Why do I tell them that? Because I don’t want them to get discouraged, put off Bible reading until they have time to get catch up, or worst yet, stop reading the Word of God completely.
This year, I am reading through the Bible chronologically. Guess where this is going. Yup, I got behind! And did I take my own advice? Absolutely not!! Yeah, even though the Holy Spirit was whispering it in my ear. Okay, so perhaps He was screaming. (Can I admit this and everyone still love me?!?!) But hey, everyone knows that you can’t just jump in where you’re at when you are reading the Bible chronologically. Come on, I’d get confused, not understand what happened when, and besides daily Bible reading is not something new to me… been doing it for years. I knew I could handle it and get caught back up.
I kept reading most days but I was still behind and reading the Bible was becoming a drag *gasp* to me because I was really discouraged that I was behind. Hmm, heard that that could happen somewhere...
Insert slap alongside the head by God. Ugh! So this week, I took my own advice. I jumped in on the current date. Yeah, Bible reading has again become rewarding all of a sudden. Imagine that! I had to chuckle this morning when I realized that tomorrow, June 4th, on my wedding anniversary, the daily reading is the entire book of the Song of Solomon.
If you’d like to print out a copy of the 5x5x5 Bible Reading Plan, the link is on one of my blog posts from December 2009. It's entitled 5x5x5 Bible Reading Plan but whatever you do, don’t try to catch up – just jump in!
When I share this tool with someone, I always encourage them to start with the current date; to not try to catch up, and to remember to do the same thing if they ever get behind – to just jump back in where they are; don’t try to catch up before moving on. I stress that they should only work on catching up after the current dates reading is completed.
Why do I tell them that? Because I don’t want them to get discouraged, put off Bible reading until they have time to get catch up, or worst yet, stop reading the Word of God completely.
This year, I am reading through the Bible chronologically. Guess where this is going. Yup, I got behind! And did I take my own advice? Absolutely not!! Yeah, even though the Holy Spirit was whispering it in my ear. Okay, so perhaps He was screaming. (Can I admit this and everyone still love me?!?!) But hey, everyone knows that you can’t just jump in where you’re at when you are reading the Bible chronologically. Come on, I’d get confused, not understand what happened when, and besides daily Bible reading is not something new to me… been doing it for years. I knew I could handle it and get caught back up.
I kept reading most days but I was still behind and reading the Bible was becoming a drag *gasp* to me because I was really discouraged that I was behind. Hmm, heard that that could happen somewhere...
Insert slap alongside the head by God. Ugh! So this week, I took my own advice. I jumped in on the current date. Yeah, Bible reading has again become rewarding all of a sudden. Imagine that! I had to chuckle this morning when I realized that tomorrow, June 4th, on my wedding anniversary, the daily reading is the entire book of the Song of Solomon.
If you’d like to print out a copy of the 5x5x5 Bible Reading Plan, the link is on one of my blog posts from December 2009. It's entitled 5x5x5 Bible Reading Plan but whatever you do, don’t try to catch up – just jump in!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Whipped Topping
Yesterday my three-year old, Mia, brings me a can of whipped topping and ask for a bowl of it. A bowl of whipped topping?!?! Come on Mia, what are you thinking?!?! Okay, so you’re three; maybe you’re not thinking. Some of you parents out there better take a deep breath and perhaps sit down. I not only squirted some whipped topping in a small bowl for her but I got out the sprinkles and put some on top.
Okay, before someone calls Child Protective Services, is this something that I would let her have every day? Of course not and let the record show that you will normally only find the fat free, sugar free, calorie free whipped topping in our house!
But sometimes you just have to break the rules. Sometime you just have to relax and have a random, fun moment or two. Over the years we have played hockey in the house, jumped on beds together (in motels, of course!), and ran outside just to play in the pouring down rain. We have laid out tarps and done splatter paint and organized crazy scavenger hunts with our friends.
The morning after one of our birthdays, we allow the kids to have left-over cake for breakfast. Who am I kidding? I have cake for breakfast that morning too! Don't even be judgmental. Have you ever had a donut and coffee for breakfast, huh?
There are days that we have dessert before dinner, some nights we throw mattresses on the living room floor and camp out, and we will not hesitate to turn a boring field trip into a photo shoot of ridiculous poses.
Last summer in the Webb home you would have found fashion shows with models sporting home-made newspaper clothes, creations made with shaving cream, photo shoots with a little man made out of aluminum foil and girls with feather dusters. One of my favorite photo-shoots included shots of random household appliances; like the doll-house people in the mixer bowl labeled “blended family.”
This summer, remember to take time to relax, break the rules a few times, and surprise your kids with some out of the ordinary fun. Better yet, ask them for some suggestions. If you run out of ideas, feel free to stop over – there is rarely a dull moment here!
Okay, before someone calls Child Protective Services, is this something that I would let her have every day? Of course not and let the record show that you will normally only find the fat free, sugar free, calorie free whipped topping in our house!
But sometimes you just have to break the rules. Sometime you just have to relax and have a random, fun moment or two. Over the years we have played hockey in the house, jumped on beds together (in motels, of course!), and ran outside just to play in the pouring down rain. We have laid out tarps and done splatter paint and organized crazy scavenger hunts with our friends.
The morning after one of our birthdays, we allow the kids to have left-over cake for breakfast. Who am I kidding? I have cake for breakfast that morning too! Don't even be judgmental. Have you ever had a donut and coffee for breakfast, huh?
There are days that we have dessert before dinner, some nights we throw mattresses on the living room floor and camp out, and we will not hesitate to turn a boring field trip into a photo shoot of ridiculous poses.
Last summer in the Webb home you would have found fashion shows with models sporting home-made newspaper clothes, creations made with shaving cream, photo shoots with a little man made out of aluminum foil and girls with feather dusters. One of my favorite photo-shoots included shots of random household appliances; like the doll-house people in the mixer bowl labeled “blended family.”
This summer, remember to take time to relax, break the rules a few times, and surprise your kids with some out of the ordinary fun. Better yet, ask them for some suggestions. If you run out of ideas, feel free to stop over – there is rarely a dull moment here!
Friday, May 28, 2010
I Am Dreaming
I am dreaming of a place where transformation really happens; a place where being transformed is a core purpose. A place where people becoming intimately acquainted with the Almighty, is a reality; a place that transformation into the likeness of Jesus, overflows from that growing intimacy. A place where no one is content to trek this transformation journey alone; a place where people are passionate about taking as many others along on that journey as they possibly can. A place that finds those people in their workplaces, in their schools, in the neighborhoods in which they live, and even in the neighborhoods they would never even dream of calling home; a place that leaves their place to tell others about Jesus and his transforming work in their lives.
I am dreaming of a place that not only helps believers to discover their God-given talents and abilities, but also provides those same believers with exploration opportunities before finally releasing them to use their gifts for Kingdom work. A place where age doesn’t matter; where it’s never too much of a bother to put an arm around a man, women, teen, or child and help them discover their talents.
I am dreaming of a place where people never find themselves too busy doing ministry to come alongside someone to help them discover the call God has placed on their life. A place where leaders excitedly take others under their wing, teaching them what they do, don’t do, and why; a place where leaders never think that taking the time to develop someone that could be tomorrow’s leader, is a waste of time.
I am dreaming of a place that understands that today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and that although, yes, you need to have an adult work with that student, it’s not a waste of time. A place that believes that developing leadership in today’s youth is not an interruption to their ministry but rather one of the purposes. A place that always remembers that the youth others might find a hassle to develop today, could be too busy to hassle with the church tomorrow; the church that their grandchildren might possibly attend.
I am dreaming of a place that understands taking time to develop upcoming leaders, whether they are adults or students, building relationships with them, challenging them on their spiritual journey, and consistently pointing them to Jesus is an investment in the church of tomorrow.
I am dreaming of a place where people never forget the wilderness in which God found them, where they never forget that without the men and women that invested into their lives, they wouldn’t be where they are; a place that that memory serves to keep them passionate about helping others find their Heavenly Father in wilderness, guiding them on their transformation journey, and then finally helping them discover and use their God-given talents.
Is it just a dream or can it be?
I am dreaming of a place that not only helps believers to discover their God-given talents and abilities, but also provides those same believers with exploration opportunities before finally releasing them to use their gifts for Kingdom work. A place where age doesn’t matter; where it’s never too much of a bother to put an arm around a man, women, teen, or child and help them discover their talents.
I am dreaming of a place where people never find themselves too busy doing ministry to come alongside someone to help them discover the call God has placed on their life. A place where leaders excitedly take others under their wing, teaching them what they do, don’t do, and why; a place where leaders never think that taking the time to develop someone that could be tomorrow’s leader, is a waste of time.
I am dreaming of a place that understands that today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and that although, yes, you need to have an adult work with that student, it’s not a waste of time. A place that believes that developing leadership in today’s youth is not an interruption to their ministry but rather one of the purposes. A place that always remembers that the youth others might find a hassle to develop today, could be too busy to hassle with the church tomorrow; the church that their grandchildren might possibly attend.
I am dreaming of a place that understands taking time to develop upcoming leaders, whether they are adults or students, building relationships with them, challenging them on their spiritual journey, and consistently pointing them to Jesus is an investment in the church of tomorrow.
I am dreaming of a place where people never forget the wilderness in which God found them, where they never forget that without the men and women that invested into their lives, they wouldn’t be where they are; a place that that memory serves to keep them passionate about helping others find their Heavenly Father in wilderness, guiding them on their transformation journey, and then finally helping them discover and use their God-given talents.
Is it just a dream or can it be?
Friday, May 21, 2010
"i think u'll be good at it"
Sometimes all it takes is a few encouraging words.
Today it was just seven little words in a facebook message. A message from a crazy high school friend. The message was simple: "i think u'll be good at it."
Seven words typed after a brief facebook chat. Seven words that brought tears. Seven words said from one friend to another. Friends that live vastly different lives. Friends that have only seen each other once in 27 years. Seven words that were enough to put a little fight back in girl and make her believe that maybe, just maybe, she really is on that path that God has laid out for her.
Don’t ever assume that those around you have it all together and they don’t need your encouragement. Don’t ever think that they hear it from everyone else so you don’t need to bother. Don’t ever believe that you don’t have enough to offer. Don't ever think that just because you never see that facebook friend that you can't encourage them.
Don’t ever underestimate the power of an encouraging word or two (or seven).
Thanks Ed.
Today it was just seven little words in a facebook message. A message from a crazy high school friend. The message was simple: "i think u'll be good at it."
Seven words typed after a brief facebook chat. Seven words that brought tears. Seven words said from one friend to another. Friends that live vastly different lives. Friends that have only seen each other once in 27 years. Seven words that were enough to put a little fight back in girl and make her believe that maybe, just maybe, she really is on that path that God has laid out for her.
Don’t ever assume that those around you have it all together and they don’t need your encouragement. Don’t ever think that they hear it from everyone else so you don’t need to bother. Don’t ever believe that you don’t have enough to offer. Don't ever think that just because you never see that facebook friend that you can't encourage them.
Don’t ever underestimate the power of an encouraging word or two (or seven).
Thanks Ed.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Depth Perception
Last week, I had a health assessment completed that included several vision checks. They checked to see if I could see colors from a distance. It only took me three tries to realize the black was black and not navy blue or purple. There was no problem with distance reading or even reading from a book, as long as I had my reading glasses on.
Lastly, they checked my depth perception. They had these ten groups of four little circles each that were staged to look like an electric shaver. In each group, one of the circles was supposedly 3D. Yeah, supposedly. I explained to the medical assistant that none of them looked 3D to me, so she told me to just guess. Eventually, I guess four correctly but learned, that in reality, I have no depth perception once so ever.
When I told my husband, Randy, he very matter-of-factly explained that he knew that; that he’s seen me parallel park. Who’s he kidding? He was just being nice. I don’t parallel park. When I get home and can’t just pull right in, I call him and he comes out and parks the car for me while all the neighbors watch and laugh. Now I think I’m going to send them all a memo that tells them to stop laughing at me, it’s not my fault!
Although no one in my home agrees, in my mind, this whole lack of depth perception explains a lot of things – why I fall up the stairs, why I trip over my own two feet, and why I walk into people. I am almost happy about this little diagnosis. Now maybe everyone will stop picking on me. Eh, or maybe I’ve just given them way more material to work with. And that’s okay too. I’m a sanguine. I think it means that people love me when they pick on me. I’m too naïve to know better.
We can all laugh at someone having no depth perception, because it is kind of funny, isn't it? But what spiritual depth? Would that be as funny? Eh, maybe not.
Charles Swindoll says in his book, So, You Want To Be Like Christ? that “anyone engaged in Christian ministry - and that should be ALL of us - must be a person of depth if he or she hopes to be effective” and that “the Gospel, from the lips of a shallow person, sounds hollow and insipid. But the same message uttered by a person whose waters run deep compels a curious world to look beyond the superficial.”
So how do we develop spiritual depth? I think Eugene Peterson sums it up well in The Message translation of 2 Peter 1:3… by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God.
Is your spiritual depth being more fully developed? Are you spending time getting to get to know Jesus a little more intimately? If not, what is one small change that you could make this week to begin to progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him (Phil. 3:10)?
Lastly, they checked my depth perception. They had these ten groups of four little circles each that were staged to look like an electric shaver. In each group, one of the circles was supposedly 3D. Yeah, supposedly. I explained to the medical assistant that none of them looked 3D to me, so she told me to just guess. Eventually, I guess four correctly but learned, that in reality, I have no depth perception once so ever.
When I told my husband, Randy, he very matter-of-factly explained that he knew that; that he’s seen me parallel park. Who’s he kidding? He was just being nice. I don’t parallel park. When I get home and can’t just pull right in, I call him and he comes out and parks the car for me while all the neighbors watch and laugh. Now I think I’m going to send them all a memo that tells them to stop laughing at me, it’s not my fault!
Although no one in my home agrees, in my mind, this whole lack of depth perception explains a lot of things – why I fall up the stairs, why I trip over my own two feet, and why I walk into people. I am almost happy about this little diagnosis. Now maybe everyone will stop picking on me. Eh, or maybe I’ve just given them way more material to work with. And that’s okay too. I’m a sanguine. I think it means that people love me when they pick on me. I’m too naïve to know better.
We can all laugh at someone having no depth perception, because it is kind of funny, isn't it? But what spiritual depth? Would that be as funny? Eh, maybe not.
Charles Swindoll says in his book, So, You Want To Be Like Christ? that “anyone engaged in Christian ministry - and that should be ALL of us - must be a person of depth if he or she hopes to be effective” and that “the Gospel, from the lips of a shallow person, sounds hollow and insipid. But the same message uttered by a person whose waters run deep compels a curious world to look beyond the superficial.”
So how do we develop spiritual depth? I think Eugene Peterson sums it up well in The Message translation of 2 Peter 1:3… by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God.
Is your spiritual depth being more fully developed? Are you spending time getting to get to know Jesus a little more intimately? If not, what is one small change that you could make this week to begin to progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him (Phil. 3:10)?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Miley Says Goodbye?
I have to admit it. I absolutely love watching Hannah Montana with my girls. Who am I kidding? I’d watch it without the girls. Yeah, yeah, I know. I am surrounded by Miley Cyrus haters. You haters can tell me that her voice sounds horrible until you are blue in the face, but I’m not listening. More importantly, I could care less. It’s not her voice that sucked me into the show several years ago. It was her daddy. And speaking of daddy’s… just so you all know, Emily and Mia’s daddy watches Hannah Montana with all three of his girls; me being the third. Every great daddy knows the important of stepping into their little girl’s world.
This evening, we watched the conclusion of “Miley Says Goodbye?” Miley tells her daddy that she wants to move back to Tennessee. He finds and purchases the perfect ranch as Miley begins to second guess her decision. She starts realizing that something just doesn’t seem right and she doesn’t know what to do. Her brother, Jackson, encourages her to take her horse, Blue Jeans, out for a ride. He reminds her that she does her best thinking then. While she is out riding Blue Jeans, her daddy shows up and she begins to talk to him about all of her mixed feelings. He proceeds to tell her that he knew that the change she thought she needed wasn’t the change that she really needed; that’s why he bought a ranch house on the beach just 10 miles away from their current home.
I've heard it said that the best parents make it their business to know their kids better than they know themselves. God’s like that, isn’t He? He always knows what we really need even when we think we know. Many time while we are busy asking for one thing, He’s preparing for us what we really need.
This evening, we watched the conclusion of “Miley Says Goodbye?” Miley tells her daddy that she wants to move back to Tennessee. He finds and purchases the perfect ranch as Miley begins to second guess her decision. She starts realizing that something just doesn’t seem right and she doesn’t know what to do. Her brother, Jackson, encourages her to take her horse, Blue Jeans, out for a ride. He reminds her that she does her best thinking then. While she is out riding Blue Jeans, her daddy shows up and she begins to talk to him about all of her mixed feelings. He proceeds to tell her that he knew that the change she thought she needed wasn’t the change that she really needed; that’s why he bought a ranch house on the beach just 10 miles away from their current home.
I've heard it said that the best parents make it their business to know their kids better than they know themselves. God’s like that, isn’t He? He always knows what we really need even when we think we know. Many time while we are busy asking for one thing, He’s preparing for us what we really need.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Date Night
My husband, Randy, and I try to be very intentional about frequent date nights. Sometimes it might be dinner out, other times a day trip or some spur of the moment adventure. Our date nights are sometimes on a “shoe-string” budget. One of our most memorable dates was a “shoe-string” budget date, three years ago on our anniversary. We picked up food from the Giant Café in Carlisle and picnicked at King’s Gap. We sat overlooking the valley for hours and talked about our life, our family, our marriage, our disappointments, and our dreams.
Intimate conversations are one of the things that great marriages are made of. Several years ago, Randy and I created a list of questions to ask each other on date nights. Questions like, “What is one thing that I do that drives you crazy?” and “What words would you like to hear me say more often?” help us to more effectively meet the needs of the other. We grow together spiritually when we ask each other questions like, “What is one thing God is doing in your life right now?” and “What has been your greatest spiritual struggle over the last year?” We engage in communication about our future and our dreams with conversation starters like, “What are three things that you want to do before you die?” and “What would your dream job be if you could do anything and get paid for it?”
Tonight, we might take our list along or maybe we’ll come up with some new questions. We have a goal to add 50 questions to our list this year. Regardless of if we take our current list or work towards our new questions goal, we will be intentional about making time for intimate conversation.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 19 that marriage takes a certain aptitude (readiness in learning, talent). Take time this weekend, to develop the talent of communication with your spouse! Maybe ask each other some of the questions I mentioned here. You’ll never regret the time and energy you put into develop a deeper intimacy with your spouse!
Intimate conversations are one of the things that great marriages are made of. Several years ago, Randy and I created a list of questions to ask each other on date nights. Questions like, “What is one thing that I do that drives you crazy?” and “What words would you like to hear me say more often?” help us to more effectively meet the needs of the other. We grow together spiritually when we ask each other questions like, “What is one thing God is doing in your life right now?” and “What has been your greatest spiritual struggle over the last year?” We engage in communication about our future and our dreams with conversation starters like, “What are three things that you want to do before you die?” and “What would your dream job be if you could do anything and get paid for it?”
Tonight, we might take our list along or maybe we’ll come up with some new questions. We have a goal to add 50 questions to our list this year. Regardless of if we take our current list or work towards our new questions goal, we will be intentional about making time for intimate conversation.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 19 that marriage takes a certain aptitude (readiness in learning, talent). Take time this weekend, to develop the talent of communication with your spouse! Maybe ask each other some of the questions I mentioned here. You’ll never regret the time and energy you put into develop a deeper intimacy with your spouse!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
FACT or CRAP?
This evening, I was honored to speak to group of ladies at the Brethren Housing Association in Harrisburg, PA. BHA helps homeless and low-income individuals and families achieve their God-given potential by securing housing and providing supportive services and loving relationships.
One of the things we talked about tonight was assumptions and perceptions; how they impact our lives. Yeah, so I played “Fact or Crap” with the ladies to see what assumptions they would make about me, based on the little bit of time they interacted with me before the meeting.
Assumptions made about Sherry by the BHA participants:
Fact: Sherry was a preacher kid.
Fact: Sherry is afraid of heights.
Crap: Sherry can speak three languages fluently.
Fact: Sherry graduated from college.
Fact: At one time, Sherry dealt drugs for her boyfriend.
Crap: Sherry grew up in a Mennonite environment.
Crap: Sherry was homeless at age 21.
Fact: Sherry was a foster parent.
So, they thought that I was a preachers kid (uh, I’m not) but since they assumed I was preachers kid, they assumed that I did deal drugs. Ugh! What is that?!!? Should I be concerned about my kids? They did not believe that I grew up in a Mennonite environment. I did, can you picture me with the pig tails and long dresses? They assumed that I had a college degree; I have a GED. They were smart enough to realize that I can barely speak the English language most days, much less three languages. I must look like a fearful person, because they pegged me as afraid of heights. (Pastor Jeff, please, let’s not try to overcome that fear on the mission trip this year – swimming in the ocean last year was enough!) They believed that I was a foster parent. The one gal said that "I looked like the type." What does that mean?! The ladies couldn’t picture me being homeless at 21 years of age. I was. I lived in my car and then it got stolen. Could you imagine having your house stolen? So sad.
One of the ladies mentioned tonight, that our experiences shape our assumptions. I have a feeling that she is well on her way to making some great life changes!
You know, the dictionary defines assumptions as, “something accepted as truth without proof.” Do you ever do that? Do you ever make assumptions based on your experiences or perceptions? Do you sometimes accept CRAP as FACT? Truth without proof? I don’t just mean about others. How about in your own life?
Do you ever accept CRAP like “I always mess up” or “it’s just never going to work out”? That’s not FACT! That’s CRAP. The Word of God tells us that we have been cleaned up and given a fresh start (Corinthians 6:11) and that God can do more in our lives than we can imagine in our wildest dreams (Ephesians 3:20).
Let's be intentional about not accepting crap as fact. Not about ourselves and not about those around us!
One of the things we talked about tonight was assumptions and perceptions; how they impact our lives. Yeah, so I played “Fact or Crap” with the ladies to see what assumptions they would make about me, based on the little bit of time they interacted with me before the meeting.
Assumptions made about Sherry by the BHA participants:
Fact: Sherry was a preacher kid.
Fact: Sherry is afraid of heights.
Crap: Sherry can speak three languages fluently.
Fact: Sherry graduated from college.
Fact: At one time, Sherry dealt drugs for her boyfriend.
Crap: Sherry grew up in a Mennonite environment.
Crap: Sherry was homeless at age 21.
Fact: Sherry was a foster parent.
So, they thought that I was a preachers kid (uh, I’m not) but since they assumed I was preachers kid, they assumed that I did deal drugs. Ugh! What is that?!!? Should I be concerned about my kids? They did not believe that I grew up in a Mennonite environment. I did, can you picture me with the pig tails and long dresses? They assumed that I had a college degree; I have a GED. They were smart enough to realize that I can barely speak the English language most days, much less three languages. I must look like a fearful person, because they pegged me as afraid of heights. (Pastor Jeff, please, let’s not try to overcome that fear on the mission trip this year – swimming in the ocean last year was enough!) They believed that I was a foster parent. The one gal said that "I looked like the type." What does that mean?! The ladies couldn’t picture me being homeless at 21 years of age. I was. I lived in my car and then it got stolen. Could you imagine having your house stolen? So sad.
One of the ladies mentioned tonight, that our experiences shape our assumptions. I have a feeling that she is well on her way to making some great life changes!
You know, the dictionary defines assumptions as, “something accepted as truth without proof.” Do you ever do that? Do you ever make assumptions based on your experiences or perceptions? Do you sometimes accept CRAP as FACT? Truth without proof? I don’t just mean about others. How about in your own life?
Do you ever accept CRAP like “I always mess up” or “it’s just never going to work out”? That’s not FACT! That’s CRAP. The Word of God tells us that we have been cleaned up and given a fresh start (Corinthians 6:11) and that God can do more in our lives than we can imagine in our wildest dreams (Ephesians 3:20).
Let's be intentional about not accepting crap as fact. Not about ourselves and not about those around us!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Got a Talking Donkey in Your Life?
Balaam and his talking donkey; I've always kind of liked that story – a talking donkey!
Numbers 22-24, tells us that the people of Moab were terrified of the Israelites. Because of this, Balaam is asked to go with Balak, the son of the King Zippor, to curse them. Balaam had a reputation: those that he blessed stayed blessed and those that he cursed stayed cursed. Hmm, I’m thinking that would probably be someone to stay on the good side of.
When Balak asks for Balaam’s assistance, he tells him right up front that he was going to check with God and only deliver the answer that God gave him. God tells him, “Don’t go with them and don’t curse Israel.”
So Balaam tells Balak, “Hey, God said no and I can’t defy the orders of God in anything big or little, but you can stay with me and I’ll see what God says tonight.” This time, God tells him to along with Balak but to be very careful to only do what He instructs him to do.
As he traveled along, his donkey saw an angel blocking the road. The angel was holding a sword. The donkey veered off the road into a ditch. Balaam wasn't impressed; he beat the donkey. But the donkey saw the angel blocking the road two moe times, two more times he veered off the road, and two more times Balaam beat him for doing so.
After the third time, the donkey asks him, “What have I ever done to you?” Balaam responds by telling him that he was tired of his games and that if he had a sword he would have killed him. I find it kind of odd that Balaam answer. Yeah, kind of odd.
But God gets his attention through the donkey and says to him, “I’ve come here to block your way because you are getting ahead of yourself.” Hmm, so Balaam was following the path that God told him he could follow but it took a donkey to get his attention so God could let him know that he was getting ahead of himself.
Are you following the road that you know God has told you to follow, but there’s a donkey (or two!) that keeps blocking your way? Eh, maybe before you beat the donkey down, take a closer look. Maybe you are getting too far ahead of yourself. Maybe, just maybe, God knows what is in store for you down that road and he needs to remind you the importance of only doing and saying exactly what he tells you to.
Numbers 22-24, tells us that the people of Moab were terrified of the Israelites. Because of this, Balaam is asked to go with Balak, the son of the King Zippor, to curse them. Balaam had a reputation: those that he blessed stayed blessed and those that he cursed stayed cursed. Hmm, I’m thinking that would probably be someone to stay on the good side of.
When Balak asks for Balaam’s assistance, he tells him right up front that he was going to check with God and only deliver the answer that God gave him. God tells him, “Don’t go with them and don’t curse Israel.”
So Balaam tells Balak, “Hey, God said no and I can’t defy the orders of God in anything big or little, but you can stay with me and I’ll see what God says tonight.” This time, God tells him to along with Balak but to be very careful to only do what He instructs him to do.
As he traveled along, his donkey saw an angel blocking the road. The angel was holding a sword. The donkey veered off the road into a ditch. Balaam wasn't impressed; he beat the donkey. But the donkey saw the angel blocking the road two moe times, two more times he veered off the road, and two more times Balaam beat him for doing so.
After the third time, the donkey asks him, “What have I ever done to you?” Balaam responds by telling him that he was tired of his games and that if he had a sword he would have killed him. I find it kind of odd that Balaam answer. Yeah, kind of odd.
But God gets his attention through the donkey and says to him, “I’ve come here to block your way because you are getting ahead of yourself.” Hmm, so Balaam was following the path that God told him he could follow but it took a donkey to get his attention so God could let him know that he was getting ahead of himself.
Are you following the road that you know God has told you to follow, but there’s a donkey (or two!) that keeps blocking your way? Eh, maybe before you beat the donkey down, take a closer look. Maybe you are getting too far ahead of yourself. Maybe, just maybe, God knows what is in store for you down that road and he needs to remind you the importance of only doing and saying exactly what he tells you to.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Sound of the Siren
Late one Saturday night eight years ago, my husband, Randy and I returned home from a weekend at Camp Yolijwa. We brought with us a very sleepy crew; Brandon 10 years, Nick 5 years, and Emily just 3 months old. We tucked the boys into bed and carried Emily up to our room. She actually slept in her bassinet beside our bed, instead of in our bed, that night.
I was extremely tired but couldn’t sleep. Ugh! An hour or so after everyone else was sleeping, I heard the neighbors screaming at each other. Although quite annoying, at that time, this was not that odd of an occurrence. I did what every good wife would do, I woke Randy up. I asked him if heard them, and told him I thought something was wrong. He said something like “Yeah, they were drinking too much again. Go back to sleep!” Back to sleep?!?!? I wasn’t sleeping in the first place. For those of you who are wondering, compassion is not one of Randy’s spiritual gifts.
A few minutes later, the screaming got louder and someone started banging on the shared wall between our duplex homes. As I rolled over to wake Randy up, I heard one of those words that no one ever wants to hear in the middle of the night – FIRE! It took about .04 seconds for this to register in my brain. Their house is on fire – that means MY house is on fire. I scooped Emily up and ran down to the boy’s room. I literally drug Nick down the stairs and outside, wearing only his underwear and a sweat shirt. The poor kid will be scarred forever. My neighbor greeted me on the porch. I thrust my new baby into his arms and ran to a get the phone to call 911. I gave the dispatcher my address and explained that we live in a duplex. But she demanded to know the neighbors house number and I couldn't remember if his was number was higher or lower than ours. Hello?!?!? Our houses are connected, if you find mine, you found his. By this time, just look for the smoke billowing out of the house.
Meanwhile, Randy and Brandon are upstairs arguing. Yes, you heard me correctly, arguing. Brandon is a little hard to wake up and not exactly pleasant when he gets woken up. The boy is 10, pick him up and get out of the house. Just a thought.
Eight years later, the siren that alerts the volunteers to come to the fire station, still wakes me up in an instant and leaves me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. At 4:30 this morning, when the siren started, I was instantly awake and believe it or not, so was Brandon. I grabbed my coat and my car keys as he raced to grab his fire gear. As I drove him to the station, trying not to get run over by the ambulance rushing to the scene, I realized that the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach was not because I was remembering that night eight years ago, but because my baby was going out on his first fire call.
I was extremely tired but couldn’t sleep. Ugh! An hour or so after everyone else was sleeping, I heard the neighbors screaming at each other. Although quite annoying, at that time, this was not that odd of an occurrence. I did what every good wife would do, I woke Randy up. I asked him if heard them, and told him I thought something was wrong. He said something like “Yeah, they were drinking too much again. Go back to sleep!” Back to sleep?!?!? I wasn’t sleeping in the first place. For those of you who are wondering, compassion is not one of Randy’s spiritual gifts.
A few minutes later, the screaming got louder and someone started banging on the shared wall between our duplex homes. As I rolled over to wake Randy up, I heard one of those words that no one ever wants to hear in the middle of the night – FIRE! It took about .04 seconds for this to register in my brain. Their house is on fire – that means MY house is on fire. I scooped Emily up and ran down to the boy’s room. I literally drug Nick down the stairs and outside, wearing only his underwear and a sweat shirt. The poor kid will be scarred forever. My neighbor greeted me on the porch. I thrust my new baby into his arms and ran to a get the phone to call 911. I gave the dispatcher my address and explained that we live in a duplex. But she demanded to know the neighbors house number and I couldn't remember if his was number was higher or lower than ours. Hello?!?!? Our houses are connected, if you find mine, you found his. By this time, just look for the smoke billowing out of the house.
Meanwhile, Randy and Brandon are upstairs arguing. Yes, you heard me correctly, arguing. Brandon is a little hard to wake up and not exactly pleasant when he gets woken up. The boy is 10, pick him up and get out of the house. Just a thought.
Eight years later, the siren that alerts the volunteers to come to the fire station, still wakes me up in an instant and leaves me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. At 4:30 this morning, when the siren started, I was instantly awake and believe it or not, so was Brandon. I grabbed my coat and my car keys as he raced to grab his fire gear. As I drove him to the station, trying not to get run over by the ambulance rushing to the scene, I realized that the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach was not because I was remembering that night eight years ago, but because my baby was going out on his first fire call.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
A Letter To My Son, Nick
Dear Nick,
It occurred to me this morning that I have failed to teach you some pretty important lessons about life and living here in the state of Pennsylvania. So let me enlighten you. Seasons change. Different seasons mean different temperatures. Different temperatures mean different clothing. When I washed not one, not two or three, but four pairs of your shorts last week, I should have realized then that I have failed to teach you the importance of adapting to the changing seasons.
Now understand, you get this quite honestly; your momma has perfected the art of not adapting to seasons until God whacks her alongside the head. Being that you are bigger than me, I won’t whack you alongside your head but be fair warned… I do your laundry and if you continue to refuse to adapt to the season of winter and wearing jeans, I will not hesitate to destroy every pair of shorts that you own. Okay, so maybe I’ll just hide them from you but (hopefully!) you get the picture.
Being that I’m your momma, I understand that you may not want to take my word on this whole season thing. So how about taking God’s Word on it? Ecclesiastes 3 tells you and me that there is a time for everything. Check it out: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%203:1-8&version=NIV
So it doesn’t specifically say a time to wear shorts and a time to wear jeans but one could interpret verse 6 this way: "a time to wear shorts and a time for your momma to throw them away if you don’t stop wearing them."
I love you like crazy and I hope this little blog chat has helped you to understand the importance of embracing the changing seasons in life. In Middle School, it might just be the temperatures and overcoming the urge to wear your comfy shorts all winter long. But as you continue to grow on this journey called life, failing to get out of your comfort zone and embrace the changing seasons could hinder the amazing plan God has for your life!
Love,
Mommy
It occurred to me this morning that I have failed to teach you some pretty important lessons about life and living here in the state of Pennsylvania. So let me enlighten you. Seasons change. Different seasons mean different temperatures. Different temperatures mean different clothing. When I washed not one, not two or three, but four pairs of your shorts last week, I should have realized then that I have failed to teach you the importance of adapting to the changing seasons.
Now understand, you get this quite honestly; your momma has perfected the art of not adapting to seasons until God whacks her alongside the head. Being that you are bigger than me, I won’t whack you alongside your head but be fair warned… I do your laundry and if you continue to refuse to adapt to the season of winter and wearing jeans, I will not hesitate to destroy every pair of shorts that you own. Okay, so maybe I’ll just hide them from you but (hopefully!) you get the picture.
Being that I’m your momma, I understand that you may not want to take my word on this whole season thing. So how about taking God’s Word on it? Ecclesiastes 3 tells you and me that there is a time for everything. Check it out: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%203:1-8&version=NIV
So it doesn’t specifically say a time to wear shorts and a time to wear jeans but one could interpret verse 6 this way: "a time to wear shorts and a time for your momma to throw them away if you don’t stop wearing them."
I love you like crazy and I hope this little blog chat has helped you to understand the importance of embracing the changing seasons in life. In Middle School, it might just be the temperatures and overcoming the urge to wear your comfy shorts all winter long. But as you continue to grow on this journey called life, failing to get out of your comfort zone and embrace the changing seasons could hinder the amazing plan God has for your life!
Love,
Mommy
Friday, January 22, 2010
The Employee You Are Looking For
Over the last several weeks, four different people have contacted me about the possibility of working for or with them. The other night, as I put on my flannel PJ’s and curled up in bed with the stuffed monkey that I sleep with, I had to laugh. Do you people have any idea what you could be getting yourselves into??!?!
Do you understand that I’m not the grown-up my age would lead most to believe that I am? And that not only do I sleep with a stuffed animal but I only quit sleeping with a light on about 18 months ago?
I don’t know my left from right. And when I don’t know what the big word you just used means, I will not hesitate to ask you. I still tie my jacket around my waist and my favorite clothing stores continue to be Aero and Old Navy.
One thing is for sure; if I were to work for you, your work day would never again be boring. When it’s snowing and you are out making sure the parking lot has been cleared, please know that I will be inside convincing the rest of your staff that making egg omelets really is a better way to spend the morning. Not only will you not be mad at me for wasting time making breakfast but you will actually thank me.
When you send me for a week of training out of state, I will be terrified to drive there alone. I will not only convince you to drive me there; I will persuade you to sit in class with me the first day. When you tell me I need to go to New York for a meeting, I will, in your words, be afraid of the unknown. You will not only drive me there but you will spend the money on an additional hotel room so that I am not afraid.
If I trust you, I will unfortunately tell you when I don’t agree with you. At some point, you may regret the lesson you taught me about coming to you, not others, when I don’t agree with you. But please know, once I’ve told you what I think, as long as it’s not immoral or illegal, I’ll do what you tell me to do and support your decision to others.
Once or twice, I may even still be as childish as I was at 25 years old, and hang up the phone while you are talking to (lecturing!?) me. If I am, please know that you will quickly recognize that you pushed me a little too hard and will send me flowers to remind me that you really do appreciate me.
I am without a doubt a leader. I will not hesitate to recruit and lead a team on a journey to provide you with birthday surprises each year… dozens of mouse traps set in your office and golf balls hidden in places you won’t find until you retire. You will need to be very careful if you go out of town for any extended period of time. While you are away, I may decide to recruit your friends to help decorate your yard with candy canes, forks, junk, and perhaps even a toilet. I will not be above getting your children involved in helping to pull off this kind of thing. I certainly will not hesitate to ask your best friend to host a picnic, immediately following the previously mentioned dirty work. When you get home to see the mess that has been created, you will, for some ridiculous reason, thank me over and over again for “thinking of you.”
The good news is that I am an extremely quick learner, very organized, and loyal to a fault. When you give me a job to do; I will most often exceed your expectations. If you can help me find ways to use all the creative energy bottled up inside of me, I will likely be one of the best employees you've ever had.
So if you think that you can learn to appreciate the life that I would most definitely bring to your work day, then perhaps you have found the employee you are looking for.
Do you understand that I’m not the grown-up my age would lead most to believe that I am? And that not only do I sleep with a stuffed animal but I only quit sleeping with a light on about 18 months ago?
I don’t know my left from right. And when I don’t know what the big word you just used means, I will not hesitate to ask you. I still tie my jacket around my waist and my favorite clothing stores continue to be Aero and Old Navy.
One thing is for sure; if I were to work for you, your work day would never again be boring. When it’s snowing and you are out making sure the parking lot has been cleared, please know that I will be inside convincing the rest of your staff that making egg omelets really is a better way to spend the morning. Not only will you not be mad at me for wasting time making breakfast but you will actually thank me.
When you send me for a week of training out of state, I will be terrified to drive there alone. I will not only convince you to drive me there; I will persuade you to sit in class with me the first day. When you tell me I need to go to New York for a meeting, I will, in your words, be afraid of the unknown. You will not only drive me there but you will spend the money on an additional hotel room so that I am not afraid.
If I trust you, I will unfortunately tell you when I don’t agree with you. At some point, you may regret the lesson you taught me about coming to you, not others, when I don’t agree with you. But please know, once I’ve told you what I think, as long as it’s not immoral or illegal, I’ll do what you tell me to do and support your decision to others.
Once or twice, I may even still be as childish as I was at 25 years old, and hang up the phone while you are talking to (lecturing!?) me. If I am, please know that you will quickly recognize that you pushed me a little too hard and will send me flowers to remind me that you really do appreciate me.
I am without a doubt a leader. I will not hesitate to recruit and lead a team on a journey to provide you with birthday surprises each year… dozens of mouse traps set in your office and golf balls hidden in places you won’t find until you retire. You will need to be very careful if you go out of town for any extended period of time. While you are away, I may decide to recruit your friends to help decorate your yard with candy canes, forks, junk, and perhaps even a toilet. I will not be above getting your children involved in helping to pull off this kind of thing. I certainly will not hesitate to ask your best friend to host a picnic, immediately following the previously mentioned dirty work. When you get home to see the mess that has been created, you will, for some ridiculous reason, thank me over and over again for “thinking of you.”
The good news is that I am an extremely quick learner, very organized, and loyal to a fault. When you give me a job to do; I will most often exceed your expectations. If you can help me find ways to use all the creative energy bottled up inside of me, I will likely be one of the best employees you've ever had.
So if you think that you can learn to appreciate the life that I would most definitely bring to your work day, then perhaps you have found the employee you are looking for.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
"transformed! 2010" ladies life group
The pursuit of spiritual transformation may be something that excites you or perhaps even scares you a little. If either of those is the case and you desire to purse transformation with a group of Godly ladies; ladies that are striving to allow Christ to transform their lives, then I want to invite you to be a part of an exciting year in the “transformed 2010” ladies life group.
This year, we’ll build authentic relationships and grow together through the Word of God, intimate times of discussion, and prayer. Each participant will be challenged to grow in their character and in their walks with the Lord as they read through an assigned book, on their own, each month. Our first book is entitled “Who You Are When No One is Looking” by Bill Hybels.
Beginning on January 26th, “transformed 2010” will meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:30 PM in Café Connections at Christian Life Assembly. Childcare is available and you do not need to be a regular attendee of Christian Life Assembly to be a part of this life changing ministry.
For new registration, registration confirmations, or questions, please contact me at skwebb@comcast.net. Even if you have already indicated that you are planning to attend transformed this year, please confirm your desired participation. With registration, please include your name, phone number, and ages of any child that will need childcare during our gatherings.
Be transformed in 2010!
Sherry
This year, we’ll build authentic relationships and grow together through the Word of God, intimate times of discussion, and prayer. Each participant will be challenged to grow in their character and in their walks with the Lord as they read through an assigned book, on their own, each month. Our first book is entitled “Who You Are When No One is Looking” by Bill Hybels.
Beginning on January 26th, “transformed 2010” will meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:30 PM in Café Connections at Christian Life Assembly. Childcare is available and you do not need to be a regular attendee of Christian Life Assembly to be a part of this life changing ministry.
For new registration, registration confirmations, or questions, please contact me at skwebb@comcast.net. Even if you have already indicated that you are planning to attend transformed this year, please confirm your desired participation. With registration, please include your name, phone number, and ages of any child that will need childcare during our gatherings.
Be transformed in 2010!
Sherry
Friday, January 8, 2010
Noah's Ark
Each Christmas, I set out several kid-friendly decorations. Under the tree, you’ll find a basket of unbreakable Christmas balls and an elf that walks up and down a snowy hill. Around the house, I place several “stuffed” snowmen, and of course, the Fisher Price Nativity Set sits on the bottom shelf of the TV stand. This year, I decided to put our Little People’s Noah's Ark set out when I put the Nativity Set away.
As I rounded up the animals for Noah’s Ark, I noticed that two of the animals had lost their mates. Being the recovering perfectionist that I am, I explained to my three year old daughter, Mia, that I would put Noah and his ark out as soon as all the pieces were together. A minute later, as I looked a little closer at the two animals, I began to see some similarities. It was then that it occurred to me, that perhaps I was holding the male and female lions. I looked to my husband, Randy, for input. He just smiled and assured me that I was holding the set of lions. I’m sure he snickered as soon as I walked out of the room, but he’s been married to a sanguine for enough years to expect this kind of thing. I know God placed me in his life to make him laugh!
As funny as the whole Noah’s Ark mini-drama was, it also reminded me, a sometimes flighty and naïve wife, that my husband not only looks different than I do, but he thinks and acts differently too. Not just because he’s a guy, but also because his personality and giftings are so much different than mine.
For now, Noah's Ark sits in my living room as a daily reminder that we are different. And the next time Randy doesn't think or act quite like I do, hopefully I catch a glimse of those little lions and laugh instead of sighing. Hmm... I always thought God gave me to Randy to make Randy laugh, but now I'm starting to wonder if maybe it was to make Him laugh.
As I rounded up the animals for Noah’s Ark, I noticed that two of the animals had lost their mates. Being the recovering perfectionist that I am, I explained to my three year old daughter, Mia, that I would put Noah and his ark out as soon as all the pieces were together. A minute later, as I looked a little closer at the two animals, I began to see some similarities. It was then that it occurred to me, that perhaps I was holding the male and female lions. I looked to my husband, Randy, for input. He just smiled and assured me that I was holding the set of lions. I’m sure he snickered as soon as I walked out of the room, but he’s been married to a sanguine for enough years to expect this kind of thing. I know God placed me in his life to make him laugh!
As funny as the whole Noah’s Ark mini-drama was, it also reminded me, a sometimes flighty and naïve wife, that my husband not only looks different than I do, but he thinks and acts differently too. Not just because he’s a guy, but also because his personality and giftings are so much different than mine.
For now, Noah's Ark sits in my living room as a daily reminder that we are different. And the next time Randy doesn't think or act quite like I do, hopefully I catch a glimse of those little lions and laugh instead of sighing. Hmm... I always thought God gave me to Randy to make Randy laugh, but now I'm starting to wonder if maybe it was to make Him laugh.
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