PAST FAILURES

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians
3:13-14)

UNWOUND

Today one of the small children in our church stayed at our house since her grandmother who usually keeps her has the flu.

I was crocheting a hat and she became very interested in what I was doing. She is two years old and will be three in June.  She is quite intrigued with everything. As she intently watched me she reached for the hook and said, "My turn."

As I handed her the yarn and hook, she tried to move her small hands around in circles and held the thread with her tiny fingers. She then realized she needed a hoop so she made a circle and held onto it while holding the ball of thread in her other hand. She was delighted and when I asked her what she was making, she said, "A hat!"

After some time she became more interested with unrolling the ball all over the living room. There was a pile of yarn in one area and then the thread went around the recliner, across the treadmill and around the pool table, into another large pile of thread and around the kitchen chair. 

After some time she would stop and start saying, "Helpie! Helpie! Helpie!"

The yarn had become so entangled that she was stuck. I would walk across the room and roll the ball of thread up. Once again she would take the yarn from my hands and around the pool table she would go, then through the middle of the treadmill and around the recliner. This same event happened four times and four times she found herself stuck calling out for help.

Each time she called for help I would go to her side and roll all the yarn back into a nice neat ball. After I finished rolling it back she would look at me and say again, "My turn."

 

The last time she got into a jam, she handed the ball to me and said, "Your turn!"

As I removed the yarn from her hand and the crochet hook I began to finish the project I was working on. It was a blue and white hat for her. Once I finished crocheting the hat she became very excited as it was placed onto her head. She understood we had sat there and created this item especially for her.

As I watched the event of the morning unfold I realized this is what we do to the Lord. We are wanting to have control of the project and each time the Lord hands it over to us and watches, knowing that we are going to make a mess out of things.  He watches until we finally realize we are so unwound and wrapped up in things that it is impossible for us to get out or fix it by ourselves, so we call out, "Helpie! Helpie! Helpie!"

He comes and takes control of our lives and we say once again, "My turn!"

The Lord knows without a doubt what we are going to do but he continues to allow us to take it from him. He knows eventually we will realize that with the thread in our hands what he desires for our lives will not be produced.

Eventually we do realize our dilemma and place our lives into the Lord's hands.  He so gently cleans up the mess we have made and shapes our lives into what he desires for us to become.
 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. » O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;  Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  (Psalm 138:7 - 8:14)

 

 

BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE STRENGTH IS IN THE LORD

 

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. (Psalm 84: 1-5)

AN INSTRUMENT FOR HIS GLORY

 Have you ever owned an instrument that needed repaired? We use a guitar and a piano each Sunday morning on our praise team. There are times that the strings on the guitar get old and start to make sounds other than the ones in tune with the piano. It doesn't matter how hard we try to sing using those strings it's going to be slightly off tune from the other musical instruments.

 

The same is true with the piano. Just last week we had to call in a piano tuner to work on the strings of the piano. With the piano sitting in the auditorium where it's cold every day except for Sunday and Wednesday, it loses its tune more quickly. 

 

Once both of these instruments have been worked on by a person trained to repair or tune instruments, it once again sounds beautiful.  The instrument will now sound beautiful with other instruments or by itself. 
 

We are all instruments of the Lord Jesus Christ and just as the piano and guitar get out of tune, our instruments do also. 

 

We go through life watching people and it is obvious to others that the person's life is out of tune.  That person may not actually see what is coming forth from their life.  They have been playing solo for so long and the strings on their instrument became so off key, one step at a time, that they are unaware just how out of tune it has become.

 

Each of us needs to take our instruments, our lives, to the master tuner, Jesus Christ and let him do a total make-over.  It may take longer to get some of our instruments back into the shape.  It may be a painful process for some of us but the fact still remains, we need to be tuned. 

 

We need not only to be in tune for our own sake but we need to be in tune for the sake of others.  We are all members of the body of Christ and we should be playing in harmony with each other.  This will not be accomplished unless each of us place our lives before the Lord Jesus Christ and allow him to tune our hearts to himself.  Once this is accomplished, we will all be tuned to the master tuner and be able to play in perfect harmony with the rest of the symphony, the body of Christ.

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  (Romans 12:1-5)

 

 

 

 

 

THE VERDICT IS OUT - NO VISITATION RIGHTS

A hearing was set for this morning and I was summoned to appear in court. As I entered the courtroom I was a little unsure of myself, but it was here and the time had come that I must stand before the judge and let him decide what the verdict would be.

 

As the hearing began I remembered the scripture and it was decided that it would be used upon this occasion. So squaring my shoulders, as my abuse counselor had taught me many years ago, I entered the presence of the judge, the Almighty God.

 

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

 

The questioning began and I knew it was possible that my rights could be taken away. The right to sing about the Lord, the right to play the piano for his glory, and the right to share all the storms the Lord has brought me through.

 

Something surprising happened this morning during the trial. I was questioned as to why I keep allowing this person to have visitation rights. The great judge proceeded to ask me several other questions,

 

"Why do you let him come back?

 

Why do you listen to what he is saying?

 

Why are you in court today over such an issue?"

 

Not sure how to answer these questions, I assured the great judge that I no longer wanted him around. He abuses me, he attacks me, he stalks me, he leaves me so defeated and wounded.

 

Before leaving the courtroom of the Lord, the gavel was pounded loudly against the great judges table and the verdict was given. The verdict is out and Satan no longer has visitation rights. He doesn't have to right to defeat me, wound me and leave me defeated. Jesus Christ my lawyer and my judge has set the verdict and he will see to it that this verdict is upheld.

 

Before I left the courtroom I was given my bandage of grace. It was wrapped all around me to keep me from being further wounded and broken, and for the first time since I started writing two years ago the Lord gave me peace in my heart that I truly am a writer.

 

I can sing, play the piano, do children's lessons or speak at ladies ministry meeting to help others, but my true calling is writing. This is the way of expressing one devotion at a time how the Lord will lead and guide us if we walk with him.

 

So in the future as I write on my blog, book or whatever the Lord places before me to write on, the verdict has been given and it will be enforced. Satan no longer has visitation rights and I will not allow him to enter and try to defeat me as a writer. If any of my friends and family members sees him trying to snoop and get access into my life in the future, it will be up to you also to help enforce this verdict and remind him that visitation rights are a thing of the past.

 

GOD'S BANDAGE FOR YOUR SOUL

 

Yesterday was an extremely bitter sweet day. There wasn't many that showed up for the book signing in Sweetwater, which is what we expected but since one of my adopted daughters, Marcia, worked at Holiday Inn there, it was a great opportunity to spend some long awaited time with her.

 

We also had some very dear friends from another nearby town come and stay the afternoon with us. What a wonderful time we had just sharing things that had taken place in all our lives over the last ten years and basking in the joy of seeing each other.

 

As expected someone else showed up at the event. I was watching for him as he tends to show up whenever the Lord is moving us forward in his work. Yes, you are correct. He was the one that has tried to visit me often, telling me I'm no good, that I'm a failure, that God doesn't use people like me. Oh the list goes on and on of the ways he has tried to defeat me. Satan knows there are many women and young ladies who need to be set free and he would love to shut my mouth, as I try to help them walk out of their well of depression, silent tears, and overwhelming circumstances.

 

Did the thought cross my mind to throw in the towel? Yes it did! I once again thought,

 

"Satan is correct I am no good, I am a failure, I am far from what I should be in life. I failed as a mother in how I disciplined my children, I failed as a wife in being the support I should have been, and yes I failed as a minister's wife and I still do."

 

 As I fell asleep last night I asked the Lord to once again help me to overcome my "I" trouble.

 

As I awakened this morning the thought crossed my mind, "It's grace." I prayed to the Lord and said, "I know it's your grace but I am Sherry Long and I don't get how your grace is going to carry me past this one."

 

Being the slow learner that I have always been, I prayed once again and said, "Lord, can you give it to me on a lower level to where I can truly understand what part of God's grace I need at this very moment to carry on."

 

He gently said, "It's G for God, It's R for revealing and it's ACE for my bandage for your soul, spirit, and heart."

 

I allowed the Lord to wrap me in his God, revealing ace this morning. I know if he loves me enough to provide an ace bandage when I need it, he loves me enough to help me carry on.

 

Will Satan return and try to destroy what God is leading me slowly to do in order to help people overcome their well of destruction, well of despair, and the bitter water of Myrah? Yes, he will but just like the Lord has given me a wonderful support team who prays for me daily, he has given me his GRACE, a bandage I will carry with me on every book signing, speaking engagement, or even sitting at home writing on my blog.

 

I have seen the power of the Almighty God bring me through things I thought were never possible, times it didn't require a band-aid, it required an ace bandage, something larger. I needed something that would wrap around and around and secure the wound and the pain.

 

When you fall down, slip away, or become wounded by the world and you feel a band-aid just isn't enough, reach into God's word and pull out one of those bandages, wrap God's grace around and around and find his grace is sufficient for thee.

 

I WAS ALMOST ROBBED AND YOU COULD BE NEXT

 

One night a little over a year ago, I was sitting at my house minding my own business. It had been a very busy day at the church making sure that everything was lined out for the children, teachers and outside workers. It was now time to relax and enjoy the evening.

 

As I sat on the sofa working on the, "Digging a Well book, and waiting for Steve to get home from locking up the church, I heard a noise. I listened very intently thinking it was the cat which hangs out in my back yard, that is always trying to catch a bird for his next meal. I heard the noise again and almost froze in my tracks. Is there someone outside? What shall I do?

 

As I sat frozen on the sofa wondering if I was still possibly imagining this, I heard his voice. I instantly knew it was definitely someone. I was filled with fear and wondered if I could possibly make it through this event. Next I was filled with doubt. I began to think it was going to be impossible. I was sure he could overpower me at this point. How could I stop him from entering in? Suddenly the scripture came to my mind

 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (II Timothy 1:7-9)

 

Instantly I realized my need to focus.  It was time to focus on the Lord and realize that he was there to take all the fear and doubt away.  He was there to fill me with assurance, hope, faith, and a peace that passes all our understanding. 

 

He did just that, at the very moment that I needed it.  The noise I heard and the voice I had heard had now entered into my house and was getting closer by the moment.  It was when I turned to the Lord and asked him to fill me once again with himself that I realized he was instantly gone. 

 

If I were asked to identify him in a lineup it wouldn't be hard.  You could probably identify him pretty easily yourself.  I am sure he has tried to break into your house also, just as he did mine.  He is none other than Satan himself. 

 

The night he showed up at my house he was trying to rob me and keep me from writing the "Digging a Well" book.  He has come back many times and haunted me and each time he returns, he is told the same thing, "The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword and I am not afraid to use it, because I know the Lord my God will carry me through this fear and doubt."  I was very aware that this fear and doubt could stop me in my tracks and keep me from moving forward with publishing what I felt the Lord had laid on my heart to do.  

 

I'm thankful to say I was nearly robbed but the thief was caught before he could get away with the item he came after. 

 

What is it that he is trying to rob from you?  It could be a book, your job, your marriage or something else of spiritual value.  Are you ready for him whenever he sneaks up on you?  Do you have the word of God close enough by your side, that at any given moment you can whirl the darts at him and make him flee?  If not, you better get ready because I was almost robbed, and you could be next. 

 

 

 

 

 

BROKENNESS TO BEAUTY

 

Photo provided by Jana Long

ALL THE WAY TO THE BONE

    
     When our oldest son was in the fifth grade he fell off of his bunk bed and landed on top of a baseball bat. We took him to see the doctor, who ran x-rays on his arm and sent us home saying there was no broken bones. About mid-night that night Joshua began to run fever and complain with his arm hurting. After about an hour he began to complain that he was seeing polka dots. A trip to the emergency room was made. The doctor looked more closely at the arm and decided it was just badly sprained and sent us home with Codeine.

 

Two hours later Joshua was running extremely high fever and his arm had doubled in size. Another trip was made to the emergency room and then we were sent to Lubbock to the hospital. Upon a few x-rays it was determined that Joshua had a hairline fracture and also strep throat. What had occurred was unusual but extremely dangerous. The hairline fracture was just a warm enough spot to draw the strep virus to it, causing a very serious bone infection.

 

After undergoing two surgeries and a Subclavian Port-A-Cathe placed on his chest, which is a tube running to the heart that we injected antibiotics into for thirty days, he was like new after the thirty days.

 

I see our nation as being in the same state our son was in the night he fell. We had a few hairline fractures in our system and when we began to be flooded with different religions and beliefs, instead of being able to overcome it, we now see that it's going to take a major antidote to heal this nation. When the virus affects one area it's not as difficult to recover from it but as we seen with our son, the virus has so taken over that it is now, all the way to the bone. The very core of our nation is being shaken and the one thing that will heal it is an infusion from God.

 

Just as they placed the Subclavian Port-A-Cathe onto Josh's chest that sent medication straight to the heart, America needs to do the same. It's going to take major surgery to get this country back in the right direction and it's going to take a daily injection of the word of God. Large doses and strong doses of God's Divine Holiness is the only thing that will bring this country back to its feet.

 

  LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. (Psalm 6:1-3) 

...FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE

 

Photo provided by Jana Long







MAKING LEADERS OF TOMORROW

 
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:13-14)

Each Wednesday when we leave our church I realize we have made one more mark on the lives of the leaders of tomorrow. We have a world quickly slipping away from truth, morals and the values we once taught. It is up to us to help change that flow. If not you, may I ask who is going to do it for the children of Kermit Texas? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?

 

The harvest is plenty and the Lord has called each of us to be his witnesses. He isn't asking us to pack our bags and go to China, Iran, or Indonesia. He only ask that we go a few blocks from our homes and give a few hours each week to the lives of people willing to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. These are not people standing on the street corner, alcoholics or drug addicts pushing you away when you start teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.They are children that have hungry souls, willing to come and hear about Jesus Christ.

One person making a difference in their lives is a man that doesn't get paid but shows up every Wednesday one hour early, opens the playground area to them, builds them equipment to play on, hands out this own money as prizes for the games being played. There are over one hundred children that attend and I promise you they may not know my name or the piano players name but they know James' name. If he is ever late the children come running up to me and ask where he is. They know this man loves them and wants them to learn about the Lord.

These children will remember meeting as a group and doing songs in sign language and singing, "Love Lifted Me" while rising up on their tippy toes each time the word, "lifted" is sang. They will remember the classrooms were stuffed with children to the brim. They also will remember the faces of the people who loved them. When they are older and attend a church that doesn't have a ministry like this church offers, they will understand the value and the time that was sacrificed for them. There will be stories that are told twenty years from now about this church and how they remember getting meals, playground equipment and the gospel given to them without expecting anything in return. We are not just changing their lives today; we are changing their lives forever.

Each adult willingly giving their time to these children know it isn't easy. I know for myself it takes sacrifice many times but I never leave a Wednesday night service in a bad mood. Each Wednesday I leave my church I feel like a cup of soda pop just bubbling with praise and worship and running over the top at getting to be a part of such a wonderful ministry to children. If you attend and leave defeated, it's because you have your eyes on yourself and not what God is doing one step at a time in the lives of these children. He is changing their lives! It may be a slow process but he hasn't given up and until he does, we shouldn't either.  The process of our own lives is extremely slow so we must be patient with the children and keep on keeping on.

What a beautiful time we have watching some of the children come in and be so rowdy, disrespectful and not know the slightest thing about the word of God and then watch them slowly change.  Today we can look at the children that started attending two years ago and they are changed. They know where to find scriptures in the word of God, they are respectful and it is apparent they are learning about the life changing person, Jesus Christ. If we are not willing to continue to carry the light for these children they aren't going to be given to opportunity to change. The Lord has equipped our church with the very essentials needed to carry the truth to our community. We have prayed for many things over the last few years and he has answered those prayers.

Don't be like the soda pop that sat on a shelf and lost its fizz, instead be like the soda pop that has a mentos dropped down inside of it. We need people that will burst forth with excitement and filled with the joy of the Lord to help us share this gospel with our community. Will you be the one?

REPENT, REPULSED OR RETRACT?

     There are three different groups of people: those that repent, others that are repulsed or just don't care and those who would love to retract what they believed.

Some people believe the word repent is repulsive. They become angry and defensive if anyone starts singing or speaking about the need to repent. While others just chose to ignore the fact their need for repentance.

 

Some have chosen to accept the word of God and to turn from their ways. They have repented and given their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

     Then there are some people that would desire to do a retraction. Those that were repulsed by the word while alive and were once able to make that decision but chose not to, now are spending an eternity separated from the Lord. They would give anything to be able to hear just one more time that they have the opportunity to repent.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. (Luke 16: 19-25)

 

Seek the Lord with your whole heart while he still can be found as we see, there comes a day when it's too late.

 

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:15-17)

 

THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER

 

Photo provided by Jana Long

WHEN HOPE RUNS DRY

   We can make it through life without many things, but one of the things necessary for survival, is hope.  We can go for a period of time with little hope but when all hope is gone, we can't continue to carry on. 

   When we place our hope in the wrong things we end up empty handed.  It is vital to our emotional being, spiritual being and physical being that we have a constant supply of hope. 

   Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (Hebrews 11:1)

   Continue reading Hebrews eleven and see the people who made it into the hall of faith. Each person listed in this chapter had one thing in common and that was faith. We see in Hebrews chapter one that faith is the substance of things hoped for.   If we lose hope, we tend to lose faith.  The scripture tells us the best way to hold onto that hope.

   Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (Hebrews 10:23-25)

   Each of us needs a constant renewing and refreshing by gathering together with the people of God and exhorting one another.

 

I WILL PRAISE YOU IN THE DRY SEASON'S

  Do you ever have seasons in your life that looks like the photo shown above? If not, you are an exception to the rule.  I have had many times in my life that I have experienced these season's of draught. 

   Many times the seasons of draught are followed by a plenteous season.  There are people who believe and teach that we should never experience this season and should only experience springtime filled with abundance and joy continually.  I agree it would be nice to experience springtime year round, but the fact remains, we are going to have times of draught. I have known many of these people that believe and teach this idea and have watched them have the dry seasons in their lives also.

   There is nothing wrong with finding yourself in one of these dry times but the thing we constantly need to remember is that during the dry seasons we still have the aquifer, the Lord Jesus Christ, the constant supply for our thirst. 

   There are times that we must dig deeper in order to find the water source, but knowing it is always there is a great comfort. 
  
   This photo was taken this morning by Jana, my niece, as she was headed toward Carlsbad NM.  This land seems dry and barren but if you were to drop down several thousand feet, you would find the aquifer, a constant flow of water. 
  
   Even though the land is visibly in a draught, there is an abundance of water that can be brought to the surface.  The same is true in our lives, we may appear to be in a time of draught but if we dig deep enough into the word of God, we also will find the aquifer for our soul. 

   Upon digging and watering our soul with the word of God, we once again can flourish and be able to overcome the times of draught in our lives.

   The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. (Isaiah 35:1-7)

MY FEET LIKE HINDS FEET

   Steve and I have been talking about this Scripture lately. As I was reading it the Lord touched my heart with just how awesome he is. This is not the first time we seen God intervene in a powerful way but each time that he does it, I think we need to give him the glory as my friend did in the story shown below. She had posted the scripture Hab 3:19 on her facebook page and requested prayer. Several of us agreed to bind in prayer for a couple that was flying into her area for a seven day counseling session with her. When the Lord lays something on your heart be sure and listen, he may be laying a scripture on your heart to give someone that he desires to bring it life right before their eyes.
  
   Many of us will listen to the word of God, others will listen when someone shares it with them. There are many like the lady below that it really doesn't sink in until the Lord shows a visual. There is a scripture that says line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. This is a beautiful story of just that very thing.

   The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a DEER, able to tread upon the HEIGHTS. (Hab 3:19)?” That was the first day of the intensive and in my prayer time, I felt God put that verse on my heart for this couple. So I typed it on a piece of paper and gave it to them yesterday, while discussing the visual of deer walking uphill on rocky ground. Today in the intensive as my client expressed her feelings of helplessness and hopelessness to ever be free of her struggle and the belief that God would never help her in it, something happened that was more than any words I could’ve ever said. In that moment, I looked out the window of my office in the middle of town and to my surprise I saw on the other side of the parking lot in the rocks… a herd of deer walking right in front of my office window, one by one. Because of the direction I was sitting it didn’t occur to me what occurred to her from her angle. She was at the bottom side of the hill looking at them walk UP the HEIGHTS and she said “and they’re walking UPHILL!” Seeing her soften for the first time, eyes swelling in both of us, I knew we were on sacred ground.

DIGGING A WELL BOOK REVIEWS

 
Here are a few encouraging messages I have received on the book.  I thought I would share them with you and let you see how others view the book.

Athens Alabama
Finished the book "Digging a Well"!! It is interesting and easy to read. Helped me to understand more about Gods love for us and made me realize that I want to drink from the Well of Salvation rather than the Well of Despair!! It opened my eyes more to what I need to do!

Ignacio, Colorado
Just finished reading your book. Very, very good,

Lawrenceburg Tennessee
Sherry, my fiance ordered your book for me. It was awesome! I started reading before bed., stayed up and finished it about 5 a.m.. What an awesome, spirt filled blessing it is.. Thank u for writing it and putting such a blessing out there..God bless you! Good luck with your next book, I can't wait to read it.

Abilene Texas

My husband and I are both reading your book. It is very good, knowing the family and the circumstances of some of it, makes it more interesting. Can you bring two more when you come? We would like to give one to our daughter and one to our pastor.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:11-12)

A DANDELION KIND OF FAITH

   What does your faith look like?  Is your faith the type of faith that you hold so tightly no one can see it or is it a dandelion type of faith? 

   Have you ever seen a dandelion in your yard? Instantly upon a great wind the flower disperses and floats away into the air.  Is this the end of the dandelion?  No, this is only the end of you seeing that one particular dandelion. 

    The next thing that takes place is the seed falls onto the ground and upon receiving water or some type of moisture this seedling sprouts up into a new plant.  This process happens repeatedly in our yard each year until we make a trip to the hardware store and purchase a chemical in order to destroy them. 

   The scripture tells us our faith can be as small as a mustard seed.  This small faith can be enough to move a mountain, but will not do so until you release it.  You can believe you have faith and be holding it so tightly that it will not be noticed by others. It's when you have the faith and you allow it to be revealed that it can spring forth into something magnificent. 

   One morning while at Calvary Baptist Church in Andrews, Tx the pastor spoke on the topic of God using broken vessels. I had truly been broken and felt shattered at this point in my life.  I quietly expressed to the Lord that if he thought he could use a shattered vessel then I would allow him to give it a try. Not really expecting for him to do so, I lived my life one day at a time. 

   Later in that year the Lord laid the words, "Digging a Well" upon my heart.  Not understanding at the time why the Lord had placed the topic upon my heart, I wrote those words in the front of my bible and left them there.  There were times I thought I should share with others these words but always decided against it.  These words just sat in my bible until October 2010.  It was close to eight years laterwhen the Lord confirmed to me in a powerful way, "It's time to release the words."

The seeds were there all the time but they wouldn't flourish because I had tucked my flower of faith into the front of the bible, closed it and never told others about them. 

   Upon being obedient to the Lord and experiencing such an awesome trip to the Guadalupe Mountains, confirming that faith, my daughter created a blog for me. She placed a description of the blog at the top.  In the description it said a book is being compiled.

   Did I truly have the faith that I could write a book? 

   Absolutely not! 

   Did I have faith that God could write a book?

   Absolutely!

   What was required of me in order for the seed to germinate is the removal of the words from the front of my bible and placed out into the open.  The Lord being the Living Water would be the one who would bring this seed to life. 

   What seed of faith do you have tucked away somewhere?  You know the spot and can remember the day you placed that seed there.  The Lord may be showing you it's time to open it, remove the seed and place it outside the area to where the Lord can pour the Living Water over it. 

   Just as I was able to see the Lord use that small seed in my life, you also will be able to see him use the seed you have hidden away.  I promise you, I didn't have the ability to do what the Lord had chosen for that little seed, but upon releasing it, God provided everything I needed to accomplish the task. 

   I must truly say that I am thankful the words, "Digging a Well," in the front of my bible are not just three words that are tucked away for only myself to see. They are now words I pray the Lord will use in each person's life that reads the book.  I pray one of the seeds from this book will fall onto their heart and spring forth even more seeds to be scattered, fertilized and spread abroad.   Let's begin a dandelion type of faith.

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
(Matthew 17:18-20)

GETTING BACK INTO THE SWING

   Looks like school has started back up and with that occurring the children flood in on Wednesday nights. Our attendance has been lower since before Christmas with everyone out of school and taking vacations and with so many being ill.

 

   As I looked out over the playground area last night I could see we were definitely back into the swing of things. The new slide James Cotton built over the holiday season now had ten or twelve children lined up taking turns going down. The swing set had children in each section swinging and trying to see who could get the highest. The merry go round was packed to its maximum and maybe a few beyond. The monkey bars were in use with the new safety mats underneath for the kids to land on and the basketball goal, volleyball net and tether ball quarts were swinging into full action. It was plain to see there would definitely be more than one hundred kids there tonight.  

 

   What a blessing to look out and realize only two years ago we had about ten to fifteen children and teenagers attending and now there is over one hundred attending. Nothing in our services had changed and yet it seemed overnight the children started attending faithfully. The Lord opened the door and beckoned them to come and they did.

 

   Being one hundred percent sure that the Lord has beckoned many adults also to get back into the swing of things and to attend we realize not everyone is listening to that call. There are many who have gone five, ten or fifteen years without attending a place of worship. The scripture tells us the harvest is plenty but the workers are few. We have seen this a few times during the ministry but never have we seen it as true as it is in our church today.

   

   What will it take for you to get back into the swing? Most of the time it's attending once or twice that helps us format the pattern and get us back into the habit. Somewhere over the years that habit was broken and now it's more difficult to get back into church because of the broken habit. Maybe it's time to call in the repairman to fix the swing. Whatever you need to get back into the swing of things, be sure and take the time to do so.  You are missing out on a tremendous blessing by not being with God's people and experiencing what the Lord is doing in and through the young people in America today.  

 

   Last night pulling away from our church building I realized that the growth in these children's lives and their excitement is something my heart desires to continue to see. What a blessing it is to be a part of such a wonderful thing the Lord is doing among us.

 

   And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.(Matthew 9: 35-38)


 

WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THEM?

   As Steve was preaching Sunday morning, I began to wish I had known ahead of time what his sermon topic would have been.  I would have gotten a group of our teenagers together and created a skit.  The whole time he was preaching this thought was going through my mind.

   His sermon outline was on being fishermen.  When we look at Andrews, Peter, James and John in the scripture we see the reason these men were called fishermen.  These men would go out daily in their sailboats and catch fish.  When they returned to the shore in the evening, there was something to show for their labor.

   What if these men decided to be fishermen and instead of lauching out into the deep they stayed at home instead?  They could have headed down to their closest fishing store and purchased the largest boat, the strongest fishing poles and nets, tackle and a tackle box that would make the greatest of men wish they were in the trade of being a  fisherman.

   Peter could have set the boat outside his home for all his friends and family members to see.  James and John displaying the wonderful items they had purchased onto the boat.  Andrew could tell all the great fishing stories.  They could come out daily and climb into the boat and talk to their friends and neighbors about fishing as they stopped by to adore the beautiful boat. 
 

   Now if this is what took place, would we still be able to call Andrew, Peter, James and John fishermen?  The answer would be no.  If these men never went out to the sea and cast their nets to catch fish they would only be dreamers and eventually be laughed at.

  

   Isn't this what many of us do during our life time?  This is something I have been guilty of, in the past, myself. 
  
   We call ourselves fishers of men.  We purchase all the right clothes, the most expensive bible, we read all the right books and attend church, but we have never once led a person to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We have never invited friends and family members to attend church with us so they can hear the gospel. There are some pastor's and laymen who never go out into the sea of their city and witness to souls in order for them to hear the gospel.  We should be ashamed calling ourselves fishers of men if we only intend to dream.

   We all have the right equipment sitting at our houses or in front of our churches but are we really fishers of men or just dreamers?

   Each of us needs to evaluate our lives and find out what our title really is.  If you want to be a fisher of men, launch your boat out into the world and start fishing.   Once we start drawing others into the net, that's when we become fishers of men, not a moment sooner. 

   And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.  And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.  And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.  And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. ( Matthew 4:19-24)

 

A TIME TO MOURN AND A TIME TO DANCE

  
   Given a rich heritage is a great advantage to a person's life. As I expressed in the book, "Digging a Well," this was something God freely bestowed upon my life. There is much said in the book about my heritage from my Granny Creekmore but there is also much to be said about my MawMaw Poss.

   One of the great things I learned from my Appalachian heritage on my mother's side of the family  is there is a season for everything. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up, a time to mourn and a time to dance. God created us and made us to have all these events and emotions and it is very important we learn the different season's he placed within our lives. There is no doubt we will experience the negative seasons but it is up to us to instill the positive ones into our family's lives. 

   In my earlier years when we would go to my MawMaw Poss.'s house, there was a lot of work involved. Learning how to shell peas, churn milk to separate the butter, wash clothes and hang them on the line, feed the cows and chickens, cook, sew and the list goes on.

   One of the things I learned at my MawMaw Poss's house was to kick your shoes off and have a good old time. My grandmother loved to sing, listen to the guitar and dance.The highlight, to me, of the evenings together was under the trees in her front yard where my uncles pulled out their guitars and sang and watch MawMaw laugh and dance. 

   As my children were growing up it was very important to me to instill into their lives the word of God. Much of my time was spent teaching them character but it was also very important to me that they learn well the different season's of events.When we were at home we spent much of our time laughing and dancing. This is something that I am hoping was as much of a memory for them as it was for me. There are many that feel this behavior is inappropriate. I must disagree. The scripture states plainly in Ecclesiastes that there is a time to dance. We didn't go to the dance hall and we didn't do inappropriate dances but I guarantee you, we did some dancing. Those memories have a way of carrying us through the rough times in our lives.   

   In the scripture David said he danced before the Lord.  Do you think it's accidental the word of God has this written in it?  The many things David did that were sinful, the scriptures tell us. I do not see anywhere the Lord scolding David for dancing before him in worship.  This was nothing close to a fleshly dance.  This dance was in praise to his maker, the mighty God.  

   If you are not able to break loose and dance at some point in your life, you are skipping over one of the seasons of life. Now I didn't say I was promoting going out and dancing in public.  I am saying this time you spend with your husband, wife, children and your God can be times that can bring great joy and also a soothing balm to the soul. 

   To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

 

THE GIRAFFE TEACHES US TO STRETCH

 

Today I was sending a friend a text about my upcoming book signing that will be held in Sweetwater, Texas and another one in Andrews where I graduated from High School. I shared with my friend, "I never feel like I meet up to the expectation that I place on myself. I am always stretching to be better at each thing I do, whether it's writing, singing, playing the piano or cooking. I always seem to fall short of the mark I have set. Most of the time, I fall way short of that mark."

This caused me to start thinking about the giraffe. The giraffe is the tallest land mammal. The male giraffe can grow up to eighteen feet in height, with the female only slightly smaller. Their neck span can be up to seven feet long. This doesn't keep the giraffe from trying to stretch even taller in order to retrieve food that is seen high up in the trees. The male will stretch as far as his neck will allow him to in order to retrieve food. In doing this the giraffe is in search of the most nutritious leaves it is able to find. The female will settle for food that is slightly lower in order to keep from having to stretch, thus making both animals satisfied with not being in each other's path.

It is my desire that I will continue to have the drive to learn to write, spell and correct my grammar more proficiently each time I write. Most important, however, is that I share the gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that others can understand and come to know the Lord as their Savior.

 I want to be like the giraffe; always stretching for the most nutritious food, never settling for anything less than the most nutritious things the Lord places before us each day.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. ( II Timothy 2:15-16)

 

http://www.howtallisagiraffe.com/

PREPARING FOR THE CURVE BALL

  

    And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying. So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. (Genesis 50:15-22)

 

    The reason a baseball pitcher chooses to throw a curveball is to put fear into the batter as he faces him. I find it interesting that it is the curveballs that have higher momentum, if contact is ever made. Although many times the batter is so afraid when he sees the ball coming and realizes it is a curveball that he can’t process fast enough how he is going to handle it.

     

   There are times in our lives that we experience these type balls coming toward us. We must decide if we will allow these trials to strike us out or if we will go for the home run. 
 

Once contact is made with the ball the fans in the stands come to life. When a home run is hit on an easy ball it's pronominal, but when a home run is hit on what seems to be the impossible, that's when everyone sees the glory of God in our lives.

   

   It's very hard to prepare for the curveball. One must take measures as a player to be prepared at any given movement to encounter such a throw. There are some important things to remember, preparation being the most important. We can never know exactly what type of curveball will be thrown at us, this is why the Lord says in Ephesians chapter six that we need to put on the whole armor of God.

 

   There is one thing for certain, if you are in the game of life, you will one day be thrown a curveball. Prepare yourself for this curveball so that when you encounter it, you will be able to hit a homerun and be able to display the glory of God.

 

   Once contact with the curveball of life have been made, the world sees that you have placed yourself in the Lord's will and was prepared for the curves planned to destroy you, just as Joseph and Job did in the bible. Let's start preparing for the big game and be ready to display the glory of the Lord.

 

WALKING BY FAITH

  
   For five years I drove to Andrews and worked every day. The drive was one hour there and one hour back home. People asked me constantly, Why I would do such a thing." My only reply was, "That is where God wants me". 

   If you asked me during those five years why the Lord wanted me working through a temporary agency for ExxonMobil, I would say, "I really don't know." Some even asked, "How do you know the Lord wants you working there if you don't know why." My response was, "I don't know why but I do know that's where he wants me." 

   Many times during the long drives I questioned if I was really hearing the Lord correctly and doing the right thing or had I honestly lost my mind, as the drive was not always easy. 

   Upon completing the writing, editing, submitting and printing of "Digging a Well," I realized why the Lord had placed me in that job. I was constantly building spreadsheets for them that were pretty detailed. The last year I spent nearly every waking hour building a spreadsheet and tracking the data in it. It was an extreme challenge to build and also an extreme challenge for me to keep up and running.

   This spreadsheet would read numbers off other spreadsheets and then create graphs and charts that were printed weekly and hung on the wall.  The detail of building the spreadsheet and keeping it running was so intense that I watched it constantly, making sure the data was feeding into it correctly.

   Little did I realize but this job had created a deep amount of structure in my life.  I was already a person of structure, I thought to the extreme, but nothing like it would take to write a book. 

   The day I completed writing the book and it had been approved, I took a deep breath and the first thing out of my mouth was, "If I had not listened to the Lord and continued to make the drive back and forth to ExxonMobil everyday and do the work I did, I could never have accomplished the completion of this book. 
  
   I have no doubt that trusting the Lord that he knew what I needed, in order to move forward with the book, was that very job.  Many times I miss my job but the reward of completing the book and now compiling all the devotions I have written into another book called, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord," is what I was called to do during 2012.

   For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17)

A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

    When I was growing up I used to hear older people talk about their bodies falling apart. They would say, "You just don't respect your body like you should until you get old and realize how rough you really were on it." I would chuckle under my breath and keep going ninety miles an hour, or more.
 

   The last couple days I have been compiling devotions for my next book, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord," therefore I have been tucked away, with my laptop in hand and the world far away into the distance. The few people I spoke with have been close friends and our conversations have gone like this. "Good morning, hope you are feeling better today" Oh no, you are kidding, not your joints again! You just now got over the flu and the week before that you had the stomach bug.
 

   It seems everyone I have spoken to is over fifty and falling apart, along with myself. It's not easy when you top the hill and the only thing you see is eternity or a long road downward. We surely are not ready to slip into eternity yet, so our only choice is the long road down.
 

   Now you young people can laugh, but just as we finally arrived to this destination, you also will get to this point one day.
 

   In my earlier years I was one of the most energetic, enthusiastic, motivated young ladies ever but something happened. Life took its toll and now sometimes it hurts to get up from the sofa to go get a drink. Seriously now, it really does!
 

   We all have these seasons of life. What we must do is to make the most out of each season. During my younger days, I ran and jumped, danced and sang, picked up kids and swung them around. During my middle age I did all of these things but at a much slower pace. Now mid-life is the season and I have found that I must stand back and watch my children and grandchildren run and jump, dance and sing, and pick up the children and swing them around, that is, if I want to be the one getting out of bed tomorrow.
 

   Each of these seasons has brought depth to my life that I never dreamed of having. When I was young I worried about when I would get old. Would I even know what to do? Would I be like an older person sitting around doing nothing or would I be like the sweet little ladies trying to hang out with the teenagers? Who would I be? What would my life bring forth?

 

   Here I sit writing, something I never planned on doing in all of my days. Something I never dreamed possible, yet here I am. You never know where the Lord is going to take you in this great adventure called life, but one thing is for sure, it will not be boring, if the Lord is leading the way. 

 

   The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. (Proverbs 16:31)



THE WOODPECKER TEACHES US DILIGENCE

   Have you ever watched a woodpecker hammering his head against a tree? How can this bird continuously hammer away like this? A woodpecker might ram his head 8,000 to 12,000 times against a tree on any given day in order to find food to eat or to build a home for itself. Hello! I have a headache just thinking about what he does in search of food. My brain gets rattled just having to search through the pantry for something to eat.

   The woodpecker hangs onto the tree with his feet. He has two toes that point upward and two that point downward in the back. He also uses his tail to support himself onto the tree. He is able to hold on, in this manner, for long periods of time.

   The woodpecker will spend hours in search of bugs, seeds, nuts or fruit. It will go to great lengths in order to gather a meal. He constantly hammers away in search of an insect or some tree sap buried under the bark in the tree.

   What if we were as diligent about finding food for our soul as the woodpecker is about finding one little bug. We would be considered spiritual millionaires. Many people have the Word of God laying right before them daily and they never think about picking it up. It would be so easy to feed the soul and yet instead, we choose to fill our lives with unhealthy things.

   Let's start being like the woodpecker and going to great lengths to find the fruit of the spirit; which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

   This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, dolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-26)

                                                

   More information can be found on the following link about the woodpecker.
http://birding.about.com/od/birdprofiles/a/15-Fun-Facts-About-Woodpeckers.htm