A glimpse of my life's journey

Proverbs 5:21 (NIV) For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were convinced God wasn’t there? Maybe, you think, He didn’t hear your cries or that he just doesn’t care? I know I sure have. But what I’ve found is the this, the closer I get to Christ and understand his character, the more I realize he has, is, and will always be there by my side – no matter what circumstance – no matter where I am or have been in my relationship with him.  God is near and continually watches over my path (Proverbs 5:21).  He cares so much about me that all my days have been ordered and numbered by him (Psalm 139:16). Furthermore, he knows the number of hairs on my head (Matthew 10:30) and he has and will continue to wipe every tear from my eyes (Rev. 7:17, 21:4). He loves us even when we are unlovable. It blew me away when He revealed this truth in my life during a praise and worship session I attended this weekend.

The songs chosen opened my eyes and ears so that I could receive a special message from the Lord.

 “When it's all been said and done

There is just one thing that matters

Did I do my best to live for truth?

Did I live my life for you?”

 After hearing these words I began the process of thinking back through my life.

 

I will always sing your praise

Here on earth and ever after

For you've showed me heaven's my true home

When it's all been said and done

You're my life when life is gone...

 
It was while singing “I Surrender All” God revealed my entire life, from the moment I received Jesus’s invitation to “come” and “follow” him at 11years-old until that very Saturday morning. This imagery was AWESOME! There it was, my entire life laid out before me. At the beginning of the path I saw my shaking body step out of the pew and into the isle at my family’s Baptist church, Jesus beside me leading the way. Continuing down the path, I came to a fork to the left. This fork led to a glimpse of my teen and early adult years. During this time, friends and other things were a huge distraction and pulled me away from Jesus into things I never dreamed I’d ever do. Jesus, clearly “last” on my list, was still there beside me. He hadn’t left me even though I chose to go in a different direction. At the end of the fork, I saw myself battered and bruised by the “junk” of this world. Jesus was there too, even when I couldn’t feel him. He held me and told me he loved me no matter how far I had stepped away from his perfect plan.

I wept as I allowed the words to the next song to wash over me.

 

Hallelujah, hallelujah

For our Lord God Almighty reigns

Hallelujah, hallelujah

For our Lord God Almighty reigns

Hallelujah

 Hands held high, I lost myself in the music and sang praises to and worshiped the Lord.

Holy Holy

Are You Lord God Almighty

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

You are Holy 

The last song began to play, just as God began to reveal my life line once more. Jesus and I were back on the path and I could hear his voice “your entire life has led you to this place Sheri. Use what I have given you to reach others for me.”

 One thing we ask of you

One thing that we desire

That as we worship you

Lord come and change our lives

Arise, Arise, Arise, Arise

Jesus did change my life that morning. I saw His sovereignty throughout my life and how it has led me to this the very place. I can’t put into words how excited I am to see what he’s going to do next.

Do you have a "trusted other"?

Proverbs 9:6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9 looks specifically at both wisdom and foolishness. Reading through the entire book of Proverbs I have “heard” wisdom’s voice – but did I apply the wisdom I heard to my life?

In the very first verse of this Proverb I read “Wisdom has built her house.” Meaning I can’t expect to be wise all of a sudden. It’s a continual process that takes time. Wisdom begins by stopping my foolish ways (v. 6) and starting to respect the Lord (v. 10).  I have to grow in Him; learn from Him; listen to Him and to the advice of trusted others. 

It is important to stop here and define who a “trusted other” is. A “trusted other” is someone who has gained wisdom themselves by putting their faith, hope and trust in the Lord.  I urge you not to go to “friends” seeking guidance for your life when they themselves are not walking in the light of Christ. It is so important to seek out friends that have already obtained the wisdom we desire. Friends that haven’t obtained the wisdom we desire can lead us astray.

Proverbs 9:17 warns “stolen water is sweeter, and food eaten in secret tastes better.” I know that I can get wrapped up in the “things” of this world. After all, if sin wasn’t so much fun no one would do it… right? Take a look at what the very next verse, verse 18has to say. “But these people don’t know that everyone who goes there dies, that her guests end up deep in the grave.”

Well meaning friends who don’t know Christ can lead us down a worldly path to death and destruction. I am trying to live a life that honors Christ, so it is up to me to seek out those friends who give me Godly counsel.

Proverbs 9 verse 11 says when we live wisely; we will live life to its fullest – because wisdom adds years to our lives (v. 11).

Related reading: Matthew 7:13 – 14, Matthew 7:21 – 23, Galatians 6: 7 – 8, Matthew 6:24, Romans 6:23

What does God see when He looks down at you?

I am so thankful that God’s grace and mercy allowed me to get out of bed this morning. As I sat down to read Psalm 14, I couldn’t help but be reminded of His great mercy when I read verses 2 & 3:

(NIV) “The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned side, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

No one on this earth is perfect. Not one. When God created us, He created us to be in relationship with Him. Adam and Eve were given an entire garden to live in and walk with God. BUT, everything changed when they made the decision to disobey Him. There was a penalty that had be paid and the wages, death (Romans 6:23). So who should die? God set in motion his plan of salvation. He still wanted a relationship with His children so He sent His only Son as a ransom for all (John 3:16).

We are invited to come to Christ all battered and bruised with the junk this world throws at us. We give Him our “hurts” and ask Him to begin the healing process in our lives. As we begin to trust Christ with our “stuff” we turn more and more of ourselves over to Him. The relationship begins to blossom. The closer our walk with Christ becomes, it’s important not to take it for granted. We must always be searching our hearts and minds and constantly be in prayer and His word or Satan will find a way to gain a foothold in the way we think.

When we are closer to Christ, Satan has to work harder to trip us up; but sin is Satan’s specialty. Satan can plant a seed of doubt and make it grow quicker than the blink of an eye. Don’t fall for it. Stay grounded in Christ. Acknowledge him in all your ways and he will make your path straight (Proverbs 3:6).

What do people see when they look at you?

2 Corinthians 6: 1 - 4(NCV) “We are workers together with God, so we beg you: Do not let the grace that you received from God be for nothing. God says, "At the right time I heard your prayers. On the day of salvation I helped you." — Isaiah 49:8 I tell you that the "right time" is now, and the "day of salvation" is now. We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so nothing we do will be a problem for anyone. But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems.”

When we accept Christ as our Savior, we ourselves become an ambassador for Jesus Christ. As Christians (which means little Christ) people tend to view everything we do through different lenses. In some cases, everything we say and do is put under a microscope as if they are just waiting for us to trip up so they can say “I thought you were a Christian!” Have you ever experienced that before?

In many cases the only Jesus some people will ever see is the Jesus we show them throughout our daily activities. So what does that Jesus look like at work? How does that Jesus handle conflict with coworkers? How does that Jesus utilize company time and resources? What about at home, how does that Jesus treat family and friends? How does that Jesus forgive? How does that Jesus handle anger? How does that Jesus discipline children? I could go on but do you see my thought process here?

Looking at how people view my life through this lens blew my mind.

Paul’s point: We must always be mindful of what our action communicate about Jesus Christ to others.

I got some things to work on… anybody with me?