Glass House Ministries

Meet our Newest Family Member!

2012-02-04T20:22:00.000-06:00

Introducing our wonderful new grandson, Elias James Miller. He was born January 31, 2012, weighing in at 7 pounds and 12.5 ounces, 20 inches long. What a precious blessing from our Lord! Praise His holy name!

No White Flag Here!

2012-01-27T05:00:00.011-06:00

I've been reading a historical Christian romance series set in the era of the Civil War. One thing that strikes me about that war was the "integrity" of its rules. Both sides faced off, fought valiantly during the daylight hours, stopped to sleep at night, and resumed the fight at daybreak. This may or may not be how it really was, but it is, nonetheless, how it is depicted in these books. Another thing that strikes me as I read is the surrender process. Not until an army retreats or declares its surrender does the other army claim victory and lay hold of the spoils. Again, whether or not this is how it truly happened, far be it from me to say.

I began to think of these rules of engagement in terms of the spiritual war in which every Christian is embroiled, whether or not he or she believes it. As children of God, we are conscripted into His army and fight as the church against the powers of darkness. Satan, our enemy, can only lay hold of the spoils of a victory if we surrender them to him. If we naively refuse to believe in the reality of the battle, we have already surrendered, giving him full reign and rule over our lives. However, if we fight this war to which we are called, he cannot claim from us our God-given heritage ... unless we surrender it.

Then I began to think of the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are a heritage we have from God, qualities developed within the hearts, minds, and lives of every Christian who submits to the ministrations of the Holy Spirit within us. How awesome was it to think that the enemy cannot have my love, my joy, my peace, my faith ... UNLESS I SURRENDER it to him.

How sobering it was to remember the many times I've just rolled over and surrendered all of it to him, while I nurtured fear, worry, frustration, anger, jealousy, bitterness, unforgiveness, depression ... and that was just yesterday!

The war we face begins in our minds. And we wage this battle every minute of every day. It's our choice, ours alone, how we will wage that war. We can choose to be a victim ... or we can choose to be victorious. And the choice begins with the very thoughts we think; those thoughts will dictate our attitudes and our actions.

If you're reading this and feeling convicted, feeling like you'd like to do better ... first, join the club! ... and second, remember that the battle is not yours, but the Lord's. This is not a battle we can fight in our own strength. It will be a battle fought and won in our thought lives, BUT only time in God's presence and in His Word will renew our minds and our thought lives. Turn to Him and let Him have His way in you, and get ready to be amazed!

God bless,
Cheri

Expectations

2012-01-20T16:22:00.000-06:00

As I sit staring at the blinking cursor on my computer screen, I have expectations of this blog post, hopes that it might minister to those who read it. When I dated "that guy" for so many years, I had expectations that he would one day be my husband ... expectations that led me to make stupid choices as a teen who thought she knew it all. When I finally gave my heart to the Lord in my mid-twenties, I expected that life would be a fairy tale from that point forward, perfect and without blemish. When hubby and I raised our children in the love and admonition of the Lord, we couldn't imagine them ever making choices contrary to His path. And the list could go on and on ... and on. I suspect each of you readers has your own list, as well.

Expectations. They can be the backbone of pride that comes before the fall. They can be the source of heart-rending pain when things don't go as we think they should. They can take us far from God when we imagine that He has failed to live up to His end of the bargain as we saw it. And they can keep us far from God when we assume He is sick and tired of the messes we make of our lives with all our expectations and assumptions.

Expectations. They can be a lot of things. Most of all, it seems that they can be unmet ... and therein is the danger. What will I do when my expectations are disappointed? How will I respond to the person or the circumstance that challenges my expectations? Will I grow angry and pout? Will I demand my way in a fit of temper? Will I fume and sputter and grow bitter at a world that doesn't see fit to treat me as if I am "all that"? Will I blame God and make myself a victim? Or will I turn to God and ask Him to help me understand?

Dealing with expectations has been a constant source of trial throughout my 50+ years. And I have tried all the responses I suggested in the paragraph above. There is only one that worked, and that was the last one, of course (turning to God to find understanding); the one that demanded I humble myself and consider the possibility that I don't know everything. Maybe there is more than one way to get a thing done, and maybe mine isn't necessarily the best or the only way. Maybe God is using the circumstance to teach me, or them, or both of us, a thing or two. Or just maybe someone else's way works better than my own! Humbling thought.

And that's exactly where God needs me to be: humbled. It is only when I get out of the way that He can move in my life and bring harmony where there is discord, bring understanding where there is confusion, bring peace where there is chaos.

Expectations in and of themselves are not bad. They can keep me motivated and working towards God's call in my life. It's when those expectations climb up on the throne of my life and do not leave room for God to sit there. When fulfillment of my expectations becomes the source of my comfort, peace, and joy ... when seeing them go unmet means I cannot live in peace or enjoy my life ... that's when expectations have become a bad thing. That's when I have to surrender them, letting God once again have His way in my heart and in my life, for it's only when He is on the throne of my life that I can find true peace and happiness; only then that I can love others as He loves me.

God bless,
Cheri

Always Last to be Chosen?

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-06:00

Do you remember back in school ... P.E. class? Teams for the day's game were selected by team captains? For those who were good at sports, the team captains fought over them, wanting them on their team. For the rest of us, we stood around miserably, waiting to be chosen. I was one of the have-not's when it came to sports; I had not one ounce of athletic ability. For today's post, I even had to look up how to spell the word ~ athletic! And for that very reason, I hated gym class. I was always last to be chosen for the team on game days.

If it isn't athletics, most of us can identify with the feeling of being "not-good-enough" at something, that feeling of being under-qualified, unable, less-than ... somehow deficient.

I have good news! You may never have been chosen by anyone else, but if you are part of God's kingdom, He picked you specifically; He has called and commissioned you for a purpose uniquely designed for you and you alone. No one else can fulfill the purpose for which you were created.

I can already hear you thinking: She said, "If you are a part of God's kingdom...." Make no mistake. It's not just select individuals who have been chosen and selected by God. He sent His Son to die for all of mankind. John 3:16 tells us that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." Whoever. That means that any person who accepts God's provision (Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day) for their sin, has been chosen by God.

How do I know you have been chosen? God's word says so:

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

He calls us a royal priesthood. In that day, the royal priests were chosen by kings. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords has chosen you to be a member of His royal priesthood. That's pretty heady stuff. What does a priest do? A priest mediates between God and man. We are called to mediate between God and man; we "go between" the two. We represent God to man by sharing the good news of the gospel. And we represent man to God by being an intercessor on man's behalf; we stand in the gap prayerfully for those we love and care about, those who need prayer ... both those who know Him and those who still need to meet Him.

We are chosen and commissioned to share God with man, and we are each uniquely equipped to reach a certain group in a certain way; that's how profound the love of God is for each man or woman. He knows exactly what we each need to be able to "see" Him, and He chooses to reveal Himself to others through us, His ambassadors.

Meditate on that truth, and you can't help but feel special.

God bless,
Cheri and Wayne

Reflections ~ A New Year's Prayer

2011-12-31T23:55:00.024-06:00

As one year draws to a close and another looms on the horizon, I am drawn to reflect on all that 2011 has held for our family. There have been blessings beyond measure and trials that have caused us to cling to our Savior. Our family has enjoyed health, employment, and comfortable living conditions. Our three grandchildren are blossoming into wonderful youngsters. Our children, all young adults now, are living good lives, seeking the Lord's will for their futures. Springtime brought a scare with Dad Hardaway's stroke, which turned out to be mild and left us with much to be thankful for; we also experienced sorrow when my cousin lost her son to an early death and another cousin had to move her dad, my uncle, to an assisted-living facility. We also experienced the aggravation of natural "aging" in our 15-year-old home, evidenced by the end of life for several household appliances, one of which was the pressure tank on our water system; when it "gave up," it left us with a small flood in the kitchen. There were also specific milestones that we saw this year: In June, we celebrated the fifth year of sobriety of our second son, who went through the Teen Challenge program. In September, we witnessed his marriage to a wonderful young woman. In early October, we rejoiced with our oldest daughter, at a baby shower to welcome Elias, who will be our fourth grandbaby, in January 2012. Later in that same month, we said an unexpected good-bye to my dad, who went on to enjoy the rewards of Heaven. In November, we gave thanks for the graduation of our son from college, with a Bachelor's degree in business marketing. In December, we saw this same son start into graduate school. We also watched our daughter graduate from nursing school, the salutatorian of her class. Along the way, we grew in love and relationship with friends, family, and our God. What blessings He has poured out upon us. What a full year it has been.

This year marked the end of an era for my sister and me, as we lost our last living parent. In the midst of all the goodness that God gave, there was also the intense sorrow of that event. A time of loss. A sadness that we are without the two people who nurtured us into the people we have become. This event brought the truth of Ecclesiastes 3 home to our hearts in a very poignant way. "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die..."

I am not one to set New Year's resolutions, for I find that they are always broken anyhow. But as I reflect on the year I've lived and the one that lies ahead, I know that I am here on this earth for but a moment, and it is my prayer that I will live my life in a way that lives on beyond my physical presence. I want to leave a legacy of faith and love. When my children and family remembers me, I want them to think of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then I will have lived a life worth living, loved in a way that brings life. That is my heart's desire with this blog ... for the Glass House prayer ministry ... for our book Worth Every Tear ~ that they be a vehicle of God's love, grace, and mercy; that they point the way to hope, to the Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't know what lies in store for the year 2012, but I know I will meet the challenges and celebrate the blessings the same way I did in 2011, with my hand in His. There is no hope, no peace, no joy apart from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

Praying that you each have a peaceful, blessed, and prosperous 2012, and that the lessons of 2011 will bear God's fruit in your lives and in the lives of all who God might bring across your paths.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T05:00:00.007-06:00

There are very sincere Christians who don't celebrate Christmas because there is substantial evidence that Jesus' birthday did not actually fall on December 25th. And there are equally sincere Christians who do celebrate the season. How does one decide what to do?

Our pastor said something at church earlier this month that made a lot of sense. The Bible is very specific about everything in life that is essential to truth and life. If the Bible doesn't specify an exact date, then maybe the e-x-a-c-t date of the birth of our Savior was not something that God wanted us to major on. Maybe ... just maybe ... He was more concerned that we focus on the Savior Himself. It is a fact that He was born, that He came to this earth a babe in a manger. Why did He come? To provide salvation for all humankind. The gift is there for the taking.

Maybe the Father would rather we take the opportunity that is available for us at this time of year to share the Savior with others who are celebrating "the holidays." Many have no clue why Christmas is celebrated. Is it because the jolly fat man in the red suit rides his reindeer-powered sleigh all across the world bringing toys and gifts to feed the greedy, materialistic appetite of the money-driven culture that consumes much of this earth? Or is that the smoke screen the enemy has used to deflect attention from the true reason for the season?

We have a unique opportunity once a year ~ at least for the time being, for the powers-that-be in this world are fast at work to squelch the opportunity ~ to proclaim the birth of a Savior Who came to free us all from the shackles of this life. As for me and my house, we are choosing to make the most of the opportunity while we still have it.

And to that end, we wish you all a very Merry CHRISTmas!

God bless you and yours,
Cheri and Wayne

Where's the Line to See Jesus?

2011-12-23T05:00:00.008-06:00

This video speaks for itself. Enjoy!

How to Make the Enemy Run

2011-12-20T05:00:00.000-06:00

Our pastor showed this at church last week. Simple truth. Profound truth. Encouraging ... empowering ... TRUTH.

Enjoy,
Cheri and Wayne

Romeo & Juliet had at least one thing right ....

2011-12-15T19:24:00.000-06:00

True love is always willing to die. "Death" can have many connotations. For Romeo and Juliet, it meant, in the end, physical death; but it also meant dying to the pressure of carrying on the family grudge match and making different choices for themselves. For some, it can mean dying to a desire, a want that has long been on your list of must-do's, but one that isn't necessarily in the best interests of others in your life. It might mean taking that job you promised your husband you'd take as soon as you finished writing your book ... the job that would help him pay off the debts the family accrued while you spent two decades as a stay-at-home mom, and now you're petrified to return to the working world. (Plus, now you don't have as much time for your cyber-life and you miss your blog and Facebook friends.) It could mean "looking in the mirror" and seeing the plank in your own eye, as opposed to the nice "perfect" image you tend to have of yourself as you pick the speck out of someone else's eye (Matthew 7:3-5). Or how about that bitterness you've been hanging on to because you just know you're right, and if you forgive that other person, he or she might just get off the hook ... sometimes extending forgiveness to someone who has hurt you can make you feel like you are dying.

Jesus says this in John 12:24: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."

There is much "meat" in this Scripture, but the words that grabbed my heart today as I read it were "unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone." I've been thinking a lot about relationships and how they work. There is a cost to any relationship, and for a relationship to be successful and to grow, both people must be willing to die, willing to change, willing to see things from one another's viewpoint. We are like that single grain of wheat, and if we refuse to "die," we may well find ourselves alone. When all is said and done, we might feel we've proven our point and let everyone know that we were right, but we will still be alone. And then what have we really accomplished?

"Well, he owes me ..."
"She never ..."
"I deserve better ..."
"I'm entitled to ..."

Those are just a few of the intro lines to some stinking thinking, the kind of thinking that produces rotten fruit in our lives.

The fruit that is produced in us, in others, and in our relationships when we are willing to "die" is some of the sweetest fruit we'll ever taste in this life. The sweetness of a child reconciled to parents after months or years of misunderstanding is an amazing thing. The weight that falls away from us when we let go of bitterness and forgive is a lightness beyond compare. The beauty of a marriage that has gone beyond its "honeymoon phase" to the deeper and richer love that comes with many decades together, decades that could only see the light of day because both persons were willing to work and work hard to keep their love alive, is something we see little of in today's disposable world, but it's worth it. Just ask those "love birds" who've been together for 50 years. The mercy and grace you see in older folks ... those who've lived for years and had time to nurture a wisdom that comes from a life well-lived ... that's the kind of maturity that makes you want to be like them when you grow up.

It's this kind of love that sent Jesus to his birthplace in the manger, and then on to the cross in our place thirty-three years later. God was willing to let His Son die that we might live. Jesus was willing to die in our place (John 3:16). That's true love. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it. It's just there and you humble yourself to receive it, a free gift. God is our first love, the one and only true lover of our souls. It is His Spirit that helps us to "die" in order to learn to love others as He loves us.

Romeo and Juliet were willing to die for their love. So how do you rate as a lover? Are you willing to die?

On my best days, I have a long ways to go. I want to love as God loves, but so often I fall short and my flesh has its way. No, I don't rate a ten as a lover, and I'm not always as willing to die as I should be, or as willing as I want to be. But I do know this: I'm one step closer to that kind of maturity today than I was yesterday. And I'll be another step closer tomorrow.

God bless you,
Cheri

Even in the Morning ...

2011-12-03T12:02:00.000-06:00

If you've lived any number of years, you've likely learned that God has a sense of humor. I see it at work in my own life at least once a day; He regularly uses it to encourage me not to take myself so seriously. I mean, I can really get wrapped up in my own head ... what I think ... what I feel ... what I know ... what I want. Take the whole concept of marriage for instance ~ two entirely separate and unique individuals come together and live as one. It sounds romantic in the movies, even easy, but working it out in the trenches of everyday, real life can be a challenge. Marriage is hard work, and for many not a light enough subject to be a laughing matter. But for today, let's look at the lighter side.

They say opposites attract and that seems to be true enough. I've always been a night owl. Regardless of how tired I am, I usually get a second wind in the evening. That's usually when creativity strikes and I feel obliged to run with it so as not to lose it. I have been known to go to bed with wheels spinning, ideas for a blog post or some other writing endeavor bouncing around in my brain, demanding to be heard. At some point, the only way to silence and sleep is to finally roll over, switch on the light, and jot notes on the pad I keep near the bed. Meanwhile, dear hubby has been sawing logs, literally, since about thirty seconds before his head hit the pillow. Hmmm ... Could it be his snoring and not necessarily the tug of creativity that keeps me awake? Just one more way that this "old" married couple has learned to work together! :) :) :)

Dear man, my husband hates to go to bed without me, so he has adjusted to sleeping with a light on until I am ready for sleep. And I have learned to use a little book light, so he can get some rest while I accommodate my nocturnal side. Compromise ... a by-product of two becoming one, and a close cousin of the communication and consideration that such a blending demands of both partners.

This creative night owl morphs into a very grumpy bear in the morning hours, while hubby usually wakes up bright-eyed and bushy tailed. The alarms sings good morning, and momma bear grumbles and mumbles from her side of the bed, "Hit the snooze button." I have to confess that after twenty-seven years together, I've hooked my husband on the snooze alarm. When we were first married, he would jump out of bed as soon as the alarm went off, ready for his day. (Drove this night owl nuts!) Now, he likes to cuddle, and morning is his favorite time, especially since he falls asleep so early.

Brrrring! Man, five-thirty sure comes early. Hubby hits the snooze button, and we drift off into nine more minutes of blissful sleep.

Brrrring! Hubby hits snooze again, and I drift away for nine more minutes. I mean, that's only fair, right? I set the alarm early on purpose, so I can trick my mind into thinking I'm getting more sleep than I'm entitled to. Hubby, however, is now wide awake. Awake, but not ready to get up. He rolls over, wraps his arm around me and snuggles in. That part's nice. It's the talking part that irritates me. I don't want to talk; I want to sleep.

Brrrring! At this point, after twenty-seven years, you'd think I'd just give it up. But I still hold out hope. It's my last snooze before I have no further choice but to face the world. Nine more minutes of heaven. Sleep. A few more minutes of sleep. *Happy sigh*

That dear man snuggles his head on my shoulder and his hair tickles my nose. I shake it away, and he repositions. Then he rubs my arm and tells me how soft my skin is; his touch, soft and sweet, feels like sandpaper. I am trying to SLEEP!

"Have I told you that I love you today?"

At this point, I've rolled over, putting my back to him, to remind him that I am still sleeping. Sleeping people do not talk, so I do not answer. Maybe he'll get the message, right? After all, I do have six more minutes before I have to face the day.

Undaunted, he says, "You're beautiful, did you know that?"

I mumble something unintelligible, but my mind is now awake. I have four more precious minutes before my feet must hit the floor, and I begin to mentally check off what has to be done this day.

Wayne is still cuddling and my mind is busy with my to-do list when the last alarm sounds. It's time. (At this point I am reminded of the old Dunkin Donuts' commercial.)

I yawn. We both stretch. Reluctantly, I move to get up. But before I can, Wayne plants a soft kiss on my cheek and whispers, "I'm the luckiest man in the world to be married to you."

"I love you," I answer. I am struck anew at the wonder of what a special man I married. Twenty-seven years of my night owl/morning grump routine has not dampened the spark of his love and affection. I can't help but love my bright-eyed, bushy-tailed morning-person man. I'm the lucky one!

He grins and gets up. "I know you do ... even in the morning."

Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with my family and people in this life to love me as You do. May I never forget how You love me through them, and may I learn to love better ... may I learn to love as You do.

Amen,

Cheri

Baffled and Unplugged ...

2011-11-29T10:25:00.000-06:00

Ever feel disconnected from life? Like you can't find yourself ... not sure where you left you? Since my dad died, that's how I've felt. I thought it would pass, that it was just a natural part of the grieving process. And likely it is and it will. But the whole uncomfortable feeling is hanging around a lot longer than I care for. I'm going through the motions of life, but it's as if someone doused me with Novocain ... everything is a bit numb and desensitized, with periods of intense and unexpected emotional responses that come when I'm the least prepared for them.

Things were different after I lost my mom eleven years ago. Certainly I grieved, but I never lost my sense of self. Maybe it was because I still had Dad. Maybe it was because Mom was on hospice and we were "waiting" for God to release her from the pain she was in ... more emotional preparation, more closure for the loss. I don't know why, but this time it's like I've been uprooted ... ungrounded ... disconnected ... unplugged. Not every minute of every day, but times ... too often ... of that unwelcome feeling. It's almost like I cannot find me because I'm not sure who I am anymore.

I wrote last month a post titled A Tribute from this Place, in which I shared how hard it is that the rest of the world continues on after we've lost a loved one, but it feels as if our own world has simply stopped in its tracks. I'm still in that place. A person who usually bounces back fairly quickly from things, I find being stuck here very unsettling ... sort of a "fake it 'til you make it" charade. And if you've known me for long, you know that I'm not good at charades.

I don't have much else to say. I'm reading my Bible. I'm back in church after all the traveling, etc. I know God is good ... all the time. I know He has not left me; I am never alone. I know He is carrying me through this time, as He has carried me through every other trial in my life. I know He loves me; He loves me so much that He allowed His Son to die in my place. I know I am covered by His grace and mercy. That's what I'm hanging on to, for all I'm worth ... until I find "me" again.

I have so much to give thanks to God for in my life:

Our son just graduated from college and is starting graduate school.
Same son just got married this past September, to a wonderful young woman of God.
Our daughter and her husband are expecting their first baby in January, a new grandson.
Same daughter will graduate from nursing school in less than two weeks.
Our oldest son and his family are all healthy and doing well in Texas.
Our youngest daughter is thriving in the Lord and dating a wonderful young man.
Wayne and I still like each other, even after 27 years of marriage! That's a big one these days!
Dad left his affairs in great order, so taking care of his estate has not been too difficult.
Losing both our parents has brought my sister and I into a place of deeper bonding.
Wayne's parents are both in good health and serving the Lord in San Antonio.

I could go on and on. That's what baffles me so about how I am feeling. I am thankful. I know God loves me. I know He is watching over our family. Why, then, this sense of disconnection?

I know many of our readers have lost loved ones. For any who are of a mind to share, I'd love to hear how your own experience was similar or different from mine. Leave a word of encouragement. Ask for prayer. We're in this together.

In His love,

Cheri

This Duck Laid an Egg!

2011-11-04T05:00:00.009-05:00

We've all been there. A friend has lost someone they love, and we want to comfort them, but we have no idea what to say. Sometimes we say nothing. Sometimes we bumble through with words that just don't feel quite right, but they are still appreciated ... we think ... we hope.

I've read that it's best to make an attempt at comfort, rather than to avoid saying anything at all, for fear of saying the wrong thing. Generally, I would have to agree with this wise counsel ...

E-X-C-E-P-T for a conversation my sister shared with me the other day.

She'd called an insurance company (said company shall remain nameless ... for they really cannot be held responsible for the ignorance of the person who answered the phone on their behalf, can they?) to report the death of our dad, since she'd received a bill for his next premium. The young man who took her call asked the usual questions, ending with:

"So when did your father expire?"

What?!

Was Dad a gallon of milk? A package of luncheon meat? A bottle of Tylenol?

Maybe I'm ignorant, but in my world loved ones don't "expire," they pass away or die. We don't check their expiration date and toss them in the trash.

Really? "Un-named Insurance Company," we certainly expected more of you!

So I cannot begin to tell you the right words to say to someone who loses a loved one. But I can tell you what NOT to say!

Have a great day!

Cheri

PS - Lest I be misunderstood, our "un-named insurance company" might need to tweak the training of their customer service representatives a bit, but I stand on record as saying this company is still an excellent insurance company.

A Tribute from this place ...

2011-10-28T17:58:00.000-05:00

Wow. I've been in this place before. I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. It's that space you find yourself in after a loved one dies. At first, the world shares your shock and sorrow, as you grapple with your loss. People call, visit, send cards ... somehow share in your pain. But all too soon, your tragedy is but a memory to others, while you continue to stand in a void. It seems somehow wrong to move on, as if it is dishonoring to the memory of the one you lost. But the world moves on, with or without you. And you have to make a choice; either you will stay buried in the pain, or you will take baby steps forward, learning to live in your new reality.

I remember being here in this place when my mom died eleven years ago. And now I'm here again, with my dad gone only twelve short days ago. I know there are many who are praying for my sister, for me, and for our family. I know it takes time to move beyond the initial shock and grief. I know that it's okay to just feel the moment and to take the time needed to begin the healing process. But all too soon, I will have to make that first step back into my world, into my life. I must return to work. I must be a wife ... a mom ... a grandma. And I want to do all those things. And my dad would want me to do all those things too. But for a few more days, I will just miss him ... nothing more, nothing less.

Below is a copy of the eulogy I shared at Dad's memorial service. I am posting it here on our blog as a tribute to the wonderful man who was my father.

On behalf of our family, it’s our desire today to celebrate our dad and a life well-lived. Yes, we miss him, and of course we are sad and grieving; selfishly, if we could bring him back, we would. But that’s not what he would want us to focus on here today. His goal in life over these past three years of being ill was to stay positive. He told me that time and again, and that’s what he would want us to do here today.

How does one sum up 75 years of life? My hope in sharing with you today is that you will go away from this place with a better understanding of the man you knew as Gary Nugent, a proud remembrance of the man you called Grandpa and Great-Grandpa, and one last “hug” from the man we were blessed to call Dad.

He wasn’t a wealthy man by our world’s standards, but he was rich in all that really matters ~ the people side of life ~ love, laughter, family and friends. It came through in all the stories he told, and those that knew him best know what a storyteller he was. We heard often about the carefree childhood he and his brothers and sisters shared, despite growing up during the hard times that surrounded the World War II era. They didn’t have the latest and greatest gizmos and gadgets our younger generations know today ~ they had something better. They had relationship, they had imagination; they knew how to work and play hard. Dad talked of playing kick the can and hide-n-seek with every kid in his neighborhood until well after dark. He kept us entertained with tales of the shenanigans he and his siblings got into, the kind of things you can laugh about, unlike the things our kids get into today. It was a more innocent time.

Beaver and Rat, as Dad and his brother George were called, were inseparable ~ and heaven help the one who messed with them, for they’d face the wrath of their older sister “Dotty.” And speaking of wrath, when they got in trouble with their dad ~ which happened from time to time ~ he was known to have them cut their own switch. They all laugh about the time Uncle George came back from his switch hunt dragging a huge limb from a dead tree for the whipping he’d earned. They said even Great-Grandpa Nugent had to hide his laughter behind his hand … but George still got his whipping, something else that’s not the same in today’s day and time.

Dad's stories didn’t stop with childhood. My sister and I grew up on stories about Harvey, the big rabbit … and about the family dog who had a hand in his ear. Daddy would say he’d found our dog using the phone, watching television, or brushing his teeth in the bathroom ~ always after we went to bed, of course. And I remember snuggling with him in his recliner watching Saturday morning cartoons; Wacky Races was one of our favorites, and he would imitate the sinister laugh of Dick Dastardly’s dog, Muttley, while we watched. The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle and Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote were some other favorites.

Kim and I both had friends growing up ~ and friends now ~ who say how much they liked Dad, that we are lucky to have had such a cool dad. His sense of humor and humble spirit left an impression on everyone he knew. Dad’s clowning around was a gift; right before he walked me down the aisle on my wedding day, to help lessen my nerves, he leaned over to me with his balding head and whispered, “I sure hope my hair doesn’t get in my eyes,” and off we marched to the altar, with me grinning from ear to ear.

Speaking of marriage, Dad and Mom were married for 44 years. Their marriage wasn’t perfect, but their love was forever. They shared some great times and some not-so-great times, like any marriage, but they stuck together through every minute of it. Mom battled cancer several times in the last years of her life, and I can count on one hand alone the number of doctor visits Dad missed. Even with working nights, he insisted on being the one to take her to her chemo treatments.

Dad was a family man. He worked hard, even moving to Texas from New York, to provide a more secure and promising future for his wife and children. He was always supportive of Kim and me in all we did ~ sports, school, activities with friends. And when grandkids arrived, he enjoyed spending time with them. I remember a time that Dad was getting ready to take Corey for a walk, when three-year-old Chelsea piped up, “My feet can walk too, Grandpa.” Then in recent years, as great-grandchildren came along, he had a ball watching them grow. In all my years, I don’t remember an evening when I was with him that Dad didn’t say, “Good night, I love you,” or give us all a hug and a kiss before he went to bed. Both Mom and Dad were that way.

And we cannot forget Dad’s puppies. Especially as he grew older, he enjoyed his pups ~ taking them for walks, sitting in his chair with them on his lap. In fact, Kim’s little Dixie and Dad were best buddies, especially this last year or so when he was the sickest.

Dad always enjoyed making friends and getting to know people. I remember going to softball games when he played with the Post Office leagues. After Mom died, he took up bowling again, and at one point he even bowled on four different leagues at one time. He was always full of stories about his bowling exploits, and he loved to take his grandkids bowling so he could show them off. He was so disappointed when the dialysis made it impossible for him to bowl anymore, because he’d looked forward to bowling with our oldest son Dustin. But he wasn’t to be daunted; when he could no longer bowl, he took up Bingo, and he had a blast doing that. Last summer, Kim, Wayne and I, and Caitie and her boyfriend Blake went to Bingo with Dad, and we had such a good time. And when he wasn’t bowling or “bingo-ing,” he was squishing cans for recycling and taking the pop tops to donate to the Children’s Hospital, or he was doing Sudoku and Crossword puzzles. He loved to keep his mind active and to socialize, and we know he would want all of you ~ his friends ~ to know that you meant the world to him, and he hated that his health was limiting his ability to socialize and enjoy time with you.

By now, I guess it’s obvious that Dad was a hardworking, dedicated family man. He had a generous and loyal heart. He loved his family and his friends. He was compassionate and forgiving, and he and Mom raised us to live the same way. This past spring, when he was on steroids, they kept him from sleeping at night, and he told me once that while he laid awake, he would think about people he knew who were facing tough circumstances and about the state of our world today, and that he would “remember” them, and I came to realize that he was using those sleepless hours to pray for the needs on his heart. That really touched my heart.

When Mom was on hospice, we took turns sitting in pairs beside her bed. One night Dad looked at me and said, “You know, I’m not religious like you and Mom.” I shared that our faith wasn’t about being religious, but that it was about having a relationship with Jesus. Religion is how we try to please and impress God, but the truth is we are born into sin and unable to please God, outside of Jesus. He died to pay for our sin and the only way we can please God is to recognize our need and accept what Jesus did by dying on the cross on our behalf. Since that time, I prayed God would help Dad find that relationship with Christ, which brings more into our lives than religion ever could, and God has given me a peace and assurance that He answered my prayer. I believe in my heart that Dad has stepped into eternity and joined Mom in Heaven ~ where he’s enjoying what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, those things God has prepared for those who love Him, as He tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Scripture charges parents with the responsibility of pointing their children towards Christ. Dad was from a generation that believed some subjects were best just left private – religion, politics – and he wasn’t necessarily comfortable talking about them. But it’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and Mom and Dad painted a perfect picture of God’s love for me and my sister when they adopted her. Beyond discussing with me their desire to adopt a child and our sharing with Kim how she came to be part of our family, adoption was simply an ordinary fact of our family life. There was no difference between Kim and me. The day we picked her up, just weeks old, she was 100% ours, unconditionally, and there was never another thought about it. The only time we ever share that she’s adopted is when we tell people to freak them out, because she and I actually look more like sisters than my own two girls who share the same gene pool. And even though Kim might kick my tush later, I bring the issue up today, because it’s a perfect picture of how God accepts us when we trust in Christ and become part of His family ~ our acceptance is 100%, unconditional, no returns, no refunds. God adopts us into his family as His own children, as we read in Romans 8 and Galatians 4:5. So though we’ve lost our dad today, it’s a temporary loss. If we know Christ, we will join both him and Mom in Heaven one day, and until that day, we have a Father in the Lord.

In closing ~ finally ~ we want each of you to know that you made our dad’s life richer and you have blessed us by being here to honor and celebrate his life with us. We thank you for every thought, call, visit, meal, card, prayer, and gesture of love you’ve sent our way. We thank God for the gift of giving us one last celebration of being all together, each and every one of us, at Corey and Kristi’s wedding last month. I know Dad and Mom are smiling down on us all here today, and Kim and I want to thank them for being the best parents we could ever ask for.

Bye-bye, Daddy ... I love you and I miss you!

2011-10-19T18:59:00.001-05:00

Hi all,

My daddy passed away this past Sunday, October 16th. He was a wonderful man and we will miss him dearly. He had been ill, but his death was unexpected. He went peacefully, and it looked like he was sleeping when he passed.

Click here to visit his memorial page.

God bless,
Cheri and Wayne

On the Block and at His Feet

2011-10-12T05:00:00.009-05:00

One morning recently as I was reading in 1Kings, I came across the passage (1Kings 3:3-5) below:

³ You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the LORD put his foes under the soles of his feet.

⁴ But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.

⁵ And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to my father David, saying, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.”

As I pondered these Scriptures, I had a moment of insight. (This may be quite elementary to many of you; for me it was a flash of understanding. :) )

In the New Testament, we are told that we are the temple of God (1Corinthians 3:15-17). So as God's servants building His temple, we are building ourselves, our character (or more accurately, we are submitting to His building of character within us, rather than running from it). In the Old Testament, David wasn't allowed to build the physical temple, because he had been a man of war. Instead, God had David's son, Solomon, build the physical temple. From those facts, I came to a few conclusions.

1.) When we are in the heat of trials in our lives, we must fight. There is not time for nurturing our "temple"; we are in survival mode.

2.) It is when we are at peace time, when He gives us rest, that we have time to nurture our "temple," His abode.

3.) But, in my own experience, character is built in an individual's life in both circumstances. Thus, I concluded that there are two types of character.

4.) There is the character that we forge in battle, where we learn God's faithfulness firsthand, up close and personal. We build an ability to trust and walk in faith that can be had in no other way, when we come through a battle with Him.

5.) But just as precious is the character that comes from the times of peace, when we have time to sit at His feet and absorb the full and amazing reality of Him, His love for us, and His very BIGNESS.

Each circumstance in life builds an intimacy with God that we can acquire in no other way. And each is necessary to the fullness of an abundant life.

When we are graced with rest, let us not squander those hours; for it is when we sit with Him, at His feet, that we store up treasures that we will need for the battles to come.

And when we are in battles, trials, and we feel as if we cannot go on, let us cling to Him, knowing that He is forging gold within us.

Be encouraged,
Cheri

A Precious Bride

2011-10-05T05:00:00.008-05:00

This photo was taken by my new daughter-in-law's sweet sister. I fell in love with it when I saw it. It speaks of pure joy. A precious bride ready to begin her new life with her husband.

As I thought about the picture, I was reminded of how the Church is the Bride of Christ. And I carried the analogy to its conclusion. Are we, as Christians, full of the pure joy of life with Christ? I mean, we know we are going to heaven, if we belong to Christ. We know that eternal life awaits. We anticipate heaven. But do we really let that knowledge penetrate our daily everyday world? Are we excited about who we are in Him?

Eternity starts here and now. When we receive Him as Lord and Savior, we are new creations. He lives in us. Now. Not just in eternity to come. But here. Now. In essence, eternity begins now. Where's our joy? Where's the excitement?

I am reading a book called The Good Fight of Faith, by Alan Vincent. At the end of the first chapter he says, "God does not need anything to make something. God can create out of nothing. ... God takes what is not, and suddenly it is, just by His speaking! He does not need a little bit of something to already exist in order to turn it into a lot of something. ... If you are the biggest mess there ever was, He can speak the totally new creation in Christ into existence, and it comes forth. You may have had the most horrendous background. You may have been abused all your life. You could have been told all your life that you are not good, just a piece of rubbish. But God says, 'You are pure. You are my cherished, beloved virgin in Christ. I will transform you into something precious, powerful, and valuable.' "

Now that's something to get excited about!

Jump into joy today,
Cheri and Wayne

We All Come with Baggage

2011-09-28T05:00:00.001-05:00

Tall & Thin

Short & Not-so-Thin

Just Plain "Different"

I woke up from a deep sleep one morning last week, apparently having been dreaming about sharing relationship advice. I was explaining ~ very earnestly ~ to a young woman how each person brings baggage into a relationship, and sometimes that baggage isn't very pretty. I went on to tell her how the worst thing we can do is to assume we can change our special someone into who or what we want them to be, who or what we think they should be. We need to love and accept them as they are, just as we want them to do with us.

Ultra Old-Fashioned

Extra Modern

Indescribable

I remembered telling her that during marriage, a couple would eventually find themselves unpacking their respective baggage. I said it was nice when a couple could unpack together, deciding what to keep and what to toss.

In closing, I admonished her that there would be times that there would be no other course than to learn to love "that lime green tote," because it's part of the one we love. For better or for worse.

Crazy, huh?

(Sounds like my own baggage was getting too full and I had to unpack some in my sleep!)

Have a great day!
Cheri

PS - My sincerest apologies to anyone who owns and loves their lime green luggage. :)

There's Trouble Brewing

2011-09-23T05:00:00.013-05:00

America ~ the good ole' USA ~ is in trouble. And it has nothing to do with who's sitting in the Oval Office. Nope, not a thing to do with the President's race, gender, or political affiliation. White, Black ... Male, Female ... Republican, Democrat ... Liberal, or Conservative ... It doesn't matter who is sitting in the chair behind that desk. America will not be the country she once was until we manage to get to the heart of the matter.

I used to be a firm believer that political activism could save America, that if we could just get the "correct person" or the "correct party" in office, we would see things turn around. But I have come to realize that no political party ~ not the Tea Party ... not the Democratic Party ... not the Republican Party ... not the Independent Party ~ is going to save America. The politically correct belief system of the day is not going to save America. A President of a particular race isn't going to save America. A President of a particular gender isn't going to save America.

This is not, nor do I want it to be, a political blog. And I'm not saying that we shouldn't vote. I'm not saying that we shouldn't care about government. I am saying that we need to not be naive enough to believe that's all there is to the matter. And we need to see the bigger picture here.

It's not about who occupies the chair behind the desk in the Oval Office, but rather who sits on the throne in the heart of the person who occupies that chair ... and who sits on the throne in the hearts of the voters who put him or her there. If our country's leaders are not being advised by God Himself ... if the voters aren't listening to Him, there will be no change in America, at least not any change that will make a true difference. It will be simply more of the same greedy, agenda-driven, good ole' boy politickin' ... no matter who sits behind that desk in the Oval Office.

True and lasting change ... beneficial change ... for the American people will come only when God is on the throne. He's the only one who loves every person in the world unconditionally. He doesn't see us according to race, gender, or political beliefs. He sees us as people and He loves us all alike, whether we're men, women ... homosexual, heterosexual ... old, young ... fat, skinny ... healthy, unhealthy ... you get the drift. Yes, He has rules and ways He expects us to live, but even when He cannot approve of our choices, He still loves us as people. He offers the only true hope there is: salvation from the sin nature every single one of us was born into. And until He sits on the throne of the voter's heart, on the throne of the political official's heart ~ and it has to go deeper than lip-service ~ there will be no change in America. At least not the good kind.

Political Activism cannot change America, but prayer can. Prayer is the key.

There's a call to repentance and revival in 2 Chronicles 7:14 ~ If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

God's not talking to those who do not know Him here. He's talking to His own. Change is going to come one person at a time ... in me and in you. Revival will come the same way, and repentance is the necessary precursor to revival.

We must each ask ourselves: Who's on the throne of my heart?

Will we be brave enough to answer the question truthfully? Will we repent and answer the call to revival? Are we willing to pay the price necessary to bring true change to America?

Onward and Upward

2011-09-16T05:00:00.008-05:00

"A mature relationship with Christ is reflected in the capacity to hear whispers of assurance when discouragement is oppressive. And even when we're mishandling frustration by retreating into an angry pout, mature depth won't let us escape the convicting awareness that we're designed to love, even in this situation."

As I read that passage in Inside Out, by Dr. Larry Crabb, a scene from my past immediately popped into my head: I stood on the worship stage at the front of the church, waiting to sing for my first time with the worship team. I could barely breathe. I don't know if I was more terrified of my singing debut or of the young couple who faced me in the audience.

Just minutes before service was to start, a familiar voice drew my attention. "Mom, we came to surprise you."

They'd succeeded!

My son and his girlfriend ~ fiancee', actually, I was soon to find out ~ had come to share the news of their decision to get married.

What should have been a joyful announcement was marred by the fact that we'd barely spoken to our son more than three times in the past nine months since he'd left home angry, after a year of misunderstandings between us during his senior year of high school.

Over ten years has passed since that day, and my son and his lovely wife have given us three beautiful grandbabies. Things have improved tremendously in our relationships, and we are so thankful to God for helping us reconcile over the years.

But I will be the first to admit that I often struggle with our relationship. Satan is vested in reminding me of past hurts, trying to keep a wall built between us; and I feel safe to say he does the same to both my son and my daughter-in-law, when there is opportunity. And opportunity quickly presents itself whenever we let our guard down. The enemy is always there, waiting ... ready to pounce ... ready to whisper lies ... ready to remind us of old feelings. It's our job to remember the healing God has done in each of us, to counter the devil's lies with the truth.

We are all new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We are growing in our ability to love Him (Matthew 22:37).
We are growing in our ability to love each other (Matthew 22:39).
The past is just that; the past.
We need to leave it there.

Each time the enemy comes and tries to tempt us to go "back there" and relate to one another as those old creations, we need to put him in his place ~ behind us! It is then and there that God's glory will shine in each of us and in our/His overcoming love.

We are pressing onward toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). We don't have to wait until Heaven to enjoy peace, love, and joy... it is ours to have here. It is the abundant life He has promised us (John 10:10).

Onward and upward,
Cheri

My Safe Place

2011-09-09T05:00:00.004-05:00

It was inevitable. My spiritual destiny was to be a writer. I have always found my escape in books. When I was a girl, they were my safe place ... a way to bury myself in another world when I wanted to get away from the real one in which I lived. With a mom who struggled with alcoholism and the many complications that can come with that, there were many times I needed an escape. As an adult, getting lost in a good book feels like going on a mini-vacation. And I have always found it easier, on paper, to articulate my thoughts and feelings, than in person; it seems less scary to put often treacherous thoughts and feelings on paper than to toss them into the airwaves. It's the way I was created.

The whole concept came radically home to my heart when I was leaving our local library the other day. I'd dropped by to pick up a book I wanted to read, and as I wandered through the stacks, I was transported to another time and place. Peace enveloped me as I strolled between the towers of books. When the door closed behind me as I exited, I felt light and happy, smiling at those who were about to enter that quiet domain.

As I reflected on "the library" during my drive home, I realized that a transformation has taken place in my life. Whereas the library, as a young girl, represented a safe place ... the stories an escape from reality, today God is my safe place. I don't have to hide from the pain or the past anymore. He was with me then, even though I didn't realize it; and He's with me now.

Books and the library are still a refuge, a pleasure that He allows me to enjoy, but He is my Refuge. He is my Rock. He is my Protector and Provider. I used to write to retreat from the overwhelming emotions that I couldn't handle or control. Now I write to share what He's done in my life, to share His hope. Writing has become a bridge for me to reach out to others, to share the God I love and Who loves me ... the God Who wants to love them too.

Stay safe,
Cheri

My Memorial Stone (is actually a box)

2011-09-02T05:00:00.195-05:00

A friend called recently to inquire where my future daughter-in-law had her wedding registries, so she could purchase the couple a gift. During the course of our conversation we reflected on how faithful and amazing God has been in my son's life. She mentioned driving by the Teen Challenge donations box near her home and reflecting on that very thing: "Look how far You have brought him, Lord, since that day a little over five years ago. Then, Wayne and Cheri simply wanted to see their son safe and walking with the Lord. Now, he's set to graduate from college, enrolled in graduate school, and engaged to be married."

These boxes are all around our community, and whenever I drive by one, I give God thanks for using the Teen Challenge ministry to get hold of our youngest son and help him turn his life around. When we finally woke up as parents and came to understand that our son's substance abuse wasn't just a passing phase that he would grow out of, Teen Challenge was there for us. What a life-changing ministry.

I'll never forget the night we gave our nineteen-year-old the ultimatum: Get help or get out. We can't watch you self-destruct. Fear warred with faith over the next three days, as we waited for his decision. We told him we'd take him to Teen Challenge or to his destination of choice; and we let him know that if he refused help, we would not be available to subsidize his lifestyle of self-destruction. By God's grace, he chose Teen Challenge.

It's unlikely that Wayne or I ~ or our daughters ~ will ever forget that Friday's five or six-hour trip north to the induction center. The car was silent as a tomb; and that's how it felt, like something was dying. I prayed it wasn't our relationship with our son. Yes, he had freely chosen to go to Teen Challenge, but it wasn't something he was excited or happy about. "Freedom of choice" is a relative thing. People enslaved to drugs think they are "free" to do what they please, but they are really in bondage to their addiction.

When we left our son there, we had no idea what the future held for him. The program is completely voluntary. He could leave at any time. He'd agreed to go to keep peace with us, but he could easily walk out on the one-year commitment he'd agreed to when he signed the induction papers. Thus began a year of visits every few weeks ... a year of wondering if he'd stay ... a year of intense prayer and personal soul-searching for all of us, parents and children alike.

We didn't come to that crisis place in our parenting journey over night, and everything wasn't going to be fixed with a signature on a piece of paper or an ultimatum from parent to child. No, every single one of us had to wrestle it out with God. As parents, we'd done our best ... and our best was a long way from perfect. Had our mistakes caused our son to use drugs? What could we have done differently? As a young man having grown up in a Christian home, our son had to make his own choices in life. Would he embrace the God of his parents? Would he continue to walk in the ways of the world? Our daughters had to deal with the family fall out from both their brothers having turned to substance abuse and lifestyles contrary to how they were raised. Why had this happened to their brothers? Were Mom and Dad to blame? Would they be strong enough themselves to avoid temptation when it came their way? Substance abuse doesn't just affect the abuser; it affects every single person who loves him or her, and often the patterns of relating formed in families and the examples set will cause the abuse to repeat itself for generations, especially without intervention of some kind.

The good news is that Christ came to set the captives free, and He did just that for our son. Christ can work through any avenue, as long as He is invited into the situation. Teen Challenge isn't the only right way. Our oldest son didn't go through the Teen Challenge program, but he too has returned to his faith and is growing stronger every day. Never, ever, underestimate the power of prayer!

Tomorrow we will celebrate the marriage of our son to a beautiful young woman whom God has brought into his life. They have attended church together for the past five years, and over the past three years they developed a deep friendship and decided that God has called them to marriage.

When I helped our son pack for Teen Challenge those many years ago, I tucked a card into his Bible. He found it the first night he was there, and he said that the verse within has always ministered to him: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

That time period in our family felt like the crossing of the River Jordan to me, like we were taking a giant step of faith into our future, entering our Promise Land. And just as God commanded Joshua to set up memorial stones in chapter 4 of the book of Joshua, as a reminder of all that God had done for His people, how He had made the way for them to cross over into the Promise Land ... that's how I see those Teen Challenge donation boxes across our state and in our community. They are a reminder to me of God's faithfulness to answer the prayers of broken-hearted parents, to answer the prayers of children who have lost their way. God wants to answer prayers. He longs to set people free. If you'd like to know more about our story, our family memoirs, Worth Every Tear ~ Forever and for Always, is available for purchase here.

Be encouraged today,
Cheri and Wayne

Too Sophisticated for the Truth?

2011-08-26T05:00:00.047-05:00

It is easy when we read Scripture for us to regard it as a story of times past, something that happened long ago, not relevant to today. It's one of the enemy's subtle ploys, to make us feel too sophisticated for the truth, to make us feel that we know best ... better than God.

It's not just Scripture. Think about how we sometimes disregard our parents' viewpoints ... or how our children disregard ours. They don't understand. Things are different today. It's part of our human nature, I suspect, to think we are the first to trod this territory ... think this thought ... feel this feeling. It's the age-old quest for significance, purpose, and individuality.

This morning I was reading my Bible, in the book of Acts, Chapter 4. I read about how Peter and John offended the powers-that-be by teaching truth that was contrary to the popular theology of the day; for that "crime," the Sadducees had them tossed into prison. The next day they were questioned and authorities could find no wrongdoing. They sent them from the room to discuss what was to be done with them.

I like how The Message translation words it:

Acts 4:15-17 ~ They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: "What can we do with these men? By now it's known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn't go any further, let's silence them with threats so they won't dare to use Jesus' name ever again with anyone.

Thus, the two "criminals" were warned, but they were not intimidated, answering:

Acts 4:19-20 ~ But Peter and John spoke right back, "Whether it's right in God's eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there's no question--we can't keep quiet about what we've seen and heard."

The testimony continues:

Acts 4:21-22 ~ The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn't come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn't have stood for it--they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

When I read those passages, I couldn't help but think about our world today. To many, Christianity has become an archaic and outdated way of life. Those who claim the name of Christ are tolerated at best, despised at worst, and losing ground on a daily basis. Yet the world in which we live is hopeless without the Lord, and we are commissioned to share Him with those who don't know Him (Matthew 28:16).

The Church today has, in large part, lost its impact on our world. We have little credibility. Why is that? Because we are lukewarm wimps. Where is the grace and joy that should come from serving the Creator of the universe (Genesis 1-2)? Where is the thanksgiving that should be overflowing from our hearts as we consider what Christ has done for us ... died to free us from the state of sin that we were born into (Romans 5:11-13)? Where is the boldness that should come from walking in the authority Christ bestowed upon us when He was raised from the dead to defeat death and sin (Romans 6:9; Romans 8:11; Isaiah 61)?

Read how Peter and John's fellow believers prayed after they were released from prison (Acts 4:24-30 NKJV):

"Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

'Why did the nations rage,

And the people plot vain things?

The kings of the earth took their stand,

And the rulers were gathered together

Against the LORD and against His Christ.'

For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."

No lukewarm wimps in that bunch. They had a mission and they meant to accomplish it. And that's what the Church needs today ~ Holy Boldness!

Let's pray for that boldness and make a difference in our world. What more purpose or significance could we want in life than that? There are people who God has ordained for each one of us to reach, certain ones whose lives we were created to impact. Let's not be too sophisticated to answer the call.

Let's not be too sophisticated for the truth.

I Simply Live for You

2011-08-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

What an amazing song! To think of Him saving our every tear ... How can we believe He doesn't care?

It is our prayer that this song ministers to you as it did to us.

Blessings,
Cheri and Wayne

Let's Dance

2011-08-15T21:09:00.001-05:00

In church yesterday, I caught myself watching a baby girl and her daddy. As she perched on his hip, snug in his embrace, he sang along with the worship team and they swayed together to the music. She held on and took in her surroundings, not a care in the world.

I smiled as I watched them. Tears welled in my eyes as I waxed nostalgic, remembering our daughter in her daddy's arms as a little one ...

... and then later dancing with him on her wedding day.

And in a few short months, she and her sweet husband ...

... will welcome their own new little one into this world, and the cycle will begin again.

I leaned over and shared my thoughts with my youngest daughter, not yet married, dabbing at my teary eyes. She leaned close, put her arm around my shoulders, and whispered, "You're such a romantic." She's right; I guess I do have weddings and romance on the brain these days, with the upcoming advent of our youngest son's nuptials next month.

I continued to ponder the relationship between daughters and dads. I thought about how little girls trust their daddies without question, content to let him guide their every step. I thought how they adore their dads and long for his affection and approval.

It's the exact kind of relationship that our Father God longs to have with us as His children. He longs for us to follow His every step as He guides us. This reminds me of something I once heard about the word GUIDANCE.

G - God,
U - You and
I - I
D-A-N-C-E!

God, You and I dance.

Ideally, we do well to allow Him to lead us in the dance of life, just as children are guided by their parents ... and brides are led by their grooms on the dance floor on their wedding days.

Our earthly fathers are a picture of our heavenly Father. Along a similar line of thought, our earthly grooms are a picture of Christ, our Savior. Unfortunately, men can and do fail, where God never does. So if we've been wounded by people in this life, we can look to God to heal our wounds. Psalm 34:18 tells us that Christ is near to the brokenhearted; Psalm 61:1 tells us that our Savior was sent to free the captives; and Psalm 147:3 tells us that Christ was sent to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. I am a walking testimony to the truth of these Scriptures.

The Church, the bride of Christ, was given to Christ by His heavenly Father, just as the bride is given to the groom by her father. The bride dresses in white, to symbolize purity; God's Church is to be without blemish, fully surrendered to God, delighting to be a vehicle for His plans and purposes in this earth. If the marriage dance is to go smoothly, one partner must lead as the other follows. As God's children and Christ's bride, it is imperative that we allow Him to guide and direct our steps, so that our life's dance will honor and please our Lord.

Thanks for letting me share my musings.

Let's dance!

God bless,
Cheri and Wayne

Strong Enough

2011-08-12T13:12:00.000-05:00

Wayne and I have been praying for John Matthew Davis, an unbelievably strong little guy of seven years old, who has endured more in his short seven years than many endure in a lifetime. You can read his story here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnmatthewdavis/mystory

He just underwent a bowel surgery and his recovery has been extremely painful, often more than his little mind can comprehend. The family could use prayers and the strength of God. They posted the song below, Matthew West's "Strong Enough," as their family favorite:

When you feel overwhelmed with your life, look around. There is always someone who has a bigger burden on their plate, and praying for them can help ease the burden on your own plate.

Blessings,
Cheri and Wayne