Take care of what God gives you

Ephesians 5:1-2

 ¹Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.




I am assuming this is where WWJD came from.  I have been dealing with wondering about why people (including myself) have such a hard time following this at all times.  Simple answer, we are human.  Thankfully, God forgives us.  So very thankful for that.  I am also thankful for all of the opportunity I have to follow it and do it. 

I have been working on this blog for a couple of days.  I have been trying to keep from stepping on toes.  God has been telling me to say what is needed and it will be fine.  So, here it goes.


We have to remember that whatever we do, we do it as children of God.  So, what we do is a reflection of God to non-Christians.  So when we are kind, we are a reflection on God. When we are rude, we are a reflection on God.  When we talk bad about our physical families, we are a reflection on God.  When we talk bad about our spiritual families, we are a reflection on God.  When we litter, we are a reflection on God.  When we mistreat animals, we are a reflection on God. 

We have to remain in the word in order to reflect God in a beautiful light. 

Marriage Like Christ and the Church
22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.28So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;29for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,30because we are members of His body.31FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.32This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.33Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.


I have been having this conversation quite a bit lately.  Yes, a wife is to submit to her husband.  A husband is to treat his wife with love just as Christ loves the church.  Spouses should be a priority over your children.  But, if your marriage is grounded in God, your spouse will understand when the children do need to come first.  They won't lord it over you when you do need to take care of the kids.  ALWAYS take time for your spouse and for you as well.  This is going to help your relationship survive the rough times as well as the smooth times.


Again, I am including me in this as well.  We need to make sure we follow God and the laws of the government.  If it doesn't go against God's will we need to follow it.  We are God's representatives in the world.  How the world sees us is how the world sees God.  Think about what you do and why you do it and if it is what Jesus would do.  Don't worry about how it has always been, worry about if it is what God wants it to be.  If the two go hand in hand all the better, but don't do something because you always have.  We need to make sure and take care of the gifts God has given us.  From our physical and spiritual families, to the earth and all the creatures within.  How we take care of it shows our love for God. 

I pray that the Holy Spirit will cover all of us with comfort and confidence to go out in the world for God. 


Take care and God bless
Sherri

My wonderful hubby enjoying time in God's world.

 

The voice, the call

The voice, the call

The voice speaks to you letting you know the plan,

The voice calms the storm that is within.
The voice gives you all the strength to stand,
The voice keeps all of the doubt at bay.

It is harder to ignore than the bill collector on the phone,

It is much harder to hear than the whispers in the night.

It is never going to steer you in a way that’s wrong,

It is important to what all it has to say.

 
They are the most important conversations to have,
They are there where you least expect them to be.
They are one the best gifts you were ever gave,
They are there to help lead you on your way.


I have spent a good part of my day working on a plan for the Godsippers Household and Clothing Ministry for when we move into a building.  I sit and wonder why God called me to do this.  I don't know why, I just know he did.  It can be very exhausting, but more rewarding than anything else.  Thankfully my husband fully supports me in the endevor.  We don't have much of a family room right now.  There are clothes and boxes of clothes everywhere.  I know that sometimes when you follow God's calling, it can get in between you and others.  It is important to be there for others when they go and follow the plan God has set for them.  Just make sure and be prepared for anything that God may send your way.  Such as praying to have the ability to specialize in working with Autistic children and God giving you your own Autistic child.  Yep, God has a sense of humor.  I know of people that have left their job to follow the plan and others that are working on getting the plan in full swing.  I keep you all in prayer on your journeys.

Take care and God bless,
Sherri



My "little" blessing

Speak to the heart

Speak to my heart Jesus,

Let the words to me fly.

I need to hear your voice,

Let them pour from the sky.

 

I know that you are near,

I feel you by my side.

I know your comforting voice,

I am going try to let it ride.

 

To let go of the earthly things,

The things that drag me down.

You have my way out of here,

Prepare me for my crown.

 

I know you have more for me,

I just need to stay strong.

I know you will be here.

To make sure I get along.

 

Things are still going pretty good around here.  Steven is still getting on the van without a problem.  He is starting to act up a little while waiting for the van.  I pray that he isn't going to spiral.  Things are going well with Bryan driving for Prime.  He is home every night, which is helping Steven out.  It is just the boy can't get rid of the camping bug.  I know vacation is fun, but please.  I have said before that I need to win the lottery and I am right!  (Of course, I guess I have to play it first. ;)  It would be great to have an ingroud pool for the boy to jump into.  We have an above ground one, but you can't really jump into it.  I have been battling a head cold the past couple of days and hope I am over it.  I missed going to The Master's Hands and seeing everyone.  It is such a blessing to go up there and work.  For those who don't know what it is, it is a food pantry here in Richland County.  It is also a coughee shop. (I think I spelled that right Mike.)  It is open Monday - Friday 9-11:30 am.  The coffee and the snacks are free.  I will be missing Godsippers tonight and will miss going for sometime with Bryan working nights.  I will miss my girls.  I pray that God blesses each and everyone of you.

Take care and God bless,

Sherri

 

Just a random photo cause I can.

 

My heart goes out

I only wish I could say that God promised us a life with no suffering.  There are evils in this world that do as they please and do not care about their fellow human beings.  I don't know who is responsible for the tragedy yesterday and honestly at this point I don't care.  I don't want to focus on them yet, I want to focus on praying for those who were touched by this.  Especially those who are touched first hand.  I know I am touched by this tragedy just as I was touched by 9-11.  We need to lift all up in prayer and hold each other to help comfort.  It was all I could do this morning to not break down bawling as they talked about it on Today.  If Steven wouldn't have been standing there, I would have.  I have so many thoughts going through my head and yet none come out to put down here.  I know I have felt loss and pain, but not like this.  I thank all of the people who became heroes and helped out with the wounded and the ones in emotional pain.  Thank you Lord for them. God did promise though to send us the Holy Spirit to help comfort us.  I have felt the Holy Spirit wrap around me and comfort me.  Cry out to God for comfort and the Holy Spirit will come.

John 14:16

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Take care and God bless,
Sherri

The power of prayer

The power is within you and me;

To go to bat for all humanity.

The power of love is great;

Use it before it is too late.

The power of kindness we need to use;

It is one we just can’t lose.

The power of humility is needed more;

We need to stop trying to settle the score.

The power of prayer puts me in awe;

It is the most powerful of all.

So many care for me and my family;

They raise us up to God readily.

God answers their prayers in proper time;

He never takes us off of His mind.

Thank you all and the Lord above.

The power of prayer shows us your love.

I want to thank all of you that have kept us in your prayers.  It has been a rough through the years with Steven.  This week was one I was not looking forward to.  With the changes in his school routine and Bryan being gone, I was preparing for the worst.  But God has made this one of Steven's best weeks in a very long time.  I know it has a lot to do with all that raised us up to him.  I know that we can't raise Steven alone, that God gives us people in our lives to help us out.  I know God has never allowed us to both lose our patience at the same time when Steven has acted up.  The past several months have been highly stressful for all involved in our house.  God willing, Steven will continue on the track he is on and keep doing better.  I am so excited that Bryan will be home in a few hours and will be starting his new job with Prime on Monday.  I am also for the first time looking forward to being a stay at home mom.  We are going to keep me home until everything settles.  If everything seems to be looking good as it is, I will stay there.  I will be volunteering at the Master's Hands and have friends that are also stay at home mom's that I can talk to and lean on.  God takes such good care of us and blesses us in so many ways.  I pray that God shines His blessings on you as well.  

Take care and God bless,

Sherri

We were so blessed with a great trip last week.  I love going through Lone Elk.  I had never seen a young bison before.  It was kinda cool.

My teeth hurt

As the sun sets low in the sky;

I sit around and start to ask why.

Why dear God do think I am right;

To deal with this day and night.

 

I know you have promised me a lot;

That is something I haven’t forgot.

Life is so hard don’t listen to the song;

Sometimes I don’t feel like I belong.

 

I just need to remember to search your word;

That is when my problems are cured.

I love to read 1 Corinthians 10:13;

I know by my Lord I have been seen.

 

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

 

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Take care and God bless,
Sherri


Steven at Horseshoe Lake

What it all comes down to

Lord, I stand in awe of the beauty I see;

From all angles it surrounds me.

From the rushing waters and the setting sun;

Your work of wonder is never done.

 

I can hear all of your words;

As I sit and listen to the birds.

In the trees I can see it all;

And the mountains that stand so tall.

I fall asleep as I listen to the sound;

Of your world as it spins around.

For all you have given me I say;

Thank you Lord for the wonderful day.

 

 

The past couple of weeks have been a roller coaster for this family.  From anxiety attacks to peaceful hikes in the woods.  We have been through it all.  But, it is times like these that I see God working in our lives the most.  Maybe I am paying more attention, but I have seen so much.  The district has gotten things together to drive Steven and things seem to be well in line.  Bryan has lined up a job for him and he will do his training next week.  The only thing left up in the air is me.  I will wait to get a job and see how the situation with Steven goes.  So, I will take the opportunity to do housework and volunteer at The Master's Hands.  If you live in Olney and have not experienced the beauty of God's work there, GO!  It is amazing how many blessings you receive there.  I have been up there the past two Monday afternoons and have enjoyed it greatly.  Yesterday we decided to take Steven to Fenton, MO.  If you have never checked it out go there and do so.  It has so many different parks there, that you can find more to do than you can fit in two or three days.  My favorite park is Lone Elk.  It has the World Bird Sanctuary at it as well.  Unfortunately, it has been closed the two times I have gone with Steven so he hasn't seen the birds.  However, we have seen elk, deer, turtles, geese, ducks and bison.  There were even some young bison there today.  If you go to the Smokies and like Cades Cove, you will love this.  Of course Steven called the elk horses and the bison bears.  But the deer are deer.  Who cares we had a blast there.  Then there were the other parks that we went and threw rocks and/or hiked at.  We also took Steven to Cabela's for the first time.  He loved looking at the fish (especially the guy in there cleaning) and all the different animals they had displayed.  Of course he was also happy with the fudge we bought.  Hopefully next time we go he will remember it and be fine with going in. 

Blessings-

Wonderful past couple of days with my guys

Everyone at The Master's Hands

 

Take Care and God bless,

Sherri

Steven throwing rocks and sticks on Thursday night