Perserverence

God showed me the pattern of my life; that I always choose the path that is the easiest, the path that has the fastest outcome and the path that I know I can do in my own strength. I have been shown that there is no glory for God in that, I was being selfish and was only seeking self gratification. I had taken the things that God had given me, that He intended to work with me and I just took it and tried to do it in my own strength. When God showed me this He reminded me of the youth church that my youth group had tried to start a couple of years ago and how discouraged in God when it didn’t work out. I had played the blame game and had blamed everyone else but did not look inward to find the truth. Then this week we have been talking about destiny and God reminded me of this and I really felt convicted about my sin that had played a part. God was showing me that my pride and laziness had played a huge part in why the church felt like a failure. I was counting on the church to boost my image and pride and was not concerned with what God really thought. God had included me in His dream for the youth of this town and I totally ignored Him and was more concerned with me than giving glory to God. I had made it a personal burden and by having that view I completely poisoned it and sucked the life out of something that was meant to bring life. The great thing about God is that He is patient and He is kind, He forgives and brings freedom. He does not bring to light the faults in our lives to bring shame or guilt but brings things to the light so that we can be set free and so we can try again. Amen. Today I heard an amazing quote that when God forgives us He takes the sin, buries it at the bottom of the ocean then sticks a sign that says “no fishing here”. I love that, when God forgives He means forever!
So the season, actually I don’t even think that this lesson is just for this season in my life but He is calling me to a life of unbound faith; the faith to believe for the impossible. God is calling me to walk the steepest path, the path that will leave me weak, bloody and desperate but it will be the most fulfilling. He is calling me to a destination that is unknown so I can appreciate the importance and the beauty of the process or journey that refines me and gives all glory to Him. Amen.
I am so ready to leave myself at the cross, pick up my mat and walk! Jesus you are all I need, you are the living water that ends all thirst. You restore your promises, you have been unrelenting in my pursuit, I am so in love with you. I am ready to tell the world of my amazing God. You are a God that loves not by feeling but by commitment. Thank you so much for loving me even when I was more in love with sin. I want to love how you love, I want to detest what you detest. You are my Abba, now and forever!
Love, Sherri.

The Father Heart of God

This week we looked at the Father Heart of God and looked at what a relationship with the Father is suppose to look like. The biggest thing that was revealed to me about my relationship with God is that is has been about the chase. The pattern my life has taken is to search after God and find out who He is but the moment I feel Him working on my heart, my heart hardens to Him. So this week was a really emotional week for me because the first day I could feel my heart hardening and it was a constant battle just to keep my mind focussed on the lesson. Then on Wednesday I was just so exhausted from this constant fight that I stayed in bed and cried. As I laid there God reminded me of the verse he has given me last week, which was Romans 8. As I read over it again God showed me a new meaning to this. He showed me that I was getting my knowledge of who I was from other sources rather than listening to His voice. Then I looked back at Adam and Eve and the tree of knowledge and how God asked Adam, “Who told you that you were naked?” I realized that Adam had chosen to believe another voice that said that he should be ashamed before God but God is saying come to me and I will give you freedom. I think that too often we believe the other voice that tells us who we are and don’t go to our Father who is not distant and angry, but is a complete expression of love. On Friday I was so tired and fed up that I didn’t even want to go to class but I went and I am so glad that I did. We spent the day just waiting on the Father and at the end of the class we got to go to the speaker and get a Fathers blessing. As they were praying for me someone grabbed my arm really hard and they said “He has got you!” That moment I just felt my heart soften and my mind was silent all the worry was gone. Knowing God is so much better that the chase. Being able to ask the question, “who am I?” knowing that I will get the answer is an amazing gift. Don’t be afraid to know God because He is so excited for the day that you choose Him and let Him show you the world.