I am really loving this time of year - especially today, because it's chilly outside. I have no deep amazing insight into this holiday or anything, it's just Christmas time - and that makes me smile :)
I have been very busy the last few weeks, but for the most part (besides my apparent inability to keep my room clean - what's up with that?) I have really had some good times. Me and the girls had a great Christmas party at our apartment, I went to my first ever corporate Christmas party and wore a dress that made me feel beautiful, and last night I went to the wedding of one of my favorite people - Sarah Wolfskill. I'm telling you you have never met a more genetically blessed family than this one. Those are some good looking people. But the highlight of my night was spending time with a few girls who I rarely see anymore...
Jill Marie Hopson - my carpool buddy extraordinaire! This lovely meteorologist has a heart of gold AND can explain to why the wind conditions constitue mild hurricane conditions. Jill and I had such great conversations and caught up on some long overdue hugging. This girl has hugs that make my world go around. And the best part - I got to spend the night with her! Jill Marie is the best because she can shoot it to ya straight and will always be real... we will be spending much more time together from now on. I insist.
Jennifer Poole - I miss this lady and her ghetto fabulousness. No other Bible study partner I know can lead you to that verse in the Bible you can't put your finger on AND quote Kanye at the most opportune times. No, but seriously, this lady has a sense of joy that could power a large city. I laugh laugh laugh when I'm with her, and she makes me happy just to be around her!
Rebecca Sample - This girl has dance moves you have to see to believe. I love how real Rebecca is. She's pure loveliness, and doesn't put on airs of any sort. Rebecca makes me smile, and when she looks at you with her big sweet eyes, your heart more or less melts. It's hard to put my finger on - but she's one of those people that when your around her, you know you just want more. She makes you feel good, because she's just that great. I hope I can see more of her that I currently do, she is a friend that I know I want to keep close to me.
Meredith Meuth - I've never met anyone quite like Mere. Every word she says is SO deeply from the heart you know that there is no pretense there. When Meredith says she likes old people, the girl ain't joking. When Meredith says she's excited to be somewhere or doing something, she's not just paying lip service, you can rest in the assurance that the girl is truely thrilled. Meredith is such a great friend... she always makes you feel welcome and appreciated. She will always affirm with her words and actions, and someone like that is really worth her weight in gold.
So thanks to all my friends for being stellar people who make my heart smile when I'm around you. God has blessed me with so much - great girlfriends being one of my favorite blessings of all. Christmas is a time for friends and family, and I've got some of the best!
Love y'all - Cher
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Sunday Morning Musings
It's 7:40 am on a Sunday, and I am up in my sweats with a cup of coffee, checking up of the lives of friends via blogs and listening to the rain outside my window. These are the types of mornings you just want to take a snapshot of and keep handy for when you need a reminder of what it feels like to be content. Maybe it's just because it's Sunday (which means I am already predisposed to being in a good mood) or maybe it's because I know I don't have to go into work tomorrow (another very likely scenario.) That's right... Cher gets the whole week off for Thanksgiving :) I decided to take a little vacation time to finish studying for my last CPA exam, which I will conquer Wednesday. That way, I will truely have something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Just kidding :) I could be destitute, alone, and starving this Thanksgiving and still have plenty to be thankful for. My God has never left me or forsaken me, and for that I am eternally thankful.
I just read the blog of my sweet friend Holly Southerland (there's a link on the right if you want to see it) and it helped me solidify a train of thought that I'd been trying to put my finger on all morning. God wasn't joking around when he said "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7).
I just spent an hour writing a new blog based on a quote I pulled from a different friends blog, but ended up deleting most of it in the end... The quote was: "Even if there were no heaven and there were no hell, would you follow Jesus? Would you follow Him for the life, joy, and fulfillment He gives you right now?"
At first I was like... hmm, cool thought! But as I started writing about it I realized that you can't take eternity out of the picture, and you can never fully take "me" out of the picture, because God WANTS "me" to love the love he gives, and relish how good it makes "me" feel! Eternity with Him is a love gift from God, and there is no reason that it should be considered a bad motivation. You can't ever logically take God's universe and his being and "break down the parts" for further analysis... taking eternity out of the picture skews all the other variables and makes the whole journey fruitless. Anyways- I deleted everything I wrote, clicked over to Holly's blog and read what she wrote about a recently engaged friends comment to her. Her thoughts were a perfect example of the thoughts I'd been having...
"And she said to me, “I love watching him be in love with me.” And tonight I was thinking, wow, what a neat picture of how the Church, the Bride of Christ, should respond to Christ’s love for us! Sometimes I think we are tempted to push the love away when we see that God loves us. But Amanda just took it in. And enjoyed it. And I think it is so neat that God is already using their relationship to be a picture to me of the Heavenly Bridegroom and His Bride."
AMEN! That is just what I was thinking. And Holly put it so perfectly :) He loves us, and he wants us to enjoy that love. She inadvertantly referred to this "compartmentalization" of God that so many people attempt today. People feel like they should love others, but feel guilty about relishing in the love themselves... as if God called us to one, but not the other. God didn't give me love and ask me not to soak it in. My favorite thing about God is that he is so "fluid"... that sounds weird - but what I mean is that you cannot, no matter how you try, break Him down and try to explain one part of Him apart from another.
If you've never read the book "Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer, run (no walking.) to the bookstore and pick this up. It is the most potent 117 page book you will ever read. In it, Tozer writes:
"The Father is made of none, "says the Athanasian Creed, " neither created nor begotten... ...God exists in Himself and of Himself. His being He owes to no one. His substance is indivisible. Hae has no parts but is single in His unitary being. The doctrine of the divine unity means not only that there is but one God; it means also that God is simple, uncomplex, one with Himself. The harmony of His being is the result not of a perfect balance of parts but of the absense of parts. Between His attributes no contradiction can exist. He need not suspend one to exercise another, for in Him all His attributes are one. All of God does all that God does. He does not divide Himself to perform a work, but works in the total unity of His being."
I'm honestly not sure if I've written this clearly or not - if it makes zero sense, let me know and I'll take it down. But, it makes sense in my head, and I guess that's good enough for me :)
Point being - God is amazing, you can't divide him up and analyze the pieces... he gave us Heaven and Hell, and if those are motivators for staying in the center of God's will, I'm guessing he knew that ahead of time and let it happen anyways. Just like his love - he knew we would give it and receive it... it's a fluid, seamless, synergy that can't be diminished by breakdown.
Okay - well that cleared out my head at least... I'm going to go grab some more coffee and dive into studying for the CPA exam. I've been doing the night church thing - so no worries - I'm not skipping :)
Love y'all - Cher
I just read the blog of my sweet friend Holly Southerland (there's a link on the right if you want to see it) and it helped me solidify a train of thought that I'd been trying to put my finger on all morning. God wasn't joking around when he said "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7).
I just spent an hour writing a new blog based on a quote I pulled from a different friends blog, but ended up deleting most of it in the end... The quote was: "Even if there were no heaven and there were no hell, would you follow Jesus? Would you follow Him for the life, joy, and fulfillment He gives you right now?"
At first I was like... hmm, cool thought! But as I started writing about it I realized that you can't take eternity out of the picture, and you can never fully take "me" out of the picture, because God WANTS "me" to love the love he gives, and relish how good it makes "me" feel! Eternity with Him is a love gift from God, and there is no reason that it should be considered a bad motivation. You can't ever logically take God's universe and his being and "break down the parts" for further analysis... taking eternity out of the picture skews all the other variables and makes the whole journey fruitless. Anyways- I deleted everything I wrote, clicked over to Holly's blog and read what she wrote about a recently engaged friends comment to her. Her thoughts were a perfect example of the thoughts I'd been having...
"And she said to me, “I love watching him be in love with me.” And tonight I was thinking, wow, what a neat picture of how the Church, the Bride of Christ, should respond to Christ’s love for us! Sometimes I think we are tempted to push the love away when we see that God loves us. But Amanda just took it in. And enjoyed it. And I think it is so neat that God is already using their relationship to be a picture to me of the Heavenly Bridegroom and His Bride."
AMEN! That is just what I was thinking. And Holly put it so perfectly :) He loves us, and he wants us to enjoy that love. She inadvertantly referred to this "compartmentalization" of God that so many people attempt today. People feel like they should love others, but feel guilty about relishing in the love themselves... as if God called us to one, but not the other. God didn't give me love and ask me not to soak it in. My favorite thing about God is that he is so "fluid"... that sounds weird - but what I mean is that you cannot, no matter how you try, break Him down and try to explain one part of Him apart from another.
If you've never read the book "Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer, run (no walking.) to the bookstore and pick this up. It is the most potent 117 page book you will ever read. In it, Tozer writes:
"The Father is made of none, "says the Athanasian Creed, " neither created nor begotten... ...God exists in Himself and of Himself. His being He owes to no one. His substance is indivisible. Hae has no parts but is single in His unitary being. The doctrine of the divine unity means not only that there is but one God; it means also that God is simple, uncomplex, one with Himself. The harmony of His being is the result not of a perfect balance of parts but of the absense of parts. Between His attributes no contradiction can exist. He need not suspend one to exercise another, for in Him all His attributes are one. All of God does all that God does. He does not divide Himself to perform a work, but works in the total unity of His being."
I'm honestly not sure if I've written this clearly or not - if it makes zero sense, let me know and I'll take it down. But, it makes sense in my head, and I guess that's good enough for me :)
Point being - God is amazing, you can't divide him up and analyze the pieces... he gave us Heaven and Hell, and if those are motivators for staying in the center of God's will, I'm guessing he knew that ahead of time and let it happen anyways. Just like his love - he knew we would give it and receive it... it's a fluid, seamless, synergy that can't be diminished by breakdown.
Okay - well that cleared out my head at least... I'm going to go grab some more coffee and dive into studying for the CPA exam. I've been doing the night church thing - so no worries - I'm not skipping :)
Love y'all - Cher
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Houston Coffee Spots
Hey-lo friends. So this weekend I set out to visit a few local coffee spots that would provide a good place for me to study for the CPA exam (1 left! Yay!)
Yesderday I visited Bookstop, which is technically a Barnes and Noble built into the old Alabama theatre on Shephard. The coffee was Starbucks, and oh so good! I got so much studying done there... I just love bookstores.
Today I looked on CitySearch for places with free wifi and ran across Taft Street Coffee. I decided to give it a shot. Upon walking up I was greeted by a man who shook my hand, asked how I'd come across the place, and proceeded to give me a tour of the whole place! Cool! As it turns out, the place is actually the Houston Ecclesia church which I had heard of before. They have built in a coffee house, bookstore, and art gallery. The man invited me to stay for the evening 5:30 service - and considering how I had just spent time that morning in prayer about where I should visit for church, I decided it sounded like a win win to me :) Plus, I ran into a guy who went to Grace with me and we chatted for a little while. God is so cool!
I have been visiting HFBC which I like very much - but tonight we are going to give Ecclesia a try. It is very different from other churches I've ever attended - very artsy and such, but sometimes you just need to let God help you reach outside the box!
Love ya- Cher
Yesderday I visited Bookstop, which is technically a Barnes and Noble built into the old Alabama theatre on Shephard. The coffee was Starbucks, and oh so good! I got so much studying done there... I just love bookstores.
Today I looked on CitySearch for places with free wifi and ran across Taft Street Coffee. I decided to give it a shot. Upon walking up I was greeted by a man who shook my hand, asked how I'd come across the place, and proceeded to give me a tour of the whole place! Cool! As it turns out, the place is actually the Houston Ecclesia church which I had heard of before. They have built in a coffee house, bookstore, and art gallery. The man invited me to stay for the evening 5:30 service - and considering how I had just spent time that morning in prayer about where I should visit for church, I decided it sounded like a win win to me :) Plus, I ran into a guy who went to Grace with me and we chatted for a little while. God is so cool!
I have been visiting HFBC which I like very much - but tonight we are going to give Ecclesia a try. It is very different from other churches I've ever attended - very artsy and such, but sometimes you just need to let God help you reach outside the box!
Love ya- Cher
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
First Date in a Box
I was making some changes to my myspace about me section and got to writing so much I decided I might as well make a blog out of it :) I also realized in reading over what I had written that with all the stuff that you are learning about me in this post, we might as well be on a first date! So lets pretend we're getting coffee and get to know each other... I'll go first :)
What am I like? I think a personality is best summed up by behavior:
I don't like clutter or having too much stuff (except maybe shoes and books!) because it makes me antsy. I think having one of everything you need is plenty. In most cases, I use up a whole product before I buy a second one.
When I get a bag of multi-flavored candies, I always eat all my least favorite flavors first and work my way to my favorite, saving the best for last... and that order is always and invariably yellow, green, purple, orange, red. The exception is sweet tarts, in which my number one flavor is blue :)
I don't like to cook because it's no fun working on a meal for an hour and then having it disappear in fifteen minutes. However I love to bake, because it lasts a few days and can be enjoyed more than once. If I do cook, I prefer cassaroles, chili, etc... things that will last.
Are you getting the hang of Cheryl? Thats just my nutty logical side - but there's more!
I love to read and and I love to write - scratch that- I love to read and I love to type. If I write I always write in cursive because I think I have very pretty handwriting, and cursive is a dying artform. I mostly get absorbed in Christian living books - I could live in that section of Half Price Books. But honestly, I'll read anything if it makes me feel uplifted.
I love to sing - and sing loud... and sing when I'm alone, and sing when I'm in a crowd, and sing in my head at work. I really want to be a wedding singer someday but I havn't quite figured out how to ask a group of people if they'd like to form a cover band! I'm keeping my wedding singing career in my prayers for now :) When and if God has need for that in his kingdom, I know he'll let me know.
I love red flavored things. If it's red, I'll eat it. Period.
I don't like clutter or having too much stuff (except maybe shoes and books!) because it makes me antsy. I think having one of everything you need is plenty. In most cases, I use up a whole product before I buy a second one.
When I get a bag of multi-flavored candies, I always eat all my least favorite flavors first and work my way to my favorite, saving the best for last... and that order is always and invariably yellow, green, purple, orange, red. The exception is sweet tarts, in which my number one flavor is blue :)
I don't like to cook because it's no fun working on a meal for an hour and then having it disappear in fifteen minutes. However I love to bake, because it lasts a few days and can be enjoyed more than once. If I do cook, I prefer cassaroles, chili, etc... things that will last.
Are you getting the hang of Cheryl? Thats just my nutty logical side - but there's more!
I love to read and and I love to write - scratch that- I love to read and I love to type. If I write I always write in cursive because I think I have very pretty handwriting, and cursive is a dying artform. I mostly get absorbed in Christian living books - I could live in that section of Half Price Books. But honestly, I'll read anything if it makes me feel uplifted.
I love to sing - and sing loud... and sing when I'm alone, and sing when I'm in a crowd, and sing in my head at work. I really want to be a wedding singer someday but I havn't quite figured out how to ask a group of people if they'd like to form a cover band! I'm keeping my wedding singing career in my prayers for now :) When and if God has need for that in his kingdom, I know he'll let me know.
I love red flavored things. If it's red, I'll eat it. Period.
My best friend always tells people "Cheryl isn't rude... she's just observant." I like to call things like I see them. If you ask a question, expect an answer. If I have a question, and I feel 98% sure there is a legitimate reason to ask, I probably will. (Ex: What happened to your nose, I noticed it's really crooked?) I would never ask if I just thought it was deformed. But if it's clearly injury related - I'm willing to take that bet. Or as a partner at my firm discovered today, if you ask me about the mechanics of my appendectomy, expect a anatomically correct discussion - he laughed at me and said I was unusually blunt. Ha! You asked mister...
I LOVE Sundays, and everything about them. I love going to church and spending time with all the people who get me and my passion for following Christ. I love all the give and get involved with a community of believers. I can't wait to make one of the Houston churces I've been visiting home!
I don't chew gum... the whole concept is nasty.
My love languages are words of encouragement and physical touch. Ladies, if we are having a girl chat, I'm probably wishing we could hold hands or scoot a little closer. Not in a gross way - just because I know that if we invaded each others space, we'd probably really get down to the business of knowing each other.
I WISH I was mysterious. I am not. My desire to tell you all about myself in a blog pretty much clears up any questions about that one. My heart lives right out there on my sleeve. I love reading about other people and what makes them tick, so I figure I'll tell a bit about myself for the others like me that like this sort of thing.
I LOVE Sundays, and everything about them. I love going to church and spending time with all the people who get me and my passion for following Christ. I love all the give and get involved with a community of believers. I can't wait to make one of the Houston churces I've been visiting home!
I don't chew gum... the whole concept is nasty.
My love languages are words of encouragement and physical touch. Ladies, if we are having a girl chat, I'm probably wishing we could hold hands or scoot a little closer. Not in a gross way - just because I know that if we invaded each others space, we'd probably really get down to the business of knowing each other.
I WISH I was mysterious. I am not. My desire to tell you all about myself in a blog pretty much clears up any questions about that one. My heart lives right out there on my sleeve. I love reading about other people and what makes them tick, so I figure I'll tell a bit about myself for the others like me that like this sort of thing.
I love being tall... it's the bomb.com.
My number one goal in life is to serve my God and join Him in partnering to save our lost world. I am called to make disciples... and right now I have been specifically called to work in Houston as an accountant. I hope to someday work either as a missionary teaching the skills of money management or for a missions organization supporting the business end of things. But that's just Cheryl's big idea - God might have another one... and that's cool too :)
My number one goal in life is to serve my God and join Him in partnering to save our lost world. I am called to make disciples... and right now I have been specifically called to work in Houston as an accountant. I hope to someday work either as a missionary teaching the skills of money management or for a missions organization supporting the business end of things. But that's just Cheryl's big idea - God might have another one... and that's cool too :)
There is more, lots more, but this is the cliffs notes version for sure. When myspace asked me to write "about me" they really opened a can of worms!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Ouch!
I need to blog more often, so lets start with NOW. Thanks and gig 'em :)
This past week has been quite a crazy ride. For those who aren't aware, I work for KPMG as an auditor, and my client is Anadarko Petroleum so I work out in the Woodlands every day... shopping anyone?) Tuesday morning I went downtown to get a free flu shot and drove back out to the Woodlands around 10ish - so far so good. The guys (I am the only girl out there) made an understandable amount of fun at the fact that I would drive all that way just to get a shot that will inject me with sickness. I assured them that I would NOT get sick, because I was Cheryl... the girl who NEVER gets sick. Sure enough, around 2 pm my stomach starts to hurt and the numbers on my spreadsheet are looking a little fuzzy. I stuck it out until 6, refusing to tell the guys that I felt like absolute crap. I would NOT be "that girl" right after I had gloated about my superior health. So I drove home in misery and immediately crawled in my big fabulous bed where I proceeded to call my mother 6 times over the next 3 hours to whine about my stomach. Calling your mom when you're sick is something I think you just can't grow out of. Anyways - at 9 pm I decided enough was enough and drove myself (much to my mothers chagrin) to the emergency room at Methodist Hospital. Of course, the parents met me there, and we sat in the waiting room for the next 5 hours. My only source of amusement during that time was watching my mother nearly lose it when the kid across from us blared "Crank that Soulja Boy" from his computer for the 50th (literally) time. Talk about a song to have on repeat. Anyways - long story marginally shorter - after they took blood, x-rays, did a CAT scan, and performed all of the other ER essentials I was informed I had severe appendicitis and I was being admitted for emergency surgery to have my appendix taken out! I spent a day or so in the hospital, where I was visited by some of the most fabulous people I know, and I've been taking it easy in Kingwood ever since!
I'm going back to my apartment today and going back to work tomorrow, but the few days of rest have been amazing. I mean, I was sore for 90% of it, but I just laid around and read a book! God is good at giving our bodies a rest when it's needed I suppose :)
It's been so long since I caught everyone up on my life... I'll have to update everyone over the next week or so, so keep checking back! I'll post some footage of the new apartment soon if anyone is interested!
I love you guys - keep me updated on your lives as well!
Cher
This past week has been quite a crazy ride. For those who aren't aware, I work for KPMG as an auditor, and my client is Anadarko Petroleum so I work out in the Woodlands every day... shopping anyone?) Tuesday morning I went downtown to get a free flu shot and drove back out to the Woodlands around 10ish - so far so good. The guys (I am the only girl out there) made an understandable amount of fun at the fact that I would drive all that way just to get a shot that will inject me with sickness. I assured them that I would NOT get sick, because I was Cheryl... the girl who NEVER gets sick. Sure enough, around 2 pm my stomach starts to hurt and the numbers on my spreadsheet are looking a little fuzzy. I stuck it out until 6, refusing to tell the guys that I felt like absolute crap. I would NOT be "that girl" right after I had gloated about my superior health. So I drove home in misery and immediately crawled in my big fabulous bed where I proceeded to call my mother 6 times over the next 3 hours to whine about my stomach. Calling your mom when you're sick is something I think you just can't grow out of. Anyways - at 9 pm I decided enough was enough and drove myself (much to my mothers chagrin) to the emergency room at Methodist Hospital. Of course, the parents met me there, and we sat in the waiting room for the next 5 hours. My only source of amusement during that time was watching my mother nearly lose it when the kid across from us blared "Crank that Soulja Boy" from his computer for the 50th (literally) time. Talk about a song to have on repeat. Anyways - long story marginally shorter - after they took blood, x-rays, did a CAT scan, and performed all of the other ER essentials I was informed I had severe appendicitis and I was being admitted for emergency surgery to have my appendix taken out! I spent a day or so in the hospital, where I was visited by some of the most fabulous people I know, and I've been taking it easy in Kingwood ever since!
I'm going back to my apartment today and going back to work tomorrow, but the few days of rest have been amazing. I mean, I was sore for 90% of it, but I just laid around and read a book! God is good at giving our bodies a rest when it's needed I suppose :)
It's been so long since I caught everyone up on my life... I'll have to update everyone over the next week or so, so keep checking back! I'll post some footage of the new apartment soon if anyone is interested!
I love you guys - keep me updated on your lives as well!
Cher
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Sitting alone in a hotel...
Hey friends. It's 11:55pm and I'm sitting alone in the Hampton Inn in Waco. I'm here to take my third and biggest CPA exam... here's praying I can pass this bad boy. I will just deflate if I find out I have to study all over again. This whole CPA exam crap seems like some cruel right of passage for all people crazy enough to attempt accounting as a major. There are moments when I really want to ask myself what I was thinking... but then I get over it and realize that I am SO an accountant and I really do enjoy this stuff. It's amazing how God builds some of us with the desires to do the even seemingly mundane jobs. (Seemingly being the operative word... this job is much better than it sounds.)
Here's a quick shout out to my super amazing couldn't do this without him friend Nathan Smith! He's coming tomorrow to meet me for lunch before my exam to give me a pre-game prep talk. He already took it and passed it, so that will be encouraging... plus I can't spend time with him without laughing my head off - so that will be a much needed stress reliever I'm sure. He even had the forethought to pick a place for lunch that was "light" so I could avoid having... er... stomach problems during my exam. What a friend :) Or maybe he just knows me too well.
I need to go to bed and just let the studying go. I have studied some today... played some today. I have become frighteningly good at the whole "denial" thing. I can actually sit here with books in my lap and surf the net and manage to suppress the feelings of panic and guilt. But then the clock strikes midnight and the sinking comes. It's bedtime - and I did not use today's time to it's best potential. Why do I do this? So what's my solution... guilt blogging.
I sign on blogger real quick and give you all the skinny on what it feels like to sit alone in a hotel room the night before an exam feeling somewhat prepared - knowing I could be more prepared. I half want to scream and get mad at myself, I half want to crawl in bed and forget the whole thing. I figure an hour or two more of studying won't add THAT much to my knowledge base and probably just make me groggy tomorrow during game time. Do you like my logic? This is how my brain works at 12:06 at night when I'm tired, but surprisingly alert due to a grande white chocolate mocha I just downed.
This is one major thing I've found changed about me during college. I still have a strong work ethic and will to succeed... but when it gets down to crunch time - I have become suprisingly mellow over the last few years. I used to panic, cry, get very angry and upset after 10pm, especially the evening before major tests, etc. Late night intense conversations were pointless with me. Now, I still wouldn't recommend it, but I have learned to accept that "what happens happens" and no amount of stressing or pulling hair is going to change that. If I have to retake an exam, I retake it... what is the harm in the big picture of life?
So what DOES happen now after 10pm? You are the prime witness. I get a little philosophic and decide to share my musings with the world via blogger. Hmmm...
Any prayers tomorrow would be greatly appreciated! Love you all - I'm going to bed now. Maybe a continental breakfast and a shower at 8 am will help me refocus and get my spirits up.
Cher
Here's a quick shout out to my super amazing couldn't do this without him friend Nathan Smith! He's coming tomorrow to meet me for lunch before my exam to give me a pre-game prep talk. He already took it and passed it, so that will be encouraging... plus I can't spend time with him without laughing my head off - so that will be a much needed stress reliever I'm sure. He even had the forethought to pick a place for lunch that was "light" so I could avoid having... er... stomach problems during my exam. What a friend :) Or maybe he just knows me too well.
I need to go to bed and just let the studying go. I have studied some today... played some today. I have become frighteningly good at the whole "denial" thing. I can actually sit here with books in my lap and surf the net and manage to suppress the feelings of panic and guilt. But then the clock strikes midnight and the sinking comes. It's bedtime - and I did not use today's time to it's best potential. Why do I do this? So what's my solution... guilt blogging.
I sign on blogger real quick and give you all the skinny on what it feels like to sit alone in a hotel room the night before an exam feeling somewhat prepared - knowing I could be more prepared. I half want to scream and get mad at myself, I half want to crawl in bed and forget the whole thing. I figure an hour or two more of studying won't add THAT much to my knowledge base and probably just make me groggy tomorrow during game time. Do you like my logic? This is how my brain works at 12:06 at night when I'm tired, but surprisingly alert due to a grande white chocolate mocha I just downed.
This is one major thing I've found changed about me during college. I still have a strong work ethic and will to succeed... but when it gets down to crunch time - I have become suprisingly mellow over the last few years. I used to panic, cry, get very angry and upset after 10pm, especially the evening before major tests, etc. Late night intense conversations were pointless with me. Now, I still wouldn't recommend it, but I have learned to accept that "what happens happens" and no amount of stressing or pulling hair is going to change that. If I have to retake an exam, I retake it... what is the harm in the big picture of life?
So what DOES happen now after 10pm? You are the prime witness. I get a little philosophic and decide to share my musings with the world via blogger. Hmmm...
Any prayers tomorrow would be greatly appreciated! Love you all - I'm going to bed now. Maybe a continental breakfast and a shower at 8 am will help me refocus and get my spirits up.
Cher
Monday, July 9, 2007
East Asia and such...
I'm home!! East Asia was just as amazing as I expected it to be, and thanks to everyone who prayed for the team! We couldn't have done it without you! I believe 11 students came to know Christ and another 80 or so expressed interest in learning more and will continue meeting with the permanent staff that works over there. I'm not sure exactly what all I can say about it in a public forum, so if you are interested in the details let me know and I'll email them to ya!
The biggest shock involved with leaving the country for six weeks and having limited opportunities to call home is realizing that life goes on without you. By the time I arrived home my sister had changed colleges, got a car and a new boyfriend, my grandmother fell and fractured her ribs resulting in her moving in with our family for an indefinite amount of time, various friends of mine had relationships begin and end, and an assortment of other things that I suppose just couldn't wait on me to return. Well, it's a good thing that God is so soverign and is taking care of things with or without me :)
Today's post is short... I'm tired and sore from playing Wii for hours on end at Kris and Patrick's. If you need a good Wii tennis partner I'm your girl :)
Talk to you all soon!
Cheryl
The biggest shock involved with leaving the country for six weeks and having limited opportunities to call home is realizing that life goes on without you. By the time I arrived home my sister had changed colleges, got a car and a new boyfriend, my grandmother fell and fractured her ribs resulting in her moving in with our family for an indefinite amount of time, various friends of mine had relationships begin and end, and an assortment of other things that I suppose just couldn't wait on me to return. Well, it's a good thing that God is so soverign and is taking care of things with or without me :)
Today's post is short... I'm tired and sore from playing Wii for hours on end at Kris and Patrick's. If you need a good Wii tennis partner I'm your girl :)
Talk to you all soon!
Cheryl
Friday, May 11, 2007
I'm graduating today!! YAY!
It's graduation morning!!! If you count pre-school, this makes 19 years of school finally drawing to a close!! Can you tell I'm excited? I am sitting here in my cap just for fun (as you can see from the photo, taken about 2 minutes ago with my cell phone.) Mom, dad, and Lo are coming up around 3 to kick off the festivities. Then tomorrow I am moving back home... wow! What a quick change. 5 years has FLOWN by, but I'm excited to keep going and discover what God has in store for me next!
I'll miss everyone here in CS but I refuse to get TOO mushy and upset... because I plan on keeping up with all of you.
Love love love!!!
Cher
Monday, May 7, 2007
Coffee and Cookies...
It's all a girl really needs to gain a little perspective on life! I went out for coffee with an amazing friend last night and we had some major girl talk time. I'm pretty sure every patron at Starbucks now thinks we are undoubtedly crazy! Things got loud at points. There was definitely a point where our thoughts could only be conveyed by standing and demonstrating. I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall last night.
Then cookies - after two failed attempts to go see a late showing of Spiderman 3 we settled on brake and bake cookies from HEB. Two midnight episodes of Fresh Prince and 3 oatmeal macadamia nut cookies later, I was feeling good and ready to go to sleep.
Thanks for the fun night LB... you make me smile :) I was having a rough week, but I'm feeling better now!
Much Love - Cher
Then cookies - after two failed attempts to go see a late showing of Spiderman 3 we settled on brake and bake cookies from HEB. Two midnight episodes of Fresh Prince and 3 oatmeal macadamia nut cookies later, I was feeling good and ready to go to sleep.
Thanks for the fun night LB... you make me smile :) I was having a rough week, but I'm feeling better now!
Much Love - Cher
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Kinks in the Plan
Warning. Vague pensive thoughts ahead.
Today I have had cause to think a lot about my future and the things that I allow to come into my life and potentially affect that future. Somewhere along the line I decided on a way I wanted my future to be and I have successfully deflected every little thing that has threatened to alter that future in any way, shape, or form. I thought this was mature. I thought this was wise. Know yourself, know your plans, and be very goal oriented. Make the most of your future - in short - DON'T SCREW UP THE PLAN.
But today I had a slightly jarring realization... could it possibly be that I have been so committed to "the plan" that I was too afraid to let certain good things come into my life, simply because they threatened the future of the plan? WHAT IF life doesn't work like that. Well, I know it doesn't actually. We have to be open to the good things God brings into our lives. Sometimes that requires chance. Always it requires faith and trust.
I have always considered myself an optimist, but when it comes to matters of the heart... and the central features of "the plan" I find myself being decidedly pessimistic. I take this new curveball thrown into the mix and start to pick it apart piece by piece. I lay out the good, I lay out the not so good, and I weigh the parts against each other. I think I'm realizing, though, that I put way too much weight on the not so good. When one or two details seem to threaten the plan in a negative way, I begin the downward spiral. I become a pessimist concerning the situation and it's eventual acceptance into my life is most likely doomed. Is this how God has called me to live?
I struggle to understand the balance between fear and wisdom. When I am evaluating a situation, how much of my evaluation is healthy wisdom - discerning that something might be a good or poor fit for me. The scarier question - how much of my evaluation is simply fear - fear of the unknown, fear of lifestyle change, fear of having to exert any effort to make the plan workable. At which point is the line crossed? How am I ever supposed to know?!
I am afraid. I am afraid that I am letting good things pass me by. I am afraid that in my efforts to secure for myself the ideal future, I am forfeiting amazing things in the process... possibly things God has brought into my life. Things that I am looking at, and saying "God, thanks for the effort, but I'm going to have to turn this blessing down. It's just not in the plan. Try again later, maybe next time you'll be a little more on target." OH how I pray this is not what I'm doing!! Lord - forgive me if I am. But the Bible clearly tells me to fear not - to worry about nothing. And I can honestly say I have and am doing the very best I know how. I just pray that God will continue to refine my discernment!
The Bible says that if any man lacks wisdom, he should ask for it. Well, I am asking for it. And by the truckload if that's alright with you God. Lord, help me to embrace your blessings with open arms. Help me to see the positive more than the negative, and not be afraid of a challenge in life.... a kink in the plan. But at the same time, help me understand when my concerns are valid and should be heeded.
It's just been one of those days. But the funny thing was - this was an AMAZING day. But sometimes it is in the midst of amazingness we start to reevaluate things. Maybe it's time for a big reevaluation.
Today I have had cause to think a lot about my future and the things that I allow to come into my life and potentially affect that future. Somewhere along the line I decided on a way I wanted my future to be and I have successfully deflected every little thing that has threatened to alter that future in any way, shape, or form. I thought this was mature. I thought this was wise. Know yourself, know your plans, and be very goal oriented. Make the most of your future - in short - DON'T SCREW UP THE PLAN.
But today I had a slightly jarring realization... could it possibly be that I have been so committed to "the plan" that I was too afraid to let certain good things come into my life, simply because they threatened the future of the plan? WHAT IF life doesn't work like that. Well, I know it doesn't actually. We have to be open to the good things God brings into our lives. Sometimes that requires chance. Always it requires faith and trust.
I have always considered myself an optimist, but when it comes to matters of the heart... and the central features of "the plan" I find myself being decidedly pessimistic. I take this new curveball thrown into the mix and start to pick it apart piece by piece. I lay out the good, I lay out the not so good, and I weigh the parts against each other. I think I'm realizing, though, that I put way too much weight on the not so good. When one or two details seem to threaten the plan in a negative way, I begin the downward spiral. I become a pessimist concerning the situation and it's eventual acceptance into my life is most likely doomed. Is this how God has called me to live?
I struggle to understand the balance between fear and wisdom. When I am evaluating a situation, how much of my evaluation is healthy wisdom - discerning that something might be a good or poor fit for me. The scarier question - how much of my evaluation is simply fear - fear of the unknown, fear of lifestyle change, fear of having to exert any effort to make the plan workable. At which point is the line crossed? How am I ever supposed to know?!
I am afraid. I am afraid that I am letting good things pass me by. I am afraid that in my efforts to secure for myself the ideal future, I am forfeiting amazing things in the process... possibly things God has brought into my life. Things that I am looking at, and saying "God, thanks for the effort, but I'm going to have to turn this blessing down. It's just not in the plan. Try again later, maybe next time you'll be a little more on target." OH how I pray this is not what I'm doing!! Lord - forgive me if I am. But the Bible clearly tells me to fear not - to worry about nothing. And I can honestly say I have and am doing the very best I know how. I just pray that God will continue to refine my discernment!
The Bible says that if any man lacks wisdom, he should ask for it. Well, I am asking for it. And by the truckload if that's alright with you God. Lord, help me to embrace your blessings with open arms. Help me to see the positive more than the negative, and not be afraid of a challenge in life.... a kink in the plan. But at the same time, help me understand when my concerns are valid and should be heeded.
It's just been one of those days. But the funny thing was - this was an AMAZING day. But sometimes it is in the midst of amazingness we start to reevaluate things. Maybe it's time for a big reevaluation.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Aggie Dog
Now that my friends, is one darn cute Aggie. The tent sale had doggie shirts on sale for $5.
Now before you bite my head off for being one of "those dog owners" lets just keep our perspective. For one, she lives with my parents, so I'm sort of like the grandma that gets to spoil her on visits. And I am really not the type to completely frill out her dog - but come on - for $5?! I just couldn't resist. Also, check out the double strand pearl "necklace" I made her for Christmas. Very Barbara Bush, no? What can I say... I love my dog :) Besides, I'm pretty sure that t-shirt came off about 2 seconds after this pic was taken.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Concluding a fifth of a life...
Hi sweet friends :)
Can you believe I am finally down to 3 weeks until graduation? It feels like yesterday I was climbing over the bike racks with my dad to get a peek into the window of my first dorm room and imagining how adventerous and fulfilling it was going to be to have my own little space in the world, away from parents and friends and the life I had known in Kingwood. Those memories have become precious ones to me. I had no idea where the next 5 years would take me, and had I known, I would have probably been shocked and awed.
Now I am finding myself once again going through this process. I am again a wide eyed newbie looking into the windows of life after college - the prospect of renting my own apartment in the city, paying all my own bills, upgrading my car eventually to a safer and more spacious model, and most importantly - working in the field God has led me into and interacting daily with executives and professionals far my senior. I want to remember all the great times at A&M but I also want to embrace this new chapter with as much vigor and thrill as I took on the last. If as many landmark events and moments of growth are destined to characterize my new life as I've witnessed in my last, then I'm so very happy to dive headfirst into this new time.
But in wrapping up my time in Aggieland (I don't do change so well - so I'm trying hard to embrace this experience head on!) my goals are as follows:
Can you believe I am finally down to 3 weeks until graduation? It feels like yesterday I was climbing over the bike racks with my dad to get a peek into the window of my first dorm room and imagining how adventerous and fulfilling it was going to be to have my own little space in the world, away from parents and friends and the life I had known in Kingwood. Those memories have become precious ones to me. I had no idea where the next 5 years would take me, and had I known, I would have probably been shocked and awed.
Now I am finding myself once again going through this process. I am again a wide eyed newbie looking into the windows of life after college - the prospect of renting my own apartment in the city, paying all my own bills, upgrading my car eventually to a safer and more spacious model, and most importantly - working in the field God has led me into and interacting daily with executives and professionals far my senior. I want to remember all the great times at A&M but I also want to embrace this new chapter with as much vigor and thrill as I took on the last. If as many landmark events and moments of growth are destined to characterize my new life as I've witnessed in my last, then I'm so very happy to dive headfirst into this new time.
But in wrapping up my time in Aggieland (I don't do change so well - so I'm trying hard to embrace this experience head on!) my goals are as follows:
- Choose not to regret any experience gone through or foregone during my 5 years at Texas A&M. I lived the experience God designed for me to walk. All good and painful moments had a vital role in shaping the woman I have become.
- Reflect on and be thankful for all the relationships that impacted my way of thinking and challenged my paradigms. College is as much about broadening your worldview and becoming a moving force in society as it is gaining the head knowledge to allow success in your eventual job.
- Take the time necessary to go to the people who made a difference in my time here and thank them for the impact they left on my life. As cheesy as it may sound, this will really help me as much as them. People deserve to be told when they have been a positive influence - it motivates them to continue and reassures them that they were right to make the personal investments they did in people. For me, it will constructively help me tie that big maroon bow on the "box" I think of my time here as. It's closure, and I personally think it's healthy.
Needless to say - the numbers of people who influenced me are endless, so if I don't get to you, know that your impact is deeply loved and appreciated! What a blessing to have spent time at a university like Texas A&M. I wish every young adult could have the opportunity I have had. This school is a family. This school is my family.
“From the outside looking in you don’t understand it, from the inside looking out you can’t explain it.”
It's crazy, but it's just so darn true. But if you want me to TRY to explain it, don't worry - I will go to great lengths (and use hand motions if necessary) to get the point across.
In short - THANK YOU.
Proudest member of the Fightin Texas Aggie class of 2006,
Cheryl
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Beauty is Fleeting
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" Proverbs 31:30
In an article I read today (located here) I read something that, although the concept is so simple, still struck a chord with me. As a woman, I am right there with the best of them as far as being self critical goes. Especially as a single woman, I notice that I am more prone to being self critical now than when I was in a relationship. Women are constantly concerned with how we are perceived. What are a few common questions that women have running through their heads?
Am I as pretty as the next girl?
Does this outfit flatter my figure?
Do I laugh too much?
Is my personality just a little too "out there"?
Am I anything special, or do I just fade into the crowd?
Am I the kind of girl guys want to marry?
Am I too stuffy and uptight?
I could go on for days, and I'm sure each girl has a few questions of her own that she could add. The article pointed out that each of these questions can be put into one of two catagories:
Questions of Charm (personality)
Questions of Beauty
How appropriate that God so directly focused on these two areas when he pointed out that charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting. But then he reminds us - but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised! As I come up on "wedding season" and graduation I am more conscious than ever about how I look and act! I will be meeting so many new people and have so many photos taken. It is a great reminder to me that my job here is simply to fear the Lord and work on my relationship with him. My somebody for someday will recognize that in me and be attracted despite the huge zit on my cheek and the fact that I go slightly psychotic after 10 pm.
And THAT my friends, is something to WHOOP about!
In an article I read today (located here) I read something that, although the concept is so simple, still struck a chord with me. As a woman, I am right there with the best of them as far as being self critical goes. Especially as a single woman, I notice that I am more prone to being self critical now than when I was in a relationship. Women are constantly concerned with how we are perceived. What are a few common questions that women have running through their heads?
Am I as pretty as the next girl?
Does this outfit flatter my figure?
Do I laugh too much?
Is my personality just a little too "out there"?
Am I anything special, or do I just fade into the crowd?
Am I the kind of girl guys want to marry?
Am I too stuffy and uptight?
I could go on for days, and I'm sure each girl has a few questions of her own that she could add. The article pointed out that each of these questions can be put into one of two catagories:
Questions of Charm (personality)
Questions of Beauty
How appropriate that God so directly focused on these two areas when he pointed out that charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting. But then he reminds us - but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised! As I come up on "wedding season" and graduation I am more conscious than ever about how I look and act! I will be meeting so many new people and have so many photos taken. It is a great reminder to me that my job here is simply to fear the Lord and work on my relationship with him. My somebody for someday will recognize that in me and be attracted despite the huge zit on my cheek and the fact that I go slightly psychotic after 10 pm.
And THAT my friends, is something to WHOOP about!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Ready to roll...
Okay so this afternoon I posted the last few posts from my myspace blog on here, so at least now the place feels a bit more lived in :) The other site is always still available if you are interested in older stuff. (Although I'm not sure why you would be.)
In other news - I cut the grass today! The neighbor guy came and told me if I ever wanted him to mow my backyard with his riding mower to just let him know. Tempting. Also, I got my first support letter response for my East Asia trip in the mail today! Praise God - this thing is actually happening now, we are underway baby! I have my second training day saturday and then I get to go camping with my amazing coach group at McKinney State Falls Park. Fun shall be had by all. Although, I'm not sure if the crew is ready to meet the 2am, loses all her inhibitions Cher. Hmmm.
In other news - I cut the grass today! The neighbor guy came and told me if I ever wanted him to mow my backyard with his riding mower to just let him know. Tempting. Also, I got my first support letter response for my East Asia trip in the mail today! Praise God - this thing is actually happening now, we are underway baby! I have my second training day saturday and then I get to go camping with my amazing coach group at McKinney State Falls Park. Fun shall be had by all. Although, I'm not sure if the crew is ready to meet the 2am, loses all her inhibitions Cher. Hmmm.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
First blogspot post...
Most of my friends are using blogspot these days so I thought I'd join in on the fun... I have all my old posts on my myspace blog, but maybe I can get those transferred here one of these days. If you want to see that blog click here.
In other news... I officially have my last college class ever tomorrow (WHOOP!) but to be honest it's a bittersweet moment. I have loved loved loved my time in Aggieland and I will always be an Aggie through and through! On that note, I need to go write my paper that is due at 8 am tomorrow. IT security is a fascinating topic and I need to dedicate four pages worth of thoughts to convincing my professor of this fact. :)
Love y'all!
Cher
In other news... I officially have my last college class ever tomorrow (WHOOP!) but to be honest it's a bittersweet moment. I have loved loved loved my time in Aggieland and I will always be an Aggie through and through! On that note, I need to go write my paper that is due at 8 am tomorrow. IT security is a fascinating topic and I need to dedicate four pages worth of thoughts to convincing my professor of this fact. :)
Love y'all!
Cher
Friday, March 2, 2007
The Beauty of Contentment...
Hello Beautiful Friends :) Well it's been a while, but I havn't felt inspired by anything recently, so I just decided to wait until the inspiration came. Yesterday must have been like my "introspective catch up day" because all the thoughts flooded me at once. So I decided to share one of those thoughts with you :)
I have been learning the greatest things about contentment lately! It's amazing how God reveals sin in our lives at the most random moments. It's like a light comes on and we can finally start to climb out the hole we never realized we had even fallen in. I am reading "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow with an awesome christian woman at my church this semester. There are many things in life I have chosen to be discontent about, but until recently I never realized the weight my discontentment placed on me. A missionary mentioned in the book was quoted as having lived by her own "keys to contentment". These keys were as follows:
1. Never allow yourself to complain about anything - not even the weather.
2. Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or somplace else
3. Never compare your lot with anothers
4. Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
5. Never dwell on tomorrow - remember that tomorrow is God's, not ours.
I am convicted on EVERY one of those points! If we could train ourselves to adopt these life habits, imagine how much more peace we would have. It reminds me of when I was little and my mom would take me to mall and remind me to have "tunnel vision" - go in for what you want and don't get caught up in letting your eyes wander to the hundreds of sparkley things thrust in front of you - that will almost certainly end in discontentment! Personally, I struggle sometimes with fears about the career I've chosen (accounting) and how that will ultimately impact other areas of my life and my desire to pursue creative outlets (the jokes about the dull lives of CPA's abound, but just ask me if you want me to go off on THAT soapbox!). Then I stop and realize, that God made me just the way I am - and I believe he has guided me to the places I am today. I must choose to be content with TODAY, realizing that God blesses whatever I do, if it is done for his glory and with a right heart. I must give my tomorrows to God. My job today is to wake up every morning, and make good choices. Choices that glorify my heavenly father. I will pray and ask God to bring me the other desires of my heart in his timing - for his word clearly says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4. He does not make us with passions only to ask us to walk away from them. (Yes, there are circumstances where God does require sacrifice - but I find that sacrifice normally has more to do with our selfish desires and perversions than the actual passion itself). So I pray - then I breathe deeply and let all the stress and anguish of subconsiously fighting for something I don't have or havn't experienced dissipate away from me... it's like a strong cleansing wind comes over me and wisks away the ugly black cloud of discontentment that was holding my joy captive. And all of a sudden a new beautiful me - a me that radiates with the light and peace of the one who lives in me (that's God!) steps forward to take on today. Hallelujah!
Ultimately remember this - we are eternal creatures. Our time on this earth is short. If we have trusted in Christ and believe the truth of his sacrifice on our behalf, we will surely spend our eternity in the presence of our King! What is this life in comparison to an eternity in heaven? Nothing. I echo the apostle Paul in saying... "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:8. Paul - you were SO the man.
Oh - P.S. I would like add a 6th key to contentment... take time every day to pray a prayer of thanksgiving for all the blessings in your life. Not only does God long to hear from us - there is nothing that will keep your perspective in check like a good dose of counting your blessings!!
Love y'all more than you know-
Cher
I have been learning the greatest things about contentment lately! It's amazing how God reveals sin in our lives at the most random moments. It's like a light comes on and we can finally start to climb out the hole we never realized we had even fallen in. I am reading "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow with an awesome christian woman at my church this semester. There are many things in life I have chosen to be discontent about, but until recently I never realized the weight my discontentment placed on me. A missionary mentioned in the book was quoted as having lived by her own "keys to contentment". These keys were as follows:
1. Never allow yourself to complain about anything - not even the weather.
2. Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or somplace else
3. Never compare your lot with anothers
4. Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
5. Never dwell on tomorrow - remember that tomorrow is God's, not ours.
I am convicted on EVERY one of those points! If we could train ourselves to adopt these life habits, imagine how much more peace we would have. It reminds me of when I was little and my mom would take me to mall and remind me to have "tunnel vision" - go in for what you want and don't get caught up in letting your eyes wander to the hundreds of sparkley things thrust in front of you - that will almost certainly end in discontentment! Personally, I struggle sometimes with fears about the career I've chosen (accounting) and how that will ultimately impact other areas of my life and my desire to pursue creative outlets (the jokes about the dull lives of CPA's abound, but just ask me if you want me to go off on THAT soapbox!). Then I stop and realize, that God made me just the way I am - and I believe he has guided me to the places I am today. I must choose to be content with TODAY, realizing that God blesses whatever I do, if it is done for his glory and with a right heart. I must give my tomorrows to God. My job today is to wake up every morning, and make good choices. Choices that glorify my heavenly father. I will pray and ask God to bring me the other desires of my heart in his timing - for his word clearly says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4. He does not make us with passions only to ask us to walk away from them. (Yes, there are circumstances where God does require sacrifice - but I find that sacrifice normally has more to do with our selfish desires and perversions than the actual passion itself). So I pray - then I breathe deeply and let all the stress and anguish of subconsiously fighting for something I don't have or havn't experienced dissipate away from me... it's like a strong cleansing wind comes over me and wisks away the ugly black cloud of discontentment that was holding my joy captive. And all of a sudden a new beautiful me - a me that radiates with the light and peace of the one who lives in me (that's God!) steps forward to take on today. Hallelujah!
Ultimately remember this - we are eternal creatures. Our time on this earth is short. If we have trusted in Christ and believe the truth of his sacrifice on our behalf, we will surely spend our eternity in the presence of our King! What is this life in comparison to an eternity in heaven? Nothing. I echo the apostle Paul in saying... "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:8. Paul - you were SO the man.
Oh - P.S. I would like add a 6th key to contentment... take time every day to pray a prayer of thanksgiving for all the blessings in your life. Not only does God long to hear from us - there is nothing that will keep your perspective in check like a good dose of counting your blessings!!
Love y'all more than you know-
Cher
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)