I'm alive and well!

Just jumping on-line here for a short moment to post that yes, I am still alive and well. My test came back and showed a severe infection high up in the left sinus. I'm doing better, but it's still not totally gone.

In the meantime, I've been working like crazy. I'm teaching an intersession course on Truth and Deception. It meets every day from 9-3. That's just the classroom time. Add in the prep and grading and. . .well, you can see why I haven't been posting much lately.

Anyway, the class ends tomorrow!! Yea!!!! Although I love teaching it, I'm more than ready for this crazy schedule to end.

Hope all of you are doing well. I'll catch up on blog reading next week.

Until then,
~Cheryl

Real Faith is in the God Box!

Pastor Craig Groeschel recently used the following illustration in a sermon:

It involved two boxes. One box had “me” written on it. One had “God” written on it. He simply showed how we often give things to God… then take them back. At the end of the illustration, He suggested that real faith is when we don’t just hand things to God, but give our lives totally to Him. Then he put the “me” box into the “God” box. (Click here to see the message.) *clipped from Lifechurch.tv

Wow!! Is this a powerful illustration or what? I don't know about you, but I want to be in the God box, not out there on my own given Him my stuff and then taking it back.

So I'll follow Peter's example and simply say "Take all of me LORD!"

Test Anxiety

We're in Finals week at good old FBU and I can really relate with my student's test anxiety. You see for the second day in a row I've had medical tests. I've decided that I'm not a good patient or maybe that I'm not a patient patient. Does that make sense? I HATE to wait, especially for tests. And when you're having any type of medical procedure waiting is just part of the game.

Today was no different as I found myself "challenged" by the wait for my second CT scan--at the hospital this time, to boot (I hate hospitals with a passion). Why a second CT scan? Well, they only did part of what they were supposed to do yesterday. Don't ask me why or how. I don't know the answer. I was just thankful I didn't have to have dye inserted in my body this time.

So what's on the agenda for tomorrow? Well, I don't really know. I'm just taking this thing step by step. I can tell you one thing. I hope and pray there are no more tests. Frankly, I'm much better at giving tests than taking them.

~Cheryl

Happy Mother's Day

For all mothers out there, I wish I could be there in person to give you some roses. Until that day when we meet face-to-face (San Antonio, anyone?), these virtual flower will have to do.

Have a fantastic Mother's Day!!

Much love,
~Cheryl

One for all and all for one. . Is this just a pipe dream?

For a number of years I've had a passion for unity in the church. Last year, convinced of the importance of this I urged my own local church to host a Beth Moore Simulcast. I thought this would be a great way to bring in women from a variety of churches in the area.

Little did I know just how difficult this task would be. Although the event was eventually a success, the road getting there was paved with every road block and detour imaginable.

So, you can see why the following article attracted my interest. How do we create unity in the church? Any suggestions? Or is this just a pipe dream? I sure hope not.

With a passion for unity,
~Cheryl

clipped from swerve.lifechurch.tv If I were the devil, my number one strategy to thwart the work of God would be to divide Christ’s church. Satan certainly knows the words of Jesus that a Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus asked God to make all His disciples one (John 17:21). He prayed that we would be brought to complete unity (John 17:23). Paul told us to, “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…” (Eph. 4:3) Unity doesn’t mean uniformity. We shouldn’t be alike in style, philosophy, and personal preferences. We are strengthened in our diversity. We can be unified and diversified! We don’t have to be alike or agree on minor issues to agree on the Lordship of Christ! For example, a strong church in my community changed its worship style. Several other churches within the same denomination took out full-page ads against this church, calling them heretics. HEARTBREAKING! As a parent, I hate when my kids fight. Imagine how God must feel when He looks at His children who can’t get along.

Migraine Trouble

Okay, I'm sitting at my desk at work typing this, just waiting for the rush hour traffic to clear out a bit before I leave. I'm not sure I could handle the traffic today. You see I have a killer migraine. It started on Monday and despite my best efforts to get it to STOP, it continues. And yest, I've taken all my prescribed medication. But, still no help. Argh!! So, I think I'm going to have to wrap things up here, head home to a quiet, dark room for a while.

I'll be back when I'm feeling better.

Until then,
~Cheryl

When Silence Isn't Quiet After All!

I just finished reading Jennyhope's post on The Power of Silence (A.W Tozer) and it actually made me stop my mad, hectic rush of grading papers. Yes, it is that time of year again when I'm flooded with student papers. So, what am I doing now? Reading blogs of course!!! But I digress. . . .

Last weekend at the retreat/conference I attended the group was put on "silence" both Friday and Saturday nights. Basically, we were on our honor not to talk after we left the retreat site and headed back to our various hotels.

Now, while silence may seem like a pretty easy thing to do, it's actually more of a challenge than you might think. Just the little practical things like asking for more towels or ordering breakfast could prove to be a challenge. Add to that the fact that I'm an extrovert and well. . . you can see how this might have been just a wee bit of a challenge for me.

What I found, however was that these extended periods of silence were the most powerful times I've experienced lately. It's amazing just what you can actually hear when you stop talking and start listening. So perhaps it's time to stop talking and start listening. Hey you could even put yourself on silence. Now there's an idea.

Try it! My guess is that once you "adjust" to it, you'll find that that "quiet time" really isn't that quiet at all.

Enjoying the Silence,
~Cheryl

Back in the "fast lane"

Wow! I've hit the ground running as I've tried to "catch up" with all that's gone on since I've been gone. I just returned late Monday night from a conference/retreat in Maryland. It was a fantastic experience that has totally renewed me in ways I can't even begin to articulate.

The one thing I can share is that God is so much bigger than I ever thought He was!! And that's pretty darn BIG. I was just washed in His love during my trip. The time I spent with Him was so special. He was so tender and sweet with me and I believe I experienced His love in ways I never had before. Now there's a statement for you!!

So, yes I'm back in the "fast lane" again. And although I'll miss my "retreat" experience, I am glad to be back among the world of bloggers again!!! I can't wait to hear about what y'all have been doing while I've been gone. So, I'm off to do some blog reading.

Love you bunches,
~Cheryl