Shattered dreams and the King of kings…

By Cheri, on April 30th, 2013

Back from a great weekend at Sandy Cove Ministries. My heart is spilling over from the time spent with my new friends from Zarephath Christian Church of New Jersey. We laughed, we cried, we worshipped. We even danced. And Jesus was there for all of it.

I ended up taking requests during the Saturday night concert and was asked to pull ”Not With Jesus” out of the archives. From WHAT MATTERS MOST released in 1997, I struggled a bit to recall all the lyrics as I hadn’t sung it in awhile. When I wrote do you dream of all that could have been then wonder what went wrong?, it wasn’t about “you” at all. It was about me. One of my dreams had been shattered and I knew the pain of a broken heart. I wrote you’re not without hope, you’re not without love, not with Jesus, because I was discovering the truth of Psalm 34:18…the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I made it through the song but was overcome with emotion. I got choked up remembering how Jesus saw my tears during that dark season, even when I didn’t allow others to see them. He saw them. He saw me. He sang songs of love over me and quickly became the Hero of my story.

During the Friday night session I shared an original poem of the same name. Someone requested a copy. I took her email address and promised I’d either forward it to her or maybe even work it into a blog…

The Hero Of My Story
He’s my Knight in Shining Armor, and I, His Princess
He’s my Everlasting Father, and I, His precious daughter
He’s the Lover of my soul and the Lifter of my head
He’s the Master Carpenter with nails in His hands
By His wounds, I am healed
By His Spirit, my heart yields
He’s the Cup-Bearer, the Crown of Thorn-Wearer
He’s the Lily of the Valley and the Stream in the Desert
He spoke the world into existence and then set about to save it
He’s the King of kings, the Lord of lords
The Holy One my heart adores
Maybe you’ve heard of Him?
His Name? Oh, it’s the sweetest Name
The Name Above Every Name
My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Forwarding the link,
Cheri

 
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Grinning on the inside…

By Cheri, on April 21st, 2013

Today’s blog will be brief, because I’m heading to community group shortly. I’m just sipping a chai tea latte and reviewing my talks for the Hearts of Joy retreat next weekend. I will gather together with some dear sisters in Christ at Sandy Cove Ministries in North East, MD, and Jesus will be our Honored Guest.

No doubt, many will come in desparate need of a touch from the Lord. Many will come broken, tired, and ready for change. I have prayed and prepared what I feel God would have me present. I will speak, lead worship, give a concert, and hopefully connect one on one with a select few He will put in my path. I will encourage and be as transparent as possible. I will laugh and maybe even cry. In keeping with our theme, I will urge as Paul did, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!”

But, I can’t guarantee results. I can’t guarantee anything at all.

What I’ve learned is joy doesn’t just happen, sometimes we have to choose it. We have to cling tightly and tether ourselves completely to the One Who has the ability to give it. We have to not be afraid of the sadness that so often accompanies life here on earth, for “sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.” (Eccl. 7:3)  There are no shortcuts, no quick fixes. We must sit and seek and soak in the hope of Psalm 16:11 . . . ”You fill me with joy in your presence.” And He will do it.

Author Melba Colgrove says “joy is the feeling of grinning on the inside.” G.K. Chesterton called it the “giant secret of the Christian.” I believe joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God’s love and work in our lives . . . that He will be there no matter what.

I don’t want to miss dinner at community group tonight, so I’d better wrap for now. Please agree with me for a fresh filling of the joy of the Lord this weekend. Amen!

Sitting, seeking, and soaking…
Cheri

 

 
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