Tuesday, March 31, 2015

REALIZATIONS

As I was preparing for the final meetings of Soul Steps I became overwhelmed thinking of everything I wanted to say to my sweet ladies before I sent them out to fly. My mind raced in wonder if I had told them everything I wanted to, if I had given them ample tools for going forth.


Obviously our seven weeks together does not equal the sum of their life's lessons and instruction. Yet there is a part of me that feels so invested in them that I feel led to be sure I have helped them adequately.


Over the course of seven weeks in Soul Steps there is a process that occurs. This process is so much like Spring cleaning. We begin digging out of our proverbial closet, releasing the "stuff" that we have held on to for far too long. Just as it is in the actual spring cleaning process we are faced with putting things where they belong. Releasing the stuff we have continued holding on to.


Part of living a life of freedom comes from no longer holding on to things that have been holding you down, holding you back from the full potential that God intends you to live.


As you might begin to do a little spring cleaning now that the weather is warming up (it tends to be a natural response to the sunshine and longer days). I urge you to look into your heart to see what is in there that needs to be dug out. What has been taking up valuable space long enough that needs released? Are you holding on to unforgiveness? Maybe you have expectations that you cannot live up to, or that you hold others up to? Is it perfectionism? Oh, that is subject we could talk to in great depth.
I think I will begin talking about the Spring Cleaning subject regularly in the weeks to come here on my blog.


For today I encourage you to begin realizing the truth of the One who created you. That He has a plan  and a purpose for you, one that includes a life of love and freedom. Freedom from bondage of the heavy weights we continue to carry around day after day.


More than anything today or any day He wants you to know that:


YOU ARE ENOUGH.
 Did you notice there is a period at the end of that sentence?
He says you are enough  PERIOD. 


I read it this way recently;


YOU ARE ENOUGH!
Not because you did or said or thought or bought of became or created something special but because YOU ALWAYS WERE.


Let that thought mull over in your mind all day today as you go about your day. Hear it, feel it, soak it up to the depths of your being.


Much love,
Sherry

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Here's to A New Season


My life is taking on a new stage, a new chapter. Soul Steps has just wrapped up. For the first time in a very long time I am not being dictated by a calendar full of deadlines and a massive agenda. I am giving myself a couple of days to re-group, then I am going to begin a new normal. Which I have yet to see how that looks and feels.
Life is ever-changing and ever-evolving.
Part of my process right now is to create a flexible, yet steady habit to be most productive in this new season. An important part of that agenda is to post here on my blog on a regular basis. I would like to share some of the material I use in Soul Steps along with whatever else happens to come to mind.
Hopefully my new habit will include posting little snippets of inspiration here randomly and regularly.
It is my greatest desire to encourage and inspire others on this journey of life.


Philippians 1:6 says: 
 "Being confident in this,
that He who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."


That means He isn't finished with us yet and He won't be until the day we see Him face to face. Til then it is up to us to keep running the race, keep growing, keep doing the work He has called us here to do.  To keep figuring it out in each new season, one day at a time.


Here's to new seasons and Gods grace that is new every day as He grows us into the person He intends us to be.


Much love
XO
Sherry

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Living In Freedom

I always feel so bad when it occurs to me that I have failed to keep up with my poor blog.
My life tends to swirl around in fast motion, as I am sure yours does, making it hard to keep up. Just when you are about to catch up something else gets thrown in the mix. I know you all understand full well what I am talking about.
As I reflect upon the point we are at in our current session of Soul Steps I thought I would share a little. In the Soul Step journey women are encouraged  to dig out their "junk." The stuff they have buried and shoved down. This takes a process of discovery. Once it is all dug up  we process what needs done with these things that have caused us to live bogged down.
Depression, un-forgiveness, haunting memories of the past, resentment, regret, shame, fear, anxiety... the list goes on and on.
God does not intend for us to live held down by these things, He sent His son that we would live in freedom. Most of us fail to do just that. We think we have to earn the freedom, we forget to remember that the price has already been paid.
Galatians 5:1 says: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
It is for freedom that Christ set us free.....
Are you getting that?
We have been set free FOR FREEDOM!
I am pretty sure if you were offered something for free you would be quick to accept the offer. I mean think about it; if you were offered free groceries for a month, you would be showing up at the grocery store. The reason there are people lined up in the aisles of Costco is so they can receive a free sample. When  a new business opens up people are quick to show up for the free samples and goodies that are offered on opening day.  FREE is our favorite price, right?
Yet the greatest gift ever has been given to us for free and we just move on past it day after day after day, living in bondage.
God longs for us to be rid of all of the junk we carry around on our shoulders day after day after day. He longs for us to live in the freedom He offers.


I want to encourage you today to take inventory of what is keeping you from living in that freedom, those things that have been shoved down and are holding you back from living a fully effective life for Christ. He is waiting for you to accept His offer, the next move is yours.


XO