A Wrong Turn

Mt. Hood Strawberries

One of the Many Benefits of Living in Oregon

We were returning from a vacation in Sunriver. Driving through Sandy, traffic took a dead stop. We decided to work our way through the back roads to get home.

We took a wrong turn. Fortunately, we have a GPS unit (TomTom) and we knew where we would end up... but we had no idea what we would find on the way.

Have you ever been re-routed along the way? You thought you made a wrong turn, but in the end... you were glad you did?

Sometimes, you just might end up with the reddest ripest strawberries you've ever seen!

Page 2, The Rest of the Story

I just wanted to do a quick follow-up on some of my latest posts

• Siesta Summer Bible Study: No Other Gods I have to tell you that I am being challenged by this study. God does not leave stones un-turned. The study calls us to "confront our modern-day idols" and I figured out that one of my "modern-day idols" is my laptop! I should be the consumer of my laptop (and Internet), but I have become the consumee! God has blessed me with an accountability partner for the study. Vickie from Boise, Idaho. Thanks, Vickie!
  
• Teacher of Our Year I did give this note to Mr. B on the last day of school. I also wrote a similar letter to the principal commending Mr. B. I try to do handwritten notes as much as possible... they just seem... well, personal! (Of course, if I had to blog by hand... yikes!)
  
• Tears of Joy Summer Break... Okay, I forgot about the sleeping in thing... sweet! Of course, that only lasted a day! Whenever Christopher tells me he is bored... (and, yes, he has already said so!) I tell him to be grateful because... time flies when you are having fun... don't you want the summer to last forever?
  
• As Soon as I Pray I just wanted to thank all of you for sending me a piece of sunshine. It arrived just in time!
  

Siesta Summer Bible Study: No Other Gods

What do you perceive to be your biggest challenge
toward walking victoriously with God this summer?

My answer: Lack of Accountability!

I was checking out Beth Moore's blog the other day. I noticed that she was having a "Siesta Summer Bible Study." (Siesta is "sister" in Beth Moore's blog-ese.) She is doing a nation-wide... no make that world-wide... Summer Bible Study using Kelly Minter's "No Other Gods" workbook.

One thing I know about myself is... I need deadlines... accountability... especially when it comes to Bible Study. Okay, so call me immature, but I know me. That's why I like going to ladies' Bible Study on Tuesdays... because it helps me to stay in the Word of God... I like to have my homework done, so that I can appreciate the entire study.

My dilemma for the summer: no organized Bible Study. Until I found out about the Siesta Summer Bible Study...

I'm encouraging you to join me. I know you don't have the book, but you can still get one... and Lifeway has even provided the first week for free while you wait for your book. You'll want to read through the posts on the Siesta Summer Bible Study.

For the first "meeting" we're to discuss what we perceive to be our biggest challenge toward walking victoriously with God this summer? I told you mine: Lack of Accountability. How about you?

Beth has also encouraged us to memorize Jude 1:24-25 over the course of the study. Anyone have some creative ideas on how you do your memory verses?

To him who is able to keep you from falling
and to present you before his glorious presence
without fault and with great joy—
to the only God our Savior
be glory, majesty, power and authority,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
before all ages,
now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 1:24-25 (NIV)

I'll be praying that you are victorious in your walk with God this summer.

Remember, the enemy does not take a summer vacation!

Teacher of OUR Year

Mr. B

Anthony and I wanted to thank you for such a great school year. Our move to this school was not of our design, but God certainly knew ahead of time how much you and this school would benefit Christopher.

Your dedication to excellence and the success of each child is to be commended. Although this was a difficult transition, your class structure and routine helped Christopher to get on track quickly.

We are so thankful to God for you. May He bless you over and above the blessings we could even imagine. May your summer be restful and reflective and full of memories.

In God's grace...

Tears of Joy?

Why are these women crying?

School's Out for Summer!!!

As soon as I pray...

Really. I don't mean to complain. But it has been dreary here in Portland. Well, I might even be able to deal with dreary, but it has been cold, too. No shorts. No short sleeves. Sweaters. Coats. Cold.

Having been diagnosed with depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the lack of sun is no laughing matter. I depend on the sun. We all do. It is a source of Vitamin D.

I decided to pray about this. Well, I started off complaining... and then just begging... for some sun... for a little warmth... maybe even a little humidity.

And I felt the Lord asking, "Sheri, can you trust me on this? Will you let me be all that you need?" Well, sure... I'll trust you, Lord. You have always been faithful to me.

The next day, I receive my daily e-mail from the national radio station, K-Love. It is always a Bible verse that is meant to encourage. June 4, 2008...

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. ~ Psalm 84:11, NLT

I'm thinking... you've got to be kidding? Perhaps only this version of the Bible uses the word "SUN." So, I search and find that every version I look at uses the word SUN. Still, in disbelief... I decide to look up the verse in Hebrew. Not that I can read Hebrew, but I can research if the actual word that had been translated would have been SUN. And sure enough, it was the word SUN.

Why is this so important and dear to me? Because in God's Word, it tells me that God will supply for all my needs. Is God truly all I need? Yes, He is even the SUN to me.

I am learning to be content in all situations
and I have started to thank God for the lack of SUN
because it teaches me to truly depend on Him
for all that I need.

As soon as I pray,
you answer me;
you encourage me
by giving me strength.
~ Psalm 138:3, NLT

You Lavish Me In My Garden

I was walking in the garden today. I was sulking. Looking at the seed that I had sown. Without sun... there is little growth. It has been dreary. There has been plenty of rain... but not much sun... Day after day after day.

And then I wonder... how many times have I been able to reap what I did not sow in this garden? I have eaten cherries from trees that I did not plant. I have cut roses off bushes I did not plant. I have enjoyed the aroma of lilac and lavender that I did not plant. I have enjoyed the shade of trees that I did not plant.

But now that I have sown the seed. I want to see the growth. I expect it. I want it, now.

Then I recalled the passage in 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 which talks about how one person plants, another waters, "but God made it grow." How did I forget that part?

God makes it grow. It doesn't matter if I planted it. It doesn't matter if I watered it. I cannot make it grow.

And so, as I look at the bigger picture... the garden of my life... I wonder... where else am I expecting growth? What else am I expecting God to do... when and how I want Him to do it?

And now that I think about it... I can wait, Lord. You lavish me in my garden. I will wait. I have to wait. You will make it grow.