Posts Tagged With: faith

Singing His Song (Five Minute Friday)

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Sharita

Five Minute Friday

Hey all! It’s Five Minute Friday… Time to link-up with Lisa-Jo Baker, see what prompt she has for us, and write, unhindered for 5 whole minutes.

Ready?

Today’s Prompt: SONG

And go!

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The sound of summer raindrops hitting the sidewalk. A mourning dove welcoming the day. A baby kicking in the floor, cooing as she has recently found her voice.

They are singing His Song.

The timer going off in the kitchen when the casserole is done. The playful bark of the family pup running in the yard. The sweet silence of the house at 3am.

Here’s to singing His Song.

The gentle hum of tires on the interstate during a long anticipated road trip. The splash of water as a little one jumps into daddy’s arms in the pool. The squeak of the hotel bed as you flop back on it after a long day of traveling.

Yes, we are singing His Song.

The quiet low of cattle out in the pasture as the sun sets on the horizon. The crickets and frogs firing up as dusk turns to dark. The buzz of June bugs wings as they flit around the front porch.

They are singing His Song.

The moment of silence as I put my feet up and sink lower into a bathtub of warm water. The squeal of laughter that echos through the house as my husband woos me with his antics. The sweet and enthusiastic voice, with arms high and heart abandoned as we sing His praise in church… in our car… in the shower… in our heart.

Yes, my friends. We are singing His Song.

STOP!

****

Where or in what situations do you find yourself singing His Song the loudest? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Until Monday, sweet followers… Sing His Song loud and proud.

Singing for Him,
SGK

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” ~Psalm 28:7

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , , | 3 Comments

Bubble Wrap Faith

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Sharita

Oh bubble wrap. The magical packing material that has been causing squabbles among siblings for decades.

Or was that just my sister and I who fought over who got to pop those addictingly-fun little bubbles? Either way, ya just gotta love the multi-purposeful qualities of bubble wrap.

bubble wrap

Via CMMahon @ Flickr

As I was pondering this idea (again, at 3am… sorry, apparently 3am is prime time for random thoughts to enter my mind– blame it on the new-mama sleep deprivation) I, as usual, started thinking about how bubble wrap can relate to our faith.

Random. I know. Sorry. It’s how I roll.

Anywho, I considered the topic at hand… when I was thinking about it, I was struck by the idea of motherhood and how the first few weeks of baby girl’s existence  I was (ok, still am) so twitchy and overprotective… And I really thought at one point the possibility of how to “bubble wrap” her from this world to keep her safe.

Then I heard God’s voice: “Beloved daughter… that’s not your job. You are called to love her and care for her– but in this world, you will all have trouble. I am her protector. Trust me.”

Gulp. Ok. Heard you, Father.

Then, my random thoughts took me to the scene from Finding Nemo where Marlin the clownfish (Nemo’s dad) and Dory are in the mouth of the whale. Marlin starts to yell at Dory and the following scene ensues:

Marlin: “I promised I’d never let anything happen to him!!”
Dory: “Hmm. That’s a funny thing to promise.”
Marlin: “What?”
Dory: “Well, you can’t never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo.”

Dory, although she can’t remember Nemo’s correct name to save her tail, makes a pretty good point. And it holds true not only to “real life” parenthood but also our walk of faith.

Sure, we all wish nothing <specifically: bad or challenging> would ever happen. But if that were true– where would we stand with God? I don’t know about you, but I am typically closest to God when things are the toughest.

Ultimately, Jesus is our bubble wrap. He protects us. He guards us. And He makes sure we get to our final destination (ahem, heaven) in one piece.

But in order to really live a bubble wrap faith life, we have to let go of our need to be the bubble wrap in both our lives and the lives of those around us. We can’t protect those around us from all harm. We can’t control others to make perfect decisions. (Heck, our decisions aren’t perfect either– even if we think we know best.)

We have to let go and let Jesus do the guarding and protecting. We have to trust Him that He knows what He is doing (He does) and loves us beyond all comprehension.

In what areas of your life do you try to be the bubble wrap? How would letting go of that desire to be the bubble wrap free our spirits?

Be encouraged, friends. Letting go and letting Jesus be our bubble wrap isn’t an overnight process. (Believe you me, I am still working on it!) When we transition from control to trust, we can rest assured that He will not only carry us to our final destination– but we will be more protected and secure than ever before.

That’s what I call a special delivery handled with care.

Wrapped up in Christ,
SGK

“He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.” ~Joshua 24:17

Categories: trust | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Embrace the Suck

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Sharita

Sometimes, life sucks.

Yeah, I said it. And yeah, I said it on a Jesus-loving Christian blog.

But its the truth. Sometimes life sucks.

We live in a world of pain. Of hurt. Of disease. Of evil. Of hard circumstances. Of moments where we wonder how the heck we are supposed to continue to function.

“Sucky” things in life range from the seemingly small and trivial (I lost my stupid wallet– again!) to the painfully large and unexplainable (Sandy Hook school shooting. Boston bombing. Explosion in Texas.)

So yeah, it’s the truth. Sometimes life really just kinda sucks.

Which might be why this world is not our home. (THANK YOU JESUS! Can I get an AMEN?!?!)

For those of you who have been around 7 Days Time for a hot minute, you know it’s my policy not to leave things on a negative note. So if life sucks… What are we supposed to do about it?

Embrace the suck.

image

Now, I don’t mean we have to welcome it. Or enjoy it. Or even ask for the hard times to come our way. But we all know that hard times, aka the sucky stuff, is inevitable in this life. We live in a fallen world and really there’s no getting around it.

But instead of wallowing in the suck and turning our eyes inward… We can embrace it knowing that we have a Lord and Savior that has been there, done that.

And no matter what suck you are going through right now, we can take solace in the fact that this world isn’t our home and we have the promise of heaven closer than we can imagine.

“Well, Sharita, this ‘embrace the suck’ idea is all fine and dandy… In theory. But seriously. What can we do about it?”

Great question. Glad you asked. :-)  Here’s a few tangible thoughts…

*Pray. A lot. God doesn’t care if it’s a huge suck like battling cancer or a seemingly minor suck like a newborn baby who has gotten her days and nights mixed up and refuses to sleep. (Not that I would know that one from experience or anything.) Remember, if it matters to you, it matters to God. He will hear your plea for help. He might not fix your suck, but I promise He WILL be with you through it!

*Rejoice. I know it’s hard in the moment… But 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to rejoice IN (not necessarily FOR) all circumstances. That’s where making a list of your blessings and small God gifts in life come into play.  Be thankful.

*Share. Find another Christian or person you trust and share the “suck” in your life.  God made us to live in community and bear one another’s burdens.

*Keep perspective. This one is also easier said than done, but sometimes taking a quick step back and trying to look at things from God’s perspective can be a huge help. It might require extra meditation, prayers, quiet time, a mini-sabbatical, rest or a variety of things. Ask yourself not WHY… But WHAT God is doing in your suck situation.

*Embrace Jesus. This is something we can (and should) do whether or not we find ourselves in a “suck” part of life or not. Again, he’s been there, done that– a thousand times worse than we could ever imagine. He understands. He is always with you. Yep, even in the midst of the suck of life.

Be encouraged today, sweet reader. If you are in a suck season and desire prayer, please feel free to contact me by leaving a comment below, sending me a message on Facebook or holler at me via email at sharita{dot}knobloch{at}gmail{dot}com.

Take heart, friends. Embrace the suck by embracing Jesus. He’s got your back– always.

Embracing Him Wholeheartedly,
SGK

“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” ~2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG

Categories: challenge, God | Tags: , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Everyday Jesus: Run For God… Mama-Style

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Sharita

Remember a few weeks ago my friend Charity sharing about leading a “Run for God” journey at our church? Yeah… well here is the INCREDIBLE conclusion with a great “Mother’s Day” twist. Seriously, you don’t wanna miss it. It is sure to inspire you to lace up your tennis shoes and hit the pavement… to run your Race for Him– as we find Jesus in the Everyday. 

Running to Him,
SGK 

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On our very first run, it rained. In the first guest post, I talked about the rain and all the reasons we avoid it. I also mentioned that without rain, there is no growth.

Well… God sent that rain for a reason. His amazing, loving hands have “watered” us in ways I could have never imagined. His eternal gardening has caused some amazing growth with beautiful fruit and flowers.

I have grown. God used Run for God to challenge me in my leadership. I have been so humbled by the opportunity to be his vessel for this class. Run for God opened my heart to a career of helping others achieve their physical goals while allowing me to share my testimony of God’s amazing grace. As I pursue this passion, God continues to open door after door. His plan is so perfect. I am very thankful for the growth in my life. All the glory to God!

God also allowed me to watch others bloom. We began the class with about 65. A few left and a few new people joined. When we ran our goal race on April 27, 58 people completed the race. Here’s our group picture before the race.

 Group R4G

There are many stories that I could share of growth during Run for God, but I’m going to share the one that is nearest to me and closest to my heart – my Mom’s journey.

 Charity mom 1

First off, my mom is a champion! She has been through so many challenges, but her heart and life have always been in God’s hands.  I have watched her turn to God for strength in all she does. She’s been a single Mom since I was 2 and has sacrificed so much in her life, so we could have more.

My mom has supported me in all I do especially in running. She’s been my photographer for all of my runs. I love having her as the cheerleader.

She has also battled with weight issues and health issues for much of her adult life. So when she called me in January to tell me she wanted to join Run for God, all I could do was cry. I knew, right then, if the only person that signed up for Run for God was my mom, I would have been happy!

Her journey hasn’t been easy. In fact, it’s been tough. Here’s an email I received from her near the end of the journey about a week before our goal race:

Charity,

I thought about my race and wondered if I could do the race coming up.  Tuesday around 4 o’clock, I slow run/walk and it was so unbearable that I only walked 1.39 mi for 33.47.  Needless to say I was very disappointed because I know I need to be ready to walk 3.1 for the race.  So last night, I begin to mediate on what I could do different and decided to change my strategy. You know if you always do the same thing, the same way , you will always get the same results.  My decision was to get up Thursday and run around 8 to see if this was better.  I really wanted confidence that I could do this and with God’s help I can do ALL things.  So this is to tell you my teacher, my coach, my mentor, my friend but most of all my daughter Thank You for encouraging and believing in me.  Today, I finished 3.01 miles in 1.08.02.  I thank God and give Him all glory.  I love you!

Mom

See what a beautiful flower God has pruned, watered and bloomed. She finished the goal race in just under 1 hour and 5 minutes. Here’s her picture as she neared the finish line. All the Glory to God!

Charity mom ****

charity runningCharity is a child of God. Simple as that. She love’s God and is thankful to have such an awesome church family, and thankful daily for the work God is doing in her life. Everyday. She is married to an incredible man, Adam-  there are so many great things to say about him that she’ll save that for another time, date, and location. But just know he is awesome. Finally, she has two cute, furry, cuddly cavalier King Charles spaniels, Zoe and Charlie. You can connect with Charity via her Running 2 His Arms Blog.

Categories: Everyday Jesus | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

If we are Called… Be Brave (Five Minute Friday)

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Sharita

Five Minute Friday
Greetings all!

It’s that time again– yeppers, it’s Five Minute Friday time. At the end of each “work week,” I link-up with Lisa-Jo Baker for this writing exercise of glory. She gives us a prompt. We write for five minutes. Without over thinking. Simply free and uninhibited.

I never know what is going to happen. (But these precious words from God rarely disappoint!)

So let’s get started and see what Jesus has to say via my fingertips today…

PROMPT: BRAVE

Andddd GO! 

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Brave. Courageous. Daring. Hopeful.

No matter how you spell it– really it all boils down to faith. Because with faith– all things are possible– and we can brave the scariest of storms with Jesus at our side.

Because the one who calls you is faithful and HE will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24.)

If we are called to move to a new place… Be brave, knowing that Christ is with you.

If we are called to get married… Be brave, building your marital foundation on Him with the knowledge that He IS the solid rock.

If we are called into parenthood… Be brave, embracing the fact that none of us really know what we are doing at the beginning, but God will give us the wisdom and discernment we need to love and care for our little ones.

When we are called to share the gospel… Be brave, confident that He will show up and give you the words to say.

Friends, take heart and know that when we are called to (you fill in the blank here) we can be brave– ultimately by being faithful to the one who called us in the first place.

STOP!

In what life situations do you find yourself needing to be brave? How can you always make sure you fall back on your faith?

Be brave, my friends. Cling to the truth that He is sovereign over all and the One who calls you is faithful and He WILL do it!

Finding courage in Christ,
SGK

“I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I will bring him, and he will succeed in his mission.” ~Isaiah 48:15 NIV

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , | 8 Comments

It Ain’t Easy Being Green

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Sharita

I’ve learned some great lessons over the years… from muppets. (Yeah, I said it.)

Growing up, it was Sesame Street… Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch, Burt and Ernie… I learned that sharing is the right thing to do, that C is for cookie (that’s good enough for me, cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C!–Anybody else remember that song?) and many other life lessons that have served me well the last 27 and a half years.

I’ve also learned a lot from other muppets– perhaps the more widely known clan… Yes, THE MUPPETS. Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear (Waka, waka!) and of course~ Kermit the Frog.

In one of my brand-spanking-new-mama late night feeding sessions with Baby Charis, a thought from Kermit came back to me:

It ain’t easy being green.

Kermit The Frog

Via Eva Rinaldi at Flickr

I know. Weird thought, right? But I let this idea marinate. What exactly does he mean, it ain’t easy being green? Green isn’t really a positive color to be I guess (at least according to Kermit.) He wrote an entire song about it– wanting to be a different color, more bright and brilliant and noticeable.

Green doesn’t have the best connotation in our world either… Check it out:

Green can denote inexperience: “Oh look at the new guy… over there fumbling around. He’s so green. (Or what a greenhorn.)”

It is the color of envy… Which is one of the seven deadly sins. “When I saw her new necklace, I was green with envy.” Uh, not good.

And finally, it signifies a “sick” look. “Are you ok? Was that roller coaster a little too much for you? You look a little green.” (Insert vomit noise here.)

But as I mentioned, this random “being green” thought came to me one drowsy morning around 3am. After I pondered the worldly connotations, it brought me to one of my favorite Bible verses from Jeremiah.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” ~Jeremiah 17:7-8

Huh. Who knew, right? I want to be green. I want to be THAT tree, planted by the stream who is not afraid because I KNOW that God has my back.

This current season of life as a new mama is a blessing (as I write this, I am playing “Beat the Clock” as Baby Charis kicks and squirms beside me on the floor… hoping I can get a good chunk of this knocked out before she gets bored.) But as blessed as being a new mama is… It’s still FREAKING HARD. Which I knew it would be. But still. SHEESH. (Love you baby girl!)

I’ve been pretty green lately… in most of the ways mentioned above. Feeling like a greenhorn not having a clue what I am doing have the time with this 7 lb ball of needy, adorable love. I admittedly have been a little green with envy of others who still drive their own schedule– or who have survived the initial hard season of newbornhood. And yes, I have been even a little green with nausea on occasion. (Not really from being grossed out– but just with the prospect of being solely responsible for this little life. Dear Lord, help me.)

In this season of different shades of green– I am reassured that yes, it ain’t easy being green… But when it comes to following Christ, I want to be that tree. I want my leaves to always be green and bear fruit.

Are you in a “green” season? One of growth and bearing fruit? Or in a time of the drought where you are just trying to make it through one day at a time? How do you cling to God in those times? I always welcome your thoughts– leave a comment below.

Today friends, I leave you with this thought from a Godly perspective– it’s ain’t easy being that tree, always trusting in the Lord– nope, it ain’t easy being green. But being that green tree and placing our confidence in Him sure is worth it.

Growing and greening up for Jesus,
SGK

“Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” ~Genesis 9:3 NIV

Categories: growth | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yep. They are your friends. (Five Minute Friday)

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Sharita

Five Minute Friday
Greetings, folks!

It’s Friday, which ’round these parts can only mean one thing– time for a lil speed writing, heart-sharing Five Minute Friday.

For anyone who might be new, here’s the deal: Each Friday I link up with our favorite gypsy mama, Lisa-Jo Baker. She gives us a prompt, then we write. No over-thinking. We just write.

It’s pretty cool to see what Jesus comes up with sometimes when that timer goes off…  So let’s see what He has in store for us today.

Today’s Prompt: FRIEND

Ready? GO!

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You know ‘em. You love ‘em. You hate to leave ‘em. And the good ones? Yep, sometimes they are hard to find.

They are your friends.

They are there in the joyous moments. They are there to wipe your tears. They hug you, love you, feed you, encourage you. They pray with you. They speak the truth in love when you won’t listen to anyone else. And you do the same for them.

Yep. They are your friends.

They might live on the same block… Or in a different time zone. You might see them every day… Or maybe only once a year. You might know them best for the memories you built together. Or maybe you look forward to the gut-splitting memories that are in the making.

Yep. They are your friends.

No matter where you go, what you do… Your friends are there– in real life, online, on the phone, or in spirit. They come is all shapes, sizes, colors, ages. A rainbow of diversity and love. What a beautiful gift, those friends.

And the one thing that bonds you together more deeply than eating an entire bag of chocolate together and swearing each other to secrecy? Your shared love of Christ.

You see, these friends aren’t just friends for now. But they are friends for a lifetime… And beyond. You keep each other rooted in Him, focused on Him, following Him.

And when you discover the sweet, irreplaceable experience that is having Jesus as your best friend… you discover a connection that will last from here to the other side of eternity.

Yep. THEY are your friends.

STOP!

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What attributes do you look for in a friendship? In what ways do your friends lead you to Christ? How can you encourage them to turn to Him in all circumstances?

As I wrap up, I also want to thank YOU for reading… For supporting this ministry with prayer, encouragement, comments. Some of you I know personally, some are a name on a screen. But either way– if we are all striving to live for Christ with the limited time we have– you, sweet reader, are a friend.

Thanks for that. :-)

What a friend we have in Jesus,

SGK

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” ~Proverbs 17:17 NIV

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , | 4 Comments

Everyday Jesus: Where’s Waldo… I mean Jesus?

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Sharita
Welcome to another edition of Everyday Jesus! Today I am so stinkin’ excited to introduce you to one of my coolest and most supportive “dude readers.” Only the best part is he’s not just a reader– he too is a writer! I work alongside Brent at Christ Community Church and he inspires readers with his passion for Christ and leadership perspective. Get ready to discover Jesus in everyday life with his guest post today here at 7 Days Time! 
Looking for Christ in the Everyday, 
SGK 
PS: Don’t forget to show Brent the Jesus love both here and on his website by leaving a comment! 
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The ‘Where’s Waldo’ books and puzzles have been around for years….since 1987 to be exact.  Some are more challenging than others.  You’ve seen these, right?  Waldo and other characters are always dressed in bright red and white stripes, which would suggest that they would be rather easy to pick out in a crowd.  As it turns out, however, it’s not really that simple.
 
Inline image 1

This makes me think of taking my kids to Chuck E. Cheese when they were little.  Have you ever tossed your 3-year-old into one of those huge tubs of multi-colored plastic balls?  You would think your kid would stick out like a sore thumb.  Not the case!  At least with my kids, they would inevitably wiggle to the bottom allowing the balls to conceal their location.  I don’t think there was a time when I didn’t have to climb in there myself and fish them out.

So, where is Jesus???

For those of us who have accepted His gracious gift of salvation by our faith, He tells us this:

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.   Matthew 28:20b  (NLT)

He is with us….with you and I…always!  That’s awesome news.  But isn’t Jesus a bit like Waldo in our daily crazy-paced life?  We should be able to see Him in everything we do and everywhere we go.  I mean, He is with us.  Didn’t we just read that?  The issue here is that often we allow Him to become lost in the crowd.

The crowd of…

…waking up late

…getting sick

…becoming angry at the barista who got our coffee wrong

…monthly bills adding up to more than our income

…our ‘to-do’ list always being longer than our ‘done’ list

…ETC!

So, here’s what we do.  Recognize our particular ‘crowd.’  Realize that Jesus really is nearby.  And ReFocus our attention on the things of Jesus as we go about our day.  When we do this our crowd eventually becomes filled with Jesus moments.  We start to see Him in the frustrations of life….not just the pleasant stuff.

Where did you see Jesus today?  Leave a comment below and share your experience so we can encourage each other.

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Brent in colormedium

Brent is a follower of Jesus, husband to an amazing woman and   father of four remarkable kids. He has  been active in ministry since 1991, which includes:  Children’s & Family Life Ministry in Washington State, student ministry in Michigan and he currently serves as GROW Minister at Christ Community Church in Columbus, GA  while also partnering with his wife children’s ministries. You can connect with Brent via his blog or on Twitter. 

Categories: Everyday Jesus | Tags: , , , , , | 8 Comments

Jump to Jesus (Five Minute Friday)

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Sharita

Five Minute Friday
Hello friends! Five minute Friday is back here at 7 Days Time.

As a recap: Each Friday (or whatever Fridays that I briefly have a free hand from baby girl) I link up with Lisa-Jo Baker. She gives us a prompt. We write. No planning, no overthinking, no excessive editing. Then link-up and share our posts with the online community. Good times.

That’s all there is to it. Simple. Yet potentially profound and a great writing exercise.

So before little girl says TIME’S UP before my stopwatch does, let’s get this party started.

Today’s Prompt: JUMP

AND GO!

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First thing to know, I don’t like heights. Never have, probably never will. Also, when I was younger, I wasn’t much of a risk taker. Play it safe was my theory. I didn’t want to be “that girl” to ever forget anything in class, I always wanted to do everything perfect.

Yeah. Bout that. You can about guess how well THAT went over. I mean, I survived and did well, but soon I found myself bored with playing it safe… I wanted more.

So I jumped into activities. I was from a tiny high school (um, 18 in my graduating class- I’m not kidding) so if you wanted to be involved in something, all you had to do was show up. I was super-NOT-athletic, but I did everything that didn’t involve a sports ball flying at my face. (Although my brief stint of cheerleading did land a few hits to the face.)

I jumped in… Over the next few years, it didn’t stop. I stayed involved. I found my worth in what I did.

And then… Something changed… Life fell apart… My activities no longer fulfilled me… And I was met with my biggest challenge ever… Faith.

Jesus got ahold of me around college graduation– and lemme tell you what, that was one jump I was terrified to make. It was worse than conquering any fear of heights or jumping off the trust fall in a leadership ropes course.

I didn’t want to fail. I had done everything “perfect” (ha!) up to that point. Faith was hard. It took work. I didn’t know what I was “supposed” to do to get it “right.”

Now, several years later, I know that He doesn’t care if we get it “right.” He just wants us to jump. Jump into faith. Jump into His arms knowing He will be there to catch us. Jump with joy for His salvation.

Yes. He wanted me to jump. So I did.  It changed my life. Yes, I jumped to Jesus– Have you?

STOP!

****

So what are your thoughts? Have you jumped to Jesus? When? How did it change your life? I would love to hear all about it– don’t be shy… Leave a comment below.

Well, readers, baby girl’s attention span is about to run out– so I must depart. Praying for your hearts this weekend– and I am so incredibly grateful that God continues to grow this ministry even with a new baby in tow. (He really CAN do all things!!)

Jumping for Joy,

SGK

“I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders. I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I’m singing your song, High God.” ~Psalm 9:1-2 MSG

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Everyday Jesus: An Encounter with the God of All Comfort

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Sharita

Greetings friends! It’s time for another life-changing, heart-moving installment of our “Everyday Jesus” blogging series. Today it is my great privilege to introduce not only a talented writer and dear friend of mine, but also a beautiful woman who has an incredible heart for Christ. Meet Tracy. She’s awesome. She’s sweet. She’s profound. Plus… She’s a K-State Alumni and Military wife (just like me. Thanks, Jesus.) Get ready for a powerful testimony of what it really looks like when we are ALWAYS looking for Jesus– particularly in everyday life.  

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I love encountering the majesty of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father, in the darkest of moments.

Image courtesy of healingdream/freedigitalphotos.net"

Image courtesy of healingdream/freedigitalphotos.net”

You gotta love boarding a Southwest airplane. It used to be chaotic, but now order has been restored to the masses due to the ticket number groupings and vertical beams that Southwest installed in the waiting area. However, before the beams were born, I felt like a herded calf being pushed along. On one particular “cattle call,” my life (and carry-on bag) collided with hers.

The people in front of me were whispering. They seemed irritated, and other passengers crammed in beside them were staring at something. Above the commotion, I heard sniffles. Someone was crying. Our line started to move again. The couple in front of me slowed and moved around a woman who was visibly upset. I instinctively touched her shoulder, walked around her, and turned to look into her face. I offered her a Kleenex and asked if she needed anything. She doubted there was anything I could do to help her.

And the God of All Comfort entered the scene.

I took her by the arm and started to help her down the gateway and into the plane. I learned that she was on her way back to meet her family. She didn’t want to give her children the news that her breast cancer had spread. She was scared and devastated. She said I wouldn’t understand. She had no idea who she was talking to.

God did though.

He chose for me to meet this woman at this particular moment of darkness in our lives.

Days before I sat in the Mayo clinic holding my mother’s hand. We were waiting for another batch of test results. By this point, I was used to seeing her in pain, and I loathed her breast cancer with everything in me. Just when my heart seemed to find hope, the Mayo doctor confirmed that a scan found a tumor in her brain. My heart was dashed into a billion pieces once again.

Stunned, my mother and I found the nearest bathroom, and let our tears flow freely.

Why God?

I began to journal and stumbled across 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. With what little strength I had left, I simply wrote: “If my mom must suffer in this way, then please let me use this trial for your glory. Help me to comfort others, with the comfort I believe you are going to give me.”

As I continued to walk down the gateway with a weeping stranger, all I could hear is “I AM the God of All Comfort Tracy, comfort her as I have comforted you.” Talk about a God encounter! I didn’t care if I held up that boarding line all day–this woman was going to hear my story. Through tears, I told her about my mother and about how her courage and faith in God affected me. She got an ear full about the comfort and strength I’d received from Jesus. As she listened, her tears slowed, and she began to smile. As I helped her to sit, she said thank you and embraced me. I told her that I would pray. And pray I did.

I will probably never see this woman again.

God gave me 5 minutes with her. I believe God knew this was enough. The Kleenex, the touch, the listening ear, the tears, and my testimony were enough. It was enough for the God of all Comfort to be experienced through a hurting and imperfect vessel.

In the end, my mother journeyed through breast cancer for 11 years. She won her battle when she passed from our arms into the arms of Jesus on October 8, 2012. I encountered the majesty of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God the Father in the midst of her cancer.

God still hasn’t answered my question of why. I no longer need Him to. He was gracious to answer a prayer from my journal. I hold onto the memory of that stranger’s smile and call it to mind when I miss my mother. It reminds me that one of my darkest moments has glorified God, and this is enough for me.

 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” ~2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV 1984

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Tracy Bio Picture

Tracy is proudly married to Chad, a pilot in the United States Air Force.  Whenever they are not being relocated, she loves to drink green tea and watch re-runs of LOST. She also enjoys chasing their two children, Jackson (4) and Katherine (2), throughout their toy-infested home.  Tracy graduated from Phoenix Seminary in 2005, and served as the Director of Student Women at Scottsdale Bible Church from 2005-2007. She is also the author of Images of His Beauty, a newly released Bible Study, for young women who struggle with self-image issues and eating disorders. You can find out more information about the study and follow her blog at One Degree Ministries. You can also connect with her on Facebook or chat with her via Twitter.

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