Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is biweekly and a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey with our Holy Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we responded to God’s mercy and might. This week we will consider the Old Rugged Cross. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

PROMISE: Matthew 5:44-45 The Message

^43-45 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does.

The Old Rugged Cross reminds us of the overflowing consuming love of God that helps you to love the world that may despise you.

PSALM: The Old Rugged Cross was written by 1912 by Evangelist and song leader George Bennard who was a native of Youngstown, Ohio.

Oh that old rugged cross so despised by the world
Has a wondrous attraction for me
For the dear Lamb of God
Left His glory above to bear it to dark calvary
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross and
Exchange it one day for a crown

Evangelist George Bennard, a native of Youngstown, Ohio wrote the popular hymn The Old Rugged Cross. It was written after receiving ridicule following a revival meeting. He was despised for doing what he believed was the will of God. The image  reminds us that even when we are despised by the world, we are being held by and can cling to the arms of Jesus.

PARABLE: We cannot always articulate to others the choices we make to bear our own cross. As they misunderstand us, they may grow to despise us and ridicule our choices. Being despised or ridiculed for what you believe God has told you to do is challenging. Yet, the cross is a reminder that it is worth it. The cross represents the power of Jesus. The cross represents: 

1. The power to set men free (1 Peter 2:24)
2. The power to create in me a desire to be righteous (Romans 7:5-6)
3. The power to convince me that I am loved (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8)

As we weep for our injustices, we can let the old rugged cross attract us to the truths of Jesus. The cross represents the truth that Jesus has already shed tears for our hurts and His love is bottling our tears.  The truth we can see in the symbolism of the cross is that we are free from sin and condemnation. It  replaces our natural cravings for perfection with the the supernatural desire to serve our perfect God. The cross directions our attention and affection to Jesus and it reestablishes our identity and worth in who Christ says we are in Him. Because of the cross, our life and perspective is changed.

PONDER and WANDER:  If you choose, Ponder the question: When is the last time you were despised for doing what God called you to do?

Not everyone will love you for loving God. You will face ridicule and opposition. It is the sole career of the Evil One to kill, steal, and destroy your trust of who God is and your belief of who you are in Christ. Satan will use friend or foe to wipe out your purpose. The cross is a reminder that the victory is already won but it doesn’t always prevent us from experiencing the battle.

Soul care training exercise: Since we know we will experience opposition on our path to serving Jesus, we must recognize that we will be despised and learn to pray for those who persecute us.  

If you choose, complete this week’s soul training exercise by setting aside time to think about a person who has or is persecuting you. 

• When you are ready, clear your mind and focus on the healing love of the cross.
• Next, allow the Holy Spirit to bring the image of the person to your mind.
• Begin to pray for them. Pray for their unhealed hurts and trauma. Pray for them to know Jesus more closely. Pray for them to let go of stronghold that drives them to despise and persecute you.
• Then, consider searching your heart to see if you have despised and persecuted them in any way.
• Lastly, ask God to forgive you and pray for yourself.

PRAYER:  Daddy Jesus, thank you for the symbolism of the cross. Thank you that it reminds me that your love is a consuming fire that can burn away all the residue of ridicule and persecution. Help me to see the cross and remember to love those who persecute me. Help others to see the cross and remember to love me when I persecute them. I love you and I need you Jesus. In your loving name I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank our loving God for the Old Rugged Cross. Let the work of your wandering fill you with the love of Christ.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Despised  appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:
Google prophetic art images.

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is biweekly and a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey with our Holy Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we responded to God’s holiness. This week we will consider our response to God’s mercy and might. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

PROMISE: Psalm 63:3  Basic English Version

PSALM: Holy, Holy, Holy was originally written by Reginald Heber in 1826.

How do we respond to our holy, merciful, and mighty God? Praise! Praise is an expression of thanksgiving for who God is and for what He has done. The angels of heaven praise Him. The creations of earth praise Him. The songwriter declares that all God’s works shall praise Him. This includes you and I.

PARABLE:

As we spend time wandering into the Presence of God, He will reveal His wonder to us. We will learn of His holiness and we will respond in worship. We will come to know the might of the Lion of Judah and the gentle mercy of the Lamb of God and we will respond in praise. 

Our praise responses may vary as there are different ways to praise God. Here are a few Hebrew words for praise.

• Barak  means to kneel or bow in adoration (Psalm 95:6).
• Yadah means to extended hands (Psalm 63:4).
• Towdah means to sing in prophetic praise (Psalm 50:14).
• Shabach means to shout (Isaiah 12:6).
• Halal means to say hallelujah (Psalm 113:1).

Whether we choose to bow, extend our hands, sing, or shout hallelujah, praise is a response to our Holy God’s mercy and His might.

PONDER and WANDER:  If you choose, Ponder the question: What is my praise response to the holy, merciful, and mighty God?

There is no right or wrong way to praise God. God is not concerned with our method of praise. If I can confess, my praise response sometimes take the form of a dance. Sometimes it almost looks like ballet leaps. Sometimes it almost looks like Zumba. Sometimes it almost looks like hand dancing. Sometimes it almost looks like line dancing. My habit when I hear music is to dance. Because I mostly listen to Worship music, I dance to the worship music. What is your habitual method of praise?

Soul care training exercise: It takes time to develop a habit. If we want praise to be our normal response to God, we have to begin to train our soul to respond in praise. 

If you choose, complete this week’s soul training exercise by setting aside time to praise God in the way your choose. Take time to still your mind and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

• When you are ready, clear your mind and focus on the Holiness of God.
• Next, set your timer for three minutes and take a praise break.
• Begin to praise God in the way you choose.
• Then, consider making a habit of it.

If you would like to listen to a song to set your heart on worship and your mind on praising God, you may listen to Praise Like Oil 

PRAYER:  God, you are worthy of every praise I could ever bring. I pour out my praise like oil onto your feet. I break my alabaster box not to impress anyone but because I behold you!  You are worthy.  In the Holy name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank our Holy, Merciful, and Mighty God. Let the work of your wandering fill you with the love of Christ.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Responding to Merciful & Mighty  appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:
Prophetic art found on Google images. 

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is biweekly and a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey with our Holy Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we considered R.E.A.L. Friends. This week we will consider our response to God’s holiness. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

PROMISE: Isaiah 6:3

³ And one called out to another, saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is filled with His glory.”

Holy is not just an attribute of Jesus but it is His being. His name is Holy and declares a sacred response (Phillipians 2:10-11).

PSALM: Holy, Holy, Holy originally was written by Reginald Heber in 1826.

It is meaningful that Heber chose to use the word Holy three times. God is Holy, Jesus is Holy, and the Holy Spirit is Holy. Jesus was holy in the past. He is holy in the present. He will be holy in the future. His majesty is worth repeating.

PARABLE: Jesus is sacred, set apart, and sovereign. Everything about Jesus is Holy. Therefore His love is holy. His grace is holy. His mercy is holy. His patience is holy, His kindness is holy. His actions are holy. The life of Jesus shows us what “holy” looks like. Jesus shows us that HOLY is being touchable, relatable, authentic, and vulnerable. Jesus is all of these things yet His deity remains holy and perfect. Jesus is worthy of a sacred and set apart response of adoration from all the saints.

PONDER and WANDER:  

If you choose, Ponder the questions: How do I respond to the Holiness of Jesus and show my adoration? 

We can respond to our Holy King Jesus through worship. February 14th is set aside to acknowledge those we love. Yet, how often do we set aside time to adore Jesus? In worship we touch His presence and we relate to Jesus by being authentic and vulnerable in our worship.  When is the last time you responded to the holiness of Jesus with unapologetic worship?

Soul care training exercise: Only things we water and nurture will grow. If we want to grow in our adoration to Jesus, we have to take time to bow before Him. 

If you choose, complete this week’s soul training exercise by setting aside time to worship Jesus in the beauty of His holiness. 

• Take time to still your mind and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• When you are ready, drop to your knees before the throne of God.
• Take a few minutes and listen to your favorite worship song that helps you experience the Presence of God.
• Or you can click on the link to listen to the song I Worship You with All of Me
• Then, let the consuming fire of God’s Presence bring you to your knees and worship our Holy King Jesus.

PRAYER:  Jesus, You are Holy. I want to be intentional about responding to Your holy love, Your holy mercy, Your holy grace, Your holy patience, and Your holy compassion. Help me to worship You with all of me, fall to my knees, and worship You in the beauty of Your holiness. In the Holy name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank our Holy King Jesus. Let the work of your wandering fill you with the love of Christ.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Responding to Holy appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:
Jesus is authentic: https://www.belovedwomen.org/blog/
Holy holy holy: https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-christ-god-holy-spirit-4336337/with added text

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey and examine one word: seek.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering, we considered one word: Prayer. This week we will consider the R.E.A.L. friendship When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

PROMISE: Psalm 145:13b (NIV)

Jesus is a relational, empowering, affirming, and loving (R.E.A.L.) , promising keeping friend who has promised to bear ALL our temporary burdens.  His protective care is for all His kingdom and throughout all generations. We can be assured that the promises He makes, He will keep. 

PSALM: What a Friend We Have In Jesus originally was written as a poem by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855.

Jesus, our R.E.A.L. friend is a promise keeper (Psalms 145:13b).  Therefore, we can bring ALL our burdens to Him with expectancy. We can expect that He will bear our temporary burdens (Psalm 55:22).  We can expect that our burdens will not overwhelm us because Jesus will be right their with us (Isaiah 43:2). We can expect that even our suffering will point us to Jesus and yield results that are good for us (Romans 8:28). We can expect that one day, we will not have to pray on earth for we will experience the rapture and our prayers will then become words of praise and endless worship. We know Jesus is our R.E.A.L. friend but what about our friendships here on earth, are they a R.E.A.L. Table of Friends?

PARABLE:  

Jesus is a Promise Keeper. Man and women are not. Yet, if they are R.E.A.L. friends, we can expect them to offer us grace and mercy when we break our promises as we offer it when they do the same. We need a R.E.A.L. Table of Friends who will walk with us on our journey and direct us towards Jesus in times of joy and sorrow. Who is seated at your R.EA.L. Table of Friends? 

• The Relational Seat: The one who spends time with you. Time, space and distance does not matter to this person. They are there to leave you feeling refreshed and better.
• The Empowering Seat: The one who speaks words of encouragement to you, sees your strengths, and uses their words to empower you?
• The Affirming Seat: The one who sees your potential, doesn’t allow you to settle for anything less than God’s best. They challenge you but affirm you.
• The Loving Seat: The one who shows appreciation and love by meeting a need. They don’t even wait for you ta ask, they take action, they feel your obstacle is their obstacle.

PONDER and WANDER:  

If you choose, Ponder the questions: Do I have a R.E.A.L. Table  of Friends? Who is in each role?

Soul care training exercise: Follow the R.E.A.L. steps below to identify who are the R.E.A.L. relational, empowering, affirming, and loving people at your table? Who are the people in your life that include you at their R.E.A.L. table?

• Take time to still your mind and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• Ask Him to let you see who is seated at your R.E.A.L. table. 
  • Who is seated in the relational seat?
  • Who is seated in the empowering seat?
  • Who is seated in the affirming seat?
  • Who is seated in the loving seat?
• Look at the table. Do the people seated at your R.E.A.L. table still meet the role they once held? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there is anyone who needs to be removed or added in this season of your life?
• Celebrate your R.E.A.L. Table of Friends.

Next,

Ask you friends if you are invited by the Holy Spirit to be a part of their Table of Friends. If so, ask them to identify what role they need you to be during this season.

PRAYER:  Jesus, thank you that you are my R.E.A.L. friend. There is nothing fake about who you are or who I am when I am with you. You know my shortcomings and you still love me. Thank you for the R.E.A.L. friends on earth that walk with me on my journey and point me towards you. Help me to be a friend who is relational, empowering and encouraging, affirming, and loving others the way you have loved me. Help me to live without the mask that keeps me from sharing the R.E.A.L. parts of me. In the name of Jesus who sees all and loves all of me I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank God for the R.E.A.L. friend you have in Jesus. Let the work of your wandering fill you with the love of Christ.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post The R.E.A.L. Promise Keeper appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:
REAL friend circle: https://pixabay.com/photos/people-three-portrait-black-3104635/with added text
The Lord is trustworthy: Photo taken by Mary Shortreed with added text

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey and examine one word: seek.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering, we considered one word: SEEK. This week we will consider the language of friendship with Jesus: PRAYER. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

PROMISE: Matthew 11:28-30

^28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Jesus is a friend who walks with us on our journey through trials, temptations, troubles, weakness, and share our sorrows. He does not “Should” on us. Instead, He lovingly teaches us through His unforced rhythms of grace. 

PSALM: What a Friend We Have In Jesus originally was written as a poem by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer

We see the acronym B.F.F. as captions under pictures with our friends. Scrivens informs us of our true best friend forever. He describes Jesus as our faithful best friend (John 15:15) forever.  A friendship with Jesus is a friendship with eternal benefits that were demonstrated and sealed on the cross (John 15:13). Jesus does not condemn (Romans 8:1) us for what we should do but offers us forgiveness of our sins. His faithful friendship promises us that we shouldn’t dwell in our discouragements. Instead, when we experience trials, temptations, and troubles (and we will),  we can talk to Him and He will share our sorrows. 

PARABLE:  The word “should” is often used to entangle us in a web of shame. It confines us to expectations of who we should be, how we should be, and what we should be. When we experience trials, temptations, troubles, and the weaknesses of our hurts, habits, and hangups our inner critic and our external critics will curse us with “SHOULDS.” I am so glad that Jesus does not “Should on Us.” He is a gracious friend who joins us in our most discouraging times and loves us like no other friend can love us.

PONDER and WANDER:  

If you choose, Ponder the questions: Who has “shoulded” on me? Am I trapped in a shame web of “shoulds?”

If you identified who has shoulded on you and that you have been trapped in a shame web of who you should be, how you should be, and what you should be by yourself or by others, you may choose to complete the below soul training exercise and  take it to The Lord in P.R.A.Y.E.R.

Soul care training exercise: Follow the P.R.A.Y.E.R. steps below to untangle yourself from the web of should and shame. 

Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you if you are entangled in a shame web.
Repent for the hold the shoulds have made in your life
Ask God to show you who He says you are
Yield to His identity
Expect Him to walk with you on your journey
Rejoice that Jesus is your friend who will help you through your trials, temptations, and troubles and will share your sorrow

PRAYER:  Jesus, thank you that you are my faithful best friend forever. What a privilege it is that I can carry everything to you in prayer. Your name is a strong tower where I can run and be safe (Proverbs 18:10) from shame when others “should” on me. Shield me from the shame triggers of  appearance and body image, sexuality, family, marriage, motherhood, fatherhood, parenting, careers and professional identity, vocations and religious identities, mental and physical health, aging, religion, speaking out, and surviving trauma that attempt to draw me away from our friendship. Give me the wisdom to be able to recognize that shame needs to be acknowledged and understood before it can be overcome. Give me the desire to take it to you in P.R.A.Y.E.R. In the healing name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank God for the friend you have in Jesus. Let the work of your wandering fill you with the love of Christ.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Jesus Wont ” Should on Us”   appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:

You can come to me in prayer: Pixaby image with added notations
BFF – Belovedwomen.org image with added notations
Shame Web – Brene Brown
P.R.A.Y.E.R. – Pixaby image with added notations