Welcome to Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri–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.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined  Unchanging Grace. This week we will examine Found Faultless.  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: Romans 8:1 Amplified Bible

PARABLE:  I have done many things in my life for which I have been guilty. Yet, the grace of Christ has redeemed me from shame and guilt. Oddly, some of the darkest things I’ve done have been used to point others toward Christ. Authenticity and vulnerability are the erasers of guilt and shame. When we share our shame stories, with Christ, the Enemy loses hold of condemnation. But that does not stop him from using individuals to torcher us with the images of past failures. Because the job of the Evil One is to kill, steal, and destroy our hope in Christ, he is relentless in attempting to take us back to times of regret even when we have moved forward.

How do we move beyond the words, images, and thoughts of regret of sin that Satan tries to place as roadblocks to our purpose? We hand them to Jesus and allow Him to fight our battle. Don’t let the blame and shame build up. Like a hangnail, they will irritate you. When your sin looks you in the face like a mirrored reflection, speak back with bold conviction to the Accuser the Truth that There IS NO CONDEMNATION in Christ Jesus. Even as I type, right now, like a blasting sound of the trumpet, I stand upon Christ the Solid Rock. I send the lie of the Enemy the message, “I have made choices I greatly regret, I am moving ahead. I resist you and you must stand down for I have been and shall be found faultless when I stand before the throne. Your sound cannot stand against the sound of the Angels playing my victory song of deliverance.”

Perhaps there is something in your past that continues to resurface and tries to disrupt your walking on your purposed path. If so, I invite you to sound the trumpet, put on the robe of righteousness that Christ died for you to wear, stand tall in the face of the Enemy, and declare the law of  Christ has made me new and set me free from the law of sin and death.

Soul care training exercise:  Is there a past regret that keeps trying to find you? If so, I invite you to revisit it and hand it over to Jesus, in whom there is NO condemnation. 

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what is the worst sin in your life that you regret committing?
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask Him to bring to your attention how and when that sin tries to revisit and distract you.
• Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing that you need to know, hear, or do to assure you that Christ has forgiven you, there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, and that you have been and will be found faultless when you approach the throne of God.
• Finally, Focus on what God shows you and offer Him thanks for being your anchor of hope.

PRAYER: Jesus, I stand on you, my Solid Rock. Through the valley lows and the Mountain highs, I stand on your truth and call on your name. You call me by name. You call me out of the ashes of shame and blame and into your arms where there is no condemnation. Help me to rest here. Silent the whispers of the enemy that try to lead me to the dark with the spotlight of your loving grace. My Rock, My Savior, My Redeemer, I stand on you.  In the name of Jesus, the Solid Rock I stand.  I pray, amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to be cuddled in the arms of Jesus, the Solid Rock. Then take the mindfulness of God’s unchanging hope cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Found Faultless appeared first on Resonant 7.

I invite you to take five minutes and experience the No Condemnation guided imagery.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

Welcome to Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri–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.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined  Freedom Scars. This week we will examine Unchanging Grace.  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 18:2 Amplified Bible

PARABLE: Have you ever been caught in a bad storm? Several years ago I was caught in the storm of a tornado that touched down in our city. The sky was dark, the rain was so heavy that the windshield wipers could not clear it. Though I was afraid, I was on the street where I grew up and so the terrain was familiar. I took a chance and decided to stop at the next house that I could see. I knew it was not the best choice but driving in the storm was more freightening. After over thirty years, I took a chance and was hopeful that my childhood neighbors had not changed.  I was shocked that a familiar face answered the door and welcomed me in to wait out the storm. 

As Christians, when we are caught in the storms of life, we can face it with certainty because our hope is in Jesus. We can expect that no matter how high the tide, it will subside because it cannot overtake the height or depth of Christ, the Solid Rock. His reputation is immutable. He is the fortress where we can take refuge when the storms of life are raging.  He is our shield when the debris is being thrown at us. He is our anchor and stronghold when our ship is sinking. His unchanging grace is the pillow of comfort where our weary hearts can rest. The waves of Covid-19 are still rolling, the unrest of social injustice is still roaring, the vision of the shore is not yet in sight. Yet we can be assured that Christ is a solid landing place. He is our rock, upon which we can stand when the circumstances in our life feel like quicksand. When is the last time you looked beyond the storm?

Soul care training exercise:  

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you a storm in your life that is raging.
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask Him to remind you of how you are anchored in the hope of Christ.
• Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing that you need to know, hear, or do to endure the storm with the hope that nothing can overtake Christ the Solid Rock.
• Finally, Focus on what God shows you and offer Him thanks for being your anchor of hope.

PRAYER: Jesus, I’ve had my share of storms this year and the waves are still coming. I am so thankful that you are the Rock for which the waves must splash against. Thank you that you calm my stormy seas. I love the way you love me.  In the 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 visualize the Solid Rock. Then take the mindfulness of God’s unchanging hope cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post  Unchanging gracious hope appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

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.

Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined  Saving Savior. This week we will examine Freed to Free.  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: Galatians 5:13-14 Amplified Bible

PARABLE: Harriet Tubman is my favorite African American heroin because she used her escape from slavery to transform the trajectory of others. Over and over her selflessness was on display as with tenacity she WENT BACK to free hundreds of slaves. What she did with her freedom changed the history of African Americans.  Like Jesus, Harriet was a Freedom Freer. Jesus teaches us that our freedom is not for ourselves but for others. When I reflect on this hymn, I see Jesus breaking the chains of death for me and for you. I hear him saying, “I can’t stay buried because I must arise for Sherri!” I hear Jesus saying, “I arose for you so you must rise and help free others!”

 I have a burning desire to transparently share the bondage-breaking story from shame in my life. Like the Samaritan woman, Jesus met me at a well and cleansed me. I don’t want to waste the refreshing, healing, cleansing, freedom water by remaining silent. I want to take my pitcher of transparency and authenticity that is full of grace and mercy and pour it out onto others. Like Harriet Tubman, I want to go back and help free others. Going back is simply a metaphor of sharing the scars. 

After Jesus arose, Thomas demanded evidence of Jesus’ freedom. He said unless he saw the scars and was able to put his hand into the scars of Jesus he would not believe. Jesus showed and let him Thomas touch his scars. This is a word picture of transparency, vulnerability, and authenticity. It teaches us the power of our freedom story.  It is the SCARS – surviors confessing and releasing shame stories – that help to free others.  Can you hear Jesus saying, “Don’t hide the scars. It is for your freedom that I was freed. It is for the freedom of others that you were freed.”

Perhaps there is an area in your life where you were in bondage but that the blood of Christ has drowned. Perhaps you were drowning in the hurt of abuse, the habit of addiction, or the hang-up of aggravation before Jesus freed you. Only you know what held you in bondage. Yet, Jesus put THAT hurt, habit, or hang-up in cuffs and called you to walk in freedom and to share your freedom scars with others. Are you sharing your freedom SCARS? 

Soul care training exercise:  

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you how he wants you to share you SCARS?
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask Him to show you THAT thing, perhaps the thing that you are most ashamed of that He freed you from. 
  • Next scan your mind and notice how you are living out your freedom. Scan your mind to see who in your life is living in bondage in that same area.
    • Now Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an image of how you can use your SCARS of freedom to introduce others to the freeing power of Jesus Christ.
    • Finally, Focus on what God shows you and offer Him thanks for the invitation to like Jesus, share your freedom.

PRAYER: Thank you Saving Savior that I don’t have to hide my scars. Authenticity, transparency, and vulnerability in you is like a healing balm rubbing out shame. Help me spread my balm to the nations. Authenticity is my super power. In the 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 feel your freedom. Then take the mindfulness of God’s freedom cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post  Freedom scars appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS Meditation: I invite you to take 5 minutes and listen to the SCARS guided meditation.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

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.

Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Welcome to Wednesday Wanderings where we clear our mind of the clutter. Breathe in, breathe out and invite God’s Presence to help you be resonant.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined  Grief and Gratitude. This week we will examine Saving Savior.  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 14:30 Amplified Bible

PARABLE: I have a vivid imagination and I can see pictures from the words I read. From the words of Lowery’s stanza, I see the image of my own deep and low grave and an image of a Saving Savior. Over the past year, we have reflected on some of the things that have caused us grief and how to invite Jesus to join us in the grief. This word picture of the psalm reminds us that there is nothing we are buried in so deep from which we cannot be saved. The dawning of a new day will always greet us with new mercy. 

Like me, can you see yourself laid in a low grave? Maybe we are still buried beneath the dirt because we have not acknowledged that we need saving. There was a time in my life when I was far away from God. My rituals and routines did not look like it but my heart knew it. I showed up for every bible study, Christian growth seminar, Sunday School, Praise and Worship rehearsal, and Sunday service. But in private, within my spirit, I was standing in quicksand. Sinking further into habits, hurts, and hang-ups that led me away from God. Sunday after Sunday I drowned.

There was also a time when I felt so close to God. I heard him calling me out deep into the sea into my purpose. His active power within me gave me the courage to look beyond the waves beating against the boat of life. He invited me to step out of muddy waters of hurts, habits, and hang-ups. I did and I even walked with Him to foreign lands. I did things I’d only dreamed of before. My focus changed. But when I realized that the water was so deep and the storms were still raging, I immediately sank.

However, this time I was in a different place. I did not desire to stay in the low grave that my hurts, habits, and hangups were digging for me. I had enough spiritual sense to release the weight of shame and confess that I was drowning in a lowly grave. I called on Jesus, The Saving Savior and He saved me!

Do you need to confess that you are drowning? There is good news. Holy week is the perfect time to focus on the resurrecting, saving power of Jesus, there is an invitation to ask the Saving Savior to save you and to rise up from whatever it is that you need saving.

Soul care training exercise:  

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you where the effects of the wind of life are blowing. What are you focused on that is causing you to sink?
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Tell God the truth about where in your life you need Him to be your Saving Savior? 
  • Next scan your mind and notice times in your life where you have walked closely with God, without fear. With purpose. Following one step behind Him.  Allow these thoughts and emotions to be illuminated in your sanctified imagination.
    • Now Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an image of how your current situation will change when you admit to Jesus that you need saving.
    • Finally, Focus on what God shows you and offer Him thanks for gracing you with the opportunity to go from sinking in circumstances and from the strong winds of doubt and fear telling you that you are too far away from God’s shore to the admission that you need to be saved and the reality of walking from the deep and low into the arms of the Saving Savior.

PRAYER: Thank you Abba that no matter how deep the water or the rage of the storm, I can walk on water in the power of Jesus Christ. His hand holds me tight, it reaches into the depth of the grave I am in, pulls me up, and saves me. Saving Savior, save ME! In the 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 receive Jesus’ saving grace. 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  Saving Savior appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS Meditation: I invite you to take 5 minutes and listen to the Saving Savior guided meditation.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

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.

Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined  The SONshine. This week we will examine Grief and Gratitude .  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: Ecclesiastes 3:4 Amplified Bible

Chorus

But drops of grief can ne’er repay

The debt of love I owe

Here Lord I give myself away

‘Tis all that I can do

PARABLE: Over the past few years I have learned more about the both / and concept. Before I opened my mind to a growth mindset, either / or was how I viewed things. I have learned that two polar opposite concepts can hold the same space in time. Particularly, I have learned that grief and gratitude can coexist. You can experience the emotion of grief generated by a loss yet at the same time offer God gratitude for being with you IN the loss experience. I know it is peculiar and does not make sense but the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit can give us an attitude of gratitude in the midst of adapting to a loss. 

I’ve shared in previous posts the despair that I have experienced from loss within my life. I understand the heaviness that sometimes walks with you like a shadow on the path to grief recovery. It is necessary to take the time to mourn our losses whether it is the loss associated with unemployment, death and dying, divorce, abandonment, addiction, illness, infidelity, relocation, incarceration, miscarriage, abortion, oppression, identity, or status. Taking time to grieve the loss and share your experience and feelings with God is a mandated part of the healing process. Christ is our example, He grieved the agony of His own death. Yet, with gratitude He obeyed His Father and took on our sins.

Everyone’s grief and loss process look different. What is the same is that the comfort of the Holy Spirit can help us to experience gratitude in the midst of grief. When life sends us grief, and it will, if we choose to give it back to God with a grateful heart, we can know He will meet us right where we are, right where we have need of Him. God is worthy of gratitude. We can offer thanksgiving to Him while we mourn because we know He is with us! We know He will understand. We know He will walk with us on the path of sorrow until our hearts lighten enough to adapt to the loss. No time expectation, just confidence of knowing the losses we experience on earth are temporary, one day we will weep no more and we will dance for eternity.

PONDER and WANDER:  Grief and gratitude are necessary and can coexist. As you review your losses over the last year are there any for which you still need to grieve and offer gratitude?

Soul care training exercise:  

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you any losses you have experienced over the last year that you need to grieve.
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Tell God the truth about this loss. What did it cost you? What do you feel? What do you need from Him as it relates to healing from the loss?
  • Next scan your mind and notice any small wins or victories you experienced over the last year.  Allow these thoughts and emotions to be illuminated in your sanctified imagination.
    • Focus on what God shows you and offer Him thanks for being with you and letting grief and gratitude co-exist. What will you see differently as a result of this? How will view grief and gratitude co-existing?

PRAYER: Abba, you are a GOOD GOOD Father. It hurts you to see us grieve. You want us to share our tears with you. We hand you the weight of the many losses we have experienced. We thank you that you are attentive to the things which concern us. Even though we are hurting, we thank you that you will lighten our sorrow. We will look for the small wins and victories. We will celebrate life. Our strength will be renewed in you. Hold us close until gratitude rises in our hearts. In the 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 offer Him gratitude. 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  SONshine appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS Guided Meditation. I invite you to take 6 minutes to listen to the SONshine guided meditation.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added