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 Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined Entitlement. This week we will explore Thought Idols. 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: Phillipians 4:8

⁸ Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Centering on “these things” and implanting them in our heart will keep us mindful of what is valuable to us and prevent us from the thought idols that take over our thoughts of Christ.

Reed invites the Holy Spirit to dwell within his heart because he recognizes that what he treasures will be what preoccupies his thoughts.

PARABLE:  An idol is anything that has become the object on which we dwell our attention. To dwell is to linger, spend time thinking about, muse over, and even to be obsessed with something or someone. What is in your heart will dwell in your your thoughts. In mental health, ruminating thoughts are described as the excessive and intrusive thoughts about negative experiences and feelings. A person who has experienced trauma may be unable to stop thinking about the traumatic event. A person with depression may persistently think negative thoughts and thoughts that are self-defeating. A common intervention for ruminating thoughts is thought stopping. Thought stopping is a cognitive intervention technique that interrupts, removes, and replaces recurring thoughts. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is a traumatic occurrence that has affected the world. It is challenging to not allow it to occupy our minds and our hearts when the news, the death of unknown people and loved ones, and personal protective equipment are constant reminders. How do we prevent COVID-19 from becoming a thought idol that we persistently mull over in our minds?  By dileberately intervening with thought stopping and thinking on things that are lovely and bring peace and that are right and are confirmed by God’s word we will make the emotional space for God whom we treasure, cast down the emotional deterrents of COVID-19, allow God to reign supreme, and dwell within our hearts.

PONDER and WANDER:  If you choose, Ponder the questions: How can I clear my head, heart, and spirit space and make room for thoughts that direct me to think about Jesus?

The soul training  contemplative thought relsease visualization exercise can assist us to move over the things that distract us from making room in our minds and hearts and treasuring Jesus.

Soul care training exercise: If you choose, complete this week’s soul training exercise.

• When you are ready, clear your mind and invite the Holy Spirit to help you Imagine a bright blue sky across the landscape of your mind dotted with white clouds. Imagine that each and every cloud represents a single thought in your mind and the thought idols that have your attention. Perhaps it is COVID-19, your job, or your children.
• Next,  begin your slow and steady breath– imagine your breath as a gentle breeze, moving the clouds across the blue skyline. Watch the clouds as they move across your mind, carried by the gentle breeze of your breath, one thought at a time.  Observe the thought as it passes. Watch it without judgment or critcism, and without blame of self or others.
• Then, let each thought pass one at a time, carried by a gentle breeze across the landscape of your mind.
• Finally, replace the thought idols with thoughts that are true, honorable,  just,  pure, lovely,  commendable,  excellent, and worthy of praise,

PRAYER: Jesus, I move over anything that is keeping me from making you the Lover of my Soul. Consume my thoughts until I dwell on you. Social media, my job, my family, COVID-19, my grief–please move all of these over until all I see is you. The supernatural law of breakthrough is pursuing God, ruminating on His Truths over and over until you see healing and deliverance. I commit to making You my priority and pursuing thoughts of You in expectation that as a result, peace will come. 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 think of Jesus and let the work of your wandering fill you with thoughts that confirm God’s Word.

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 Thought Idols appeared first on Resonant 7.

_{Image Attributions:
Whatsoever is true: Google Images
Thoughts of you: belovedwomen.org with text added}

Bonus Reflection:

COVID-19 has afforded some of us time to do some of the things we have wished we had time to do. As we phase back in to opening our country, let us not forget the blessings of time and how we have had the opportunity to slow down our busyness addictions and MAKE ROOM for time with and thoughts of God. If you choose, take five minutes and listen to and reflect on the song by Jonathan McReynolds. Take it as a reminder to Make Room for God, invite Him to live in your thoughts, and make Him your priority.

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 Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we Crowned Christ in the Crisis. This week we will see what it means to be entitled. 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: Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord appeared to me (Israel) from ages past, saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.

The love of Jesus is everlasting, endless, and entitled to a response.

PSALM: Crown Him with Many Crowns
by Matthew Bridges (1851)

Bridges response to the endless love of Jesus is to crown Him as the Lord of Heaven. He adorns Christ because He is one with God and one with the Spirit whom we receive because of Him. Bridges sets his intention of praise on who Jesus is and concludes that the eternal love of Jesus is deserving of being magnified and adored without end.

PARABLE: Adoration is about consistency and intention. On April 30, 2020 my husband and I will celebrate 28 years of marriage. Those who know us would say that Troy adores me. I confess that at times I’ve become complacent and taken Troy’s doting acts for granted. While he is patient, there are times when he has “gone on strike” in response to my ingratitude and life has stopped being about me. When this occurs, I have to warm up and clean the snow off my own car, pump my own gas, and clean up the kitchen after I cook. This quickly reminds me that I am not entitled to his acts of loving kindness. Then I strategically demonstrate my appreciation by purchasing Twizzlers for his sugar addiction or buying ginger beer for his non-alcoholic urges. He soon returns to his default of  demonstrating his admiration stating that “A mere “Thank You”  is sufficient.”

Sometimes I treat Jesus the same way I treat Troy. I take for granted the fact that He loves me with an everlasting love (Jermiah 31:3) , sings songs of deliverance over me (Zephaniah 3:17),  and that there is nothing that will make Him stop loving me or go on strike from His doting acts (Romans 8:38). I do not consistently adorn Jesus with my gratitude. I am grateful that Jesus does not go on strike with His graces and gifts even when I am exercising spiritual entitlement and being inconsistent with offering Him endless praise.

PONDER and WANDER:  If you choose, Ponder the questions: How can I remember to consistently adore and magnify Jesus?

The love of Jesus is everlasting and demonstrative and He is worthy of a response of adoration. The way I remember to adore and magnify Jesus is that I set my intention of gratitude on WHO Jesus is, practice the discipline of gratitude, deliberately contemplate who Jesus is, and make it a habit to SAY so. 

Soul care training exercise: If you choose, complete this week’s soul training exercise.

• When you are ready, clear your mind and invite the Holy Spirit to help you Select which characteristic of Jesus you will focus on for this exercise.
• Next,  let your spiritual imagination produce a slide show of the character of Jesus that will provoke you to praise and magnify Him.
• Then, take the time to adore Jesus and Say Thank you, love on Him, and tell Him what you want to say to Him. 

PRAYER: Jesus, Thank you that you are intentional about your perpetual love for me. Help me to be intentional in displaying my love for you. I can always find shelter in your promises. Even when my mind chooses to forget, thank you that the Holy Spirit guides my soul to easily remember that only you are entitled to be adored and magnified. Help me not to take for granted or to leave you My First Love and to eagerly seek the fragrance of your presence. In Your name I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to Say So, and let the work of your wandering fill you with the praise 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.

If you’d like, take a look at this Bonus reflection and read my response to the soul training exercise. 

I chose to focus on the characteristics depicted in the popular song Way Maker. During my contemplative time at a park, the Holy Spirit showed me my slide show through these trees and I selected to focus on Jesus as the Waymaker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, and Light in the Darkness. There were many incidents that flooded my mind of Jesus completing these acts in my life. However the greatest awareness I reached was the fact that these attributes depict Jesus’ character not just His actions. His love is demonstrative. Will you choose to make Jesus your object of affection and adoration?

The post Entitled appeared first on Resonant 7.

_{Image Attributions:
Love tic tac: https”//pixabay.com/photos/tic-tac-toe-love-heart-play-1777857/
Way Maker: GoogleImages
Say so: Https://pixabay.com/photos/rose-petals-floral-flowers-flower-1215314}

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 reviewed being True to the Cross. This week we will consider a Praise Pause. 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 57:9 Amplified Bible:

I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the people; I will sing praises to You among the nations.

 Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing
who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring,
and lives that death may die

Bridges proclaims he will crown Christ as Lord of life. Why? Because He triumphed over death, rose victoriously IN the strife, saved him, and lives so death may die.  How? With an attitude of gratitude reflective in his singing.

PARABLE: During Easter we remember the crown of thorns that was placed upon the head of Jesus that represented His victorious resurrection power and his honor and glory. There is a way we can rightly crown Jesus. We can crown Jesus as Lord of our Life by adorning Him with praise. Even in a crisis!

I admit that my praise was held captive by the catastrophic 12:00 noonday update, 2:00 Governor update, and the 6:30 World news. As the media counted the number infected and the death toll, I forgot to count my blessings.

On Good Friday, as the dots popped up on the map showing the number infected, my spiritual sight was refocused. All of a sudden, I could see dots of blessings. When I zoomed in, the dots represented the people all over the world who are taking an opportunity to  praise and pray through our panic. Facebook Live and Youtube has become a place to share God’s word. Church People are church hopping without the judgement and watching multiple services daily in cities they could never physically visit on the same day. Non-churched people are listening to “Real Talks” and contemplating Christ. Those whose gifts and talents have been dormant are taking to the streets singing, dancing, miming, and teaching. Even the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, a state employee, read Galations 6:9  and encouraged us to not grow weary. All over the world people are uniting to crown Christ with praise IN the Crisis.

PONDER and WANDER:  If you choose, Ponder the questions: What crown of praise can I give Christ during this crisis?

When I pondered this question, God brought back to my remembrance my encounter with Him in Haiti where there is the plague of malnutrition. His mesmerizing presence at The Sea of Galilee and the burial slab of Christ in Israel even while two rockets were fired at Tel Aviv from the Gaza strip. His protection from COVID 19 as borders closed and we were evacuated from Rwanda and shoulder to shoulder with thousands of people. Our God of the Nations has always blessed in the midst of suffering.

Easter is the perfect time to crown Christ with praise for the victory of His suffering. We can offer praise and thanksgiving and count my blessings in the crisis because our faithful God WILL turn this around just like he has always done. Thank God that the blood will always win every battle.  Yes, if I choose to offer thanksgiving for my blessings in spite of the dreariness of the circumstantial rain.

Soul care training exercise: If you choose, complete this week’s soul training exercise and consider taking time to let the R.A.I.N. clear the path to help you crown Christ with praise in the crisis.

• When you are ready, clear your mind and invite the Holy Spirit to Recognize what is distracting you from praising God and offering Him thanks.
• Next, Allow the Holy Spirit to help you to remember specific blessings.
• Then, begin to pray with the grace of Christ. Investigate and implement a time each day to dedicate to contemplating thanksgiving and how you can share your attitude of gratitude (text a friend, Facebook, call a friend, tell a family member, or journal your blessings).
• Lastly, Nurture your praise (read a praise scripture, listen to a praise song, or look at a movie that reminds you of your blessings).

PRAYER: Daddy Jesus, I adorn your head with my crown of gratitude. I thank you for the crisis you endured on the cross so that I could have victory in my crisis. Corona is not a surprise to you. You arose with all power in your hand to conquer COVID 19 and any other crisis. RAIN on me on the dry days and keep my eyes on all the blessings that are being bestowed upon us during this time of pause. In the victorious 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 crown Jesus with your praise. 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 Crown Christ in the Crisis  appeared first on Resonant 7.

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 reviewed how God’s love helps us to love the world that may despise us. This week we will consider the meaning of  being True to the 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: 1 Corinthians 1:18 Amplified Bible ¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God..

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true
It’s shame and reproach gladly bear
Then he’ll call me someday to my home far away
Where his glory forever I’ll share

Evangelist George Bennard, author of The Old Rugged Cross proclaimed that he would be “True” to the cross. What does that mean? The cross is the symbol of Christ and Christianity. Therefore, Bennard was stating that he will be true to Christ in his crisis by examining his truth, and choosing to cling to the cross. Though the times were different, during this global crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic, we too can choose Christ IN the crisis.

PARABLE: What does it look like to be true to Christ in a crisis? Chaos has a way of challenging our true self.  Over the last few weeks as I completed a mandatory fourteen day self-quarantine and experienced symptoms of the coronavirus which lead to being tested, as I waited for the test results, I became afraid. BUT, I chose to be true to Christ about my emotions, invite Him into my chaos, and to take my fear to the cross. 

It is true that someone is experiencing fear in unemployment, fear in being the physical target of the fear experienced from unemployment, fear of mom’s boyfriend being home and having more time to creep into the room, fear of how they will feed their family, and fear of being evicted. During this global crisis and social distancing and social isolation, it is more important than ever that we don’t cause those who need encouragement to suffer silently in depression, discouragement or danger by using Christian language of faith over fear and prayer over panic without providing a context of truth.

Being true to the cross is about being authentic and admitting our behaviors, sensations, feelings and struggles to Jesus and others. This is how we access the saving power, help, and the hope of Jesus IN fear, IN panic, IN chaos. This is the way we lead others to the power of God that saves us IN fear.

PONDER and WANDER:  If you choose, Ponder the questions: What am I truly struggling with during this time of social distancing? What part of this is hard for me?

Perhaps the message of faith OVER fear, and prayer OVER panic, and calm OVER chaos does not accurately reflect the journey of a crisis. Over implies above, but over also means extending directly up from. Those of us who are willing to be transparent will admit that faith OVER fear came after we experienced fear. Maybe you are experiencing fear, panic, and chaos right now. Take a moment and honestly ponder with Christ what you are truly struggling with during this time of social distancing.

Soul care training exercise: The word of the cross saves and is more powerful than our circumstances. It is Christ and the hope of the cross that empowers us to exercise faith OVER fear, prayer OVER panic, and calm OVER chaos.

If you choose, complete this week’s soul training exercise and consider taking time to be transparent with Christ. 

• When you are ready, clear your mind and focus on being authentic with Christ.
• Next, allow the Holy Spirit to help you admit the struggle you are having with the coronavirus, social distancing, and the effects of Covid-19. Say, “This time of social distancing, this uncertainty, this temptation is hard, and I need help to make it through.”
• Then, begin to pray with the grace of Christ. Acknowledge that struggle, even your struggle, is common to humanity. Say, “I am not the only person struggling with this issue but the power of Jesus can deliver me.”
• Lastly, administer self-compassion. Say, “I will extend grace to myself and to others when fear creeps in and I will ask God to help my unbelief.”

PRAYER: Father, thank You for the reminder of the cross. When fear, anxiety, and depression come to our paths, help us take them to Jesus and cling to the redeeming benefits of His death, burial, and resurrection. Help us choose the benefits of peace IN the storm, hope IN distress, light IN darkness, and help IN times of need. In the power of Jesus and the deliverance power of the cross 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 True to the Cross  appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:
The cross is foolish googleimages with text.
True to the cross googleimages with added text.
Cling to the cross googleimages with added text.

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.