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.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined Wise Words Matter Mercies This week we will examine Heart Treasures.  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 6:21 Amplified Bible

PARABLE: When is the last time you did a heart check and took time to assess what are your desires and wishes in reference to what you do as an occupation or vocation? I use to believe that just because people received praise because of their purses more than their hearts that having wealth somehow made you more worthy. My heart was more concerned with my pay than it was with my purpose. As I began to place God at the center of my life, He became more of my treasure. The more I treasured Him, the more my treasures changed. I began to ask God what plans HE had for my life.  I was tired of doing what paid well and wanted to do what I loved to do. As He responded, I discovered that there was a difference between pay and passion. I did a thorough heart check and discovered that teaching made me and God smile.  Now my wishes lie in doing God’s purpose with passion and excellence. Most days, man’s pay and praise are not what concerns my heart. God has given me the privilege to love what I do.

PONDER and WANDER: During this month where we focus on love, if you choose, I invite you to take time to ponder the questions: When you think about what you love to do, where is your treasure? Where is your heart?

Soul care training exercise:  

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you if you are pursuing your heart’s treasure and serving him in what He called you to do.
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination to examine your contentment and your purpose with your occupation.
    • Focus on what God shows you and decide if your career wishes and concerns align to what He has called you to do?

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you that you are my heart’s desire. Thank you that you desire that I live on purpose. When I begin to look at my purse instead of looking at my passion, direct my thoughts back to you. In the loving 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 center your heart on God and let the work of your wandering fill you with wisdom.

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 Heart Treasures 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.

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 Faithful New Mercies This week we will examine how Wise Words Matter.  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: Ephesians 5:15-16 Amplified Bible

PARABLE: When my attitude was haughty and my tongue was flippant, my mother warned me that I have a sharp tongue and advised me to use it wisely. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Wise people with an intelligent heart acquire knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. I use to run from wise counsel now I run towards it. Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed that words have the power to tear down or build up, speak life or speak death, create an insurrection or a meaningful revolution movement.

A wise man understands that wisdom is a greater gift than gold and desires to utter insightful, just, and righteous words. This is a challenge but one we already won when we seek God’s wisdom, invite him to bridle our tongue, and to saturate our mind with His TRUE Word. His Word will direct us to be transformed with the knowledge of truth. As we are transformed our understanding will be converted to discernment. As our discernment increases, we will apply the truth by applying knowledge and understanding in wisdom. 

Wisdom is not based on our opinion but on God’s TRUE Word. When we apply His Truth to our lives, as wise, sensible, and discerning people we will be able to use each opportunity with wisdom and diligence.

PONDER and WANDER: Knowledge is the comprehension of information, understanding is the ability to relate to the information, and wisdom is the application of knowledge and understanding to decision making.  If you choose, take time to ponder the question: Have I asked God to be my wisdom and true word?

Soul care training exercise:  I invite you to take some quiet time and ponder and/or journal the below questions.

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you where you have knowledge but are lacking understanding and wisdom.
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into that situation. Sit in the discomfort. Invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate your insight so that you may have the understanding which leads to wisdom.
    • Focus on what God shows you and make a choice to invite Him to be your wisdom.

PRAYER: Father, I desire to have your wisdom. You promised that if I lack it that I can ask and you will give it freely. Help me to admit that there are many areas in my life where I lack wisdom. Make them clear to me and overwhelm me with Your wisdom so that I may fully understand that words matter and I may choose them wisely. Help me to use each opportunity in wisdom to speak truth to the evil things occurring, follow for myself, and direct others to your just path. In the loving 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 breathe in the wisdom of God and let the work of your wandering fill you with wisdom.

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 Words Matter appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS REFLECTION: If you choose to take four minutes, click below, and listen to the Wisdom 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.

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 The Powerful Gift of Light This week we will examine Faithful, New Mercies.  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: Lamentations 3:22-23 Amplified Bible

PARABLE: I blogged my way through the hurts of 2020. My Facebook chronicles of Christ  > COVID-19 began by telling the story of God’s faithfulness as I traveled the grief journey that included being evacuated from Rwanda, the deaths of our dad and uncle, close friends, and loved ones; the loss of employment for my family members; the contraction yet survival of COVID-19 for my family members and many friends; and other hardships related to the emotional trauma of the pandemic. I ended the Chronicles with the loss of my Bonus mom, my best friend’s mother, who served as one of my primary intercessors.

It is only because of God’s mercy that even though so much was lost in 2020, I can still enter 2021 saying GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS OH GOD! All I needed GOD’S hand provided. When I was overwhelmed with sorrow, HIS hand provided comfort. When our household experienced unemployment, His hand was our provision. When depression tried to drown my soul underwater, His River of Life was my raft. When grief and loss met me at every turn, His road map directed me His peaceful presence.

In spite of the anguish of 2020, God’s faithfulness did not allow me to be consumed. I experienced victories in the valley.  Through the tears, I increased my remote instruction competency, served students with more compassion and empathy, completed a social and emotional learning and digital yoga training, and launched a virtual self-care series. Most importantly, I gained an understanding of how all of my tragedies collided into triumphant victories that empowered me to walk as my authentic self and equipped me to walk out my purpose.

I am not sure what 2020 brought to your path but I want to encourage you that as the hours of 2021 turn to days, the days turn to weeks, and weeks turn into another year, God’s mercy will meet you with fresh new mercy morning by morning. As you enter 2021, grip hold of God’s faithful hand, stand tall in the Armor of God, and look 2021 dead in the eye knowing twenty twenty-one is WON!

PONDER and WANDER:  Sometimes in order to move forward in confidence, we have to look back. If you choose, take time to ponder the question: What difficult situation in 2020 did God not allow to consume me?

Soul care training exercise:  As we begin a new year, I invite you to take some quiet time and ponder and/or journal the below questions.

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what difficult situation occurred in 2020 that God’s mercy kept you from being consumed?
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into that situation. Sit in the discomfort. Invite him to soften the intensity of the impact of the event. Invite him to soothe the heartaches of your soul. Allow Him to grant you mercy that can sustain you in the midst of it all.
    • Focus on the loving-kindness, fresh mercy, and compassion of God’s faithfulness.

PRAYER: Father, the phrase one day at a time sweet Jesus means so much more after facing a pandemic. Thank you for your mercy that met me in every situation. Thank you that no matter what 2021 unfolds, the same mercy will greet me with the break of every day. GREAT is thy faithfulness my God. I know that it is only because of your mercy that I have not been consumed. I praise you that your mercy is never-ending. In the loving 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 breathe in faithful new mercies of God and let the work of your wandering fill you with wisdom.

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 Faithful New Mercies appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS REFLECTION: If you choose to take four minutes, click below, and listen to the Light in the Mercy Seat meditation.

Image attributions:   Loving-kindness: Pintrest/dyed4youArt by Meghan with text added                                                               

Soften Sooth Allow: Pintrest/ dyed4youArt revelation series with text added                                                                                             

Thy hand provides: Pintrest/ Janicevancronkhite with text 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.

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 One Gift, Wisdom This week we will examine The Powerful Gift of Light.  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: John 1:5 Amplified Bible

⁵ The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].

There is no darkness that Jesus, the Powerful Gift of Light, the Light of the World cannot extinguish. Where do you need the light of Jesus to shine?

PSALM: O Come, O Come Emmanuel  (The Latin metrical form composed by John Mason Neale 1818-1866) Additional verse H.S. Coffin 1916

PARABLE: Even as an adult, I enjoy the sparkle in bushes, the icicle lights draped from the garage, the white twinkle lights in a window, and the multi-colored bulbs on the distant Christmas tree, and the light projectors in the driveways that brighten up the celebration of CHRISTmas. A few days before CHRISTmas, after binge-watching our favorite Christmas movies, getting belly aches from cookies, and scorched tongues from hot chocolate, Troy and I wait until dark and then set out on a light capturing adventure. I am always excited at the diverse light displays. The most breathtaking sceneries are those located on streets without street lights where the festive lights brighten up the street and shine through the darkness. 

Jesus, the child born, the Son Given, the Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, the Bright and Morning Star came as the Light of the World. The Wonderful Counselor came to comfort us in the grief of COVID-19, depression, unemployment, divorce, addiction, sickness, and death. The Everlasting Father came as Jehovah Nissi to fight our battles. The Prince of Peace came to still the war raging in our mind, body, and soul. The Bright and Morning Star came to shine through our experiences of darkness. Thank God for the coming of Emmanuel!

PONDER and WANDER:  If you choose, take time to ponder the question: In what area of your life are you seeking the light of Jesus?
Soul care training exercise:  During this celebration of the birth of CHRIST, I invite you to take some quiet time and ponder and/or journal the below questions.

• What do I need to know from Emmanuel, God who is with me about the shadow of the trials in my life?
  • Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you in what area of your life you need the Bright Light of Jesus to shine His truth.

• Where in my life have I allowed the glimpses of shadows and circumstances to be brighter than the Light of Truth?
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into those thoughts and ask Him to shine bright and dispel the shadows.
• How am I to move, go, boldly walk forward through the darkness?
  • Focus on the words of Jesus our Wonderful Counselor and let Him empower you with the truth that Jesus, our powerful light is with you and will guide you.

PRAYER: Emmanuel, there is not a place in my life, a situation that I face, or a concern that I have that the GLORIOUS light of your Presence cannot outshine. Shine bright around, before, behind, and within me. Let me focus on you Jesus, the Savior, and light in this dark world. Thank you for the gift of your light. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to breathe in the light of Emmanuel’s Presence and let the work of your wandering fill you with wisdom.

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 Powerful Gift of Light appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS REFLECTION: If you choose take five minutes, click below, and listen to the Light in the Darkness guided meditation.

Image attributions:   

Light in the darkness: Google prophetic art with text added

Comfort us: Propheticartgallery.com Led by the Spirit with text added

Jesus the gift of light: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/christmas-decoration-holiday-xmas-3009949/ 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 Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined a Enduring Peace, Confident Hope This week we will examine One Gift: Wisdom.  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: Proverbs 2:6 Amplified Bible

For the Lord gives [skillful and godly] wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding

What wisdom, knowledge, and understanding do you need from God? Let Him know for He promises to give it to you just for the asking.

PSALM: O Come, O Come Emmanuel  (The Latin metrical form composed by John Mason Neale 1818-1866) Additional verse H.S. Coffin 1916

PARABLE: I was introduced to Lady Wisdom as a young child through a vacation bible school lesson where she was personified and became my friend.  I’ve been teased about having extra brain cells, being too educated, and too smart for my own good. I couldn’t always explain how I knew that I knew. All I know is that I asked for it, and I received wisdom from God. When adversity was like sneakers glued to my feet as I walked through life, I beckoned Lady Wisdom and she came. When darts of trials were piercing me as though I was a dartboard, I asked for wisdom and she came.  And when she came, I responded with certainty and confidence that was labeled haughty and arrogant.

Perhaps you’ve experienced ridicule for your wisdom from those who don’t know that God promises all Believers His Wisdom. It is one of the gifts that He gives freely when we ask Him. This Christmas, like the songwriter, I am asking Emmanuel–God with us–for one gift: His wisdom. Wisdom to make order of the chaos around me. To show me through His lens of knowledge and understanding His purposed path for all of the world’s trauma. To cause me to wisely Go His way. It won’t be wrapped under a tree. I’ll find it tucked throughout the Book of Life. I’ll find it in the quiet moments of morning when only God and I are snuggled in the chair. I’ll hear Emmanuel, God with me, share His truth. Like the refreshing fragrance of pine, I’ll breathe in His loving, gracious, kindness and I’ll exhale His purposed path as He shows me the next part of my journey. 

PONDER and WANDER:  If you choose, take time to ponder the question: In what area of your life are you seeking God’s Gift of Wisdom?
Soul care training exercise:  As life continues to happen and baffle us with unending chaos, I invite you to take some quiet time and ponder and/or journal the below questions.

• What do I need to know from Emmanuel, God who is with me?
  • Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you in what area of your life you need further knowledge and understanding.

• Where in my life have I allowed my own limited thinking to interrupt me from doing what God is leading me to?
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into those thoughts and ask Him to transform your doubts and fears.
• How am I to move, go, boldly walk forward toward my chosen path?
  • Focus on the words of Jesus our Wonderful Counselor and let Him empower you with the tools to wisely apply His knowledge and understanding to your NEXT steps.

PRAYER: Dear Father, You promised that if I lacked the wisdom to guide me through a decision or circumstance, that I could ask and that you would grant it generously without rebuke. Please grant me ONE gift, your Wisdom. Fill me with your KNOWing. Send me in the direction of transformational DOing. 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 breathe in Emmanuel’s Presence and let the work of your wandering fill you with wisdom.

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 One Gift: Wisdom appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS REFLECTION: If you choose click below and listen to the Tribute to Lady Wisdom by Angie Winans. After the monologue consider what would like to say to Lady Wisdom?

Image attributions:   

Come lady wisdom: unidentified photographer on Facebook with text added

Come Emmanuel: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/christmas-decoration-holiday-xmas-3009949/ with added text 

One gift: https://pixabay.com/photos/christmas-present-box-celebration-83119/ with added text