Taken so soon.....

So tonight I am grieving the death of a police officer. I met him and his wife many years ago when they were just teenagers in the youth group that my team from school went to be with on the spring break. I remember him as a hard worker with a dream of being a police officer. He became an officer, but I was unaware of it until I heard of his fate late last night. As soon as I heard from a friend of mine I was deeply saddened. His wife I know better, we have sent messages to one another and hoped to connect again someday soon, but most surely not under these circumstances. He was doing what he loved--taken so soon! Now left behind is a family weeping and crying! He died a hero--his life was taken but someone elses life was spared. God Bless You my long-lost friend, may you rest in peace, and may God pour his mercy and strength on your wife and kids.

Footprints In the Sand

So, this last month has been one of trial, and the unknown! Well, unknown to me, very well known to God and His plan for my life. I seem to be constantly caught up in things that are not relivant, or things that are relivant but they are unknown too me. I canstantly feel emotionally and spiritually drained! Maybe it is the sign of the times, maybe I am burnt out, or maybe I dont believe enough in myself, to allow God to remove the fear I have in myself to be all that I can be in Him. I have always seen myself as a failure, no matter what I have done it has never been good enough! Oh! but this has always been the perspective that MAN has had, God's plans and ways are much higher and wiser than we could ever see or think. So now over the past week or so, I am learning to change my perspective of myself. To remember that their is a purpose and plan for my life, not my plan but Gods. I still have dreams to live for, mountains to climb, and goals to accomplish. I HAVE to trust Jesus, because in the end when it is all said and done, He will be the only one standing with me, and in sand there will be only one set of footprints in the sand, for the times that He carried me, when I couldnt go on my own! For now, I have a 12 year old who needs her mother's encouragement and love, I have to put my needs aside and press on. Pray for strength and remember that without HIM I AM NOTHING! God Bless everyone who reads this blog! Until next time....Shari

No Worries...

So it has been awhile since I have wrote on this blog...I am still trying to figure out where exactly where I want to go with this, and where it is that I am now...
I believe that when we are faced with what could be life changing decisions, everything and anything will get in our way! If we trust the Lord, Are we guareteed to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Or do we just need to follow our hearts, our gut feelings so to speak, as to what decision is the right one! Whatever decision we face, we need to put our hope and faith in Jesus, the one who guides and directs our every step, and always keeps His promises no matter what we think. He is ALWAYS faithful! If He has called you to be a doctor, a lawyer, a social worker, a musican an actor, a pastor, He WILL provide, whatever it takes for us to reach that goal! The problem is that when our faith is tested we tend to believe the negative over the positive, and because of this we sometimes are defeated when we should have claimed the victory. Today, search for that light, if you are in a dark place, pray that God will guide you away from that and show you what it is thsat you need to see! He will do it, maybe not right away but He will keep His promises, Just as He has said in His word. Read Jeremiah 29:11-13, trust in Him and He will show you the way!

No Worries...

New Year....New Beginnings

Today is January 10th, our Jr. High program starts back up after a lengthy Christmas break, due to bad weather a week before we were supposed to end. The busyness of the coming months is just a mere few days away! I cant help wondering if this year be be any different from last year....and before I let my mind get ahead, I stop myself dead in my tracks. This year will be the same as the others if I let it be. But if I go with what is stirring in my heart, this will be a year of great impact in my community. Touching the lives of people who have no hope, joy, reason to live etc. sometimes ever a kind word is all someone needs to know that someone cares about them. Sometimes God allows us to go through hard trying times, to build our faith, to strengthen us, to make us totally dependant on Him. When we do, He will give us the victory, and w e move on.... The ladder part of 2009 was a time of trial and tribulation for me, unlike anything I have ever experienced before. I actually considered stopping what I have been doing for years now, to try something else, only to realize just recently that God has my best interests at hand. He has called me to do what I do, and He will equipe me to do what lies ahead. Nothing is impossible for Him. If we trust and obey Him, He will guide and direct our every step. Let this year be a year of new beginnings and dont look back, because the best is yet to come! Press On and GO FOR IT! God Bless! Shari

Let the past be Past....Moving on....

Yesterday marked a day, a day that will forever be remembered for me. Eight years ago, on this day, the love of my life, the father of my child, died, suddenly...tragically! I say this not for sympathy, but to share of the journey that I have taken over this course of time. Grieving is a very real part of life, when we lose someone we love we never think that we will be able to continue on, but over the course of time, we do! Through all of this I surrounded myself with people who I knew would be there for me no matter what. Who would encourage me and pray for me! Who would be there in the good times and the bad, and who would love me unconditionally! You know who those people are in your life! If you dont have anyone like that in your life, pray and ask God to send these people to you. Through it all, I give God the Glory, without Him, I never would of made it through. Moving on is a choice, you decide to go for it, or you decide not too! But you will have to live with the choices that you have made. I chose to move on.... it wasnt easy mind you...it was hard, and there have been days that I have struggled with it, but, I keep pressing on..going forward. Today, I am a mother of a beautiful, brillant 12 year old, who is wise way beyond her years, and is gifted in so many areas! Everyday, I look into her eyes and I see her dad, my constant reminder of the love that we shared, and I wouldnt of changed it for anything! She has blessed my life more than she will ever know, and she overcame incredible odds to be here today! But that is another story in itself. I am entering my 3rd year in a program that after 4 years and hours put in will enable me to apply to be ordained! I am so thankful for the things that I had to endure to get here and am so excited to see where I will be when this year is finished! I work with youth, mainly ages 11-13, but also, ages 14-18. Being a positive influence in young peoples lives and impacting them is something that i passionately persure! I encourage you today, if you are in a place where it is hard to let go of the past...take a few steps forward...dont look back... and pursue the dreams and passions you have...moving on has only positive reinforcements! As said in previous years..." Try it, you will like it". God Bless! Till next time! Shari

Happy New Year 2010!

So today started a new year, new starts, new possiblities, possibly new life! Whatever it is that comes my way, I pray that God will give me the strength to endure it! Just watched the movie P.S I Love You, and dI think that it is kind of ironic that I have never seen it before, especially since this movie and my life have some key simularities. Though my love did not die of a disease, he did die suddenly and I still think of him, especially during this season! I miss him so, but know that he is in a better place. I have moved on, though I am for the first time in these years that have passed, wondering if and when I will ever experience that kind of love again! This is a new year, and only I can change those things that seem to be holding me back, for whatever reason! So I will look at this coming year as a challenge and a mountain to climb to get to to where I need to be! God Bless! Shari