JOYFUL WORDS
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Four Years Old

6/27/2016

7 Comments

 
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.   I John 4:18
 
It’s a birthday post!  Joyful Words is 4 years old and as I look back I’m surprised, baffled, proud and stunned; but not at all with myself!  It’s all HIS!  I’m  surprised that he’s still allowing  me to do this work, I’m baffled as to why he chose the girl whose top grade in English was a B, proud that I’ve remained obedient to his request to do this work and stunned at what he spits through my fingers onto the page.   I did a little looking back and discovered that there have been nearly 400 posts written,  and that is such a stunning testimony to the phrase, God can do anything He wants! 
 
This verse from John’s first letter sums up my primary emotion in regards to this blog…FEAR!  As I spent a few days praying and thinking about this little project that started four years ago I remember being terrified to publish the first post.  It’s gotten better over the years but honestly, there is always a wee bit of fear in my heart each time I hit that publish button on Monday and Thursday mornings.  I’m fearful that I will say something that isn’t accurate or that hurts somebody’s feelings or worse yet, I fear that I will make a fool of myself and lead nobody closer to Jesus.  Just as John said, perfect love drives out fear so I offer a prayer to all who will read and offer the work of each post as a loving gift to the Father hoping he will find it worthy. 
 
The fear isn’t such a bad thing I think.  I’ve come to discover that fear is a human thing and love is a God thing.  If I remember to write for him and not for myself and if I beg him for the right words to touch the heart of those who seek him then it’s easier to quiet the fear and hope I’ve been obedient enough to write what he’s called me to write.  This project has led me on an amazing journey and for those of you who have been reading all along I hope it has inspired your faith journey as well.  At the end of each year I ask him to make it clear when I should stop.  If he prompts me to continue I ask him to show me what to say and lead me to the parts of his word that he’d like a little light cast upon.  My end of the deal is to write as long as there are people reading and commenting.
 
I’d like to thank all of you who so lovingly share your stories and allow me to tell them here.  I thank all of you who seek to know, love and understand God and who see this blog as a wee part of that.  I’m grateful for your encouragement and sweet words.  Your comments, shares and likes are the confirmation the Father gives me to keep at it.  You’ve had a front row seat to my mistakes, my sinfulness, my parenting, teaching and my attempts at finding God in the middle of all kinds of things.  I know there are a million blogs you could be tuning in to that are more scholarly, more polished, more fancy and certainly more eloquently written but yet you come here and I pray for the words and thoughts to make that trip to this site worth the click.
 
In all honesty the thing that makes me most fearful of all is that we will become so overwhelmed and discouraged by the state of affairs in this world that we’ll throw up our hands and lose hope.  I fear folks will run out of trust and forget God is so much bigger than the things in this world that are evil and unjust.  I write with the bottom line in mind…simply spoken from a sometimes fearful heart that always by God’s grace circles back to the PERFECT LOVE that conquers all fear.  Being a disciple isn’t for sissies and it isn’t always convenient or easy but if we can laugh and support each other along the way we will be better; closer and more connected along the journey to Christ.  Happy Birthday Joyful Words and thank you for reading.
 
Blessings on your day!
 

7 Comments
Friend
6/27/2016 09:15:27 am

It seems like you only here the bad stuff in the word that is going on and I get really tired of it. I get tired of people putting each other down and saying mean things to people. The world needs to start treating people the way they want to be treated, and they need to have an adult kindergarten, to remind them, how our lives started and always be. Say please, share, take turns, lend a helping hand., "you scratch my back, I will scratch yours :). What I want to say is there is a lot of positive things going on in the world and this BLOG is one of them. Thank You So Much for being wonderful you.

Reply
Ann
6/27/2016 11:02:06 pm

Happy Birthday!! Thank you, Sheri, for 4 years of practical, down to earth, funny, thought provoking lessons in our everyday lives. You have such a gift and I thank you for sharing it with all of us!

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Reba Sommer
6/28/2016 07:38:47 am

Thank you Sheri. It is amazing how God gives you just the right words to say, on the right day, at the right time. And when you are writing, you have no idea that’s exactly what we need to hear. That feels like a birthday gift every day!

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Kim
6/28/2016 01:12:48 pm

I really enjoy your posts - thank you for sharing.

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ann
6/28/2016 10:23:09 pm

It is hard to convey in words Sheri how deeply your words touch our heart. May you always know how much grace you share through this blog. Thank you and God Bless.

Reply
Ann
6/29/2016 01:22:50 pm

I thank you for sharing God's words with us Sheri. You do a great job with it and I always feel more inspired after reading!

Reply
prov31wannabe
7/11/2016 06:07:12 am

I guess I've been reading you for a year or more . . . No matter when I tune in, or how far behind I get, or how out of order I read your posts, they always come to me with the most perfect of timing, which makes me feel like God is as much at work in my life as he is in yours! Thank you for allowing God to manifest his message and your insights and inspiration through your posts. It's working and I don't think he is telling you to stop yet.

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