Category Archive

Hope.

No matter what I see, there is hope.

Abraham realized his body was as good as dead, but…

Against all hope, he hoped in Him who is able to raise the dead. (Romans 4:19-20)

Hope.

When I give in to despair, I am exalting my circumstances above God.

Hope is knowing God is greater.

Hope is trusting He is good.

Hope is walking in freedom.

Hope is eternal because as long as God is there is hope.

“Father,

Today, teach me about hope.  I love you.

Amen.”

Puzzle the Puppy is almost one year old.  I don’t know what I will call her then, “Puzzle the Dog” just does not have the same ring to it.  Oh, well…I think I am entitled to call her “Puzzle the Puppy” just a little while longer - at least until she stops destroying everything in the house with her incessant chewing.

Puzzle the Puppy is, like so many beings in my home, quite…spirited.  She is certainly capable of obedience, but it is always a final option for her.  She is not the kind of dog who will simply follow her master due to a sense of loyalty or devotion.  Obedience must be required of her. 

She does love me, however.  Of this, I am sure.  She is also absolutely adorable and if things were different, I would always have her right by my side.  As I write this post, I am sitting on my porch swing, laptop across my knees, watching the sun set on a perfect early summer evening here in Tennessee.  I can see Puzzle the Puppy from here by the soft light of the lamp in the foyer.  She is the closest (comfortable) place she can be to me- the piano bench.  She would really love to be out here with me but she can’t, because you see…

Puzzle the Puppy only obeys as a last resort.  I can’t trust her. 

If I allow her on the porch with me, I know she will take off running the moment she sees a bird, or a jogger, or Heaven forbid that obnoxious little white dog from down the street.  This morning my husband came inside red faced and panting after taking her out for a moment.  She saw a bird across the street and ran.  Then, she heard a dog bark and kept running.  My husband told me he had to run faster and longer than he had in a long, long time just to catch her and that in his words, I was “almost a very rich woman” because it came close to killing him.

Each morning I see a man walking two dogs down my street.  The first, he guides by a leash.  The second has a leash as well, but the leash is simply draped over the dog’s back.  The dog is, in essence, walking himself and yet in all the times I have seen the three of them on their morning walk, never have I seen that dog stray from his master’s side.

You see, obedience brings freedom.

So, as I sit here watching Puzzle the Puppy sleep on the piano bench, I am reminded of how much she is like me.  Too often, I am determined to have my own way.  I know what God wants from me but instead of simply obeying out of adoration for my precious Savior, I am reluctant at best and flat out defiant at my worst.

All the while, the Savior must shake his head and say, “What I really want is for you to be free, if only you would obey…”

  “I run in the path of your commands,
       for you have set my heart free.”   Psalm 119:32

I am braiding hair and the kids are watching a nature show.  Six year old Jeremiah is inspired.

“Mommy, I really want a fruit bat.  Can I have a fruit bat, please?”

“No, Jeremiah.  I don’t think we can have a fruit bat.”

“Awwww…….”

A moment later he has another idea.

“Mommy, can I have a baboon?  I really want a baboon.  They are so cute!”

“No, Jeremiah.  You may not have a  baboon.”

“Awwww…….”

“What about a mouse?  Can I have a mouse, please?”

“Miah, why do you want a mouse?  We already have a dog!”

Now, he turns on the tears. 

“But I want a pet of my own!”

“I’m sorry, Miah, but I can not have even one more thing in this house I have to take care of and that is exactly what would happen.  Meghan brought that crab home from school full of promises to take care of it and if I did not go in occasionally and squirt water in the bowl it would be dead.”

Which reminds me…

“Meghan, get up and go pooper scoop the crab house.”

He sulks for a moment and then picks up a book on animals to browse.  Suddenly, he is excited.

“What about this!” he says.  “Can I have one of these!”

He opens the page to a large photo of a Caracal, pointed ears upright and fangs bared.  Claudine, who is having her hair braided, is horrified. 

“Mommy, please say no,” she pleads.  “Please say no!”

“No, Jeremiah.  You can not have that cat.”

“Why not?” he whines.

“Why not?  Why not?  Because it has FANGS, Jeremiah.  We live in the city.  Zoning would not even allow that thing here.”

“Awww……”

He flips through the pages again for a moment and at last finds evidence he is sure will sway my opinion about the mouse he proposed a moment before.  He holds up a two page spread of baby rats at varying ages of development in their nests.

“Look Mommy!  You could have babies!!!!  Don’t you want to have a mouse?”

“Miah, do you really think that is going to help convince me?  Do you think I would be happy about having mouse babies?”

“Yeah!” he says.

“No, Miah.  You may not have a mouse.”

“What about a snake, or a lizard?”

Then, Claudine has had enough. 

“Miah, quit asking for wild stuff.”

Amen.

Mothers of boys, I have finally listened to your cries for help.  I have posted a new article at Braids, Beads, Truth on African hair care for boys.  So, click the link below and give me your thoughts!

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS!

I have posted some awesome new cornrow pictures over at my new blog:  Braids, Beads, Truth  Check them out! -Sherri

The clock is ticking and the countdown has begun.  My new blog:  BRAIDS, BEADS, TRUTH will be launched Monday, March 24th.  Keep your eyes out for the link! - Sherri

I promised to explain why I disappeared for a few days, so here it goes.

As you may remember, we rather suddenly found a home and decided to attempt to buy it.  We looked at the home for the first time two weeks ago tomorrow, saw it again the following Wednesday, placed a contract Thursday, and came to an agreement to buy the home contingent on the sale of our current home Saturday.

The Realtor wanted to place ours on the market the following Friday before we left for Florida on the 22nd, so we hit the ground running.  My husband’s job is demanding, so it was pretty much up to me to declutter our home, arrange and oversee any repairs or improvements prior to the listing, all while parenting our five kids and managing an active puppy. 

A POD was delivered to our driveway Monday morning, which I immediately began to fill.  I worked from 5:00am - 11:00pm every single day with the exception of the day I came down with a cold.  That night, I went to bed at 10:00pm (slacker).  I went through every closet, cabinet, nook and cranny.  I took estimates for the refinishing of our hardwood floors and scheduled plumbers, painters and handymen.  (Some of whom were gifts from God and some of whom left me struggling not to remember the profanity of my youth.)

Wednesday was a particularly difficult day.  Michael was away on business and I was sick and exhausted.  Once the children were in bed, I realized that if the office was going to be painted the next day I would need to remove all of the books and other items from the hutch and shelves which lined the wall and MOVE ALL OF THE FURNITURE TO THE CENTER OF THE ROOM!

Can I be honest?  I cried.

As a matter of fact, I would work for awhile and then sit and cry and pray for awhile.  I did not know for sure if I could even physically move the heavy pieces by myself once I unloaded them all. 

But, by some miracle I did.

I continued at the same pace all the next day.  Then, Friday came and it was do or die.  Michael took one look around and said we would never make it.  By the end of the day, the house would need to be ready to show and the entire family packed and ready to leave the next morning for a seven day trip. 

Some friends showed up to assist around 7:00 pm and one dear friend (whom I know loves, loves, loves me…) stayed until midnight.

We made it.

Except there was a small disaster with the painter on Saturday and now the house won’t be ready to show until next Saturday after all.

Oh, well…….

Gotta run.  I hear there are tons of shells at the beach right now so we are all out the door!  I will post some of the Thankfulness Challenge comments later.

I know some of you have been wondering, “Where is Sherri?” and “Why is she not posting the comments for the Thankfulness Challenge?”  Well, this last week was gruelling and I only had time for working, eating and a few hours sleep. 

I hope to bring the blog up to speed later today, but for now….it is family time!  We made it to St. George’s Island last night after a 10 hour drive with 5 kids and a puppy.  It was too late to even go to the grocery, so Michael (God bless him) is at the store on the mainland right now.  I am about to take the kids and Puzzle the Puppy to the beach for a very long walk.

Maybe, just maybe, they will all be so exhausted that they will take a long siesta this afternoon….

“My God,

Thank you so much for sustaining me this week.  You were right beside me all the way and your joy was indeed my strength.  How can I even even express my gratitude for the beauty and respite of this island?  Oh, I needed to rest….

You are precious and sweet, my closest friend….

In Jesus Name,

Amen~”

Happy Thursday everyone!

 I know I said we would begin the Everyday Miracle Challenge today so that you could share your stories of God’s “Divine Interruption” in your lives but I am entrenched with preparing to speak at a women’s conference this weekend and I don’t think the time is right.  If you have your story prepared and can’t wait to share it, send it to my business e-mail sherri@sherrigragg.com

I also have some other things in the works I think you will enjoy so meet me here Monday after my conference to find out where God is leading us next.  It promises to be sweet.  After all, “every good and perfect gift” comes from Him. (James 1:17)

If you are itching for something to read, check out Everyday Inspirations if you have not done so.  I hope to be posting some new meditations soon.

 Stay tuned and have a blessed weekend!  ~ Sherri

*Don’t miss Pericles’ posting today at 7 degrees of grace.