Need a Breakthrough?

Have airplane spaces shrunk? I’m cramped between the window and some guy reading an enormous textbook that spills over into my allotment.  I’m speaking at a women’s conference this weekend so I’m working on my message, typing on my laptop, elbows in, when the guy in front of me leans his seat back.  The latch from the tray table catches the top of my lap top. I hear a crunching sound and yank it toward me. This space keeps shrinking. Tightening all around me. I feel like the world is closing in.

I give up.

The message will have to wait.

I can’t think in this small space.

I click save and fold the screen, twisting and bending to tuck my computer under the seat in front of me.

When my neighbor reaches for his water bottle, I slide MY elbow on the arm rest between us.  Ah-ha! I’m taking ground, three more inches of space and it feels like I’ve conquered Asia.

With my laptop gone, elbows out and the tray table returned to its upright and locked position, I can breathe again. I plug headphones into my much smaller smart phone and seek an escape.

Are you grateful for music, for the way a song transports and transforms? 

My fingers press imaginary piano keys. I breathe with the phrasing, surrender to the rhythm. Grace washes over me.

My friend Josh Lopez just released a new project called Let’s Love and this song Breakthrough is helping me see beyond my cramped quarters.

It’s been a difficult trip with difficult circumstances and difficult conversations. I didn’t sleep well. I am weary and running low on hope. But as Josh sings, I feel God loving, restoring and mending me. I feel hope rising up in my heart too. I remember my redemption story and somehow I find the courage to believe that God can redeem these circumstances.  I choose to trust him.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, 

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

The music builds. My heart swell. I relinquish my hold on the arm rest and REST.

Do you need a breakthrough? Find a quiet place to sit and soak up this beautiful song. Invite God to break through you.

I'd love to hear from you - share your breakthrough moment!

Originally published at A Bundle of THYME

4 Parenting Strategies I Would Never Recommend

Motherhood is demanding and it’s easy to get down on yourself.  When you wonder if you’re doing a good enough job, pick up a book of fairytales. Seriously, fairytale parents make anyone look good. I found four parenting strategies I would NEVER recommend in my study of fairytale parents. More in this award winning presentation:

Fairy Tale Parenting from david cherry on Vimeo.

Help for Making Marriage Work

Falling in love is easy. Shoom! You've fallen and you can't get up. Unfortunately creating a love that lasts is not quite as effortless . We don't really fall in marriage. An emotionally intelligent marriage is something we build together. It takes effort and work. Thankfully, that effort can be a whole lot of fun!  And the work is always worth it.

My husband David and I hosted a book club for Created Woman this year. We read The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman and Nan Silver and recorded a video blog for each principle. Now you can watch all seven videos and grab hold of some marriage building tools in one place

Enhance Your Love Maps 

Nurture Your Fondness and Admiration

Turn Toward Each Other Instead Of Away

Let Your Partner Influence You

Solve Your Solvable Problems 

Overcome Gridlock 

 Create Shared Meaning

3 Keys for Living Well

1. Go after a life of LOVE as if your life depended on it - because it does.

Go after love - literally - let love lead.  Love well and you will undoubtedly live well. But as I've said before fluffy love isn't enough. Love must be strong. It's not always the most comfortable way to live, but it is the most rewarding.

2. Give yourself to the GIFTS God gives you.

God has generously poured out creativity, talent, passion and dreams. You have a unique blend of gifts no one else on the planet has. Give yourself to these gifts. Develop them. Your gifts are meant to be given. Make them great!

3. Let others in on the TRUTH so they can grow and be strong.

Truth will bring freedom and hope to you. You can't keep it to yourself! Why would you want to? The truth you discover is not exclusive. Let others in on it so they can benefit from all you've gained on your journey. 

Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth.....when you proclaim his truth in everyday speech, you’re letting others in on the truth so that they can grow and be strong and experience his presence with you.  1 Corinthians 14: 1-3 MSG

Go Ahead and Cry

It’s okay to cry.

In fact, sometimes a good cry is exactly what we need. 

When studying the chemical composition of tears, Bio-chemist, Dr William Frey, discovered that emotional tears contain protein- based hormones. He didn’t find them in onion chopping tears. Research indicates that through emotional tears, our body is actually cleansing itself of harmful stress hormones.

Tears are evidence of God’s master design.

I’m learning to let them flow.

Last month, my husband and I attended a worship night with 1211, a collection of musicians, song-writers and singers led by Ramy Antoun. It’s an experience like no other. The band and singers are set up in the center of the room and the “congregation” surrounds them. The performance aspect of modern worship is lost in this arrangement and what happens is total immersion.

As a former worship team member, I found myself leaning over and peeking around heads to see who was singing. Who was leading?  I gave up. I don’t need to see to be led. I can listen. I can feel. I can allow God to lead me.

And he led me to tears.

Releasing.
Letting go.

During one song, Ramy pointed out a woman who was available to pray with people. I knew I had to go. I think I’m the only one who did. Her presence was God’s present to me that night, a beautiful gift.

She reminded me of Elijah when he fled to the desert fearing for his life. He collapsed, exhausted from the journey in the shelter of a broom tree. He wanted to give up. He asked God to take him home. But miraculously God provided food and water for Elijah under that tree. In 1 Kings 19:7 an angel wakes him and says, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 

Do you ever feel that way?
Like the journey is just too much for you.
I did that night for sure.

I was anxious, stressed and overwhelmed about what lied ahead of me. But God met me that night. 1211 was my broom tree in the desert. They set the table. I pulled up a seat, ate my fill, quenched my thirst and cried my tears.

Yes, I cried - in public.

We’re not talking sweet tender tears, the kind you wipe away with the back of your hand, the kind that evaporate in a second or two.

No, we’re talking multiple tissue tears - mascara melting, nose running, cheek drenching tears.

Karol Ann Moore began to sing I’m Amazed and every word rang true for me in that moment:

You love is stronger than my pain. Your grace is greater than my shame. You pursue me even when I run away. I’m amazed by your amazing grace.

And I am amazed by the gracious, sustaining provision of my Father.

Stress washed away by rivers of tears. I could breathe deeper.

I left lighter, refreshed and strengthened for the road ahead.

Four Steps to Financial Freedom

The borrower is slave to the lender and don't I know it. I've been in that position. Trapped. Chained. Limited by the bondage of debt. It's a miserable existence.

We were not made to live that way. We were made for freedom, for abundance. 

We were created to dream! 

Financial freedom can be yours, and doing the work to get there is the secret to unlocking your dreams.

Make a Plan - Creating a spending plan is the first step toward freedom. Dave Ramsey tells us this is how we tell our money where to go instead of wondering where it went. It can be intimidating but it doesn't have to be difficult. To this day, we use a simple Excel spreadsheet. If you'd like a copy of our sample spending plan, email me: lynnmarie(dot)cherry(at)gmail(dot)com

Work the Plan -The plan won't work unless YOU work it. Schedule a regular time to look at the spending plan, make adjustments, pay bills and balance your checkbook. 

Work your garden—you’ll end up with plenty of food;

 play and party—you’ll end up with an empty plate. Proverbs 28:19 MSG

Rework the Plan - Life happens. We get busy and it's easy to fall back into old familiar habit patterns. A relapse is only a failure if you refuse to get back up! (Click to Tweet) So get back up and please be kind to yourself. Encourage yourself and work the plan again.

Add the God Factor - A faithful steward will be entrusted with more. When we honor God with our resources, he pours out blessings.

Honor the Lord with your wealth,

 with the first fruits of all your increase

then your barns will be filled to overflowing....Proverbs 3:9-10

(Listen, if you want your barn to be filled, you'll need to build the barn. Open up a savings account. Contribute to a 401K. Then imagine that barn overflowing with supernatural provision.)

We do our part and God does what only he can do!
His grace swept away our debt mountain. (More on that here)

His grace brings FREEDOM and with financial freedom comes the freedom to dream big dreams!

Find Me in February

Brand new for you! My husband David and I are hosting a virtual book club. You can watch our first two VIDEO BLOGS by clicking on the links below:

Enhance Your Love Maps
Nurture Your Fondness and Admiration

Find out more about joining the book club at CreatedWoman.net

Apply some glue - yes, glue - to your marriage. I know it sounds messy, blame it on Jesus - it was his idea!
Read more at A Bundle of Thyme 

Teenagers have needs too. This article is the first in a series of ten, which will help you understand and meet the relational needs of your teens.
Read more at A Bundle of Thyme

I ate too many potato chips, again. And I know I deserve to suffer. Aren't you glad we don't always get what we deserve?
Read more at A Bundle of Thyme

Also for Created Woman in the FREE 1st Quarter issue is an article called The Space Between Us. It's all about resolving conflict and how we came to terms with this necessary skill.  This is a great magazine to subscribe to for fashion and faith.

Finally - for anyone who has ever been scared about speaking in front of others - My first post at Faith Village - 4 Prayer Points for Fearful Public Speakers