Category Archives: Published

The Pumpkin Patch

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It’s October. The season of harvesting. We harvest apples, corn, beans, tomatoes… pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.

I once heard someone compare being a Christian with that of being a pumpkin. They said that being a pumpkin is likened to being a Christian because we are, like a pumpkin, carefully lifted up from the pumpkin patch of life. We are snipped from the old life and what happens next, I believe, depends on us. We can crawl up, hide in an oven where no one will see us and we tend to lose our witness, shrivel up and then die. Or – we can be created into something brand new. Choose a new face, you might say. I’m not sure about you, but the second option sounds much more appealing to me than the first…

Mini Pumpkin Patch

Mini Pumpkins 2011

My experience with pumpkin patches is that they can tend to be prickly, much like life itself. They can be appealing but if you get too close, it stings. You tend to walk away with scratches from areas you perhaps should not have gotten so close to. What a gift when the Master Gardener reaches down and saves us! It is then that the transformation begins. The cleaning, the gutting, the washing. I am sure some wish they had remained there on the ground. Some wiggle down and actually do roll back over there and stay until they eventually die.

But, if we allow God to do his miraculous work within us, He begins by opening us up. That is often a very vulnerable and frightening place for many of us to be, especially if we come from places where we tend to hide from the rest of the world. After we have been “exposed”, He reaches in and begins to get rid of the “junk” inside. He scrapes and he pulls. It can be quite painful at times, to say the least. The more we resist, the longer it takes, the more it hurts. But then there finally comes a time when we are made clean – made clean by the righteousness of Christ. One day we are sitting in the dirt, basking in the warm sun without a care in the world, and the next day we are being opened up and cleaned out. Cleansed from rubbish in our lives that so easily gets a hold and before we know it, it’s attached itself to our life in such a way so that it actually is very painful to remove.

Sin does that. It looks appealing and it always sounds fun. It takes root and creates quite a mess. But if we let God have His way and love us as only He can, He gives us a brand new look. He cleans us out and puts a light inside for all to see. A light that shines brightly in the darkness through a smile filled with joy.

I have pondered over the pumpkin patch. I have thought how wonderful it is to have been cleaned out by holy hands for a holy purpose by a holy God. It gives me shivers. Who would have thought we could have taken an ordinary pumpkin and seen the very hand of God upon it in such a way? How magnificent the comparison of an ordinary pumpkin with that of the life of a brand new Christian.

A brand new face, eyes that see like His, a mouth that smiles with joy, the light of his Spirit shining through us into a dark world … Doesn’t it make you just want to be a pumpkin, freshly picked from heaven’s own pumpkin patch?!
thumbnail of pumpkin patch

His,
Sherri

first published October 12, 2005

I’m So Very Serious. I Think.

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I was driving down the road on the way to the store in pursuit of a birthday gift.   Listening to the radio.  Minding my own business.

Matt Redman, a worship leader, was singing a song talking about knowing God. And so, it seemed like an appropriate time to strike up a conversation with God that began something like this…

“Lord, I want to know you better and love you more. I get so distracted and in no time, within minutes – seconds it seems – my conversations seem to cease and I’m up and about, attending to whatever demanded my attention away from you.”

I continued to drive and talk…  “It seems to take very little any more to take my focus off of you. I say I need direction and yet I hurry off to the next important thing.  I could say it’s this disease, but you and I both know that’s not entirely the case.”

I was thankful the traffic light was red because that thought slowed me down as I asked myself, ‘What is the next important thing, anyhow? What is so important that I allow it to capture my attention of the One which I claim I want to know best?’

The thought led me to other thoughts.  Thoughts of fasting, which opened my eyes more clearly to that area of the Christian life. I know that fasting is giving up something, sacrificing something – in order to show God you’re serious about what you want. At least, that’s how it was explained to me and yet…  it has always seemed like more than that.

As I continued to drive down the road, I then began to think about how, when people fasted in biblical times, ‘they fasted and prayed’.  And – they sacrificed.

‘Lord’, I say, ‘I am giving up all food for the day so that you will give me guidance for the choices ahead of me.’ I sacrifice a hearty breakfast, I skip the breakfast prayer, and by lunch I have taken the sacrifice off the altar and put a hamburger on the grill instead, forgetting the promise made between God and I to get serious over this matter of intimacy.

If you’re like me, you’ve taken a bite of that burger and then – bam! – you remember that sandwich you’ve just inhaled wasn’t a part of this day and you spend the rest of the day living in guilt and determining you’ll never let that happen again.

Fasting… I think about it in terms of showing God I’m serious about a deeper relationship with Him.   I’m serious. Determined.  So very sincere.  And then I wonder…  if I’m so serious, am I willing to give something up to show God just how serious I am?  Something that really matters to me?

I thought back to other times in my life, like when friend brought Twinkies to school in her lunch and I had carrots. I was determined to make a trade. I said I’d give her my carrots.  I argue the nutritional value.  Deal?

No deal.  She argues she’ll live longer on Twinkies given the preservative value.

I refuse to give up.  How about my chips? Deal?

No deal. But she does have something in mind that will satisfy her. The necklace she always sees around my neck.  Gasp.  Surely not that.  My great great great great Aunt Agatha wore that on her wedding day (I don’t really have a great Aunt Agatha anything, but stick with me).  I hesitate. However, because I want that Twinkie so badly – bad enough to sacrifice something precious, priceless, and valuable – I give in, take it off and I give it up.

As I hand over the goods, they hand me their fluffy, greasy, little golden cake, and as I carefully unwrap it, the grease sparkles from the sun’s rays as they hit the outer cake that covers the inner cream-filled cavity.  I almost get a taste of the filling in the first bite, but have missed by a mere centimeter.  It is in the next delectable bite that I reach the shortening flavored filling that is equipped with enough preservatives to keep me alive an extra 5 years.

As I chew and swallow the last bite I wonder… was it – is it – worth the trade?  I now wonder, ‘How badly do I want this relationship with God that I speak about? This deeper, intimate relationship that can and will satisfy any hunger or need? Am I willing to say, ‘Lord, what is it you want from me?’

I’ve got it!  Just like that – just like a miracle it comes to me.  ‘Lord!  I have some carrots!’

No deal. He doesn’t even want carrots.

Chips?

He’s doesn’t do chips.  Too much salt.  But, I see Him eying my Twinkie.  I want to scoot it under the bag, but I don’t move.  He can read my thoughts.  No sense in trying to pray this away and hope He’ll pick something else.

I look at my Twinkie. He looks at me. I really want to keep that Twinkie. I’ve been waiting all day for that Twinkie.

But I want Him more. So I hand it over.

I must be serious.  Hopefully, so very serious.

 

What I Saw

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I went for a walk with Clara and this is just a snippet of what we saw…

 

I went for a walk with a friend and experienced a long-missed ocean sunset…

I went for a walk alone…

 

I went to Arizona…

Then I came home…

Everywhere I go, everywhere I look, I see the beauty and the glory of God.  I am so thankful there are so many colors in nature.  How boring black and white would be.  How sad if only one kind of bird – even if they were like those shown above.  How un-innovative if we all built the same kind of barn and they all weathered the same.  And how terribly empty my life would be without the Boo.  Thank heaven for little girls!  And thank God for His wonder and majesty, His glory and grace.

 

Thirsting After God

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When my son and daughter in-law got a new puppy, WE got a new puppy. After all, they were living with us at the time, so that means that we had a new puppy. They named her Olive. It only took me three weeks to figure out why they chose that name.

Olive is part lab and part Irish setter. She is pure black and had the biggest, cutest ears you’d ever seen. Olive had her own kennel, which she went into quite compliantly. But, when I would start up the stairs and she heard my footsteps, she would know that it was time to for her to go outside. After many whimpers and wails, she was on her leash and headed out the door. Unless there was a puddle from a recent rain, she would head straight for the hose, where she had learned that I would turn it on for her and so she could enjoy the freshest of water. Yes, she was spoiled.

And so, she would drink.

And drink.

And drink.

I would watch her guzzle that water as if she was coming in from the hot, dry desert heat and the cold water was her oasis.


I am reminded of the verse, “As the deer pants for water, so my soul thirsts for You.” Every time, no matter how long or short the intervals in between, Olive does not take her time and walk, but rather, runs to the hose, thirsty for a drink.  She has learned, from several previous trips that the fresh water will satisfy and fill.

I am reminded of the verse, “…so my soul thirsts for You.”  I ask myself…

‘Do I thirst for God the way Olive thirsts for a drink of water?”

“Do I run to God, looking forward to being filled up and satisfied by Him, or do I merely meander towards Him, allowing almost any and every distraction that fights for my attention to draw me away to another source that doesn’t fulfill?’“

There have been times in my life that I have longed for the Lord, knowing that nothing else could fill me up. Then, regretfully, there have also been the times when I have found myself down unfamiliar paths, where I have wandered aimlessly until I found myself lost and alone, crying out for direction and thankfully finding an oasis of grace.

And grace always comes, like a refreshing rain pouring down over a dry earth. I stand out in the pouring rain, and soak it up like the ground soaks up the water from the heavens. As I watch new growth come forth after it has dampened the earth, I realize that I am watching a picture of what is happening deep inside of me when I thirst and am filled by God. New growth begins to appear and I feel alive. I am not lost down paths that seem to wind towards frightening destinations, but I am given directions for familiar and unfamiliar roads, knowing that I will have a constant Companion who will walk beside me and Who also knows all the places where His water can be found when I am dry and parched.

I want to thirst for God the way Olive thirsts for her water. I want to run to Him and know that He alone satisfies, just the way Olive runs for the hose and knows from experience that her thirst will be quenched. I want to drink from His well of grace and love and mercy and long for nothing more than Him. Only Him, just as Olive longs for nothing more than that water and doesn’t walk to get there, but runs.

A Reason To Pray

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single-flower-for-posts1I follow a few other blogs, for one reason or another. One that I began following about a year ago, follows a man by the name of Tom Davis. Besides being an author, he is an advocate (to put it mildly) for orphans around the world, together with the ministry he is an integral part of, known as Hope Chest.

 
Their mission statement – Children’s HopeChest believes that every orphan has the right to know God, experience the blessing of family, and have the opportunity to develop independent living skills.

 
Today’s blog was heart wrenching, to say the least. Each time I read his posts, I am moved to pray. I am moved to go and do something, but always resort to prayer.
I read the title of today’s post: 24 Children Among Hundreds Raped in Congo. It took a few tries before reading it and fortunately wasn’t long.

 
I also read the account of Noah and the flood today.

 

 

Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.  God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.

Genesis 6:11-12

 

 

This account was written over thousands of years ago, and yet, if rewritten for today would certainly be most accurate in describing the condition of our world. 

 
After reading his post this evening, I couldn’t help but cry. How can we be so wicked, so evil? And we are all capable of such wretchedness. Oh, how we need a Savior!

 
I share this with you for one reason only. When you pray for those in need, will you remember Tom Davis and those like him, whose mission is to protect and to help orphans around this world? And pray that Jesus will come back soon…

 
“There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch of the cosmos, every split second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan.”      – C.S. Lewis

What To Do About Church Squirrels

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comp-dsc03425I’ve been going through a bunch of stuff and ran across this little bit of humor.  I’d give credit where credit is due, but it wasn’t credited on the original…  but for sure, I didn’t write it – just sharing…

What to do about church squirrels………….

There were five houses of worship in a small town in northern Idaho – the Presbyterian Church, the  Baptist  Church , the  Methodist  Church, the Catholic Church and the Jewish Synagogue.  Each was seriously overrun with pesky squirrels.

One day, the Presbyterian Church called a meeting to decide what to do about the squirrels.After much prayer and consideration they determined that the squirrels were predestined to be there and they shouldn’t interfere with God’s divine will…

In the Baptist Church, the squirrels had taken up habitation in the baptistry.  The deacons met and decided to put a cover on the baptistry and drown the squirrels in it..  The squirrels escaped somehow and there were twice as many there the next week.

The  Methodist  Church got together and decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God’s creation. So, they humanely trapped the squirrels and set them free a few miles outside of town. Three days later, the squirrels were back.

But the Catholic Church came up with the best and most effective solution.They baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church.  Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter!

Now, not much was heard from the Jewish Synagogue.  But they took one squirrel and held a short service with him called a circumcision and they haven’t seen any squirrels on the property since.

Terrific Tuesday or Terrible? You Choose

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God always keeps His promises

God always keeps His promises

What is Terrific Tuesday?  An opportunity to look at life optimistically.  To decide to see the positive and not the negative.  To be a ‘my cup is half full’ kind of person.  To see Tuesday as terrific and not terrible.  Why?  Because no matter what happens, God is sovereign and full of mercy and grace and will not allow anything that isn’t in our best interest.  I’d say that’s pretty terrific, wouldn’t you?

So, here are some pretty terrific things about this Tuesday:

~ the skies are cloudy, threatening rain – I won’t need to water

~ the cat is not laying on my feet

~ the dog is sleeping

~ the dishwasher is washing dishes for me

~ my new toothbrush is awesome

~ the two geese flying overhead this morning were talking to each other

~ it is now raining – puddles!!!

~ I got a new picture of my granddaughter

~ I got to watch my granddaughter

~ my granddaughter didn’t say ‘no’ today

~ my granddaughter didn’t cry when I wouldn’t sing the ‘Hush Baby’ song ‘just  one more time’, when I put her down for her nap

Now, just imagine if it were terrible Tuesday… a cup half empty kind of attitude:

~ another dreary, wet, cold, day to get wet socks.  I’ll probably get sick.

~ I wish the cat would just leave me alone and go bug someone else

~ the dog should be outside where animals belong

~ the dishwasher is so loud I can’t hear myself complain

~ I can’t believe what they charge for electric toothbrushes nowadays – why, when I was a kid…

~ I wish I had me a rifle – I’d shoot me a goose

~ it’s raining – again.  I hope my granddaughter doesn’t want to get in the puddles.

~ uh, I’m sorry, but as hard as I try, I can’t find a half empty attitude when it comes to my granddaughter…

It really is perspective, attitude, and/or choice how we look and deal with life, isn’t it? And, having a cup half full attitude is so much better. Gotta go – there are some fresh rain puddles Boo and I have to check out.

He’s Holding On As I’m Letting Go

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dsc013451I wrote this a few years ago when I had just taken my daughter to college for the second year. I just found out it was published last month. If you’re struggling with the empty next syndrome, or just miss your kids, I hope this encourages you.

You can read it here or below:

He’s Holding On, As I’m Letting Go

by Sherri Woodbridge

“For I know the plans
I have for you,’
declares the Lord,
‘plans to prosper
you and not to harm
you, plans to give
you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Last year, about this time, I took my daughter over 1.000 miles away to college. It was about nine-thirty and the ceremonies for new students were just ending; it was time for me to get in the car and get going. I took her face in my hands, with tears in my eyes, and let her go, with this:

“The verse God gave me for you is Jeremiah 29:11… ‘He knows the plans He has for you – plans to prosper you and to give you hope and a future. Plans that you will not be harmed. Seek Him and you’ll find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart.’ And now, He has taught me that if I don’t let go, then He doesn’t have all of you. So, I’m letting go.” And after many hugs and tears, I left.

Trying to get out of Los Angeles afforded many distractions to the moment, but after about an hour or so, traffic died down and life was returning to a slower pace. I turned on the radio and a new release was playing on the Christian radio station.

And then the tears came full force.

“This is what it means,
to be held,
how it feels
when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.’

Now I knew that my daughter hadn’t been torn from me, but it felt like it. It felt like I was not going to survive. I felt like I had a huge, empty hole in my heart and I couldn’t breathe; an emptiness like I had never known. How could I let her go? She had become my best friend. And I just let her go?

And so I cried some more. On that dark and quiet stretch of highway there was really nothing else to do at one o’clock in the morning. I listened to more of the song in between sobs.

“This is what it means,
to be loved,
and to know
that the promise was
when everything fell,
We’d be held.”

And that’s when I knew I’d be okay.

God promised that in the dark times, He’d hold me and I knew he would because He always did. I drove on and cried some more anyhow. It’s a year later and I just drove my daughter back down to school again. We unloaded the car in less than half the time as last year. After a day and a half of unpacking boxes, Togo’s sandwiches, thrift stores and Targets, it was time for the dreaded good-bye.

I told her I’d continue to pray the same prayer for her that God had given me. We hugged and I let her go… again. I walked away and headed towards the car. I didn’t look back. I didn’t want her to see the tears streaming down my face that my sunglasses could no longer hide. I got on the highway, the same one as the year before. After getting past the congested areas, I turned the radio on.

‘This is what it means
to be held,
and to know
that the promise was
when everything fell,
We’d be held.’

I cried again.

This year, however, as I listened to that song again, so intricately planned by God to play right at that moment, I cried out of thankfulness to God. I cried because He has been so faithful and has always held me in the dark times of missing my ‘little girl.’ This year it was tears of joy that wet my cheeks. I have had the the privilege of seeing just how faithful God has truly been this past year.

He is there when we are lonely and alone. When we are down and discouraged. He is there fighting for us when it feels we have no fight left. He is there to hold us when everyone fails us; and everything around us falls. He is always there and if we believe that He is, then that must mean we are… always being held.

Sherri is a freelancer and novelist and lives in the Northwest. She’s a mother of three, pet owner of two, wife of one, and grandma to the greatest little toddler in the world.

Hand Over The Twinkie

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I was driving down Wilbur Ave. tonight on the way to the store in pursuit of a birthday gift. Listening to the radio, Matt Redman, a renowned Christian worship leader, was playing. His song was talking about knowing God. So, I began having a conversation with God. It began somewhat like this…

“Lord, I want to know you better and love you more. I know I get so distracted and it’s in no time in my conversations that it seems I’m up and about, attending to whatever demanded my attention away from you.”

I continued to drive and talk…

“It seems it doesn’t take much any more to take my focus off of you. I say I need direction and yet I hurry off to the next important thing…”

I was thankful the traffic was light because that slowed me down and I asked myself, ‘What is the next important thing, anyhow? What is so important that I allow it to capture my attention of the One which I claim I want to know so much more deeply?’

That thought led me to thoughts of fasting and opened my eyes a little more clearly to that area of the Christian life. I know that fasting is giving up something, sacrificing something, in order to show God you’re serious about what you want. At least, that’s how it was explained to me. But, it has always seemed like more than that.

‘Lord’, I say, ‘I am giving up all food for the day so that you will give me guidance for the choices ahead of me.’ And I skip breakfast, forget to pray, and by lunch I’m cheating.

If you’re like me, I’ve taken a bite of sandwich and bam! – I remember that sandwich wasn’t a part of my day. And so I go about the rest of the day living in guilt over the bite I took and the ten other bites I gave my dog and I determine that it won’t happen again.

Fasting… I think about it in terms of showing God I’m serious about a deeper relationship with Him.

I’m serious. I’m determined. I’m sincere.

But then I wonder – am I so serious that I’d be willing to give something up to show God just how serious I am? I thought back to other times in my life… Like when your friend brings a Twinkie to school in their lunch and you have carrots. You determine you’ll make a trade. You say you’ll give them your carrots because you really want that Twinkie. Deal?

No deal.

How about the chips? Deal?

No deal. But they do have something in mind that will satisfy them. The necklace around your neck. You hesitate because your mom gave you that for your birthday and you wear it practically every day. But, you give in and take it off. All because you want that Twinkie so badly.

As you hand over the goods, they give you a fluffy, greasy little cake equipped with preservatives that will keep you alive an extra 5 years.

And so, it makes me wonder, ‘How badly do I want this relationship with God that I speak about? This deeper, intimate relationship that can and will satisfy any hunger or need? Am I willing to say, ‘Lord, what is it you want me to give you?’ And then I have a brilliant idea and I say, ‘I’ll give you my carrots.’

No deal. He doesn’t want the carrots.

Chips?

He’s not into chips.

And He just looks at me. And I look down at my Twinkie. I really wanted that Twinkie. I’ve been waiting all day for that Twinkie.

But I want Him more.

Live Today

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raised hands

I received an email from someone concerned that they may have the beginnings of Parkinson’s Disease. I have met others who have PD, but not someone in the throws of wondering if the symptoms that they are experiencing are, in fact, PD.

I can’t stop thinking about him. I think because it takes me back to my diagnosis, to my days of wondering what was going on. I can relate so well and, I can understand, all too well.

He is scared, wondering if he does have PD, and I am able to look back and see myself where he is now – scared, uncertain, and desperate. I can now see that, even though the future is still uncertain, I have been blessed with a wonderful doctor, the support of friends and family and more than anything, been given the opportunity to encourage and come alongside of others. I was not able to see those things then, the fear taking away everything else that was in my future and leaving a sense of hopelessness.

Isn’t the future, in reality, uncertain for each of us, whether we have been diagnosed with a disease or not? None of us knows how the end will turn out or when will be the last time we will tuck our babies in bed at night.

I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes:

“Dance as if no one were watching,
sing as if no one were listing,
and live everyday as if it were to be your last.”

That is how I want to live each day, whether I am fighting with PD or making peace with it. I want to dance without reserve, even if I stumble. I want to sing at the top of my lungs, even if others think I’m still whispering. And, I want live each day as if it is my last opportunity for anything, even if I am given a tomorrow.

It is a hard thing to do – to live like that. There are so many distractions, so many reminders that we are not ‘whole’. With distractions that plunge their way into our daily paths and constant reminders from our bodies that struggle against their own desire to be free from disease, we can, however, choose to have the attitude of living life to its fullest and enjoying the journey, even if it’s not the one we would have chosen. It always seems better to wear a face of hope than that of despair.

I would like to encourage all of you, whether you have been dealing with a disease of any kind, whether you have just been diagnosed, or perhaps you are wondering if the symptoms that have just started are anything worth fretting over – live this day as if it were your last – dance and sing. Do it without reserve. I dare you. Oh, and don’t forget to tell someone you love them – at least once.