Soul H2O Archives - Sherry Stahl

Soul H2O

Nehemiah–Wash Behind Your Hears

Good Morning! In the past few months my computer has been in the shop a few times and it decided to crash again. I know from many of your emails that these Monday morning devotions are a boost to your week so even though I can’t access my devotions I’m still posting one. It’s the first devotion from my hubby’s book (Details below) and it’s really good! Be encouraged today as you read and no matter what happens…DON’T GIVE UP!!!

Nehemiah--Wash Behind Your Hears...

God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down…Already I’m singing God-songs; I’m making music to God.
—PSALM 27:6
Many times in my life, I have given too much thought to background noise. Those voices attempt to make you think aspects of your life are falling apart. You anticipate that the future will be a scary place, or the walls feel as if they’re pressing in on you like a vice. Do not allow those sounds to be played. God has provided courage and faith to confront your fear and anxiety.
Nehemiah, a mighty man in the Bible, encountered an excellent example of this dilemma. At a time when he could have been comfortable with his highly honored position of cupbearer for the king, God spoke to him, confirming that he would be the lead man to reconstruct the walls around the city of Jerusalem.
During the physical work, Nehemiah heard sounds of criticism, verbal attacks, and false accusations day in and day out. Nehemiah refused to listen. He kept his focus. Not only did he refuse to crumble to the background noise, he and his construction crew completed the job in record time!
Don’t be surprised if the devil starts heating up the adversity when you pursue a goal that God has confirmed in your heart. In your own life, scrub away those words or thoughts that have held you back from spiritual growth. Listen for the voice of encouragement. Open your spiritual ears to hear what God is saying to you today.
The enemy desires nothing better than to play the sounds of negativity, doubt, and confusion in our minds, hoping we’ll lose focus. These words are attempts to smother the dreams God placed in us to fulfill. Turn off the old playlist of doubt and fear. Download the new sounds God has given to you—lyrics of hope, anticipation, and excitement towards a future that is music to your hears!

Prayer

Father…Help me today to focus on You and Your plan for my life. Please help me to “tune in” to your station so I hear Your voice of encouragement and not the negative voice of the enemy as I move forward towards Your great purposes for my life! In Jesus Name…Amen.

Todd’s book, 40 Days In The Man Cave is available everywhere books are sold!
Check Out Todd’s Website http://www.toddstahl.ca

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Does Forgiveness Equal Restored Relationship?

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example…”
Ephesians 4:32-5:1 NIV

Life is so generous to give us lots of opportunities to extend forgiveness to people who hurt us. What’s the proper response to offence? Do we always have to forgive?

Does forgiveness =equal= restored relationship?

If we are to follow God’s example, as this verse instructs us, then forgiveness is a must and restored relationships need to be our intent.

Sadly, I don’t think forgiveness can always lead to restored relationships, and we see that in Jesus’ relationship with the Pharisees.

Isaiah 59:2 explains that our sin is an offence to God, separating us in our relationship with Him. The more we sin and the longer we continue offending Him, the more distant our relationship with Him becomes. Forgiveness can take place in an instant when a prayer is whispered, but it takes time to rebuild a relationship with God.

Restoration happens when we take ownership of our offense and change our ways. We have to go through a process to rebuild our closeness with the Father.

The same principle needs to be applied to our earthly relationships.

We must forgive others for their offenses towards us. If we don’t, it keeps us bound in bitterness. It’s healthy to learn that a restored relationship is separate from forgiveness and requires a healing process.
When approaching relationship restoration, we need to consider the whole counsel of scripture.
Proverbs 4:23 warns,

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (NLT).

Proverbs 22:24 cautions,

“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered...”

Forgiveness + Ownership + Repentence = Restored Relationship

Sometimes you’ll need to forgive and protect yourself from unhealthy or even toxic relationships. In the best of times, forgiveness leads to a better, stronger restored relationship.
Prayer:

Father, I thank You for Your forgiveness. I ask for the grace to forgive others in my life who have hurt and offended me. I take myself out of the judge’s seat and release them to Your judgement and justice. Please help me to guard my heart, without closing it in the area of relationship restoration. May I walk in Your wholeness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Ephesians 4:32

Isaiah 59:2

Proverbs 22:24–25

Proverbs 4:23

This post was first published on January 19, 2014 and then included in my first Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
Devotion #17 – Forgiveness and Restored Relationship. The original devotion also inspired a #musicpic post called, The Forgiveness Song
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Leadership Leads… Good or Bad
```
“...from the prophets of Jerusalem 
ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” 
Jeremiah 23:15  NIV
```
All my John Maxwell training is going to be put to the test in three and a half weeks when I’ll be moderating a panel on Leadership at the Women’s Connection District Retreat in Grimsby, Ontario. {If you’re going, make sure to stop by my table and say hello!}

I have some amazing ladies on the panel who hold various organizational leadership roles in business, government positions, church leadership, and home management. The goal is to elevate the confidence of women in leadership positions and practically help improve their skills, enabling them to walk further and faster into the destiny God has for their lives.

As we’ve been preparing for the panel, I can’t help but look back and rate my skillfulness as a leader. Lots of passes, and plenty of fails. My thoughts went back to my first leadership position as a big sister. 🙂

Sometimes, my little sister, Lori would follow me around playing ‘Copycat’. Remember that annoying childhood game where people followed you around; often one-step behind you, repeating every word you said, copying move you made? Lori used to drive me crazy doing this! Thankfully, we’ve grown up and now have a great relationship! {Don’t we look cute together now 🙂 } As a “big sister” I hope I’ve given Lori more good examples to follow than bad ones! No matter how small your leadership role may seem, it will have a huge impact because

Leadership Leads…Good or Bad!

RECOGNIZING YOUR REACH

Sometimes we minimize the effect our leadership has in the home, school, court, field, rink, church or place of employment. Whenever God has elevated you to a place of leadership, people are going to follow in your footsteps—It’s a scary thing!

A friend once said to me,

“I was forced to go to church and I won’t put my kids through that.
I don’t want them to be forced to live what I believe but to be able to choose for themselves.”

Since she never took her kids to church, they simply followed her lead and have seldom gone to church because they were never given another option to choose from. Failure to give guidance is, in fact, leading, since it causes people to blindly follow your example and not know why.

[tweetthis]You’re leading, even when you try not to lead. #leadership [/tweetthis]

Our leadership in life is followed,
much more than we recognize.

Today’s verse comes from the book of Jeremiah. In his time, many of the prophets weren’t leading well. They weren’t proclaiming God’s word to the people, but instead speaking what they knew the people wanted to hear, so they would keep following them… following them down the wrong path.

These false prophets were sharing a watered-down message with false hopes that led the people to be disappointed in God; causing them to turn away from Him. Jeremiah had to swim against the tide of his time as their poisonous message,

“spread throughout the land”.

Leadership was difficult for Jeremiah, but he knew his responsibility was to clear the path for others, so they could follow the right way; because

[tweetthis]Leadership Leads… Good or Bad #leadership[/tweetthis]

So, what’s going to spread in the future as people follow you?

Prayer

Father… I’m overwhelmed when I recognize that you have given me such influence in my world. Help me to be wise with my words and actions so that my life impacts others to know and love you more! May others follow your plans for their lives as they see me chasing after the destiny you’ve set before me. In Jesus name…Amen

I WILL RISE
Women’s Connection Conference

https://womensconnection.ca/events/conference

If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join us
Don’t forget to sign up for the Leadership Panel}.
1. Ephesians 1:5
2. Hebrews 13:7
3. James 3:1
4. 1 Timothy 4:12
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

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Other posts about my journey with John C. Maxwell, the JMTeam, or John’s Books:
John C. Maxwell And God Want You To Be A Talent-Plus Person
Mentored to Lead by John C. Maxwell

WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED

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Do you Take Time For Self-Care?
```
After David had finished talking with Saul, 
Jonathan became one in spirit with David,
and he loved him as himself.
~1 Samuel 18:1 NIV
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This post was inspired by a Florida vacation with a 7-day Caribbean Cruise in the middle!!! {Insert PARTY sounds and cue the streamers}.

Our Christmas gift from Todd’s parents this year was, shall we say… a little over the top, thank you Jesus 🙂 Ma and Pa Stahl took Todd and I, along with his sister and brother-in-law for a dream vacation on an Oasis of The Seas cruise—God Bless ‘Em! Thankfully none of us were too sun-burnt at the point of sending this email.

So, why would I write about my cruise in a devotion?

I’m not trying to make you jealous if you didn’t get away from the snow. But trust me, I have a reason. You see, going on a cruise and only getting internet for a few hours one day to work while on the ship is a HUGE form of self-care… something I haven’t been the best at.

I was brought up well to think of others but often, in the past, I would get mixed up thinking others needs were more important than mine. This faulty mindset would leave me physically, emotionally and spiritually dry… like I’m talking dried up, dusty like the desert floor, all cracked and brown… and that’s no way to live!

The Bible Tells You To Be Good To Yourself

Our English language often falls short in translation from Hebrew and the word ‘love’ is one of those difficult to translate words since the Hebrew language has 3 words for love when the English language only has one¹. The Hebrew word used for “love” between David and Jonathan here is much different than the Hebrew root word for love used in much of The Songs of Solomon to describe a more sensual love.

The word love in this week’s verse is also used in GN 44:30 to describe love between a father and son² and then used in verse 16 of this same chapter to define the nation of Israel’s love for David as a war hero.

When I read today’s verse the ending hit me, “he loved him as himself”. Jonathan loved David… but not more than he loved himself…

Therefore, Jonathan loved himself.

Those thoughts reminded me of Jesus words in Mark 12:31,

“Love your neighbor as yourself”.

Next, I thought about when Elijah was suffering burn-out and God didn’t scold or tell him to pull-up his boot-straps and get going. No. God led Elijah in 1 Kings 19 to a few days of self-care. I also thought about how Jesus took time away to recharge from the crowds. In the past two years, I’ve been growing in the understanding of the truth 3 John 1:2 teaches that we will only prosper, as our soul prospers and we’re in good health. You have to take care of your body, soul, (mind, will & emotions) and spirit.

Soul H₂O is a necessity!

Reading this devotion is hopefully one way you do that. When I’m writing well, it should help refresh your spirit and parts of your soul but it’s not enough to build you up completely. God created you: body, soul and spirit so you need to ensure you’re taking care of yourself in all areas.

Do You Take Time For Self-Care?

This week why not take the time to review your schedule.
Are you allowing enough time for self-care each week?

If you are, then pat yourself on the back and keep doing what you’re doing. If you’re not; then change your ways 🙂 You don’t want to end up in breakdown mode as Elijah did! God Wants you to be good to yourself, He’s given you permission and been the example… now be like Nike and Just Do It!

Prayer

Father… I’m so thankful for your love. It’s comforting to know, You don’t love me so You can get something out of me. You love me for me. Wow! On some days, I really don’t understand why but help me to grow in this understanding of Your love, so I can better care for myself. Help me to be good to myself. In Jesus Name…Amen

If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
1. 1 Samuel 18:1
2. Mark 12:31
3. Matthew 11:26-30; Luke 5:16
  (Both verses very clear about what Jesus thinks about self-care in The Message Translation)
4. 3 John 1:2
ENDNOTES
1. http://www.christinyou.net/Outlines/love.pdf Words for “love” in Original Biblical Languages
2. HCSB Study Bible. Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville, TN © 2010 Note on 1 Samuel 18:1; pg.474
WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED

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I Was Shortlisted For a Word Guild Award!

I’ve got to confess…I’m nervous writing this post. Fear, insecurity…and admittedly a bit of pride has kept me from posting this news, until now. When I first found out that I was shortlisted for a Word Guild Award I was ecstatic and immediately posted the news on Facebook. After I made the post I got nervous. When I looked at who was also shortlisted my elation turned to deflation. I felt I really didn’t stand much of a chance in winning and worried what people would think if I posted about it and lost. Yes…I’m completely human too 🙂

Since the Facebook post, I haven’t told many people. Today I was talking about it with Todd and my stepson Brandon when Brandon gave me some advice I would share with a friend. He said, “Sherry, it’s an honour just to be nominated and shortlisted.” How do kids get so smart 🙂

So, here’s my formal announcement…drum roll please…

I Was Shortlisted For a Word Guild Award!

Woohoo!!!!

I am completely honoured that a post on my Soul H2O Blog has been shortlisted in the following Category with two talented writers. Whomever wins, we’re all blessed to be considered.

Check Here to see the full Word Guild Awards Shortlist

Shortlisted Category: Article – Inspirational/Devotional

Carolyn Arends of Surrey, B.C. for “Artful Discipleship” (Faith Today)
Daniel Blackwell of North York, Ont. for “Taking Off the Masks – The need for recovery groups in our churches” (Testimony Magazine)
Sherry Stahl of Leamington, Ont. for “The Women Of The Christmas Story – The Teenager” (https://sherrystahl.com/the-women-of-the-christmas-story-the-teenager/)

Carolyn Arends is an amazing Christian Recording Artist that I’ve listened to for years. She’s a very accomplished author, speaker, professor and Director of Education for Renovaré…Do you sleep Carolyn? 🙂 Daniel Blackwell is not to be mistaken for the Danny Blackwell of Maryland who shot at his wife for taking a bite out of his grilled cheese sandwich! And no, I’m not making that up, check it out for yourself in the Global News Report. You just can’t make that stuff up 🙂 I believe that this Danny Blackwell is a guy I went to Bible College with but haven’t seen since my second year at E.P.B.C (now MCS). I guess I’ll have to see at the Awards Gala!

In just one week Todd and I will be traveling to Toronto for the 2017 Word Guilds Award Gala and I’m even preparing a speech…just in case 🙂

GET YOUR POM-POMS READY &
CHECK ON THIS LINK FOR A POST-AWARDS UPDATE 🙂

Celebrating The Women Of The Christmas Story – The Teenager

YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis ,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie ,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth , Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms , Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead , Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy , Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell

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When You’re Really Down

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again–my Savior and my God!”
Psalm 42:5, 42:11, 43:5 NLT

Have you ever been so down that you thought you might never get up? I was having one of those days. My mind was spiralling into the depths of despair and I started to cry while working at my computer so, I decided to stop working and start relying.

[tweetthis]This devotion is written for those times when you’re really down.[/tweetthis]

I can totally relate to David’s feelings in these verses. Can’t you? David repeats himself three times because once just wasn’t enough. Have you been there?

That’s where I was this morning. I started off feeling discouraged so I put on Christian music and that helped for a while. Then the feelings came back and I got so sad I began to cry and let God know what was going on in my life (‘cause He didn’t already know!?!).

[tweetthis]Sadly, I was magnifying my problems and not my God. [/tweetthis]

I knew I needed to be more assertive on this attack so I decided to go upstairs and get into the Word.

SCRIPTURE CARDS

For the past few years I’ve been compiling scriptures on certain areas of struggle for me in these ringed cue cards and often find strength in them. At first, I began to read the scriptures but that wasn’t changing anything. I knew reading wasn’t enough to defeat the lies of the enemy swirling around in my head so, I got serious and began to declare those verses out loud; even inserting my name to personalize them. I spoke these verses out like prayers to my God and kept declaring until it happened. A verse almost leapt off the page and into my heart. To be honest, I don’t think it really had much to do with that one verse but more with the compound effect of all the verses I had declared over my life that morning.

Peace, joy and hope began to overflow and the discouraging sadness was broken. I put my hope in God and now I’m singing His praises again!

When you’re really down, you need to do something, heck sometimes you need to do a bunch of things. Taking your thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ¹isn’t easy but when you do, you’re not down anymore!

Prayer

Father…I thank You for the power I can access in You and Your Word. I’m choosing to Speak Your Scripture over my struggles; Your truth over my trouble. I refuse to live “under the circumstances” of my life but to rise above victorious in Your Name, the name that is above all names! In Jesus Name…Amen

[tweetthis]Speak Scripture over your struggles; God’s truth over your trouble.[/tweetthis]
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1. 2 Corinthians 10:5
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms,
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell

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Launch Out Into The Deep

“When he had stopped speaking, he said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.”
Luke 5:4 NKJV

Two weeks ago I ticked one item off my bucket list. For my longtime readers you know that I come from a racing family. Well, this drag racing girl drove a stock car her very first time at an oval track! For my birthday Todd bought me the “Rusty Wallace Racing Experience” so I could check off attending a driving school from my bucket list. I hadn’t driven a standard car in decades, so I forgot how they launch forward when coming out of gear. I wasn’t very fast on the bends, but this drag chick put the peddle to the metal on the straightaways. Next time I’ll master the curve!

Luke 5 tells the story of Jesus calling His first disciples. After Jesus commandeers Simon Peter’s fishing boat to preach a message for the growing crowd, He spends time with the fishermen in the boats. After a long night of fishing these men had been washing their nets ready to go home. They hadn’t caught a fish all night when the carpenter/preacher instructs the fishermen to launch out into the deep and let down their nets for a catch.

I can only imagine how tired they were. I’m sure the thoughts of more work doing the same thing that didn’t work all night long wasn’t on the top of their bucket list, but when the men followed Jesus’ advice they landed the greatest haul of fish they had ever caught.

Understanding the word launch means “to throw forward, catapult, send off…put into operation…set in motion,,,spring forward…make a start”¹, helps me to see that Jesus instructions for the boys to launch out into the deep was the call that catapulted them forward into the plan God had for their lives. Obedience, followed up with some hard work shifted their lives into high gear.

[tweetthis]Obedience, followed up with some hard work can shift our lives into high gear.[/tweetthis]

God has opened up the opportunity to run a full scale book launch for the Soul H2O Devotional. It’s exciting and scary; deep waters always are. I believe the book launch has the potential to catapult my calling into new arenas that God has for me. So, how about you? What might God be asking you to launch out into the deep with today?

Prayer

Father…Thank You for staying in the boat when you ask me to launch out into the deep. Help me to remember that I’m not alone. You’re with me, guiding me at every turn. Let my obedience and hard work catapult me forward, racing towards the goals You’ve set for me! In Jesus Name…Amen

¹ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launch

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Soul H2O Book Launch

Publishing my second book, Soul H2O is such a different experience than with my first. With the release of Water In The Desert I didn’t know what I was doing AT ALL! Now I know A BIT more and realize how difficult it is to get a book out to market successfully. It’s not that it can’t be done, it’s just harder than I imagined. Luckily I’m not one to shy away from the hard stuff. Thankfully, God has been doing some crazy amazing things in my life that are perfectly positioning me for the Soul H2O Book Launch.

I’m most excited that God is perfectly positioning the right people in my life to help me learn how to do this ‘writing career’ thing.

BOOK LAUNCH TEAM

I’m completely blessed to have blogger Christine Duncan of Precepts and Life Preservers taking the lead on the Soul H2O Social Media Book Launch Campaign and I hope you join us. It’s gonna be fun! Christine has planned out posts that all you have to do is share and I’ll be doing my best to make it worth your while with some special perks J You’ll get a prerelease PDF of my book. I’m doing a Facebook Live today, Wednesday, September 21^st that will tell you more. Hope you can watch live. If not check the video out later. I’ll post it on my author Facebook Page.

[imic_button colour=”btn-primary” type=”enabled” link=” https://sherrystahl.com/book-launch/” target=”_blank” extraclass=”” size=””]Soul H2O Book Launch Info Page & Launch Team Sign-Up Link[/imic_button]

Here’s the link if you want more info. You can even see a sample of the book’s interior here too.

For this book launch I’ve learned, and am still learning SO many new things!

I just learned how to make videos with iMovie! Are you in a time where everything is new for you? Do you know what I’m talking about? Have you ever moved, started a new job, school, gym or church? Ok, enough with the interrogation questions. You get what I mean!

It’s an unsettling feeling when you’re in totally new territory. I’m so thankful that the Bible is full of relatable people. They’re not perfect, they’re flawed. They’re not always brave, they struggle with fear and some get this ‘I don’t know exactly what I’m doing or where I’m going” feeling. God keeps bringing me back to the story of the Israelites crossing over the rushing Jordan river on dry ground into the promised land story in Joshua 3-4.

My life is mimicking their experience on both a professional and personal level. In both areas I am facing a sea of raging uncertain circumstances that will either be the blockage to God’s promises or the pathway to His blessings. In both situations it’s the second time I’m facing a similar circumstance that didn’t exactly get me into the ‘Promised Land. Both got me on the journey, but not quite there yet. I believe the Lord is speaking to me that these ‘second battles’ are the breakthrough battles that lead to overriding victory!

Here’s a verse that was shining off the page as I read through the story in Joshua:

“However, stay about half a mile behind them. Don’t come any closer to them so that you will know which way to go because you have not gone this way before.”
Joshua 3:4

God directed the Israelites to follow the ark. They were to stay far enough behind it so they could get a clear vision of where it was going to follow on an easy path.

God has perfectly positioned me to stand behind some great women of the faith and watch what they’re doing. Authors like Karol Ladd, Mary DeMuth, Jennifer Strickland, Sheila Wray-Gregoire, Sue Detweiler. Speakers like Peggy Kennedy and Tracey Mitchell. Bloggers like Kelly Balarie, Crystal Storms, Sarah E Ball and most recently Lindsey Hartz. TV Hosts like Cheryl Weber and Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson. Publicists like Ellen Graf-Martin, Jeane Wynn and Katie Nguyen. I don’t take these new relationships for granted. I thank God for bringing women into my life that encourage, challenge and inspire me to pull out all the stops and move forward with all that God has for my life. I hope you do the same!

I’ve been given some opportunities that not a lot of Canadian authors receive. I’ve been offered the opportunity to promote Soul H2O across North America in three phases. First with the Social Media book launch team. Second in Bookstores across Canada during December. My publisher, Warren Benson of Word Alive Press has coordinated US distribution of my book through Anchor Distributors. Soul H2O is going to be available for purchase in all the Christian bookstores across the US and Water In The Desert is already available! Now to get the US stores like Family Christian and LifeWay to stock the book like Canadian bookstores are doing. This is how I feel that God has perfectly positioned me for the next level in publishing with these distribution channels.

Since we live in the real world, all this great opportunity costs, and boy does it cost! Because of this…

I’m doing an Indiegogo Campaign!

To help execute these opportunities and make them the best they can be, I’ve set up this campaign to presell and sell my new books.

[imic_button colour=”btn-primary” type=”enabled” link=”https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/soul-h2o-book-launch-books-jewelry#/” target=”_blank” extraclass=”” size=””]Soul H2O Book Launch Indiegogo Campaign[/imic_button]

I’ve partnered together with Word Alive Press, Helena Cho of Goodworks Jewelry and 100 Huntley Street’s Missions arm, Crossroads Relief and Development Water Projects to offer you some pretty fabulous deals to help bless you as you as you partner with me in bringing His refreshing word to people, at the same time providing clean water to people in need! Check out the deals on my Indiegogo Campaign where you order the books. You’ll be personally and beautifully refreshed, some even drenched! (You’ll have to check out the Perks to know what I’m talking about here!).

Thanks for your love and support!
~Sherry
xoxo

This mock-up of the book represents what the book looks like. It is the perfect purse sized devotional to carry with you anywhere, so you can read, anytime. Stuck at a doctor’s office, no problem. Waiting at the DMV, no problem anymore. Spend your time waiting while being refreshed to OVERflowing!

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15. Forgetful – In The Beginning

“The Woman said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’”
Genesis 3:2-3 The Message

I’m intrigued by the teachings of Dr. Carolyn Leaf on the mechanics of the brain, because I just want to figure mine out. Sometimes I have great memory recall, other times I’m so forgetful. Unfortunately for Todd, my work desk is such a mess because I’m afraid to put things away, in case I forget to finish them and I used to take vitamins to help with memory, but I kept forgetting to take them. Oh how I wish I were joking.

Last week the Soul H2O devotional discussed how Adam and Eve forgot their value and who God created them to be; this week’s verse shows us how Adam and Eve forgot what God had already said (Adam didn’t speak up when the Bible says he was “beside her”¹). Eve took the bait when she got sucked into talking with the serpent. She fell hook line and sinker for his tricks because she forgot what God originally said. In The Beginning, “the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”² No where did God say they couldn’t ‘touch the tree’. When we’re forgetful about what God has said to us it makes us susceptible to believing the enemy’s mistruths. He’s smart to just twist the truth. We’re too wise to believe a flat out lie.

It’s so important that we learn what God taught, In The Beginning so we can remember it when we’re tempted by the enemy to forget what God has said about: who He is, who we are and what He’s spoken to us before. Knowing the Bible enough to catch when it’s being misused is the tool you need to guard your heard and protect your forgetful mind.

Soak in His Word today, memorize some Scripture, talk with friends about what you’ve read; all of these activities will get His Word deeper into your spirit so you can draw from that well whenever you need it.

Prayer

Father…Thank You for Your Word. It is life to me. Help me to take the time to learn more of Your Word so I can know You better and understand Your love for me. Let Your Word sink into my thought life so I can remember what You’ve already said and stand strong when temptation comes. In Jesus Name…Amen

¹Genesis 3:6
²Genesis 2:16-17 NIV

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Here’s some Scripture for you to Soak In This Week
1. Genesis 3:1-6
2. Genesis 2:16-17
3. Proverbs 4:23
4. Psalm 119:11
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Daddy

“The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family. That’s why we call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” as we would address a loving daddy.”
Romans 8:15 (The Voice Translation)

Years ago I read the book The Shack. It told a fictitious story of one man’s journey to be able see God as He truly is: a loving, good father. This man’s view of God the father was marred by the experience he had with his earthly father. I loved how the main character’s wife called God “Poppa”. Whenever I write out my prayers I call God “Daddy”. It was after reading the verse above one time that I began addressing him this way. There really is no better way to describe the relationship I have with our Heavenly Father. To me He truly is “Daddy”!

At church our pastor talked about the issue of fatherlessness and how, statistically speaking, not having a father in your life is detrimental to your well-being. It’s a longing deep within each of us to have a good relationship with our fathers. We want them to love us, care about us and be proud of us. We desire to have our dads around. When this need is not met we are at a disadvantage and the enemy knows it. He uses this God-given need for fatherly love to his benefit. If the devil can get a man to not be the father God desires for him to be, it’s like he rolls a strike, taking down all the pins. The husband, wife and children all are left with a deficit.

The only person who can completely fill this gaping need is God himself! He will often use others to help, but wants more than anything for us to let Him be the one we call Daddy!

Prayer

Father… I thank-you for adopting me into your family! It’s a concept I find so hard to fully grasp. Help me to know the depths of Your love so that I can put my complete trust in You. Help me to open up my heart and let you be the Daddy that I desire and need so my heart can be full! In Jesus Name…Amen.

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