My Boaz Has Come

January 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

All of us want a story that begins, “once upon a time” and ends “and they lived happily ever after.” The day the tragic motorcycle accident tore Pastor Paul’s physical presence from this earth, my world collapsed. My fairytale became a nightmare; my life as I knew it ended.  With Pastor Paul’s “promotion to heaven,” our marriage of twenty-eight years was over. I assumed a new title: widow.  “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” Luke 1:46

Within the first few months as a single woman, I learned a lot how to ask for help, personal and family grieving, financial struggle, preparing meals for one, making major decisions (buying a car, putting a new roof on my home and remodeling a bathroom), even travelling to Africa alone. Fearful at first, God gave me discernment and I, accustomed to my independence, developed a new confidence and conquering spirit. “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” Lam. 3:25

 In June 2012, widower Jim Turner asked if he could clean my garage, I wasn’t sure if I really wanted help, the Lord asked me to be open and accept it. Jim’s wife, Peggy succumbed to a five year battle with breast cancer eighteen months prior; we shared our grief as we sorted. Through that task and other chores, Jim and I became good friends and began dating. Jim and I have known each other for twenty-five years, both of our families attended the same church. Jim’s wife and I were friends; our children were in the same youth group and he took care of our family as our chiropractor. God has melted my heart into something he can mold; Jim and I have fallen deeply in love. So when Jim Turner asked me to marry him at Yosemite Falls on Christmas Day, I said yes! “Do not be afraid, you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace, you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the disappointment of your widowhood.” Isaiah 54:4

 

My story reminds me of Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law, also widowed at a young age and fearful of what her future would hold, yet she remained faithful.  We see God’s grace in the midst of Ruth’s difficult circumstances. God provided Ruth a kinsman-redeemer; Boaz, to share her future. A hopeless romantic, my faith in fairytale happy endings has been restored. Jim and I are planning a spring wedding. My Boaz has come!

Thanks for sharing in our joy –

Sheryl

 

Love is Spelled T-I-M-E - Consider Giving Yourself this Christmas

 Sheryl loves on Kenyan orphans – “Religion that our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” James 1:27a

December 5, 2013

Season’s Greetings -

At the beginning of November, I took a much needed break from technology. For a few days, I fasted from using my cell phone; that meant no calling or texting family or friends. It was a ‘solitary confinement’ specifically and lovingly planned by the hand of God through a ministry called www.soulrest.org

Sheryl loves by preaching at a local church - “and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27b

Rest is high priority with God. He rested after the six days of creation, on the seventh day, “God had finished all the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work,” Gen. 2:2.  God has made us to function best with adequate amounts of rest for our body, mind and soul. God’s plan for me at Soul Rest was for me to hold still long enough for Him to love me.

 I had come with anxious questions, an over-thinking mind and an absence of inner peace. At Soul Rest, I had permission to sit and read, worship, listen, wait, focus on God – what amazing remedy. Within a few hours, it didn’t matter whether or not I received answers to my questions.  I had gotten back to basics: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ “Matt. 22:37

 

“Stand at the crossroads…” Cayucos sunset

Everything goes back to loving and worshipping Jesus. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.” Is. 26:3 It seems so simple, doesn’t it. Love God, Worship God.  For many of us, we must give ourselves permission to turn off our phones and computers. It’s ok to stop. This Christmas season, won’t you give yourself and Jesus a gift? Instead of spending money on people who don’t need anything, give the gift time. Spend extra time with others and with God. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Much Love and Happy Holidays,

Sheryl

 “Be Still and Know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10