God's Love Story - Transformed Hearts and Lives

March 7, 2014

Greetings Friends and Family,

 

 Jim and Sheryl ‘s Reception 4/26/14 RSVP www.weddingwire.com/jimandsheryl

All of us want a story that begins, “once upon a time” and ends “and they lived happily ever after.”  I’ve seen God’s grace in the midst of difficult circumstances. Over and over, God has provided through your prayers, financial donations and now through my Boaz – Jim Turner. A hopeless romantic, my faith in fairytale happy endings has been restored.  Please share our joy on Sat. 4/26/14 at the Giesbrecht/ Turner Wedding Reception Open House from 1 to 7 pm  RSVP: www.weddingwire.com/jimandsheryl

 

Help Us Tell the Story

God is constantly re-writing our story, isn’t He? The same is true for Africa. The New Story of Africa is how God is taking its people from poverty to promise. God is using Africans to take the Gospel into the world to fulfill the Great Commission. We’d like to involve others in Help us Tell the Story of The New Africa.  Look for a postcard in the mail, request a brochure and view a DVD about the many exciting opportunities awaiting you in the ministry of ICM. For information go to www.icmusa.org.

 

Purpose Driven Conference 9-13 – Sheryl excited to return to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 11-14

The story of ICM continues as Vision Quest Alliance takes over ICM’s donation processing. Please add an identification number to your check or credit card donation. Sheryl Giesbrecht’s ministry unit ID # 020010. Please use this number on your checks and donation information. ICM 2014 Banquet – Tuesday August 19, 2014 at Olive Knolls Church in Bakersfield. I’m working with our outstanding team of volunteers for this annual fundraiser. Jim and my wedding date is April 12 and reception April 26, plus my USA speaking engagements have increased this spring, my next trip to Ethiopia will be in November 2014. Thanks for your part in God’s love story – Sharing Jesus!

Love and prayers,

Sheryl

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.” Psalm 107:1-3

 

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

 

Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

November 5, 2013          

 

 “Sarah settles in to her new home in Castle Rock, CO, Sheryl stopped by for a visit. We are so thankful for family time.”

Dear Friends and Family,

 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,” Ephesians 1:15. Thank you for your continued prayers and partnership, also for our family as we observed the four year anniversary of Paul’s death. I share my thoughts on my blog: From Ashes To Beauty.com “Deathday #4.”

“New Normal (life without Paul) with Sarah & Matt Hunter, Dixie (Matt’s mom) includes a coffee break in their new town – Castle Rock CO.”

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9   Love this verse!  It is evidenced everywhere I go as I share the Good News of how Jesus transforms us by the renewing of our minds.  

"Sheryl with Sharon Renwick, serves as Mt Hermon Guest Services coordinator, was in Sheryl’s wedding party, Sharon worked with Paul at Youth For Christ in Anaheim, CA in 1978.”

As the keynote speaker for the Mt Hermon Christian Camp’s Women’s Conference, Mt Hermon Christian Camps, I taught about the healing offered as we accept forgiveness for our sins and offer the same mercy to others, even those who don’t deserve it.

This is spiritual transformation.

 “The Cross offers total and complete forgiveness. Mt. Hermon women forgave their offenders, wrote their names on sticky notes, placing them on the cross. Colossians 3:13, 14 “He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

“Gina came to me at the end of the conference, “I’ve been away from God for six years, didn’t want to forgive my x-husband. I finally did it. I am so excited to be back in fellowship with God again. Thank you, Sheryl. Thank God!”

How do you learn to walk in a “New Normal?” Let God’s word show you how to do it, He did it for me, for Gina and for many others. He will do it for you, too!

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Rom 12:2

By His Grace, Sheryl

ICM Newsletter Fall 2013

Did you get a copy of our ICM Fall 2013 Newsletter by mail? View online here: ICM USA