Have Some Fun by Ember Sherman

Hi, ladies!

Becky asked me to write a post for the blog well over a month ago. I was excited and freaked at the same time!! I wrote a few things and deleted them. Wrote a few things. Deleted them. And finally just said "God...what do I say!!??"

And I waited.

And this morning it hit me.

There is a video going around of the cutest woman that has gone crazy viral. I'm sure you've seen it. She buys a Chewbaca mask for herself at Kohl's, for her birthday, and then tries it on and is so amused with herself she is in tears!! And you can't help but laugh...or at least smile! I read an article this morning about her explaining where her joy comes from...God! Of course it does! She goes on to share some of the comments she had received...one of them saying I haven't belly laughed like this in over 2 years.

TWO!

That's crazy to me.

One thing I get from people a lot is that I don't look or act my age. Which, I never really know how to take that, but whatever. I love to be a kid at heart. I love to be silly and laugh and have fun! And I see that missing in so many people's lives right now. I mean, that video broke records! Almost a billion views in 24 hours-ish. Which made me think...people want to laugh. They are craving joy and happiness. Something not so darn serious. People want to have fun. God wants us to have fun, have joy, to laugh!

The Bible tells us...
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But the righteous shall be GLAD; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with JOY!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Even in the bad times...

“Count it all JOY, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”
James‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Things have become so hateful and angry. We are divided and frustrated. We are busy and tired. We are offended and defensive.

And I'm not immune to this. A little over ten years ago my mom went to be with Jesus and I lost my joy. I lost my excitement for life. And it took me almost 9 years to realize it. It was after watching the movie "Inside Out". I realized my "Goofball Island" had been destroyed by that life event and I needed to rebuild it. I still struggle, but everyday I am working to bring back some of the old me. The happy, fun, joyous me! And boy has it made a big difference in my life and those around me.

So...when is the last time you had fun? When is the last time you enjoyed some simple things in life? When is the last time you belly laughed with your family? Your friends? Your grocery checker? (I just felt like I needed a third and threw a random in there!)

You need some ideas?

•have a dance party in your living room

•go play in the rain

•go try on funny masks at the party store

•go to the jumpy house place (whatever that's called)

•talk in British accents at the dinner table

•download the HeliumBooth app and go to town

One of our family favorites, pause the TV and then everyone mimic what's on the TV.

These are just a few ideas! There are millions more...I'm sure of it! Now go out there and have fun! Be JOYful!!

What are some of the ways your family has fun?

Ember is married (18 yrs this year) to Derek Sherman, Pastor of Connections, at RockPointe Church in Leander, Texas. She is a work at home mom of two awesome boys, Corbin-17 and Bryson-10. Most of her free time is spent volunteering at the church on the creative team, with the youth or planning time together with the women of RockPointe. She also loves date nights, coffee and/or shopping with friends, pedis and snow cones. 8)

The Crosshairs of Ministry by Becky Dietz

We've all experienced difficult things in the ministry--all the way from feeling lonely to being attacked in a vicious way.  There's no doubt Christian leaders are in the crosshairs of the enemy.  Satan wants us to fail.  If he can take out pastors and their wives, he'll also succeed in taking out lots of the Church.  Satan's goal is to destroy the testimony of the Church.  If we are weak, lifeless, disunified, or fighting one another, he has a better chance of keeping unbelievers from coming to Christ and new or weaker believers from growing.  We are definitely in the crosshairs of the enemy...maybe more than any other profession.

God gave us some advice in I Peter 5.  First of all, he told pastors that they are to shepherd, guide, and protect the flock of God.  We are to do it in humility, truth, and love.  He knew we were going to carry worries and cares in this position so He prepared us ahead of time by telling us to cast them on Him.  He can handle them all.  Imagine!  The cares of every single pastor can be carried by God!

And here's where it gets good.  We're to be sober, alert, and cautious (well-balanced and self-disciplined).  We are to be clear-headed and serious...watchful and wary...vigilant and calculating.  Why?  Because we have an enemy, the devil, and he's prowling around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  Unfortunately, he's already devoured many pastors and wives.  But this is POWERFUL:  WE ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD HAVE SATAN IN THE CROSSHAIRS! We don't have to expect to be consumed by the enemy--we should be the ones who are well-armed with Satan in our sites!  How?  By resisting him, standing firm in our faith, using the sword of the Spirit, praying and listening to our Father,  being fearless--which assures Satan of his impending doom, and laughing over our future.

We don't have to be victims.  Jesus warned us we would be hated by the world...but He also asked the Father to protect us.  He still intercedes for us!  It's time we understood what is available to us.  God has called us and God has placed us.  He's given us authority and we are His ambassadors who are already seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  Satan is positionally under our feet.  God has equipped us for victory!  Oh sisters...we need to get this.  If we as leaders don't understand the victory that is ours, our people will probably never get it either.  We don't have to walk in intimidation or cowering fear...not of Satan nor of his emissaries.  God is greater.  Let's be fearless and courageous because God is with us wherever we go.  His Spirit will empower us, guide us, and even give us the answers we need to speak in those intense situations.  We are meant to be overcomers in this world!  Surround yourself with strong believers who will encourage you and guard your back.  It's in our unity, as believers, that the world will know and understand that the Father sent the Son.

And that's really the focus.  That's the reason we're to keep Satan in the crosshairs.  We need to be aware of his every move, understanding that he wants to throw us into confusion so that we ultimately destroy ourselves and one another.  We need to remember why he wants us out--we are a threat to him and his devious plan.  We need to stay focused on the goal--to love God and love people.  UNITY...so that the world may know of God's love.