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As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, let’s not get so caught up in the every day that we forget those who’ve given their lives for us—the American soldier and Jesus Christ.  On the author front...We are on the final countdown to the launch of Not a Corpse Was Stirring July 11th, and I’m so excited! I’m celebrating with a week-long Christmas in July Launch Party! I’m gathering ideas, and I would love to hear yours! What author/book swag do you love to receive?  From the barn...Ned says hi! We are in search of a Ned companion. It’s a challenge to find another little ball of fire within driving distance, but we’re not giving up! He really needs a friend to occupy that little mind of his. What’s on your To-Do list that brings you joy?
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We are already a month into 2021, and I’ve had a question that's been on my mind for awhile. Are you living life as an adventure, or are you just getting by day to day? I have to admit I do both. But my hope and my heart is to live a daily life of adventure with Jesus. There's a podcast I listen to called Adventures with Jesus, and it reminds me that every single day is a gift and an opportunity to spend it with our Lord. So let me ask you again, are you just getting by, or are you taking every opportunity to be adventurous? Sometimes I have people tell me, “I wish I had your talent for art,” or “That's so awesome you're writing books… I could never do that.”  To be honest, God has given me gifts, but I have no secret, amazing talents. Instead, I am willing to take on the adventure--the adventure of trying different art mediums and putting my work out there for others to see…the adventure of trying to write cozy mysteries…the adventure of telling people about Jesus. Did you know it only takes about 20 seconds of crazy boldness to do something you never thought you could? I'm not talking about the hours and hours it takes to create a masterpiece or to learn a new skill. That's not where the adventure is. You can do that behind closed doors. I'm talking about pushing “Publish” or “Share” or saying, “Hey friend, do you know Jesus?” I'm guilty of missing opportunities—many of them, in fact. I’m aiming to have more 20 second crazy boldness and less Just making it by ‘til Jesus comes. Will 2021 be your year? Will you allow yourself 20 seconds of boldness every day? What is it that you wish you could do or want to do, but you just don't think you have the skill or the courage? It's time for a radical adventure!  I would love to hear what your adventure will be.
Share with us in the comments, so we can encourage each other and hold each other accountable! Sunflowers have always been my favorite flower. I can't help but smile when I look at one. I'm not even a big fan of the color yellow, unless it's on a sunflower! I’ve been working digitally on my art for quite a while trying to hone my skills for picture book illustration. Besides that, my iPad and Apple Pencil are portable! But here in the last few weeks, digital art and paint brushes just haven't excited me. It was time to break out the wet media! Sometimes you just have to get messy. Do you ever get ideas stuck in your head? Well, I had a sunflower stuck in mine. I decided to watch some great painting tutorials on Skillshare to get my mind wrapped around this idea floating around in my skull. Bonnie Lecat had a great quick acrylic painting class, so I pulled out some old canvases from the cabinet and went to work.  Not only do I love sunflowers, I love quirky animals! Animals with attitudes… animals in glasses… there was this Polish chicken with crazy hair just screaming to get out of my brain… I'm not the only one with crazy ideas rolling around in her head, right? Anyway, as I was painting, I lost all concern and focus on the outside world. I enjoyed painting the sunflower so much I decided I needed more of them. In fact, I set a little 100 Sunflower Challenge for myself and the fun continued. We will see where this takes me!  Oh, how I love how God connects the dots! I do a kids message at church each Sunday, and my mind kept coming back to the sunflowers as I was talking to God about what my next message should be. I found a great article by name here on sunflowers. Each morning sunflowers face the east awaiting the sunrise. Throughout the day they will turn and follow the sun; however, they never fully turn and face the west. Instead, they turn themselves back to the east to position themselves for the rising of the sun the next morning. In Matthew there is a scripture that talks about the return of Jesus and how like the lightning He will come from the east. Wouldn't it be great if we were more like sunflowers...if we would position ourselves each morning to follow the sun that is, the S-O-N? Follow Him throughout the day, and position ourselves again each night two await Him and follow Him? I don't know about you, but of all the flowers in the world, I want to be a sunflower!
What’s on the sunny side of your life these days? Have you stopped long enough to soak in and appreciate God’s blessings? I know we are in the midst of a pandemic. Families have lost loved ones, people have lost jobs, and small businesses have had to close up shop. Can there possibly be a sunny side? Yes, indeed, my friend. God is still God, and He is still in control. Grocery stores and medical centers are still open. Social media is being used to broadcast His Word world-wide in place of the traditional church services, and Jesus is still saving souls! The wildflowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and everyday masked heroes have replaced the sports celebrities who thumb their noses at our country. Thank you, Lord, for your blessings! May we take nothing for granted.  Check your smile today! Try it out on someone and see if you get one in return.
Let your light shine, my friends. |
AuthorIt's never a dull moment around Sherry's Cabin! Grab a glass of tea, pull up a chair, and let's share a story. Archives
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