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| I find that my heart is overflowing... perhaps because I haven't written in a while, but perhaps it is because there is much on my mind and heart these days. Indeed there are seasons in life... dry ones and sunfilled ones. Change is an intregal part of our lives. I have been told by some of my friends that I desire change more than the average person, but I think this to be slightly untrue. There are some things in life that should change and some things that act as foundations. The past months have been ones unlike any I've ever known. By the very grace of God, I have maintained my sanity and somehow in the process learned an incredible amount of valuable lessons. Life these days and in the days to come look much different than the ones before. There is a peace in my heart, a smile on my face, and a joy deep within that sometimes escapes through a giggle. Am I always go-lucky happy... no. But even when there are down days, I know there is a hope and I am reminded that life is more than this one day or mood. In fact, life is a beautiful tapistry and majestical painting. Each person with their unique story, their unique color, somehow mixed and mingled together with everyone else. I am not one that thinks that God controls everything. But I do believe that he has a wonderful plan for our lives. It is by no means the bulls eye in the middle of a target that if you miss it by a hair you lose. But it is our Creator, who knows us and everyone else the best, knowing how he created us and what the best for our lives is. I know that sounds kind of weird, but it's not meant to. Life is so intricate and beautiful. It is meant to be full of true and perfect love... between fellow human beings and God. (that's a whole other conversation, but not there is no time to go into all that right now) Sometimes life does not turn out like we planned it or thought it would..... sometimes we can even look at it and say that it is way better than we ever dreamed it could be! There are times when we must take the time to soak life in..... people, creation, the rain, the tears, the laughter, everything. These days are exciting ones for me! My heart is full! Praise God for the light at the end of the tunnel! I know that Joy indeed does come in the morning... Oh if I could only share with you all that is in me so that you too may share in my rejoicing! more to come soon.... hopefully Sheri Hofferbert Here are a couple of songs you should check out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNvZ4d5vqqo My heart is restless in me
My wings are all worn out
I�m walking in the wilderness
And I cannot get out
I need You, oh I need You
Blessed savior come
I need You, oh I need You
Fill the every longing of my soul
Oh how I need You Lord
I need Your perfect word
With tearful eyes I see
The sin that I afford
I need to weep and pray
For all the thousand ways
That I have failed You just today
And my bed is soaked with sadness
My sadness has no end
A downward spiral of despair
That I keep falling in
I need You, oh I need You
To You my soul shall fly
I need You, oh I need You
Yahweh how I love you more than life
Oh how I need You Lord
I need Your perfect word
With tearful eyes I see
The sin that I afford
I need to weep and pray
For all the thousand ways
That I have failed You just today
Your silence is like death to me
So won�t You hear my desperate plea
Today my soul is soaring
Way over mountains high
Though I can see the valleys
They are all just passing by
Its not that I am stronger
Look at my feeble wings
But I�ve been lifted higher
Yahweh�s lifted me in His own strength
Oh how I love You Lord
I love your perfect word
With tearful eyes I see
The God who always will endure
Now I will celebrate
For all the thousand ways
That you have shown me grace
And made my heart in grace to stay
You made my heart in grace to stay
Lord, make my heart in grace to stay
I need You, oh I need You Two Hands-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNvZ4d5vqqo HOPE IS RISING- by Downhere I've lost all my earthly optimism,
That it's all going to be alright,
That the good will win this fight.
Somewhere between youth and disappointments,
The dream became despair, the love became a lie,
Just now, I've reached the end of my line,
Just now, I'm to tired to keep on trying,
Chorus:
Hope is rising, it's a sunrise, for the end
Hope is rising, and it's breathing for me again,
Hope is rising again.
Soon beneath the roses I will lie,
All them emories of my days, gathered to the sky,
Soon all my work will find it's worth,
And all my strength returned, to the water and the earth,
Just when I reach the end of my life,
Just when my eyes dim out the last light.
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| Here are a couple of songs that mean a lot to me..... Toque no AltarComposição: Davi Sacer, Verônica Sacer e Ronald Fonseca Sei que os Teus olhos (I know that Your eyes)
Sempre atentos permanecem em mim (always are watching out for me)
E os Teus ouvidos (and Your ears)
estão sensíveis para ouvir meu clamor (are sensitive to hear my cry)
Posso até chorar... (I could but almost weep)
Mas a alegria vem de manhã (But the joy comes in the morning)
És Deus de perto e não de longe (He is God that is close and not far away)
Nunca mudaste, Tú és fiel (You never change, You are faithful)
Deus de aliança, Deus de Promessas (God of aliences, God of Promises)
Deus que não é homem pra mentir (God that isn't like humans that lie)
Tudo pode passar, tudo pode mudar (Everything can/could pass by, everything can/could move and change)
Mas Tua palavra vai se cumprir (But Your word will be accomplished)
Posso enfrentar o que for (I can face whatever comes)
Eu sei Quem luta por mim (I know Who fights for me)
Seus planos não podem ser frustrados (Your plans are never frustraded)
Minha esperança está (My hope is)
Nas mãos do grande Eu Sou (in the hands of the Great I AM)
Meus olhos vão ver o impossível (My eyes will see the impossible)
Acontecer... (happen....)
Lembra SenhorToque no AltarComposição: André Rodrigues, Luiz Arcanjo e Davi Sacer Quando não posso te ouvir (when i can't here you)
E o meu clamor (and my cry)
Já não muda o Teu silêncio (has not changed your silence)
São nuvens que escondem o sol (there are clouds that hide the sun)
E tornam o dia tão escuro quanto a noite (and the day is as dark as the night)
Então lembro que não podes me esquecer (So I remember that you cannot forget me)
Se o meu nome está gravado em Tuas mãos (I know that my name is engraved on your hands)
Mesmo que ainda eu não consiga ver (Still even when I can't see)
Sei que se levantarás em meu favor ( I now that you arise in my favor)
Lembra Senhor, (remember Lord)
Juraste o Teu amor
E nada pode mudar o que sentes por mim
Nem os meus pecados
Lembra Senhor,
E faz mais uma vez os Teus sinais
E saberão que ainda És o mesmo Deus
Que revelou a sua Glória a Israel
E que por amor abriu o mar parou o sol
Sei que farás o mesmo em meu favor. Toque no AltarComposição: Luiz Arcanjo A quem tenho eu no céu além de Ti
E não há na Terra quem eu queira
Mais que a Ti
Estou apaixonado, desesperado de amor.
Eu estou disposto a morrer por Ti
E construirei no cume do monte um altar
E o sacrifício sou eu
E o sacrifício sou eu
Abro mão dos meus sonhos
Abro mão dos meus planos
Abro mão da minha vida por Ti
Abro mão dos prazeres
E das minhas vontades
Abro mão das riquezas por Ti
Estou apaixonado.
O que fazer, pra onde ir,
se só tu tens, as palavras de
vida eterna.
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| Ponderings of the heart.......... Often I have said and thought how interesting this life is.... how complex and yet simple at the same time. It is so easy to move away from who you really are.... giving up a piece of yourself every step of the way, while not even realizing you are doing so. How is it, I ask God sometimes, that I think I am following after Him and growing in Him, only to wake up one day and find that I have been stagnit and following something else? God gives us a precious gift in this life: knowledge of Him, ourselves, and others.... in other words true life. As I look back over these past days in my life, I realize that I had given up writing all together...whether here, or my journal, or anything. I realized I'd given up reading. I realized I'd given up music. I realized I'd given up thinking/meditation. I realized I'd given up truly living how God has shown me how to walk and enjoy life. My wake up call came over a month ago now.... almost two. Funny isn't it, how when God wants to get your attention every sermon, conversation, friend, class, anything seems to scream out at you! It is good to once again be excited about life, about God, about now, about the future, about you, about school, about reading, about writing, about music, about friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not that life before 2 months ago was bad...... just that I was at a cross roads, in desperate need of God to "do a new thing" and remind me. We all need such moments and times in our lives. Life indeed is a journey! I know that in this life there is real pain and suffering. I also know that life can be a truly great and exciting thing too. There have been many days that I have been sooooo full of joy that I haven't even known what to do..... It is good to have such times in life. I have also been reminded in these days of the heart God has given me and of what he has placed on my heart to do in this world! Words will not do justice to what I feel...... Oh that He would grant me the chance to love unconditionally all people in my life and that i come in contact with.... to see each person through the eyes of such love... to care fore them....hold them.... be with them.... to have patience....to be gentle.....faithful.....to give....to be humble... "Lord make me an instrument of they peace, where there is hatred let me sow love, where there is injury pardon, where there is doubt faith, where there is sadness joy.. grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to consol, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love..." Something else I have come to realize over the past few months that i must share...... God's timing is perfect!!! :) I have always believed that He always knows exactly what we need when we need it..... I think it is true, at least in my life. My plans and schemes and dreams are always much smaller than what they should be... ......... I don't know what exactly lays ahead, but I am soooooooooooo excited to see. Sheri Ann Hofferbert | | |
| First off... I had to share this amazing Psalm..... Psalm 118 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Isrel Say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place. With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me? The LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in mortals. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! They surrounded me, surrouned me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly; the right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly." I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the LORD"s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we beseech you(Hosanna), O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success(Hosana)!! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the ouse of the LORD. The LORD is God, an he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you. O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! YEAH!!!!!!!!!! | | |
| Truthfully I'm not sure what to write.... it's been so long since i've written and i'm not even sure if anyone ever reads this. But that's okay :) I graduated a month and a half ago now.... craziness I know. This summer i didn't get to go home. I have been working at the coffee shop for about a month now and I really like it. :) I really do love to write, but sometimes the words will just not come out. Life is very interesting... the minute you think you get things figured out or settled, you realize you are just beginning to understand. I desire to enjoy life. So many times I think we get caught up in everything that we do that we forget to live and enjoy the people around us. But how do you fully enjoy and appreciate the people around you? What does it mean to be in relationship with someone? Why is it that we desire companionship? What a great and marvolous mystery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i forgot how much I like summer in the US... swimming, fireworks, hot dogs, and LIGHTING BUGS!! They are so neat..... God created so many great things! I love to just site outside and soak it all in and observe creation. ..... to watch the way the water runs over the rocks in the creek bed to make the most peaceful sound in the whole world.... to watch a sunset or sunrise that no matter how much you tried you could never describe on paper.... to watch a fuzzy bunny hop across the grass and nibble the tops of the flowers and grass.... to see the wind blow through the tree tops as a reminder that some things are real even though you can't see them fully..... to look at each person who comes into your path of life seeing their beauty and uniqueness...... to hear a baby giggle so you can't help but smile.... God is so much bigger... so much better... so much more loving... so much more giving.... so much more gracious... so much greater..... than I ever realize! Sheri | | |
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