Cherished Magazine Winter 2019

Winter 2019

EmbraceWhat MattersMost Prof ound Generosity

Sheerah

She?s Not

Different;

Four Ways toShush Should Guilt Puppy Love : Learning about Real Love Through My Puppy

She Was

First!

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Click here t o learn more about t his budget and t ime saving way t o plan and prepare meals Winter 2019

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features

Four Waysto 7 ShushShould Guilt Prof ound 35 Generosity

15 An int erview wit h l auren gaskil l Aut hor of heavenl y minded mom: a90 day j ourney t o embracewhat mat t ers most

23

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Sheerah She?s Not Different; She Was First!

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I'm so glad you are here!

Happy New Year!!

I know it is very clichĂŠ but I can't help but to think of the new year as new beginnings--exciting.

I had wanted to pick out a word of the year for 2019. I asked God to help me, to show me but nothing came to mind. I kept hearing the word "HOPE" and thought that can't be my word of the year because it felt ... well...wimpy.

Well ever since I dismissed "HOPE", I've heard it in a song, the Verse of the Day has been about hope and the pastor of my church spoke of a powerful hope.

The message left me feeling that I think God wants to show me what HOPE really is.

His Hope which is more about knowing rather than that wimpy "Oh I hope it works out".

What about you? Have you chosen a word? If not ask God and I'd love to hear what is revealed.

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By TreasuredNest.com Editor in Chief Sheryl Siler Advertising Adam Siler Contributing Writers Debora M. Coty Chesney Infalt Lauren Gaskill Lynn Domina Deborah Winters Views expressed in CherishedMagazine do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Every effort has been made by the staff to ensure accuracy of the publication content. We do not guarantee the absence of errors or omissions. No responsibility can be assumed. Š CherishedMagazine All rights reserved.

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For In f or m at ion Abou t Essen t ial Oils Visit Tr easu r edEssen t ialOils.com Winter 2019

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Four Waysto ShushShould Guilt

by Debora M. Coty

Should is a dangerous word.

It?s a stress-filled, pressure-packed slave driver.

It ruthlessly inflates the bulk of a woman?s to-do list, often crowding out healthy sanity-essentials with guilt-induced clutter. · I should go to that meeting; they really need my help. · My mother thinks I should cook a big dinner every night like she did. · I should clean my house, so the kids won?t write notes in the dust.

Seems there?s always something more we should be doing.

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But as every woman struggling to squeeze into last year?s skinny jeans knows, more isn?t always better; sometimes it?s simply overwhelming. You know, my friend, we can be whelmed without being overwhelmed.

Whelmed is livable; overwhelmed is strangling.

Only after we clear the choking clutter can we take a deep, cleansing, reinvigorating breath. Whew. The pressure is now manageable.

So how do we shush that should guilt threatening to overwhelm us? Here are four tried and true suggestions:

Be stress-smart.

When you?re slammed into a stress mess, sit yourself down with a calming cup of your favorite hot beverage.

I?m talking five mere minutes here, not five hours. You can afford it. Close your eyes. Tune in to Papa God?s loving presence ? His heartbeat ? His peace.

Slap guilt to the curb when the tyranny of the urgent attacks; you are important. Everything else can wait a Winter 2019

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few minutes. I promise the world will not end while you regroup. Unless the kids start a fire in your panty drawer.

Avoid BOOP (Boiling Oatmeal Overf low Phenomenon).

BOOP is one of my Coty Near-Facts of Science (theories not yet proven by actual scientific studies, but nonetheless known by women to be true).

I postulate that women are like pots of oatmeal; at the beginning of the day we simmer ? little manageable bubbles of stress rise to the surface and harmlessly pop.

But as the day progresses, the heat escalates, and the oatmeal boils higher and wilder and meaner until it overflows and spoils everything around it with a nasty, ugly, sticky mess.

The key to avoiding BOOP is to know when to remove the pot from the heat. And speaking of burners ?

Promote yourself of f the back burner.

Don?t argue girl, just do it. You may sacrificially place yourself there routinely, but your Creator doesn?t. You?re a front-burner person to him. He wants you to enjoy this marvelous gift of life He?s given you, not sludge through it. So, it?s time to add a little fun to your day.

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Write yourself into your schedule for an hour of something you really enjoy a minimum of twice a week.

Walk in the sunshine, bike a woodsy trail, sing opera, join a roller derby team, boogie your bad self down, get your nails done ? hey, whatever tingles your toes.

Put the beautiful smile back on your face. Your family will thank you for it.

Be a dipstick.

The Lord puts only enough fuel in your daily tank for you to arrive safely at the destination He?s routed out for you. All the detours you add will either run you out of gas or land you in a ditch. Check your tank, review your destination, and then engage in the Three Ps: Prioritize, Plan, and Pace yourself.

Ack, I know. So many things we must do. A few things we want to do. And countless things we should do.

We just have to recognize that we have the power to choose which shoulds are potential coulds ? and then unapologetically embrace the woman our choices make us.

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Do you f eel like you?re drowning in the everyday stress-pool? . . .

Wish you could make busy-ness a business so you?d be a millionaire?

Welcome to the maternal order of slightly sagging sisters of the 'hood. The motherhood.

With her own offbeat brand of wit and near-wisdom, popular inspirational humorist Debora Coty addresses heart needs of moms drowning in the churning stress-pool of busyness. In her beloved mom-to-mom, grin-provoking style, Coty offers empathy, laughs, real-life stories, practical parenting survival tips, and fresh biblical insights to help you hear Papa God?s still, small voice through life?s chaos.

Whether you're struggling with stress related to attitude, time-management, guilt trips, patience, or something in between. . .this humor-filled volume will deliver a much-needed smile and equip you with simple-to-implement tips for attaining the peace we all crave? the peace that passes all understanding.

Debora Cot y is an inspirational speaker and author of the popular book series, Too Blessed To Be Stressed, with over 500,000 copies sold. Her passion is sharing an off-beat blend of biblical truth gift-wrapped in humor, encouragement, and unconventional wisdom with women of all ages. She believes that the stresses of life become manageable when we truly understand God?s blessings.

Readers can connect wit h Debora Cot y via her websit e, deboracoty.com,

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?I will strengthen you, surely I will help you?

Isaiah 41:10 NASB

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GET THE BOOK

Available on Amazon

How st ressed are you? Take Deb Cot y?s "Stress Test for Moms" based on her book, Too Blessed to be Stressed for Moms.

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Winter 2019

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By Chesney Inf alt Excerpt from Puppy Love : Learning about Real Love Through My Puppy, Š 2018 Chesney Infalt . Used with permission.

I did not understand what true love was until I handed it over to God and asked Him to explain it to me. To help me understand, He gave me a puppy.

Day One I have always loved animals, especially dogs. For years I had wanted a puppy, but could never get one of my own.

When I moved back in with my family, I started taking care of the dogs, specifically their pregnant Australian Shepherd, Bandit. My parents had told me that if I

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wanted a puppy, I?d be at the top of the list, so I?d get first pick. I was ecstatic, but unsure if I could even keep the puppy, as I wanted to move out and go back to California. Either way, I decided that I would enjoy the experience, so I kept Bandit with me and made sure she had everything she needed.

To keep my relationship with God growing, I had decided to talk to God consistently throughout the day, meaning that I would end up talking with Him about the most random things, and I would be completely honest (especially since He knows everything already (Psal m 139:1-4).

This included talking with Him about how excited I was for the puppies to arrive. I told Him what exactly I wanted the puppy to look like, but I cut myself short and said that He already knew exactly what I?d like. I wanted to name my puppy Charlie, which would be short for either Charles or Charlotte based on the gender. I imagined what life would be like with the puppy, how I would enjoy taking it with me wherever I could, and how much love and attention I?d give it.

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This conversation happened a decent amount (more than I?d care to admit), and I remember talking to my mom about this, telling her, ?I love this dog, and it isn?t even born yet!? The moment the words had left my mouth, God said, ?That?s how I felt about you before you were born.?

I took a step back and thought about it: God planned everything way before I was born, having it all put together since the beginning of time (Psal m 139:16). I was waiting for a few months for the puppy to be born, whereas He had been waiting for me to be born since the beginning of time!

I could barely contain my excitement, and I only had to wait a few short months. How on earth could He wait for so many millenia?

During my wait, I prepared for Charlie?s arrival. This puppy was not going to come into this world without a place to stay, food to eat, and love to hold onto.

Although I am not God and cannot do the amazing things He does, I had already planned what my puppy would

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need before it was born. If I care enough about this puppy to make sure that it has everything that it would ever want and need, how much more would God, Who is love (1 John 4:8), make sure that I have those same things?

Things to Ref lect Upon and Pray About ? God made you specifically. He took the time to put you together, and He knows every detail of your past, present, and future. Despite the things that you are embarrassed about, cannot forgive yourself for, or even possibly despise yourself for, He loves you unconditionally.

Have you allowed God to break past the walls you have put up against certain parts of yourself so that He can truly heal you and love all of you?

That is where the true restoration can begin.

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? It?s easy to say that you trust God? putting that trust into action is another story. We tend to want to have some sort of control over our situation, especially when we don?t see how God could possibly come through for us.

What do you need to trust God for? What is going on in your life that you need to ask God to help with? Read Mat t hew 7:7-11.

Chesney Infalt was born in California but has lived in multiples states. She has always loved reading, and sees writing as an extension of that love, a natural path taken. At the age of eighteen, she finished the first novel that she decided to publish, named Warrior?s Heart. In 2018, she published Puppy Love, a devotional inspired by her journey to find out what true love is through her puppy. Currently she is happily working on more writing projects from her home in Florida with her husband and two dogs. To keep up with her upcoming works, you can visit her website at https:/ / www.chesneyinfalt.com/ or purchase her books as paperback or kindle on Amazon.com. .

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What do you need to trust God f or?

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An int erview wit h l auren gaskil l Aut hor of heavenl y minded mom: a90 day j ourney t o embracewhat mat t ers most

When Lauren Gaskil l started feeling pain in her shoulders while she was in high school, she attributed it to her swim team workouts. In college, as her health issues continued to escalate, she began to feel lost in a sea of anxiety, depression and unexplained chronic pain that was ripping apart her faith. Every week she would hear sermons about a God who delivers his people from their problems, but words only left her more frustrated and confused.

following Jesus doesn?t guarantee sunny skies and smooth sailing. In fact, the waters of life are often tumultuous, crashing over us. Sometimes we can feel we?re drowning in a sea of confusion, division, frustration, complacency, or disillusionment. We need more than a shallow faith to survive these deep waters. In her new book, Into the Deep: Diving Into a Life of Courageous Faith (Abingdon Press), Gaskill invites readers to dive headfirst into a life of courageous faith.

Gaskill admits she somehow missed the explanation that

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What inspired you t o writ eyour new book, Int o t he Deep: Diving int o a Life of Courageous Fait h?

I should have drowned years ago. W hen t he waves of anxiet y, depression and chronic pain came crashing over me, t he ?fait h? I?d been raised t o pract ice couldn?t keep my head above t he waves. But I didn?t drown. I?m st ill here. Because

by God?s grace, in t he undert ow I discovered a deep fait h in Jesus t hat saved me from sinking int o t he dept hs and cat apult ed me st raight int o His rescuing arms.

He saved me from drowning, and my hope in writ ing t his book is t hat He might use my st ory t o help save ot hers who feel like t hey are drowning t oo.

You?ve been a swimmer for most of your l ife.

How wereyou abl et o rel at et hat experiencet o t hemessageyou want ed t o sharein t his book?

There is somet hing beaut iful and myst erious about wat er. It ?s element al t o our exist ence, but depending on t he environment , it can also be a t hreat . W hen I was lit t le and didn?t know how t o swim, t he wat er t errified me. But once I mast ered Winter 2019

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t he st rokes, deep wat ers became a place of freedom and advent ure.

These experiences on t he swim t eam are very similar t o t he experiences I?ve lived t hrough in my fait h journey, and t hat ?s why I chose t he wat er illust rat ion.

Fear can hold us back from learning how t o swim, but it can also hinder us from st epping out courageously in fait h. There are so many parallels and biblical illust rat ions (I mean right t here in Genesis 1:2), I knew t his was t he lens I had t o writ e t he book t hrough.

IN THE first chapt er, you share your passion for hel ping peopl e l earn how t o exercise fait h. Haveyou al ways fel t t hat way?

No, because I didn?t always realize t hat fait h was t he answer ? t he t hing t hat could and would keep me from drowning. It t ook a long t ime for me t o finally reach out t o Jesus and t rust Him t o pull me up, but when I did, my life was forever changed. Fait h in Jesus saved me from a life of despair, and t hat ?s why I int end t o spend t he rest of my life helping ot hers fight for fait h t oo. I help ot hers learn how t o press on in fait h and lead lives of joy t hrough blogging, host ing a bimont hly podcast and speaking at conferences around t he count ry.

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You writ e, ?We have t o deepl y know and t rust God if we are ever going t o ful l y have fait h and experience freedom in Him.? How have you l earned t o t rust God on a deeper l evel over t he years and what have you l earned on t hat j ourney?

One of t he biggest obst acles I had t o face was giving up cont rol because I used t o be a cont rol freak. I had t o have everyt hing planned out and go a cert ain way in order t o feel at ease. Once I was diagnosed wit h Ehlers-Danlos Hypermobilit y, however, God began t o do a work in my heart . I began t o see t hat it ?s fut ile t o t ry and cont rol everyt hing because in t he end, God is t he one in cont rol ? not me. And t hat ?s a beaut iful t hing.

Oneof t hechapt ers is ent it l ed ?Six Things You Need t o Know.? What are t he six t hings you want t o make sure readers wil l t ake away fromt his chapt er?

I believe words have immeasurable power. That ?s why I?m a writ er. That ?s why I st rive t o t hink long and hard about t he words I choose before I writ e or say t hem.

That ?s why I fight daily t o speak life, love, hope, and t rut h over myself in order t o drown out t he cruel, unt rut hful t hings ot hers have spoken over me.

W ords are powerful no mat t er what we are going t hrough, but t hey are even more powerful when our fait h is t est ed.

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I wish I could forget some of t he t hings people said t o me when t he waves of life came crashing in. ?You?re never going t o get over t his,? t hey t old me. ?This is going t o haunt you for t he rest of your life.? Or my personal favorit e, ?Do you have unresolved sin in your life? M aybe God is punishing you for somet hing.?

W hen we feel like we are drowning, we are suscept ible t o believing t he lies and hurt ful t hings we hear from t he out side world. W hat I want women t o know more t han anyt hing, is t hat in t heir hurt : 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

God is not punishing you.

You are not alone.

You are going t o be OK Darkness does not define.

You were made for t he deep.

God?s love will carry you.

Hebrews 11 is oft en cal l ed t he Hal l of Fait h.

Why is it import ant t o st udy t he fait h of our ancest ors? What can we l earn from t hem?

The st ories of our biblical ancest ors aren?t perfect , t idy st ories. M any of t hem lived complicat ed, messy and wounded lives, just like us. But t hey also had a choice t o keep t he fait h and press on. The same choice is available t o each of us t oday, and by st udying Abraham, Winter 2019

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David, Est her and all of t he ot hers in t he Hall of Fait h, we can learn how t o overcome our unbelief by rest ing in God?s promises, asking for provision and resolving t o persevere just like t hey did.

Lauren Gaskil l is an author, speaker and host of the She Found Joy podcast and She Found Joy Ladies Night Out events.

After being diagnosed with an incurable connective tissue disorder, Lauren made it her life mission to encourage others to fight for faith and find joy ? no matter what life?s circumstances might bring.

Gaskill is a storyteller who believes stories are powerful and loves how God uses them for His good. She writes and speaks to motivate and inspire others to experience abundant life in Christ. She is particularly passionate about encouraging women to fight for faith and go deeper in their relationship with Jesus. Gaskill also writes and speaks about what it looks like to walk with Jesus through pain and suffering.

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Click Here to Order Into the Deep on Amazon

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Join Lauren Gaskil l for a 30-day faith chal l enge.

From Jan. 7-Feb. 6, She will share a daily tip, devotional, exercise, etc. designed to help you deepen your faith for whatever 2019 may hold.

If your heart needs renewed courage, hope and joy for the journey ahead, please join me for the# 30FaithChallenge as we draw closer to God, His Word and one another.

You can access everything by signing up for her email list here: http:/ / eepurl.com/ dEtlq1

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We want to know what you would tell your coffee buddy or what you would love your coffee buddy to say to you!

Le t us k now !

Winter 2019

Click here and download the graphic!

Use it as a screensaver, print it out and stick it on your mirror or print it on card stock and use it as a card for someone!

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Click to follow!

Click and follow!

Click to follow!

Click to Like

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Excerpted from Devotions from HERstory: 31 Days with Women of Faith by Lynn Domina, copyright Š 2019 by Judson Press.

Used by permission of Judson Press.

D a y 18 [Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ?Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.?? Mark 12:41-44 Winter 2019

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Temple Grandin is internationally known as the voice of

autism. Although she wasn?t formally diagnosed with autism until she was in her forties, Grandin?s mother hypothesized that Grandin had autism. Grandin didn?t begin speaking until she was almost four years old, after intensive therapy provided by her mother and another caregiver.

At

that

time? and

to

some

extent

still

today? many people assumed that those with autism were destined to lead isolated, painful, and unproductive lives.

Yet despite the challenges language presented for her, Temple Grandin earned a PhD in animal science and became a professor at Colorado State University, where she developed more humane methods of treating livestock.

Through

her

presentations,

speeches,

and

filmed

interviews, she has also contributed significantly to public understanding of an autistic person?s experience.

Here in Mark?s Gospel, Jesus helps the disciples understand the widow?s experience. Surrounded by wealthier people, some of whom might be giving ostentatiously, the widow seems to give very little? yet she also gives everything.

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Th e a m o u n t s h e g i v es i s m i n i m a l , b u t h er g en er o s i t y i s p r o f o u n d .

Like the poor widow, Temple Grandin was once perceived

by many as having little to offer. Yet she knew that her experience allowed her insights that most people could not receive.

The characteristic that many people consider a disability became her most effective tool.

In offering what she had, she improved the lives of many? animals as well as human beings

To d a y ?s Q u es t i o n How might we all learn to trust that the gifts we have are worth giving?

God of generosity, teach us how to give with joy and receive with gratitude.

Lead us into the confidence of knowing that each of our gifts is valuable.

Help us understand how to ask for just enough, so that no one sinks under the burdens of too much wealth and no one trembles with the anxiety of too much poverty.

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To d a y ?s A c t i o n Make a list of your gifts and your weaknesses. Pray that God will show you how to use even your weaknesses for the good of others.

Lynn Domina, A writer, teacher and traveler is the author or editor of several previous books, including Poets on the Psalms. Her work also appears in many periodicals, including The Christian Century, Christianity & Literature, and Poetry Daily. She earned an M.Div. from The Earlham School of Religion, where she took courses in the Ministry of Writing. She currently serves as Head of the English Department at Northern Michigan University and lives with her family in Marquette, MI.

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er e H Cl ic k

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Excer pted from Marginalized, Maligned, and Miraculous Women in Scr ipt ure by Deborah Spink Winters, Copyr ight Š2019 by Judson Press. Used by per mission of Judson Press.

14 Sheerah She?s Not Different; She Was First!

SHAWNA M. ADAMS

History is made of firsts. ? Monica Haskell

Hook Question

Can God trust you to be first?

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Biblical Story: 1 Chronicles 7:23-24 Ephraim went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son; and he named him Beriah, because disaster had befallen his house. His daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah.

Biblical Exposition First Chronicles opens up with the genealogy of Israel, beginning with Adam. Usually, only the male descendants are named within biblical genealogy accounts, often leaving any daughters unaccounted for. However, if a woman?s name appears, it warrants taking a closer look. Such is the case with Sheerah.

When we come to verse 23, Ephraim had just experienced great tragedy when his sons were murdered. His household had been dismantled, and he and his wife had to start all over again. After having their son Beriah, Ephraim?s wife conceived again and they had Sheerah.

At first glance, one may move quickly past this brief section of Scripture, but I challenge you to look closer. In a time when women were considered property and were valued primarily for their childbearing abilities, Sheerah had done the seemingly impossible. Though her father?s house was torn

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down, a builder was birthed! Sheerah built three cities, even naming one, Uzzen-sheerah, after herself, which was common for the men who built cities in the ancient world.

Uzzen-sheerah means ?listen to Sheerah.? She could not be denied.

This is the only place in the Bible where Sheerah?s name is mentioned, but her work and impact go on for generations. As a side note, this is also the only place where Ephraim?s wife, Sheerah?s mother, is mentioned. Coincidence? I think not. It?s only right to mention the woman who gave birth to the only woman who built three cities in a male-dominated society!

Let?s be clear about what Sheerah had to do to get this accomplished. She had to teach herself how to design cities because women were not allowed to be educated. She had to hire workers. She had to purchase materials, make the plans, and call the shots. She had to ignore the skeptics, the naysayers, and the haters. She did what no other woman before her had ever done and what every woman after her could follow.

Sheerah was a trailblazer. She was a woman with vision, passion, and courage. She was powerful, unstoppable, and anointed by God to do this!

Sheerah?s willingness to be the first became a blessing for her family nine generations later, down to her great-great-great-

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great-great-great-great-great-great-nephew, Joshua. It was greater than just her.

Take some time to read Joshua and the account of when God made the sun stand still while Joshua fought the five kings of the Amorites. When you get to verses 9-11, look closely at the cities where the battle was fought and won. Yes, that?s right, Beth-horon! Even then, Sheerah was still speaking.

Personal Story I identify with Sheerah because I, too, am a woman of firsts. I am the first person in my immediate family to get my bachelor?s degree, and I am working toward being the first to get a master?s degree as well. I was the first woman to become a licensed minister in my church, and I am now the assistant pastor, the first ever, male or female.

It has not been an easy road because of the many times I have doubted myself. Some may have the impression that I am a confident, outgoing, strong woman who is never afraid of anything and always has it under control (or at least that is what some have told me). However, the true story is that I second-guess myself all the time.

I cringe when my name is called in public. I question decisions and often talk myself out of doing things because of fear that

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I may not get it right or people may not like it or support it. I?d rather be in the back, managing the execution of the plan, instead of out front as the face of the mission. I would also prefer that the mistakes that I made as ?the first? were not always so public, like this next first that I am about to share with you.

I was the first (and only) elder on the clergy staff of my church to have a daughter who got pregnant as a teenager. Yes, an elder in the church, leading the choir, preaching and teaching, and working with the youth department. How did this happen? She was only sixteen! What does this mean for me now? For us? It hit me like a punch to the gut and knocked the wind out of me.

I didn?t have anyone to help me through the disappointment and the questions. No one could tell me that they had been through it and prepare me for what I should expect. I wasn?t ready for the whispers and the looks. I didn?t expect that people would stop calling me and inviting me out with the girls. I didn?t know that some people would disqualify me from ministry and that others would discredit my anointing.

I definitely had no clue that people would strategically and secretly tear my daughter down with their words and leave me to pick up the pieces.

No one counseled me on how to minister to a daughter who felt disappointed by God and became indifferent and cold.

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I guess in some ways, I was in my Ephraim season.

Of course, not as severe as losing my children to death, God forbid! But what is worse . . . losing a child naturally or seeing your child gradually die a spiritual death before your eyes and no matter what you do, you can?t seem to save them? I believe both instances can cause seemingly unbearable pain.

In God?s infinite grace and bountiful mercy, both my daughter and I were restored over time. Through this process, I have come to realize I am not the only Sheerah in this family. There is also a Sheerah in my daughter!

Though she was the first teenager to become pregnant in my church, that was not the end of her story, glory be to God. She is now the first medical professional we have in our immediate family, and she is getting ready to become the first licensed practical nurse as well? male or female. And she?s not stopping until she becomes a medical examiner.

Go, Sheerah! What once was torn down has been built up again, and for a purpose greater than ourselves. It was not just about us.

At some time after my grandson was born, there were other mothers who developed that same look in their eyes that I had as I was grappling with the fact that my baby was having a baby. This time, there was someone they could talk to, someone who understood them and stood with them.

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Both my daughter and I developed relationships on purpose so that they could know that someone has already walked in their steps and that God brought us through. And God is not selective with God?s help, so if God did it for us, then God could do it for them!

We were no different. We just were first.

Questions 1. How have you answered God?s call in your life to do something that has never been done before?

2. What would you list as ?disqualifiers? that start rising up when you think about doing something new or different?

3. What have you built that will impact this world long after you are gone? What do you want to build?

Thought for Your Day Each of us has a birth date and each of us will have a date of death. It is the dash between them that will matter the most.

Don?t waste your dash.

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Closing Prayer Most gracious and eternal God, we acknowledge that you have blessed us to be created in your image and likeness. And like you, we have the ability to create.

Lord, please help us to trust you and do what you have assigned to our hands. There are lives that are depending on our obedience.

May you be pleased with our lives as we surrender our bodies and our will to you, that you will have your way in us. All to Jesus. For your glory. Amen.

Deborah Winters (Ph.D., PCC) is the Associate Professor of Old Testament at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University. She is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ who served 24 years as a settled Pastor and the last ten years as a Transitional Specialist. She is also a Professional Certified Coach with www.coaching4todaysleaders, www.progressiverenewal.org and www.debwinterscoaching.com.

Deb and her husband Gary started God?s Precious Children (www.GodsPreciousChildren.com), a non-profit organization working in Liberia, West Africa giving young people in need a better chance for a brighter future through an education.

Deb has co-edited the book, Who Killed Goliath? Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind, written on the Psalms in The Pastor?s Bible Study Vol. 3 A New Interpreter?s Bible Study, written sermons and worship settings for the Minister?s Annual Manual from 2008-2015, and edited an award-winning book with 19 of her students, Through Her Eyes: Bible Studies on Women in Ministry.

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