In April of 2012, several tornadoes ripped through my city. Three of them went right through my neighborhood. They did not touch down but they were so close that they did massive damage to several homes and automobiles. Most of the roofs, fences and yards in our subdivision received serious damage of some kind. We lost our roof, fence and four big trees in that storm. One tree had split right down the middle and had to be cut down. The following spring, my husband and I noti

There was a time when I hated my life. Not just my life but everything in general. I was a truly miserable person. If you told me one good thing, I would counter with three bad things, just to make you feel as defeated as I felt. Thankfully, that girl is no more. Ding dong the witch is dead. In her place, is a new woman. Not exactly wearing a pink ball gown and floating away in a giant bubble, but a happy, grateful, positive woman nonetheless. There was no specific catalyst

When I was young, I was the fat kid in school. I confess, I used to daydream that I would fall asleep one night and wake up looking like one of the pretty, popular girls in my class. If you’re going to dream, dream big, right? So I did. I wanted to be as pretty and popular as Hollye H. She was one of the girls I admired during my formative years at DeQueen Elementary school and then later middle and high school. I remember 6th grade when I fell for a boy named Mike and I fell

Never underestimate the power of spending time with a friend. This past week I met with three different ladies on three different days. Each encounter was as unique as the person I was meeting. The thing about fellowship with a friend is renewal. Depending upon what you need and who your friends are, the result be superficial or deep. Iron Sharpens Iron April is a very charismatic woman whose insight and wisdom continues to blow my mind. She’s fun, witty and beautiful but al

We all know someone who refuses to get their act together. Before you write them off as a lost cause, let me finish telling you about Saul. Looking at him back in the day, anyone would have said there is NO WAY that guy would ever clean up his act. If you have not read the first two articles in this series about Saul, go back and start from the beginning so you are up to speed. For those who are already caught up, I’m going to tell you how he went from rounding up Christians

In the first article of this series, I began telling you a story about a real creep who was about as bad as they come. What I have not told you is that he not only found redemption, but was used by God as an instrument of salvation. Why would God use an enemy to do His work? Because it shows irrefutably that nothing is too difficult for God. Perhaps you have figured out by now that I have been talking about Saul of Tarsus. I’m careful not to assume that everyone knows who he

At my lowest, I turned my back on God, proclaiming He did not exist and to believe He did proved the ignorance of the believer. At my highest, I felt the physical and spiritual rush when Savior and sinner collide. “Cheryl, meet the Holy Spirit. He’s here to make sure you truly grasp with whom you are dealing.” To know this unspeakably transforming feeling is a mere taste of what is waiting beyond this life. It’s why I have been “ret ta go” ever since. No one. I repeat. NO ONE