This side of heaven

A Blessing

2008-04-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Kristen,

When you were little you wanted to bring every living creature you found into the house to live with us. Your compassion for all of God’s creatures was impressive. Remember the funeral we had for the bird that had nested in our garage?

When you were little you had the nickname “jabberwocky”. As a four year old you asked countless questions & told a multitude of stories. You would “spend hours singing your heart out” to an audience of stuffed animals and baby dolls.

We are so proud of the loyalty and faithfulness you display in your friendships. God has been so good to bless you with lifelong friends, such as Claire & Jenna. Indeed, true friends are a treasure to hold close to your heart.

We are so proud of the way you continue to display concern and love for people who are hurting or are in need. You have consistently befriended people who were deeply in need of someone like you to simply stand by them in times of turmoil.

You have been your mother’s “right hand girl” when it comes to serving “the least of these”. She has learned more about compassion from you than anyone else she knows. May God give us many more years of serving side by side.

Our dream for you is that you will one day nurture and train a family of your own. You are well-equipped to love children and to teach them the love of Jesus. Your example will be a light to others both inside and outside of the Kingdom.

Our prayer for you is that you focus on God’s ability and willingness to solve any problem that may confront you and trust Him and His timetable. Always remember that He loves you and He is able. Our God has had His eye on you since before you were born. Please never forget how precious you are to Him and us!

We love you!

Mom & Dad

For God So Loved

2007-12-31T19:16:00.000-08:00

The setting was somewhere in inner-city Atlanta. The task was to return the "son-of-my-heart" to his birth mother. The circumstances were far less than favorable. The future was bleak at best. My husband and I had been foster parents for several years to this point. We had said our good-byes to other children, but this time was different. This little boy had captured our hearts. He and I were bonded together as mother and child. He was the apple of my husband's eye.

At the social worker's request, we brought our son to his birth mother and literally placed him in her arms. After a last kiss, we walked away, his piercing screams following us to our car. Driving away did not dull the sound. His cry was embedded deep within my heart, breaking it in two.

In the days that followed, often during the watches of the night, I imagined what God must have felt as He let Jesus go to take on the world's sin at the cross. God Himself had to turn His face and walk away. While the time of separation was a mere moment to God, His heart still hurt as he listened to His Son cry out. He knew my pain. I put my son, not in his birth mother's arms on that dark day, but rather into the arms of a loving God who knew my pain. God freely gave His only Son over to death, so we could have Life. For a season, God could not embrace the "Son of His heart" either.

In the months ahead, my heart clung to the truth that God would be our eyes and ears, watching and listening, when we could not be with our little boy. God's peace flooded my soul as I imagined Him sending a strong angel to cover our son, with a large wing of protection, and a bright light for direction.

The good news is, four months later, our son returned to us. We have since adopted him into our family. The better news is that the Son returned to the Father and now sits at His right hand. What a glorious hope we have because Jesus has made a way for us to be permanently adopted into His family.

Update: TODAY, nearly 15 years later, I was honored to witness my son's decision to follow Jesus and make Him Lord of his life. There is no greater joy than for a mother to know her child is walking in the Truth and following Jesus into Eternity. Indeed, our God is good-- all the time!

The Call of God

2007-08-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

From Oswald Chamber's "Disciples Indeed" on the call of God:

"The call is the inner motive of having been gripped by God-- spoiled for every aim in life except that of disciplining people to Jesus."

"It is an erroneous notion that you have to wait for the call of God; see that you are in such a condition that you can realize it..."

"God knows exactly where you are and when the time is fit to make you broken bread in His hands."

"If you are called... God will crush you till the light of the eye, the power of life, the ambition of the heart, is all riveted on Him. That is not done easily. It is not a question of saintliness, it has to do with the call of God."

In a few moments I will leave my home to lead a study in a recovery house for women struggling to overcome alcohol and/or drug addiction. I have been a part of this wonderful ministry for nearly three years. It has been my joy and privilege to watch God transform lives as seed planted & watered is grown by His Truth, power, and grace.

If you had asked me 25 years ago if I could see myself called to this ministry, I would have insisted you were insane for even asking. The truth is I grew up in a home wallowing in the pain of alcoholism and mental illness. I, too, as a young college student, saw myself headed down the same road and it was frightening. I was desperate to break the cycle of dysfunction that had its grip on my family. It did not take much effort for me to realize I could not do it on my own strength. Only through my own encounter with Jesus were the bonds of slavery forever broken.

God has had a grip on my heart since that time on my own "road to Damascus". It is a story of healing, redemption, and purpose that I know I have been called to share. As He has called me, He has been faithful to equip and empower me too. I pray I truly stay in a condition that realizes when He calls. Pray I hear His voice.

God is good-- all the time!

2007-07-27T16:09:00.000-07:00

My eldest son, Andy, has returned home from 7 weeks serving as a missions intern in Honduras. His flight last night was delayed in Miami due to mechanical issues. When he finally arrived in Atlanta, he was met by Jeff & one less piece of luggage than what he had left with in Honduras. After filing the proper paperwork with the airlines, and a quick "breakfast" at IHOP, he finally arrived home at 3AM. Needless to say, after I awoke to "hug his neck", mother & son stayed up until 5AM talking! I must admit, it was one of those treasured mom-moments for me.

God continues to be faithful to impress Himself on my son, and for that I am grateful. The faith-deposits that were made in Andy's life these past few weeks are too numerous to share now. I can tell you about the account of an elderly man living in extreme poverty who chose to literally use his last few coins, & walk a distance, just to buy cold drinks as a surprise for my son & the two other interns who were building him a home. It was one of those moments that still brings Andy to tears. The sacrifice & gracious spirit of many of the Honduran people who crossed my son's path helped him to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Yes, God is good, all the time! I can also tell you about the surreal experience Andy had watching a four year old little boy standing naked against a barb wire fence, his stomach bloated because of a lack of food. It was a picture only National Geographic, and a compassionate heart, could capture and never forget. But, in spite of the difficulty in what he saw, he knew that God never changes & His goodness is constant even if one's eyes can not see it at the time.

The truth is these experiences, along with several others, were his and not mine or ours. It was Andy's time to be forever changed. His spiritual perspective is much more eternal in nature, and his personal goals a lot less self -serving. He is able to walk in this season with a better understanding of God's goodness in spite of man's fallen ways & the consequences of walking on that path. As a mother, I am praising God for all that He has revealed to my son. In him, I can see a glimpse of Jesus too.

Indeed, God is good-- all the time.

The Road to Worship

2007-07-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

The Road to Worship

"When you recognize God as creator, you will admire Him. When you recognize His wisdom, you will learn from Him. When you discover His strength, you will rely on Him. But only when He saves you will you worship Him." (Max Lucado)

Mary knew. As her brother Lazarus was reclining at the table with Jesus, and her sister Martha was serving Him, Mary took a pint of very expensive perfume, poured it on Jesus' feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. (John 12:1-3) The onlookers, including one of His disciples, criticized. Jesus applauded. Mary's act was made to honor her LORD.

Mary understood. Her act also symbolized a sweet burial preparation for our Lord as He would soon face the cross and death. Luke records in Chapter 10, verses 38-42, Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus listening. When no one else seemed to understand, Mary did. She was sitting at the feet of her SAVIOR. Her sacrifice was a personal expression of true worship toward the Savior, the One who would die for her sin.

Most of those who gathered in Lazarus' home that day knew God as Creator. They recognized Jesus as wise. Lazarus himself was well acquainted with Jesus' strength. After all, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, didn't He? (John 11:1-44.) But Mary knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and because she did she knew how to worship Him. Mary was the one who got up quickly from mourning the death of her brother and went to meet Jesus while he was still a distance from their home. Her weeping brought Jesus to tears and caused him to act. Jesus saved her brother from physical death for a season, and soon He would save all who would believe like Mary from eternal death.

Was the time Mary took to listen too much? Was the perfume too expensive? Mary didn't think so.

Now for the honesty assessment. It gets personal. Am I taking time to listen to the Word, or am I merely busy serving? What am I pouring out to Jesus? The response demands much more soul searching from me to be answered authentically at this point. For now, I must be content to be "on the road" toward true worship, drawing closer and closer to the Lord.

Martha served Jesus from a distance. Lazarus learned near the Lord. Mary worshiped close enough to touch Jesus. I want to be like Mary.

Sherry Hubright

Awesome God

2007-07-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

"There is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and nothing you can do to make God love you less... Our continual failures become Satan's playground as we listen to his condemning voice, and our confidence in God's love is so easily destroyed." From An Arrow Pointing to Heaven by Rich Mullins.

I have just finished reading a book by Angela Thomas called, A Beautiful Offering: Returning God's Love with your Life. Her work begs the question: "How can an imperfect journey with blemishes and scars reflect back to God a real gratefulness for His love?" I have asked myself that same question time and time again. Indeed, why would our Holy God desire to use an imperfect & scarred me?! The truth is I am asking the wrong question. The real question is: Am I allowing God to use me--in spite of me-- to build His Kingdom? to encourage His people? to care for the poor and oppressed? to instruct the lost in the Way?

It begins with me deciding to not believe Satan's lies anymore, and replacing those lies with Truth. It is about allowing the Lord to sanctify me enough so I can be useful to Him. It is acknowledging it to be His work in the first place! In 1Thessalonians 5: 23-24, Paul writes: "May God Himself, the God of peace, SANCTIFY YOU through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. THE ONE WHO CALLS YOU is faithful and He will do it." What a promise! What a calling! What a privilege!

It is my heart's desire to be one God can use this side of Heaven! In my natural self I am well acquainted with my weaknesses, but praise be to our awesome God that He is more than able to take this cracked vessel and use it to His glory and to further His Kingdom. The One who created our earth, the universe, and the heavenly realm, can certainly take this lowly one and make her someone who is eager to return God's love with her life!

The Singer

2007-06-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

A few moments ago, I finished wrapping a book for my eldest son, Andy. He is currently serving as a summer intern for TORCH ministries in Honduras. I am including the book in a care package for him I am sending with the Campus church mission team when they leave for Honduras on Monday.

The Singer is a poetic narrative written by Calvin Miller. The copy is literally the same one I gave his father and my husband, Jeff, over 26 years ago for his fourth spiritual birthday. Yes, it has great sentimental value; more importantly, it has significant spiritual value in its message. The Singer, of course, represents Jesus. His voice, hands, and feet-- speak, touch and go, where few would travel. Few still do.

As my son's eyes see young ones begging and stealing bread to live, and their elders giving YOU their last cake, I pray he will remember the One who sees it all too, and whose heart aches with his... Just like us, the people of Honduras have but one Savior -- Jesus! It is the message of The Singer . As we go, it must be our message too.

The other day I felt compelled to remind Andy that poverty is a consequence of our fallen world. God is not the author of poverty, the Evil One is. In the Garden, God had given Man everything he needed for Life. Well, you know the rest of the story. Through Jesus, our God chose to come near to us once again. Now, because of Him, we have a Song to sing. (Yes, Calvin Miller also wrote a sequel called, The Song.) By His grace, may we truly sing the chorus loudly and confidently for all to hear!

Magnificent Obsession

2007-06-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

“Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

Some would say the apostle Paul was obsessed. I would prefer to say he was convinced. From the world’s standpoint and, dare I say, including the religious world, Paul was everything one could hope to become in this life.

Paul, a.k.a. Saul, was from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. He called himself a Hebrew of Hebrews. He was known to many as a Pharisee-- zealous, legalistic, and self-righteous. To Christians, he was known as a persecutor of the church. (Philippians 3:3-5) Paul, as Saul, was present at the stoning of Stephen, giving approval to his death. (Acts 8:1)

I believe Paul was convinced that day on the Road to Damascus. (Acts 9) He was still “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” when he met with a “light from heaven”. As a matter of fact, Paul had just finished meeting with the high priest to obtain letters incriminating the followers of the Way so that he could take them as prisoners from Damascus to Jerusalem. On his way, Paul had been struck blind by the light. For three days he suffered until the Lord used a man named Ananias to return Paul’s sight and give him the Holy Spirit through baptism.

Paul’s original travel plans to Damascus had changed. And so had he. Paul had spent three days physically blind, but no longer spiritually blind. He had met Jesus. His many sins were now forgiven. He had been given not only a new name and a new heart, but a new mission. The Bible says “at once (Paul) began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20) In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Paul penned these words: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are CONVINCED that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.”

Indeed, Paul’s “obsession” consumed him because he was convinced that the very One he had once persecuted, was truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He could not help but speak about his Savior. In considering Paul’s experience and response, I have to ask myself am I acting as one who is truly CONVINCED that I too have been brought from spiritual death to a resurrected life? Is He truly my magnificent obsession that I can not help but speak about to others? May it be so as He continues to faithfully work Himself out in me.

Sacramental Christianity

2007-06-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14)

From Oswald Chambers: "When you are conscious of being used as broken bread and poured-out wine you are interested in your own martyrdom; it is consciously costing you something. When you are laid on the altar of the Cross all consciousness of self is gone, all consciousness of what you are doing for God or of what God is doing through you is gone."

This is where I want to be in my walk with the Lord; in my service to Him. I am not. Too often I am aware it is costing me something: time, energy, money, convenience, and maybe, yes maybe, pride!

As the Lord's servant, I must become so much more less, a bond servant. Jesus was a bond servant first. He washed feet. He is my example. If I am His servant, "He must become greater; I must become less. " (John 3:30)

Christ "humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8) If He had been conscious of Himself, He would have come down from the Cross. He did not. Instead, He chose the nails! To be laid on the altar of the Cross, honors not the one who is being sacrificed, but the One to whom the sacrifice is given. Jesus honored God. That is where I want to live. I want my life to truly honor the Lord. One day I pray it will be so.

Welcome!

2007-06-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

Until now, I have avoided the idea of "blogging"-- although for no particular reason. So, if you are courageous enough, you are more than welcome to a glimpse of my thoughts & heart. Ha! Seriously, it is my prayer that my "blogs" will always encourage you & glorify God.

Blessings,

Sherry