Author Archives: Shereen Lashua

My Work With “SISTER ministries”

Posted on by
1

“And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2, ESV)

Today I wanted to share about SISTER ministries. It is a ministry dedicated to women who were formerly incarcerated. It is based in Phoenix, Arizona.

My friend Julianna McFadden founded this ministry and continues to direct it. She is dedicated to helping these women change their lives. That is why she founded this unique and challenging non-profit organization.

Julie brought me on board as the Bible study teacher, and now I am Vice President of SISTER. It has been an exciting time of ministry. We have seen lives transformed by the power of God’s love. Just last night we had another young woman trust Jesus as her Savior.

Here is how our program works. We have a weekly support meeting that includes a Bible study and fellowship. We encourage the woman to build new relationships with others who will help them live a Christ-centered life. Many times this means starting all new friendships and leaving most, if not all, of their old relationships behind.

In addition to the meeting, we are able to meet the immediate need of hygiene items, thanks to many for their generous donations. We provide employment leads, information on where to obtain food and housing, and contacts for counseling services. We have a closet filled with clothing, make-up and undergarments that we make available to the ladies.

Why am I writing about this in my blog?You know a little about my writing ministry, but I wanted people to know a little about my other ministry. But I also wanted to highlight a small ministry that is making a difference. In this way, I hope the reader will see the importance of all the small ministries around the world. They make a difference in lives.

Each ministry was started by the vision of one person who acted on their idea. Each was started because someone understood the eternal ramifications of ministering to those who need Jesus. Each one knows that the love of Jesus must be shared so that people can come to know the true and living God.

Do you have a vision? Is there a small ministry you can start? Is there a ministry that you can join? I am praying earnestly that God will send workers out to help with the harvest. Many are in need. Many are lost without Jesus. Will you go? Will you help?

If you would like to know more about SISTER ministries, go to sisterministries.org

Remembering That I Am Blessed Beyond Measure

Posted on by
1

my phone 056“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…” (1 John 3:1, ESV)

I have noticed a common theme in my blogs. Many of them are about overcoming adversity. That is because life is difficult, and there is a lot to overcome. Like Katherine Hepburn said, “Life is hard. After all, it kills you.” So overcoming difficulties seems to be a good theme since everyone can relate.

But after writing the blog, “Changing My Focus,” I realized that the troubles occupy my mind more than they should. I also realized that I am extremely blessed. I decided to discuss my blessings in this blog. It is my sincere desire that it encourages each reader to realize how blessed they are and how much God loves them. So here goes.

I woke up this morning, and I have a brand new day ahead of me. I have a new day to enjoy the birds singing, the sunshine, the intriguing and beautiful vegetation in my yard, and most probably a beautiful sunset at the end of the day. Nature is a wonderful gift that shows the Creators love for me. That love is especially evident when I see the beautiful Hibiscus blooming on my patio!

I am blessed beyond measure. My needs are provided for in abundance. In reality, I have much more than I need. I have many choices for breakfast today. I can pack my lunch. I can afford to eat lunch out if I choose. For dinner, I can eat at home, or show up at my family’s house, and they will feed me. I have a warm and safe place to sleep. I have comfortable furniture to rest on. I have fresh, clean water. I can afford coffee!

I have many friends, some of them have gone through great difficulties with me, and they are still there. I have loving and supportive co-workers. My church family cares about meeting people’s needs and would gladly provide any assistance that I required. The ladies I minister to at SISTER ministries show me compassion, care, love, and friendship. The baristas at Starbucks smile at me when I come in.

My family is wonderful (not perfect but wonderful). I have a 99 year old grandmother who has always loved me and thought the best of me. My parents raised me well, and they continue to be loving supporters. My children all serve Jesus and are married to believing spouses. I have two beautiful granddaughters. My brother and his family live three doors down, and they welcome me with open arms anytime I want to see them.

God loves me. He loves me too much that the Lord of Glory chooses to speak to me through His Word. Unlike most believers throughout history, I own a Bible, actually I own many. I can read that Bible. I can understand the Word because God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit indwells me. I am allowed to pray because Jesus gave me access to the Father through His sacrificial gift of salvation. I am accepted in the Beloved. I can come boldly before the throne of grace knowing I am a child of the King and have the privileges that belong to the royal family.

Wow, I’m encouraged to get out of bed today!

Unpleasant Must Be Unloving, Right?

Posted on by
Reply

“Jesus loves me this I know.” This phrase is often the first truth people hear about God. God is love. It was the first thing I learned about God. But many have lost sight of this truth.

Not understanding the plan that God has for us has led many to question God’s love. If he loves us, why did this terrible thing happen? If he loves us, why don’t I have more good things in my life? I have to admit that there have been times that I have thought that way. I have wondered about God’s love. I have questioned him. Unpleasant must be unloving, right?

Not necessarily! God reminded me of an event from my youth. It is a simple story that helped me understand that I can trust God even when times get tough. I can trust Him even if I can’t see the future.

When I was about 10 years old, I remember having to spend Saturday morning cleaning my room. I finally had a day off from school, and I had to spend it cleaning instead of playing. My sister, who I shared the room with, was no happier than I was about the wasted morning. We discussed the cleaning situation. The conclusion we came to was that Mom didn’t love us. In our immature minds, we equated unpleasant with unloving.

Now as an adult, I am so thankful that my mom taught me discipline. She taught me to work hard. She gave me the life skills I needed to keep my own home. She also taught me that there is plenty of time to play if you keep your life in order. These lessons have benefitted me for decades. That Saturday when I questioned my mom’s love, I was wrong. In reality, she was loving me well!

I go through unpleasant things on a regular basis. I realize I learn from those difficulties. I understand that God loves me like my mom. He knows what the future holds, and he is preparing me for bigger tasks. My vision is short-sighted. I do not know what the future holds so I have to trust that the unpleasant tasks of today will yield strength and skill for future responsibilities. Eventually, maybe even decades later, I will look back and realize that I was being loved well.

Job went through many unpleasant, even horrific things, and still he knew that God loved him. “You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.” (Job 10:12, ESV) With all of this in mind today, I pray with the Psalmist, “Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” (Psalm 33:20–22, ESV)

Don’t Panic in Murky Water

Posted on by
Reply

photo by Julianne Zepeda

photo by
Julianne Zepeda

Last weekend, I fulfilled a lifelong dream. I earned my scuba certification. Yea me!

I must tell you that it didn’t go exactly as I thought it would. I did well when we were training in the pool. I was able to demonstrate the skills. I also felt comfortable. When we did our final dives in the lake, it was not as easy for me.

The water was cold by my standards. I wore a wet suit; In fact I wore two on the second day. It was hard to keep my breathing controlled while I was cold. I eventually got it under control enough to proceed. Things were going well, for a while.

Then an unexpected problem arose. Many people had been training that day and the debris from the bottom had been stirred up. We swam into very murky water. At one point in time, I lost track of the instructor. I couldn’t see anyone. I panicked. Breathing well is the key to successful diving and when you panic, your breathing gets erratic.

The instructor moved into my sphere of vision and I tried to get control, but I could not and I had to bail. The instructor and the other lady training with me surfaced with me and we talked about what happened. I was glad to know that I wasn’t the only one panicked. The other student needed to surface for the same reason.

The instructor was very kind and understanding. He explained that these were not the dive circumstances we would normally encounter. He also assured us that he knew where we were even if we couldn’t see him. Once we were confident in his ability to deal with the circumstances, we resumed our dive. I felt more confident and I was able to perform the necessary skills to get my certification.

I learned some valuable lessons last weekend, about scuba, about life and about my faith. So here is a quick summation of the lessons learned.

If I want to stay the course, I need more practice. I also have to trust the tools and the guy in charge. I need to relax and know that I am safe in experienced hands. I can even be safe and calm in murky waters if I trust, stay focused and breathe. If I handle it right, even in murky waters I can accomplish the tasks at hand. Although visibility is bad, I can enjoy the moments if I relax and trust what I know is true.

I know that the enemy will not win. I know that even in the murky waters God is there. Even when it is difficult for me to see Him, he knows where I am. I can trust the tools and the Instructor. No need to panic, just breathe and focus.

“water closed over my head; I said, ‘I am lost.’ “I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ “You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life.” (Lamentations 3:54–58, ESV)

Changing My Focus

Posted on by
2

My son Ryan had brain surgery recently. He had a malignant brain tumor removed. This was the third time. It was a difficult time for our family. His wife, his brother, and some family friends were all quietly waiting for the procedure to be over. It would be hours of waiting.

Sitting in the waiting room thinking about what was happening in the operating room was horrible. It is disconcerting to think of someone cutting through your son’s skull and digging a foreign object out of his brain. Focusing on the problem at hand made me sad and worried. But then the Lord removed my worry and fear in the most unexpected way.

My granddaughter Greta came to the hospital with my daughter-in-law. What had been a difficult and somber situation was immediately changed into joyful circumstance. She knew that Uncle Ryan had a boo boo on his head. She had even been praying for him. But since she is two, her thoughts are focused on the moment and her immediate circumstances.

She walked into the waiting room and the fun started. She is enamored with the movie “Frozen.” So she walked in quoting lines from the movie. The first thing she said to me was, “Come on Sven.” It cracked me up. My sorrow had turned to joy.

Greta proceeded to entertain for the next couple of hours. She found the Hershey’s kisses I brought and started eating one. Then she took a sip of my vanilla latte. Her response to the commingling of the wonderful flavors of chocolate and coffee, “This is amazing” (another line from “Frozen”).

My time of waiting had gone from difficult and somber to easy and cheerful in just moments. How did this happen? It was because my focus changed. I could not do anything to help Ryan by thinking about the horrific situation he was suffering through. My mind focusing on the sadness and pain was not helping. Greta’s joy changed my focus. It reminded me that I do not need to be anxious. I am a child too. I can enjoy the small things in the moment because my Father is in charge.

The Apostle Paul summed it up this way. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:4–8, ESV)

Thanks Greta for the lesson.

Thoughts on Mortality

Posted on by
Reply

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:1–7, NIV)

A part of my recent struggles has been the acute awareness of human frailty and our mortality. It is painful to watch people you love suffer from serious physical ailments. When their emotional and mental capabilities are also waning, it is horrible. To be the one on the outside without any ability to change the situation is heartbreaking. I am in over my head. The problems are more than I can handle.

Thankfully, I know the One that can handle it. I talked to him about it and then I looked into His Word. I read this passage from 2 Corinthians tonight. The thought of burdened bodies that long to be free from pain and suffering resonates with me. There is excitement in thinking about the mortal self being swallowed up not by death and the grave, but by life. It elicits hope, joy and comfort in the face of our mortality.

That comfort comes through the Spirit. So I know that the resurrection and afterlife are real, the Lord indwells me, giving me glimpses future glory. The Holy Spirit works in my heart and life, doing the supernatural. He accomplishes things that would be impossible for me to do in my power or strength. He shows Himself able to accomplish in me what would be impossible without Him. This power working in and through me is only a down payment of the great things to come.

With the Holy Spirit as my guide, my teacher, my comforter and my counselor, I can walk confidently even with mortality looming. I know that the future is bright. So by faith, trusting God, I keep going even when the problems on the horizon loom bigger and bigger. I don’t need to know what is happening. I shouldn’t try to figure it all out. I just need to take the next step and go where God leads. He will provide all that I need to make it through.

So I choose to trust Him. I choose to live by faith.

More Than We Can Handle

Posted on by
Reply

I have been going through some trials lately. It hasn’t been easy,and many people have tried to help. Some have encouraged me, and some have not known what to say. Many of those are reduced to using Christian clichés or out of context Bible verses. One made me laugh out loud. “God never gives us more than we can handle.”

I started thinking about the “greats of the faith”. And how they never had more than they could handle? Let’s take a look at just a few of the Biblical accounts.

God told Abram that his new name would be Abraham,and he would be the father of a multitude of nations (Gen 17:5). Abram was 99 years old, and his wife was 90. God promised them a baby. “And he never gives more than we can handle.” Sure, Abraham and Sarah were going to handle making a baby in their nineties when Sarah was post menopause.

Moses, go tell Pharaoh to let my people go! Sure, no problem. I have a speech impediment; I ran away from the law after I murdered someone; I have no authority to appear before the royalty who rules Egypt. No problem! God would never give me more than I can handle, I will run back Egypt right away! That’s not how it happened. Moses argued with God because he knew that it was more than he could handle.

Peter thought he could handle anything. He believed he could stand for Jesus even if he were the only one left believing. “Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will”” (Matthew 26:33, NIV). But he faced a situation that was harder than he imagined, and he denied Jesus. It was more than he could handle.

Jeremiah preached for 40 years, and nobody listened. He was sad and depressed because it was more than he could handle. Elijah ran away and hid when Jezebel threatened his life. David wrote “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me” (Psalm 55:4–5, NIV). Although these men were faithful it doesn’t sound like they could handle everything thrown their way.

After pondering the Biblical accounts and looking at my own life, I realized that God often gives us more than we can handle. He wants us to learn to trust him. He was to be our source and our strength. There is no reason for him to intervene on our behalf if we have it all under control. We won’t receive a miracle if we don’t need one. We won’t depend on God’s unfathomable gifts if we aren’t in a very deep pit.

So my conclusion is that God often gives us more than we can handle. Fortunately it is always within His control. He will manage the problem. He will direct our circumstances. He will intervene with supernatural power that allows us to overcome obstacles that are too big for us to handle. Are things in my life right now more than I can handle? You bet. Are they more than God can handle? No way.

Today my prayer is not “Oh Lord, I should be stronger and feel less overwhelmed because you never give me more than I can handle.” Instead, I pray this prayer that David wrote when he was suffering, “But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.” (Psalm 40:17, NIV)

A Verse For Troubled Times

Posted on by
2

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV)

If you look back into my archives, you will find this verse used more than once as a jumping off place for blogs. That is because it is significant in my life. I will share the whole story but in the short version.
About five years ago, I was teaching Vacation Bible School. Isaiah 41:10 was our memory verse for the day, so I memorized it. It was a Wed. It was a day forever etched into my memory.

That night I was awakened by a phone call. The caller said my son Ryan had a brain bleed and was in the ER. He had lost half of his eyesight. I had a 2 hour drive to get to him. During that long stressful drive, this verse was the thought I dwelled on, and it became the hope of my heart.

I meditated on the verse for days. After testing, brain surgery, and a pathology report, we had the answer we dreaded. Ryan had brain cancer. The tumor was completely removed, and the prognosis was good. So I held on to this verse.

About two years later Ryan called to say that a follow up MRI had shown another tumor. He was going back in for surgery ASAP. Again this verse became the center of my thoughts, and God used it to increase my trust in Him. I remembered lessons I had learned two years earlier. I remembered miracles God did through the situation. I remembered the love and kindness that poured out as Ryan suffered through this terrible disease. It was not easy, but I knew I could trust God.

Now about three years later, our family is again in the midst of Ryan’s ongoing battle against brain cancer. He had another tumor removed this week. From the initial reports, we believe he will have to undergo chemo and radiation again. This news is sad and at times almost overwhelming. Future difficulties abound. But I do not lose hope.

The Creator, the Giver of Life, The Eternal One, is my God. I do not need to fear for He is with me. I should not be dismayed for the I AM, the Existent One, the God who is there, is in a personal relationship with me. He will strengthen me, and He will uphold as I face every difficulty in my future. He will do what is right and in power and strength, He will carry me through every difficulty I face.

Because He says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV)

You Will Have Trouble

Posted on by
1

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33, ESV)

In this world, you will have tribulation. This verse is pretty straight forward. It is not ambiguous, but clear. It is not confusing. It would be hard to put another interpretation to it. You will have trouble. I have read this many times. I even have it memorized. So why am I always so surprised when things go wrong?

We have a wedding in our family this weekend. My daughter is getting married. My family and I are so excited about the wedding, and all of our plans are coming together well. We expected a perfect day. Then I hurt my back. Ok, a little setback. I will not be able to do all the things I envisioned, and I will be in some pain. It will still be fabulous.

Then we heard from a loved one that a serious medical condition needed attention. This was not the update we expected. We also were concerned about how to deal with the wedding and aftermath with this serious situation before us. Many mixed emotions flow from our hearts.

We love Jesus and know He loves us, so love and gratitude are pouring from our hearts. We are also questioning what God has planned. We are joyful about the wedding. We are sad that someone so dearly loved is suffering. We are confused. We are frustrated that we are unable to change things. We are proud of all involved for their strength and faith. We are excited, nervous, unsure, hopeful, scared, and some of us are even angry.

So, I have to question what I am thinking and what my goals are if the problems surprise me. I have to admit. I was not expecting anything but a picture perfect wedding. It is going to be something different from what I expected, but it is going to be exactly what God has planned.

Jesus told the disciples; you will have tribulation. Some versions say trouble. Trouble is coming guys, don’t be surprised or let it overwhelm you. I have overcome the world. So take heart, or have courage, because I, Jesus, God of the Universe, have it all under control.

After Jesus tells the disciples to be courageous, He prays. The prayer that he prays speaks of the future. It speaks of eternal life and God’s glory. The disciples heard Jesus pray for God to be glorified. He also says that God will be glorified because he gave us eternal life. It seems that our focus on God’s glory and eternal life are the key to remaining courageous during times of trouble.

If I am concerned about eternity and God’s glory, I will not be fazed by the trials of life. I will expect tribulation, but I will not worry because I know that Jesus has overcome all of the struggles of this life. He has given me an eternal hope. I must keep from being short-sighted and earthly minded. I need an eternal perspective. I must keep going for I have an eternal hope and purpose. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, NASB95)

A Thief Believes The Truth

Posted on by
Reply

“And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.” (Matthew 27:44, ESV)

“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”” (Luke 23:34–42, ESV)

Like many other believers, this Easter I was reflecting on Jesus death and resurrection. I spent much time wondering about the attitudes of the thieves that were crucified alongside Christ. They were being punished for sins they had committed. There was no question about their guilt. Maybe that is why they could not imagine that Jesus could be innocent.
They joined in with the crowd and ridiculed Jesus. They mocked and humiliated him with their words. Something strange happened that day. Jesus prayed for those that were torturing him. He prayed that they would be forgiven. He did not fight back. He didn’t lose his temper. While suffering horrific physical pain, extreme emotional anguish and severe mental fatigue, Jesus was kind and loving.

One of the robbers changed his mind about Jesus. Scripture does not say what made him change his mind. I think that he respected how Jesus suffered. Jesus did all things for the glory of God, including suffering well. I am sure people were astounded that Jesus kept his composure the entire time he was being ridiculed. I think the thieves started to notice that Jesus was acting differently than they were.

Jesus spoke compassionately about his enemies. His grace and love took center stage as he suffered well. Finally, one of the criminals not only noticed, but he changed his mind about Jesus. He spoke up. He tried to convince the other thief of the truth. But only one of them received salvation that day.

These men saw Jesus and were witnesses to his Divine nature. They experienced his righteousness, compassion and love. It is sad that only one of them trusted in Jesus that day. I wondered why. Then I thought about how often people are confronted with the truth and ignore it.

It is well documented that smoking is bad for your health and yet over a billion people still smoke. It is a well known fact that obesity leads to health problems and yet we continue to eat a lot more food than we need. According to the statistical information, it is much safer to travel by plane than in an automobile. Still many are afraid to fly, but spend hours in a car each week.

The truth is that the Son of God, Jesus, The Messiah died on the cross in real space-time history. The evidence is overwhelming. The best evidence is that only someone with an unlimited capacity to love would have forgiven the sins of the people that day. Jesus, God incarnate was tortured to death, and yet his unlimited love caused him to be kind and compassionate to those around him.

One of the robbers trusted in The Truth that day. One looked at the evidence, and it changed the way he lived. He lived the rest of his short life on this earth as a witness to the glory of God. He lived as a testimony of God’s power to change hearts. His testimony has touched lives for 2000 years. His short life here on earth was just the beginning of an eternal existence with God in paradise.

What changed him? He had faith in The Truth, Jesus. His faith was based on facts, but he still had to make a decision to believe. Unfortunately not everyone changes when they hear the facts. Will you?