cheristrange
Cheri Strange…Leading women to stretch beyond ordinary,
one reach at a time....

If you are like me, mediocrity is not your style. You want more than an ordinary Christian life. You want purpose. You want to be fruit-bearing in all you do. You want to exit this planet with Godly satisfaction that you have finished the race God set specifically before you.

If this is you, then we are going to need to stretch together beyond what's comfortable and reach past what's familiar. Don't worry, a life beyond ordinary is attainable (Deut. 30:11), but it will require us to be intentional in what we do; discerning in all we choose; and passionate in how we love. Join with me for a little stretching beyond ordinary...one reach at a time.

Cheri Strange, PhD

Christian Speaker & Author
Temple, Texas

More than a downloadable turkey

Friday, 05 November 2010 14:16 Cheri Strange
       November is such a blur, if I don’t stop and make a plan for how I’m going to make this season more meaningful than football and feasting – it absolutely will not happen. So, I spent a few minutes yesterday Googling how to make Thanksgiving more meaningful. Not one of the top hits expressed ANYTHING about thanking God. They didn’t even mention God. Instead, the fresh advice was to express thankfulness TO others: your children, your spouse, your family and friends. We could also take a nap or go for a walk. If your family stresses you out, skip it entirely and do something away from them. After finding the downloadable turkey coloring sheet, I abandoned my search.

       It seems the best the world has to offer is the turkey coloring page. If I want my time to be meaningful – I need another source. Fortunately, this week’s One Year Bible reading covered Psalm 105:1-5

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;

Make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

       Sometimes I think I make my life more complicated than it needs to be. I get caught up in all the decorating, crafts, and out-of-this-world recipes -- thinking these are the things that make this season meaningful. I miss the mark completely when this is my aim and end. Instead, I should express to the Lord, how grateful I am to him. I should acknowledge in specific terms and situations what he had done for me – not only in the quietness of my own prayer life – but to those around me. I should sing. I should find my strength for the exhaustion of today in him. I should ponder from what he has rescued me and to what heights he has brought me. If I walked around this month doing this – I would serve as an encouragement to those within my sphere of influence; and my attitude of gratitude would, indeed, be caught --- rather than simply taught – to my children.

I’m going to try it. Here’s my plan:

  1. Take those thankyou cards from Dollar Tree I intend to use – but never do -- and record one thing per day I’m truly thankful for -- not the green grass-type items --- serious, personal stuff.
  2. Make those cards available to my children and spouse --- encouraging them to participate with me. Sharing will occur at the dinner table.
  3. Blast the praise and worship music in the house and in the car. I’ll apologize to the kids in advance – for the intrusion on their ears. Then I will invite them to participate with me. (They will….I know it.)
  4. Tell at least one person per day – one of the things I’m thankful for – something that I believe God has specifically done for me this year. Then I’ll ask them if they have anything to be thankful for.
  5. After watching her mama express a thankful heart -- let the little artist in my life color the downloaded turkey and tell me all the things she is thankful for while she colors.

 

Now let me go find those cards and CDs...

Cheri Strange Written on Friday, 05 November 2010 14:16 by Cheri Strange

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Living a Life that Outlasts my Prada

Are you living a life that eternally impacts those around you? Do you have a deep desire for your life to truly matter? God designed us with this yearning. But how can we live a life that makes an eternally significant impact? Cheri leads particpants through Biblical examples of those who tuned their lives to God and changed the world forever. When principles and practices from these examples are applied to daily living, our lives take on purpose and lasting significance that will impact those around us. Cheri shares how to live with an eternal perspective and world-changing potential, using our favorite accessory -- the purse. Participants will be equipped to live lives that ooze with quality and Jesus flare. 

Letting go of ordinary...

If you ask a child, "What would you like to be when you grow up," the answer will never be, "Marginal." Charles Spurgeon professes that no one ever meaders into the kingdom of God. No. If we hope to be anything beyond ordinary, we must be intentional. This topic is bursting with Biblical examples of those who made intentional choices to seek hard after God, living extraordinary lives, and those who did not. Participants will leave with practical ideas and suggestions for how to determine what needs to go and how to grasp hold of God's best.

 

The Difference Between Us and Them: Habits of World-Changing Christians We Need to Know

Ever wonder why some Christians seem to live more fruitful and productive lives than others? What if the differences were related to something as simple as habits? If simply changing our habits would help us lead the fruitful lives God intends, then we need to know what they are and how to incorporate them into our lives. In this session, Cheri leads participants through ten habits effective Christians share in common that separate them from the majority of Christians. Participants discover what these habits look like in everyday life and are given tools for how to begin incorporating them daily.

Living Beyond Schedules, Homework, and Carpools: How to Stop the Madness of Life Just Happening

Where does it all go? From the moment our eyes open, our days are non-stop. Whether you work in the home or in the workplace; have zero children at home or six -- much of our lives just seem to happen to us. How do we get control of the madness and keep controlso that our days, however mundane the tasks, remain significant? In this session Cheri addresses common life-stealers and ways to combat them. Participants will leave with practical ways to manage their busy lives and tips for how to rid themselves of what keeps them in a life that is just happening.   

More than a Blur: How to Make the Most of the Early Childhood Years

Women with young children in the home have at least three things in common: snot on their favorite outfit doesn't phase them, they have learned to stand to eat, and personal hygiene has become a negotiable. Personal time completely disappears for years. It is no wonder many of us look upon those years with blurred vision, unsure exactly how we managed to get through it. But it doesn't have to be that way. In this session, Cheri will provide participants with practical ideas and suggestions for how to do more than just get through it, turning those years into blessing instead of a blur.

Ordinary Is as Ordinary Does: Extraordinary choices to transform your marriage.

Marriages between Believers should be more satisfying, more healthy, happier, and last longer than those from outside the church. However, marriages within the church experience similar pitfallsand devastating ends at the same rate as those outside the church. The good news is that much of what makes marriages satisfying, healthy, happy, and forever is within reach. Participants will learn current trends in marriage fall-out within the church, practical steps to take which help fortify marriages, and strategies that are proven to lead couples toward experiencing the satisfaction and joy God intended in marriage.

 

Just Stretch: The Life you Want is within Reach

Ever feel like you just can't be who God wants you to be? The Bible is clear: if you are still breathing, God has a plan for your life. Abundant living is not for the few. God is not in the business of holding out on us. He has promised, if we week Him, we will find Him, if we seek with with all of our hearts. That means living an extra-ordinary life is going to require us to stretch, but it is within reach. Cheri gives participants Biblical success stories of those who were willing to stretch beyond ordinary living in order to live extra-ordinary lives. She will help paticipants find courage through failure, strength to keep growing, and solutions used by Chritians who have impacted the world - living lives just like yours.

 

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Key Verse

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deut. 6:5
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