ANT ACTIVITIES

Proverbs 6:6-9 "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest" 


3 John 1:2- "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much"


I've loved ant farms and hills since I was a child. Identifying with the ant has been a natural example God has used mightily in my life for powerful spiritual lessons. The ant has taught me a lot...it is a little creature but so industrious and here are examples others use to teach us about the ant that I hope you'll take heed of. The ant is: 
1) self-motivated, highly industrialized, doesn't need another to make sure it gets its work done. 

2) collects its food in the proper seasons; it is prudent.

3)  fond of its young, and takes care of them.

4) has foresight for others and shows kindness.

5) works quietly without show and until the work is done. In this, it teaches us perseverance.

6) works in cooperation and organization with others. In union there is indeed strength.

7) keeps its home meticulously clean.

8) knows its job and does it.

9) has initiative, that wonderful virtue of resourcefulness that knows the how and when.

See what a great example the ant can be if you heed its behavior and begin today to incorporate these things as a part of how you live your life? 

As a life/spiritual coach I frequently have to deal with individuals wanting more in their lives. They're unhappy and dissatisfied with where they are and so my job is to help them apply discipline (people hate it:) to move forward. Its hard because few want to be faithful/disciplined right where they are as if getting more will miraculously make them something other. Getting more when you're unable to handle what you all ready have is destructive and God simply will not hurt us like that so stop begging for more dear heart. You have to change right where you are then watch God give you more! 

I preach Luke 16:10 to myself and others everyday because I've learned a powerful lesson in my relationship with God about obedience. He will get your attention in an area that matters to you a lot. He'll put you in a very constricted place- for people who want money you'll be broke all the time, for those who want better relationships you'll be loveless/friendless until you learn dependence on people must be under God's leadership not feelings or even them, if you want to be a leader, you'll be jobless or in a subordinate position until you learn a leader is first/foremost a good follower...whatever it takes to break you, you'll be where you cannot progress until the lesson is absorbed and applied right there in that particular class room. He's an excellent teacher. Faithfully putting you right back at your last place of disobedience until you learn or give up and accept life there which God will turn you over to your own will if you demand it and refuse to reach for His reaching. For example: wanting to be in college when you're just in the fifth grade seems so childish and illogical to us but that's how many of us live. We want God to give us millions when we're unfaithful with the hundred dollars we have. We want a mansion when our apartment is filthy and unkempt, we want a Rolls Royce when we can't keep our Corolla clean and in running order. Beloved, I want you to prosper even as your soul prospers (3 John 1:2). People look at my life, how God uses me, where he's brought me from/to, some even are fascinated with the material things God has given me in spite of my upbringing (people think I'm rich/have been that way all my life but hey...I'm really not...yet. I just have access to things strictly from OBEDIENCE TO GOD). I am no more special to God than you are, but one thing I may do that you may want to accept and apply in your life is that I know I have to obey Him in the hard place. Discipline myself, denying myself and patiently waiting on HIM to move me. If you want His plan, His way that's just how its done because His ways are not our ways and His blessings have no sorrow added to them (Proverbs 10:22) and that's the difference from when He blesses or we bless ourselves which is how most of us do live, claiming its a blessing when that thing we manipulated, connived and finally got for ourselves is really a curse and its fruit reveals itself eventually. Try a different approach. Ponder this blog. Accept it. How about applying to your life the activities/principles/behaviors of the ant, submit/obey right where you are today? I am praying with and for you!

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(c) Copyright 2010 Cheryl Carr and ARETE1 International.

COURAGE IS A MEDICINE

Duet. 31:6- Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."


Hebrews 3:6
But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.


In my lifetime I can't remember so many people living in such fear, unsettled and unstable just hearing about the downright disturbing occurrences in so many places. Seems our hearts are weak with fear. What we've counted on has failed us or is no longer reliable to make us feel secure. Beloved, we need to hold on and take courage! In my own life I can assure you God has promoted and placed me in places and doing things I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams. Sometimes, the things I need to accomplish scare me silly. I spend a lot of time with God, silent and listening because I know I can't do much in my own strength. Scripture tells us we are capable of a little strength of our own (Rev. 3:8) and we operate in that little strength most of the time when ALL STRENGTH and all the COURAGE we need is available for the taking.


Something about me that spending a little time with me will teach you is that words are important to me and I don't think they're to be taken as lightly as we do-- I'm as guilty of this as they come because I love to communicate (I talk a lot especially thinking out loud and in times when I'm emotional...words will pour out of me and few understand this about me but--sorry, its how I'm wired) and I love to KNOW what a word means in as many translations as I can take in because it deepens my understanding and I want to understand and speak words of life over my self and others. I will study one word deeply--in many languages because all spoken words have a root and frequently I've found in English its watered down or far away from what it meant originally. Its why I study Greek and Hebrew in relation to the scriptures. I'm always amazed at what a word really means as opposed to what I thought it meant.


So, what is courage? Courage is a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear. Fear of something can make you withdraw, keeps you from and keeps you in situations that you should not be in. Lack of courage must be confronted--all throughout scripture this is a command spoken to us directly by God. TAKE COURAGE can be found over and over in the holy scriptures and I submit to you that you must take courage like a medicine!  All medicine is not fun to take, in fact, few medicines taste good or feel good but take it you must to restore health and promote healing. Now please note, the medicine of courage God provides is not like man's synthetic attempts at healing...remember doctors practice medicine, God IS HEALING. KNOWS ALL and CANNOT FAIL. The courage He provides is exact, equal to the need in quantity and in quality. Take the time to get in the Word, read it, and ask how does it apply to the area of fear you are experiencing? Accept it as true and take it in, allow it to encourage you and reduce your fear.  It will do more than help you. It will heal you. I'm praying with you and for you!






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Come Here Wounded Woman...

James 4:7-8 "So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet."

Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)- "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." 

We are many we wounded women. No need to discuss how we got this way, just pick up a magazine and you'll read well our dissatisfaction with every area of life...we're just not satisfied, fulfilled or getting what we need in any way. We're limping along in life, self-medicating, repeating the same pattern in relationships, work, how we eat...living life with a screen-door of pain over the entrance to our hearts. Come here. Sit down with me for a second. Let's cooperate with God. Aren't you tired of the tears in the night, the inability to change and the sad commentary that "you're crazy" because you are an emotionally crazed person constantly in a manic state, driving the people you love away or making them walk on egg shells...yes your pain is making you do the fool over and over and over again...or, are you like me, great at pretending, smiling, saying the right things until that scab is rubbed off of that wound that you keep hidden behind your pretty facade? Oh I know I'm in your business but I want to help you, help me, help us. We can be healed you know? And its not about time. Time doesn't always heal but GOD DOES! I've experienced most of my revelation of a wound and a cleaning up of the wound in short periods of time. I'll say it again, WE CAN BE HEALED. Completely restored and reset to an original starting point as a woman of strength and dignity.HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT IT? First you have to recognize your state and acknowledge it before God. CRY OUT and call it what it is. Quit faking. Quit pretending and putting a band-aid over your "pain cancer." We have to cooperate with God and want it more than that man, the food, the drink, the stability (changing causes chaos and disruption of everything) and looking like we're "spooky spiritual."  


We're wounded and we want to be healed. That requires desperation and obsession with getting it from God alone! Yes, when I teach this I'm told "Cheryl, it doesn't take all that" but I'm telling you depending how deep your wounds run (and mine were deep stronghold wounds), YES IT DOES TAKE A DESPERATE OBSESSION WITH GETTING HEALED. Haven't you been desperately and obsessively wounded? Just this week I was even told to quit ministering and giving out advice from someone I thought loved me and appreciated the transparency I shared my past/pain with them through--they even blocked me from their FB page (and it was perfectly fine because they were believing a lie, never read or commented on what I wrote anyway, no big loss). I've learned, the enemy of our souls wants me silent because every single one of my messages has been meticulously tried out on me FIRST before I share. They're real. I don't preach lofty, high things. I preach right here in the trenches, the muck/mire with you. I risk acceptance to be real and know the enemy will use even the very elect to try to stop me. There is no perfection in me to try and tell you anymore than this is what happened to me and here's how I deal.  No worries about me stopping no matter who tells me to. Won't happen. God has called me as His mouthpiece. I'm running the race, will speak as led with no fear. I can't be stopped in pain/silence, so I'm sitting right here, typing this blog in some of the greatest pain I've had in a long time. But...speak to you I will if you will but listen?

Because you can't love without vulnerability and trust-- wouldn't you enjoy some insulation, not self protection? Wouldn't you like that pain/hurt/wound to be a message you finally get/listen to and CHANGE FROM? It can happen only one way. Submit to God FIRST. Cry out to him in the midst of your pain. Quit running to a man. Quit running to that next relationship. Quit running to the club or a book (unless its the bible) or what someone else says or any of the things you've done to date that HAVEN'T WORKED. Yes, you may have salved your wound but wouldn't you much rather have the doggone thing healed? I'm not a Pollyanna either, I know there are some scars that will remain (you don't want to know my pain sister, we can compare burdens and I'm sure you'd look over mine and pick yours right back up again). Get alone. Get silent. Get on your face. Tell God all. Leave nothing out. He will listen to every word and you can't shock Him. He all ready knows. He gave you free will so that you can CHOOSE HIM. He desires that from you and then you know what...you'll be a wounded woman no more. 


Reach for God's reaching dear one. God is a master surgeon and His hands are gentle. It won't be easy but your healing will be thorough even if its a process. Sometimes God will lift what ails you immediately. Other times He will leave it and bring you through it. Whatever He does, however He does it its for the best and for your good. Submit to His way and listen, obey His instructions. As Max Lucado said it best..." God doesn't improve. He perfects. He doesn't enhance. He completes. Not better, not improving, not on the upswing" GOD COMPLETELY HEALS. Beloved, I'm praying with you and for you. 

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Fight Deception!

Luke: 21:8- He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them."


James 1:16- "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers."




Pretension and deception, deceit, bluff, mystification, subterfuge, acts to propogate beliefs that are not true, or not the whole truth (as in half-truths or omission), employing slight of hand, distraction, camouflage or concealment.  Living like this...deceptively--is rampant in this world and few if any live above them. Lying and cheating is de jour...even in the Church which should not be but truth is its like breathing to us to be deceptive. You have to FIGHT IT, crying out to God to expose it in every shape and form because it is so prevelant and hides itself so well only HE can expose it fully.  


Personally, I have deceived and have been deceived. Horrified and hurt I've been when someone I trusted turned out not to be worthy of that trust and most of all I've terrorized myself with the comfort of lying to myself and others! If you're a deceiver rarely do you like the covers snatched off your cozy little deception..most do the fool when exposed, self included. The warmth of your lies are too toasty and fun and exciting and you feel you've gotten away with them. Alas, the truth of the matter is God hates lying! HATES IT! How can we be so comfortable with something God hates? Beloved this should not be. In fact, God commands us not to be deceived so you KNOW He never wants us to deceive anyone for any reason. He says in Ps. 51:6  "Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom." 


If you need to meet truth and abandon deception for good join me in praying for God to help you fight it in every area of your life. I warn you...this will make things bony and stark in all around you! God peels back every ounce of untruth and lays it bare and its ugly and no fun at all. There may be people you are trusting in that God shows you they're not honest and are not to have your trust and it will disappoint you to your core because how could they lie to you and have you believe it so completely?  He will more than likely start the process with you first and foremost so be prepared to see YOU. Real and raw. The first cut is the deepest and soon you will see all that you need to see. You may have to sit someone down you've deceived and come clean which is excruciating but, so worth it (yes, I've had to do that and had to LISTEN while someone I trusted gave up their lying). Just remember, GODS HANDS ARE GENTLE. He is the master surgeon and when he exposes deception in your life and in YOU He will also train you in truth and free you completely from lies for good. Do you want to go there? A place where you don't lie and can't be lied to? I said can't because since I've gone through this process of constant prayer to fight deception and lies rarely can someone get away with lying to me at all and never for long. If you're truthful and seeking to bring truth in every situation you have all of heaven supporting you because its rare but so needed. God will bring all of heaven to bear in bringing you the truth of a matter and it will be amazing to you to watch Him do it. If you desire to be blessed as far as I know the only great blessings from God, His very best blessings depend upon the level of truth you give and live. FIGHT DECEPTION BELOVED and He will help you do it every step of the way. He is ever faithful! I'm praying with and for you.

Please feel free to forward CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr is written and distributed by Arete1 International.


(c) Copyright 2010 Cheryl Carr and ARETE1 International.

Enough is NOT LACK!

Hebrews 13:5 (The Message)

 ^5-6Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote,

   God is there, ready to help;
   I'm fearless no matter what.
   Who or what can get to me?



What do you think you need today? Weigh that against what you have all ready. Is there a gap? How and why is it there? Relax Beloved. If you are a Believer, God will give you enough to meet your need. He promises that and you can believe He keeps His promises. All you have to do is to pray and submit your will and desires to His. Your peace is right there in that place of obedience.

I've found out quite often lately that what I think I need isn't what's truly needed at all and that enough is not lack. I'm learning my distress comes when I want more than what is needed or am discontent with what I all ready have. Let's decide to always express ourselves to our Father, He loves that we pray and desires for us to communicate with Him. But go that next step and cooperate with Him. Even if you are afraid you won't get what you desire, do it afraid. Submit and ask God for HIS BEST in spite of your expressed desire in prayer. He is ever faithful and will answer that prayer above and beyond what you could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Beloved, I'm praying with and for you.

Please feel free to forward CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr is written and distributed by Arete1 International.


(c) Copyright 2010 Cheryl Carr and ARETE1 International.

Have To versus Want To

Matt. 26:41-All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The Sprit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.

How many things do you do in life because you HAVE to? Weigh that against what you do because you WANT to. What’s the balance? Few of us give strict attention to the things we have to do with the same rigor we give to what we like. The problem with that is that things you like are easy. It’s the things you don’t like that take the extra commitment and that dreaded word—DISCIPLINE!  I’m finding in my life that I have to stop trying to fool myself into thinking I will want to do that particular thing  that needs doing...I probably never will. Thinking "I'll want to do that"  has not motivated me much because at least for me it is hard to pretend something is what it isn’t.  Being a tee-totaling realist, it’s hard for me to drum up that kind of self-deception. Generally, I’m intolerant of things that I don’t like (and people). Maturity has helped me to see that isn’t a good attitude. 

As there are few things in life that go exactly according to plan-- so is it that we will enjoy everything we do. Mostly we will need to do what we need to do and like very little of it in the process (sigh). Truth is, if we live our life only wanting to do exactly what we want to do at all times, well, we will be selfish and probably not real successful. That's also how sociopaths are created completely void of conscience or consideration for others!  Settling the fact that I can do few things well based on what I feel, or by what I think I want has brought me peace and actually helped me overcome a lot of procrastination. I bleat it out, add some energy and sweat equity and get it done regardless of how I feel about it or if I want to do it.(except for my closets and my dresser draws...I hired someone to do them for me and have been dumbstruck about them ever since...they stay a mess:). Developing that discipline has revolutionized my life, providing the ability to accomplish volumes of things. I don't necessarily think it, feel it,  I just DO IT and tell myself often "don't talk about it, be about it." I want to be a woman God can trust to do what He tells me to do---quick to obey so much so He knows if I get my marching orders I'm on the move without nary a need for Him to convince me or motivate me. Do you share that warrior attitude with me Beloved? People frequently sit and peer at the stage of others lives and accomplishments forgetting that behind the scenes was so much preparation and sacrifice and discipline. Its nothing super-duper special about people who are successful and living their dreams, few are exceptionally talented or smart either and we all have a lazy streak, trust me. You're just as able dear one, perhaps you're just not as willing to sacrifice and do what you must to get what you want? 

 It would behoove you to do a short survey of your life and how you dedicate your time. Are there things undone in your life?  Finish them and start by exercising some “have to” over “want to.” Quit waiting to want to do it. You may never get there but tell you what…do it, whatever that thing is fill in your own blank (____________) because you HAVE TO regardless of how you feel. I’m praying with and for you.

Please feel free to forward CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr is written and distributed by Arete1 International.


(c) Copyright 2010 Cheryl Carr and ARETE1 International.

No Longer Negligent

Jer. 48:10 -"Cursed be the one who does the LORD'S work negligently, And cursed be the one who restrains his sword from blood."


Beloved, are you obese with ideas and plans and anorexic in action and follow through? How many unfinished works of the Lord are idling in your heart and mind? What needs to happen to you for you to finally get to it, go hard after something and get some things done? Did you read our focus scripture where God says YOU ARE CURSED IF YOU DO THE LORD'S WORK NEGLIGENTLY? Are you cursed because you're neglecting responsibilities and lacking concern about what you KNOW you should be doing but your attitude is lackadaisical and you'll get to it...eventually? 


Today, how about you stop thinking and talking about it and instead BE about it? You can you know? Refuse to live another minute of your life  "finna do" something while accomplishing just about the same thing everyday--which isn't very much. 99% of the time we KNOW what we're supposed to do we're just undisciplined and unwilling to get to it because we'd rather do our "want to's" instead of our "got to's."  Living like that is immature and makes you wasteful with time you can never get back. We all get the same 24 hours regardless of status, gender, intellect or wealth. The difference in quality of life is what will you do with your time? Focus and make quality choices with each and every moment you are given. Waste not one minute, never can you afford to. To focus, here is a lesson I learned over 18 years ago from Mike Murdock about being productive, he said "give each hour an assignment" and that is a lesson that has served me well all these years. Planning my day the night before and WRITING THINGS DOWN keeps me on task and works so well and isn't time consuming, its time saving! Realize, you can't do everything nor are you meant to, so making sure you're expending your energies in the right place is key. MAKE A DECISION. Being double-minded makes you unstable in all your ways (James 1:8).  Just coasting through your day with no plan will have you concluding your day in the same neglectful position. Dear heart, God plans (Jer. 29:11), why won't you?


And... whatever you do, do it with all your might (Ecclesiastes 9:10), no half stepping semi-committed attitudes, get IN or stay OUT. Chances are what the Lord has for you isn't going to come without a fight to get to it. You've got to be willing to go hard after it. Trust that God has work He has set in advance for you to do (Eph. 2:10). No one can do what you're meant to do the way you're meant to do it and that's why its vital you cooperate with God so you're not writing your own life story.  God can write a much better ending than you could with no stretch of His imagination. Decide right this minute to no longer be negligent...I'm praying with you and for you.

Please feel free to forward CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr to friends and colleagues, but forward in its entirety. CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr is written and distributed by Arete1 International.


(c) Copyright 2010 Cheryl Carr and ARETE1 International.