Book Drawing! “Can You See Me Now?” by Cheri Strange 
We all feel lonely, left out and less than at times. I’m so grateful Cheri Strange has tackled this topic to help us all.
Here is how Cheri describes her book: We all want to be loved. But what happens when we get passed over, left out, or seem invisible? How do you make new friends, navigate drama, and enjoy authentic connection? Can You See Me, Now? reveals how you were handpicked by God to express love, thrive in community, and enhance the world around you. Take the 75-day journey and learn how to cultivate the courage to connect with others, counter the nay-sayers who prefer you remain quiet, and kiss goodbye to the old tendencies to blend into the wallpaper. Start enjoying the woman God created you to be, and leave “invisible you” behind.
You can enter the drawing to win a copy of “Can You See Me Now?” by following the instructions below. First you can be blessed by reading an excerpt from her book. UPDATE: the drawing is closed and Kat is the winner. Congratulations, Kat!
Becoming Visible
By Cheri Strange
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. (James 1:1 ESV)
School recesses during childhood can leave a mark. Where I grew up, unless your teeth were in jeopardy, or you broke a bone, the adults didn’t pay attention to fairness, feelings, or failings. It was the kind of environment where thicker skins developed and existing hurts became more ingrained. Exclusion from a game with the popular girls, vicious name calling, or the humiliation of being the last resort when teams divided could be painful pricks, especially when reinforced through the years. Maybe you can relate. The dread of recognizing all you are not can be debilitating to the point we find ourselves in the corner, once again, questioning God’s purpose for our lives.
From the opening lines of his book, James, if he had any, left that dread on the playground. In one sentence, the man declared his clear sense of God’s purpose for his life.
The victory is not making a smart choice about whether to become a plumber as opposed to the expected carpenter, but knowing to whom he belongs and how that should play out in his life. Paul describes this knowing to the Corinthians, asking them to consider who God calls:
“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,” (1 Corinthians 1:28-30).
You see, these individuals leaned toward obscurity.
You can see the potential problems if we were left in charge. The prettiest people would get the gifts and blessings. The smartest would be privy to the truth. We would reserve all other offices for those possessing charisma, leaving the rest of humanity out of luck.
Thankfully, it’s not my Gospel. It’s not the Gospel Paul preaches, nor the one James writes about. God chooses the weak, those with no pedigree, who are unworthy of notice. Non-essentials. The nothings of this world. He chooses them on purpose.
There is room for you and for me.
Has God found you in all your obscurity, like James? Your God specializes in calling the things that are not, as if they are. Although James holds a place of prominence, leading the Christian church in Jerusalem, he calls himself the servant of God and Jesus Christ. What if you took on this same calling? Consider one difference you could make today toward this goal.
Thank you, Cheri, for your inspirational and motivating words which confirm we are not alone, left out or less than.
Want to enter the drawing for Cheri’s book? Make a comment on this blog post and I’ll enter your name into the drawing. Last day to enter is Wednesday December 7th, 2022. Only USA addresses can win.
UPDATE: the drawing is closed and Kat is the winner. Congratulations, Kat!
Adapted from her new release, Can You See Me, Now? Good news for the lonely, left out, and less than from Bold Vision Books. Cheri Strange has helped over 725,000 women redefine their worth through her writing, speaking, and highly popular YouVersion Bible reading plans. She is a national speaker, visionary of She Yearns Ministries, and the author of Life Principles for Living Out the Greatest Commandment, from AMG. Cheri holds a Ph.D. from Baylor University and lives in Houston with her husband, Chad, their eight children, and her Maine Coon cat.Â
Thank you for sharing this timely post!
Caryl, I’m so glad you found Cheri’s words meaningful. And I’m glad to enter your name into the drawing.
Such a comforting voice and message during these stressful times.
Hi Linda. Thanks for entering the drawing and letting Cheri know her message was meaningful to you.
This spoke volumes to me and I know He always is our Hope fulfilled.
Melissa, I so appreciate you stopping by my blog and want to enter the drawing. May the Lord continue to bless you with Cheri’s message.
Thank you for these words of comfort. I have been very depressed lately.
Hi Lisa, our hearts are heavy thinking of your heavy heart. We are praying for you. I trust Cheri’s words will continue to minister to you. Thank you for entering the drawing.
Thank you for these words of comfort. God always shows a way.
You are right, Lisa, and I trust that the Lord will show you the way through to encouragement and joy. You are entered into the drawing–as I indicated in the reply to your other “reply.”
Thank you! Blessings to you
Thanks for stopping by, Carmen. I”m glad to enter you into the drawing. Thank you also for subscribing to my blog posts.
A great reminder today!
McCartney, I’m so glad the Lord used Cheri’s words. I’ve entered you into the drawing.
It sounds like it is going to be a great book
Hi Brenda, I’ve entered you into the drawing. I’m almost finished reading Cheri’s book and finding it is indeed a great book. I can highly recommend it.
Wow, a much-needed subject for all women. We grow up with these arrows shot into our hearts from childhood. Hmm Kathy, I think you’ve written about that? We are “never enough”. I’m looking forward to reading this even if I don’t win since I’m sure it will have plenty of things to tell people that are hurting, or just don’t feel “good enough”.
You are right, Kat. We all suffer from insecurity in one way or another at different times of our lives. I’m so glad you’ll be reading Cheri’s book regardless if you win it. I’ve put your name into the drawing.
Congratulations, Kat! You are the winner of Cheri’s book. I’ll connect you two by email.
I have been hearing so many good things about this book!
Sarah, I’m not surprised you’ve already heard good things about Cheri’s book. I’ve put your name into the drawing.
Inspiring!
Would love to read.
Mona.
Mona, I’m so glad you see the value of Cheri’s book. I’ve entered you into the drawing.
Ooh thank you for the opportunity to win this book. I had a friend ask me once if I could do grade school or high school all over again, which would I choose. Neither! The bad memories outweighed the good ones on both. Fast forward to my last school reunion, where our table was full of classmates that felt similar to me, we struggled with feeling less than. I had no idea this group of people felt the same way. Yet here were all were still feeling it YEARS later at another reunion. As I sat and watched the classmates that night, I realized our table was full of loving, dedicated and downright fun bunch. We were the ones laughing, joking, sharing memories, pictures of our children and the Word of God while the others ‘that seemed to have it all in school were drowning their sorrows in drink’. Lesson learned that night, ALL of us struggle, some of us hide it better than others, but we all struggle from time to time.
Oh yes, Martha! I think most of us had those feelings at our reunions. It’s like the popular kids have the same joys and sorrows as the “unpopular” ones. I think we all thought everyone else didn’t suffer –and won’t suffer–like we did. And as for me, at one point I was popular and suddenly I wasn’t. Never knew why. That really prompted lots of feelings like loneliness, less than, and left out. I’m so glad Cheri’s book addresses those topics. Thanks, Martha, for entering the drawing.
Thank you for the chance. This looks like a wonderful and inspirational book for these long Winter nights.
Hi Wen, Thanks for entering the drawing. Yes, a great idea for these long winter nights.
I volunteer in the church library and have for 43 years.
Your book will be a wonderful addition to the library and
will help so many who use it.
Wow, Janet, thank you so very much for serving in the church library. What an important service to the Lord and His people. Thank you for thinking of putting Cheri’s book in the library. I’ve entered you into the drawing.
I love that thought, “There is room for you and me.” Oh, if only more of us would live out our lives with that message in our hearts and on our tongues. So enjoyed the post Ms. Kathy,; and best wishes to Ms. Cheri and her book. I see you there ma’am, holding onto God’s hand. 🙂
J.D., I agree. Cheri’s message of there is room for you and me is God’s message. Thanks for entering the drawing!
“The playground left its mark”…. I think many of us have similar memories! This will be my first read by you! Looking forward to diving into my heart and surrounding it with nuggets of wisdom!
Hi Sharla, Welcome to my blog. I’m so glad you stopped by and I know Cheri is grateful for your appreciation of her sharing. I also had a playground “mark” and you are right. I think the majority did. Thank you for entering the drawing.