True Prize

Hi Friends! 

Welcome to first of the Faith Tuesday Blogs! 

I’m so excited that you’re here! Last week I talked about Fashion. The second week of the month will always share about walking with Jesus. As you have seen from my website, life for me revolves around Fashion, Faith, Fun and Food! So once a month on Tuesdays I will cover one of those topics here in the blog. The second we

ek is going to be about Faith. For me, that means becoming more like Jesus.  

Several years ago, after reading through Proverbs 31 for at least the thousandth time and still comparing myself to “HER”, the Proverbs 31 Woman, I was literally crying out to God, angry, confused and wondering why? Why is this woman who we really don’t even know was real held up as the virtuous, excellent and accomplished example? I thought, “God, I know you gave us all Scripture for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness… (2Tim. 3:16) It's not there to shame us or make us feel unworthy. It’s there to show us the way!

"So, God, you need to make it really clear for me. ‘Open my eyes and show me what I’m supposed to do with all this.’” 

Guess what? He did! I have found that whenever anyone approaches Him with an attitude of need and humility, He answers! The first thing we all need is to realize that Jesus is the only answer to the biggest need everyone has. He fulfilled the need for atonement for our sin. Once you believe that, the doors are thrown open to have a relationship with the Living God. I was blessed to grow up in a home where kids knew they needed Jesus from the cradle. I don’t remember ever not believing that Jesus died and rose again to save us. But that kind of innocent faith is just the beginning. For almost 70 years on this planet, I have believed that. But I am still learning and striving to become the woman God created me to be. And up until a few years ago, I didn’t really believe and understand that God created me uniquely and gifted me specifically for work established for me to do for the Kingdom. There was a little kernel of doubt and comparison in my head that always made me struggle with that Woman! You know what I learned? Comparison kills! We can never live up to what the World sets up. That’s because this is not our home! We belong to Jesus! I realized that instead of striving to become like that Woman in Proverbs 31. Even though she is part of God’s Word to us, I looked at her through a worldly lens. My thoughts were more toward all the resources and servants she had instead of her character. I even had a completely imagined picture of her in my head. She isn’t physically described anywhere in the passage, but I knew she was tall, fit, beautiful and completely unlike me in any way!   I hated her and was so jealous of everything she accomplished. I’m ashamed to admit that. But it is the truth. What God in His kindness and love showed me about her was that she had three traits that I could embrace. She knew her God, she knew herself and her resources, and she was ready to do the work. Keep your eyes on the True prize. Look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Become more like Him and you will fulfill everything important in life. He created you for something special. Don’t chase after someone else’s dream. Spend time learning about your LORD and Savior. Read and study the Bible, spend time with other Believers who will help you and challenge you to keep growing in Christ. Ask Him to give you His heart, to open your eyes and ears and to show you what He wants. He is waiting for you! He is faithful to accomplish the work He began the first day you believed!  

Know Him, know yourself and be ready to do the work! He is waiting. 

Always ready for Fashion, Faith, Fun and Food!

Cheri 

(For more of my story, check out my book. Incomparable and Uniquely Worthy available now on Amazon.) 

A Girl Has to Do What She Has to Do!

Hey friends! 

How are you keeping cool this summer? My new favorite summer fabric is linen, especially the new no iron variety! I have invested in several linen pieces this summer. My favorite is a white linen skirt. I can pair it with at least four tops from my summer wardrobe. Just change shoes and accessories to make lots of different outfits for easy weekend getaways!  

I live in Florida. It was in the nineties in May and will not cool off until October.

Skirts are just so much cooler than pants of any kind! And while it may not be the most ladylike thing I’ve ever done; I’ve been known to lift the midi skirt and flap it around to get a little breeze going! LOL.

A girl has to do what she has to do! Here are four outfits from this one basic wardrobe piece… 

1. White skirt/tropical print T-shirt/white sneakers  
   

Since I am a Warm Color Code, I use my wood toned bracelets and earrings along with the woven belt to warm up the outfit. 

1. White skirt/pop color top in orange/white sandals  

Dress this one up with lots of gold and pearls! Or make it casual with funky multi color beads. Always keep in mind to balance your accessories with your frame size. If you are a petite, dainty lady, keep it on the smaller side. If you are taller and curvy, you need chunkier pieces to create a more balanced profile.  

Learn more about this in one of the styling services I provide. Watch this page for specials coming up each month! 

1. White skirt/ navy and white striped top/ navy and white sandals 

Again, warmed up with natural accessories from outfit above. This has become my favorite outfit for summer. Never fails to bring compliments and smiles to everybody’s face! (mine too!) 

1. Create a white column with white skirt/white T-shirt or blouse and white sandals.  

I love this one! It’s cool, comfortable and can by casual with just a colorful scarf for when the AC is too cool and fun jewelry. To dress it up I just change to a dressier sandal and use my gold and pearls along with a pretty pashmina for evenings. 

Trade out the white skirt for a pair of wide leg jeans or pants in navy and add a navy top for a column. Then you have a creative, casual to dressy wardrobe with multiple outfits for a week. Don’t forget the swimsuit and coverup! But this will all fit in a carry-on. Just roll it to help prevent wrinkles! 

You’re set to go! Have fun and let me know where you go!  

Always ready for Fashion, Faith, Fun and Food!

Cheri

Know God, Know Yourself, Do the Work!

Hi friends! 

Welcome to cherivarner.com! I hope you find some interesting information and tips about the things I’m passionate about. Each week, I will be posting a blog under one of the categories that I’m passionate about in my life. Fashion, Faith, Fun and Food. These four categories aren’t listed in order of importance, and they certainly don’t exclude everything else. I have just found that most of what I love fits into one or two (maybe all) of these boxes! It’s an easy way to introduce myself and to give people a glimpse into my life and work. So here goes… 

I’m going to be 70 years old in just a few weeks! I have been challenged to develop a “Gratitude List” which includes one item for every year of my life. I’m planning to share a few of these with you in these blog posts each week. Watch for them on Tuesdays every week. The first week of the month will be “Fashion” with tips for embracing your unique beauty every day.  The 2nd week is for “Faith” knowing God and who you are with Him. The 3rd week will be “Fun” challenges to embrace the abundant life God wants for us! Creative ideas finding joy in every day. Then week four is “Food”. I’ll share recipes and hospitality tricks I have learned over the years. Easy ways to welcome family and friends into your life! Bonus Blogs on the months that have five Tuesdays will be included with some of my other favorite words that begin with the letter “F”!  

The first thing I’m grateful for is always going to be Jesus. God’s love for me covers every aspect of my life. Without Him, I’m nothing but a blip on the radar of the world. But with Him, I am a precious, incomparable and uniquely worthy daughter of God. (Pause for blatant promo of my book found under the “Faith” tab on the website.) I am a disciple of Jesus. My hope and driving force is to become more like Him every day. Here is the formula I am using to get there with the help of the Holy Spirit.  

• Know God – He is the Creator, and King! This is the easiest and most challenging thing to do at the same time. Easy, because we are each individually created by Him and He wants us to know Him! Most of us have access to the Bible, where we can learn about Him and His love for us. Get into the habit of spending time with God. We will never fully know Him here on Earth, but He is always pursuing you. He loves you individually and knows you better than you know yourself! This is the challenge of a lifetime! 

• Know yourself – knowing who you are, where you come from and what you are passionate about opens up opportunities for growth. There is no time limit on figuring this out. If you have breath and a heartbeat, you are still in the battle! Knowing your strengths, weaknesses and challenges is valuable information in life. Balancing your basic nature with your knowledge of God is a lifetime pursuit. Don’t be afraid or ashamed of where you come from or what you’ve done. In and of ourselves, we are all sinners and can’t achieve anything of eternal importance. The only decision you need to make is whether you believe that Jesus died and rose again to be the sacrifice for sin. When Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you have everything you need. Everyone is a sinner. Even St. Theresa needed Jesus! God created you and sees you as His child. You are a Daughter of the King! Be that Princess! Strong, Wise and all the other attributes of God. He wants that. No matter where you start today, begin by trusting the God who made you to finish His work! 

• Do the work! Some days it will be easy and exciting. Some days you will not want to look at it. Just keep at it. Over time, with experience and plain old grit, you will see change in the way you think and act. You will be more like Jesus. One of the best things about being 70 is that I can look back and see God’s faithfulness and the changes He has made in my thinking. I’m not the same person I was in my middle years. Thank you Jesus!!! I am free and with His help, living my best, most abundant life.  You can too! 

This is my formula, 

Know God, know yourself, do the work! 

 Thank you for joining me on the journey!