Archive | June 2014

Conviction

Jun11

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.strong>For,
“The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. “He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it. “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. — 1 Peter 3:8-17

Wow, what conviction when I read this. In the heat of the moment, when insulted, blamed, evil being flung at you, are you harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit? My reaction is usually opposite of this. I allow their intimidation and become troubled deep within my soul.

What I need is to sanctify Christ as Lord in my heart so I may turn away from evil. With Him I am able to keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which I am slandered, those who revile my good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better to be riled for doing what is right than doing what is wrong.

Jesus suffered and died for us. Can we not hold our tongue and uphold our Lord? We must seek and pursue peace whatever the cost. So be a blessing and be blessed. “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer,”.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Wisdom

Jun10

Wisdom have I none, Lord
But what comes from Thee
It’s mine for the asking
Your wisdom bestow on me.

As I daily seek Thee
May I lean on Thee
In Your wisdom basking
For eternity.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. — James 1:5

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Bitterness

Jun9

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” — Lamentations 3:19-24

Have you ever experienced bitterness? That something that is hard to bear, distressing, painful, grieving your soul that brings the taste of bitterness? Remember lest that bitterness turns to fierce, cruel, ruthless, relentless or hostile bitterness, that there is hope.

This is our hope: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

God has a plan and sometimes that plan doesn’t sit well with us causing bitterness. Take your bitterness to the Lord. His compassions never fail. He is faithful. Trust Him and wait on Him. He is our portion. He is all we need and the answer to all our woes and bitterness. He will renew you with His faithfulness and compassion every new day. Praise the Lord God Almighty.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Adorned

Jun8

Adorn: to make more pleasing, attractive, impressive, etc.; enhance:
Synonyms of adorn: embellish, beautify, enhance, enrich, array

that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. — Titus 2:10

How do you wear the doctrine of God our Savior? Are you aware of your speech and actions at all times and how they could affect your witness of the One you represent? What is your first response when you realize you haven’t represented the holy, perfect, worthy God? Does it tear at your very soul and crush your heart? Do you run to the throne of God seeking His forgiveness?

Let us be so entwined in our relationship with Jesus that every deviation from His teachings makes us sorely regretful. Let us adorn the doctrine of God in all things. In this way we are a witness of a wonderful, merciful, holy, loving God.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Continually Seeking Him!

Jun7

Amazing! God makes Himself so visible especially in those times of great need, when dismayed, fearful and weak.

God knows my heart and speaks straight to it. Open my Facebook page and out from the News Feed comes scripture of comfort, support, and strength from my dear friends in Christ who post the Lord’s Word. (I love how God uses all of us to minister to each other.)

Opening up the Word of God, the Scriptures draw me to words of comfort, support and strength as they jump out from the pages of God’s Word. Now opening up my Scripture treasure chest, I pull out the card of the day and there He is again.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

So very grateful for my loving, intimate relationship with the Lord.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Changed

Jun6

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face continually.

Psalm 105:1-4

Sometimes I just need to be reminded of why I am here and my purpose. When I am reminded I am changed and so are others. 

Thank you Lord for your Word and it’s reminder to me.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Children’s Responsibility

Jun5

The church should take loving care of women whose husbands have died if they don’t have anyone else to help them.  But if they have children or grandchildren, these are the ones who should take the responsibility, for kindness should begin at home, supporting needy parents. This is something that pleases God very much. But anyone who won’t care for his own relatives when they need help, especially those living in his own family, has no right to say he is a Christian. Such a person is worse than the heathen. — 1 Timothy 5:3-4, 8

My Mom and I had a discussion yesterday morning about my helping her and my Dad when he was alive. I believe that God called me to stay in Washington State with my Mom and Dad after a visit there found my Dad in poor health. All the time I have been very content knowing that I was doing what God had called me to do.

Since my Dad’s deliverance to heaven in March I have been taking care of my Mom who has some confusion and other health issues that does not allow her to live alone. We are discussing what we can do to have me home with my family in Missouri and still be able to provide for her. Mom always told us kids as we were growing up that when we were grown and had our own families that she would not be a burden to any of us. She insisted that we were to put her in a nursing home when she got too old to take care of herself. That thought just didn’t sit right with me and believed that it was not what God had planned for me to do.

I share with my Mom that I believe God desires for me to care for her and has made provision to do so. I also stated that I believe the Bible says that it is my responsibility to care for her. Well in our conversation she called me on it. Where does it say that in the Bible? I immediately started searching for it and when I wasn’t finding it I started to pray asking for God’s guidance to find it. I was beginning to think I had to eat crow and humbly confess to my Mom that I was wrong. Thank God that He led me to this verse. I had read it before in the past, probably several times in my life and I believe the Holy Spirit reminded me of this verse even if I didn’t know where or if it was in the Bible. I rejoice that we have the Holy Spirit to bring to mind the things of the word when we need it.

I covet your prayers for my Mom and me so that we both see God’s guidance and will in this issue of her care. I just long to please God.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Writer’s Block

Jun4
having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. — Colossians 2:7

Sometimes scripture just jumps off the page and you have such a testimony to tell. Other times scripture just seems to sit on the page and do nothing. Let me tell you that scripture is always good and has something to say but it is the one who reads it that is closed to it. It could be that the person has not received the Holy Spirit, through salvation, to interpret the scripture. It could be that sin in the life of a person is blocking understanding. It could be that it is just a dry time in the life of a person. Today I am experiencing a dry time.

Dry times are those times when we need to rely upon the Word of God that is firmly rooted in our hearts that establish our faith. When I have a dry time I always seem to look to who God is, all the blessings He has bestowed upon me, and how He has transformed me and continues to do so. I can’t help but be filled with joy and gratitude when I focus on Him. Psalm is usually the book I look to. Today Colossians spoke to me.

I overflow with gratefulness when I examine my life and realize the work of transformation the Lord has done in me. It is not anything I have done but what He has done. When I am reminded of His great mercy, grace and love I can’t help but be grateful and write of the joy that comes from focusing on the One true God.  Again He has come through with something to write about. To God be the glory!

Thank You Jesus.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Living For Jesus

Jun3

and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. — 2 Corinthians 5:15

Yesterday’s devotional showed us that we should render service to all as if we were rendering service to our Lord.  Today’s scripture says that we should live for Him. With gratitude for our salvation, our eternal life and our daily walk with Jesus we should be motivated to live not longer for ourselves but for Jesus.

Not living for ourselves means surrendering our pitiful lives to Jesus so He may live in and through us. His desire is our selfless surrender to Him. It means turning from our desires, our independence, our plans and giving them all to Jesus and allowing Him to transform those desires, independence, and plans into a passion for Him and His purpose for us.

After all, to live is Christ and to die is gain.* Are you living for Jesus? Is your whole life wrapped around Him and His word? Do you rise in the morning singing praises to His name? Does His creation remind you of Him? Do you see glimpses of His work as you go through your day? Is He your last thought as you drift off to blissful sleep?

God transforms us to live for Him. Your surrender will never be a a bad decision. Jesus is so worth it. He is everything you will ever need, want or desire. He is sufficient. Won’t you surrender your life today and let God transform you?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

 

* Philippians 1:21

Work – Ugh?

Jun2

With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, — Ephesians 6:7

If you work for a living you “render service”. What does your service look like? Is it an example to others that you serve God? Is your day filled with grumbling and complaining about how the “company” or “boss” is unfair and doing you wrong? Do you look at your day as “I can’t wait to get through it so I can do what I want after work”? Are you always in a hurry for the weekend? In a state of hurry do you mistreat people or grumble under your breath that they are slowing you and your productivity down?

OR

Do you look at your work as a gift from God to meet the needs of your family and yourself? Do you face each day looking to see how you can fulfill God’s plan of salvation through your actions and attitude? Do you respect your authority as much as you respect God?

Is God not in control? Are the people in your life who slow your productivity not put there for a purpose? The purpose may be to teach you patience or perseverance or trust that God is in control. Or is that person there so you can be a witness of God’s awesome mercy and grace?

It really is all about God. May God bless your work day.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon