Archive | July 2014

Accurate Handling

Jul21

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15

How can we accurately handle the Word of truth if we don’t know it?

So many have come to the altar seeking forgiveness from sin, asking Jesus into their heart and then walking out the door to live a life unchanged. What makes the difference? The Word of God. It is God’s love letter to His children where He tells us everything we need to know to live a life for Him. To live a life that will bring Him glory. To live a life unashamed. To live a life approved by God.

An approved workman tells others that Jesus is alive! He has risen from the dead and desires to walk daily with them. He wants the best for us so He guides us by His Word. When we tell others of Jesus, we need to be sure we are representing Him in truth. How can we know that we are speaking the truth of God? Open the Bible and study it. Read it everyday. Meditate on it. Memorize it. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

We have the hope of being an adequate workman for God when we study the Word of God, accurately handling the word of truth so that we are fully equipped to fulfill God’s plan for us all.

Are you equipped? Are you ready? Diligently seek Christ through the Word of God.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Fountain of Living Water

Jul20

O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the Lord. — Jeremiah 17:13
How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, — Psalm 146:5

Hope in the Lord does not bring about shame. He is a trustworthy God who will not forsake His own. Turn to the Lord, the living water, from whom we are quenched. God loves us and desires us to do His will for the benefit of our souls and for His glory. He will not let us down. He will not forsake us so do not forsake Him. Turn to Jesus for the help to face each day, to know the freedom from sin only He can give, and to experience peace in a world of chaos. He so longs to show you all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge that is Jesus Christ Himself.

Seek out the Lord Jesus Christ — by reading His Word, talking to a friend who knows Jesus, going to a church that proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ and/or talking to Jesus by prayer. He is listening. Open your heart to receive all He has planned for you. He is your hope!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Hope in the Living God

Jul19

I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. — Psalm 130:5
Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. — Psalm 119:116
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. — Hebrews 6:18

My hope is in the living God. By His Word I am sustained so that I may live in hope. In trusting God and His promises I will not be ashamed of my hope because my God speaks the truth in His Holy Word. It is impossible for Him to lie so I can put my complete trust in Him, find refuge in Him and in Him I have great confidence to hold to the hope of a future. A future designed by God for His purpose. I shall live and not be ashamed of my hope because I know my Lord and I am confident that He has my future in hand. He is my hope, and His Word is my stay. I shall trust in Him. I shall hope in Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Blessed Are We!

Jul18

So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. — 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

Wow!!! Hallelujah!!!! Praise God!!!!!

Our Father forever and ever
He is greatness and power
He is glory and victory
He is majesty
He is the ruler over His creation
He has dominion over all
He is the giver of riches and honor
His hand holds power and might
It is by His power to make great and strengthen everyone
O Glorious Lord
Thank You
Praise You

Blessed are You, O Lord. Blessed are we, O Lord!
Know Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Hope

Jul17

O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption. Psalm 130:7

Praise God for His gracious lovingkindness. In that lovingkindess toward His creation He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name. (Psalm 111:9) He has sent His redemption through Jesus Christ. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7)

Oh how thankful I am that my God is rich in grace forgiving me of all unrighteousness for the sake of Jesus His Son. I am grateful each day for the price Christ paid on my behalf and the joy of walking with Him and the hope that is found in the Lord. Have you received redemption? Are you experiencing a close, intimate relationship with the great Son of God? Do you have hope in the Lord? Jesus is the way, truth and life. Faith in Him will give you hope.

But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. Psalm 71:14

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Do Not Be Dismayed

Jul16

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

We have no need to tremble or be dismayed. But in life we do experience times of trembling and are discouraged. Why? Could it be that we have not heeded the commandment of God? Could it be we are not clinging to the promise of God? Could it be that we lack confidence in God because we aren’t spending quality time with Him?

The closer our walk with Jesus the more confidence is displayed in our character. The greater the confidence the stronger and more courageous or brave we are. The more confidence in God and His Word brings about the boldness to tell others the Good News. It gives us the courage to face difficult situations, surmounting circumstances in our lives. Why? Because the Lord is with us wherever we go.

What a comfort in the Words of God telling us that He is with us wherever we go. When we walk closely with the Lord we can not only count on this promise but have peace knowing that His promise is true.  Know Him today. Seek Him continually. He is our strength and our courage.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Wow, God is Awesome!

Jul15

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. —  Jude 1:24

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Slaughter or Deliverance?

Jul14

You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. — James 5:5-6

All your possessions you hold dear are nothing when life is over. The wealth you count on, trust in, will be your demise. Trust in the Lord can save you but you choose to put trust in your wealth. (v.2-3) Your abundance of the pleasures and treasures of this world will be a witness against you. (v.3)

To succeed and be prosperous you choose to hurt, belittle, and cheat others. Your life focus is to be successful no matter the cost — even if it means condemning the righteous. Their cries will be a testimony against you! Your lustful desires of worldly pleasures and treasures for your own fulfillment with no regard for the poor and needy will be a testimony against you. Living life for yourself and for today only fattens you up for the day of slaughter.

Whom do you choose today? The world and it’s ways or Jesus Christ and His way?
Do you seek the things of this world or the things of heaven?
Do you reach out with love and charity to the world in need or are you just “all about me”?
Are you preparing for the slaughter or for the deliverance?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Praise the Lord!!!!

Jul13

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord while I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. — Psalm 146:1-2

So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name. — Psalm 63:4

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. — Psalm 104:33

Whenever or however you spend your time in worship I pray that at least once a week it is spent with church family. I hope that you worship our King in spirit and in truth. Praise Him with all your being as you lift up your voice in songful praise and your hands to the name above all names. Worship and praise Him with all your being as long as you live. He is worthy.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Prophesy

Jul12

But if everyone is proclaiming God’s message when some unbelievers or ordinary people come in, they will be convinced of their sin by what they hear. They will be judged by all they hear,  their secret thoughts will be brought into the open, and they will bow down and worship God, confessing, “Truly God is here among you!”— 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (GNT)

Proclaiming God’s message is a gift that one should earnestly desire. (14:1). The message is the Word of God. It is the gospel. It is Jesus Christ promised and fulfilled.

The power of the Word of God is miraculous. It brings unbelievers and ordinary people to their knees in repentance and worship of God. The Word of God has the power to convict, to bring to mind the deep secrets of the soul that darken a life. It has the power to bring knowledge of the One True God causing us to worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords. It has the power to draw us to the throne of God for mercy, grace and redemption.

When the Word of God is proclaimed in the church by everyone, not just the Pastor, then unbelievers will confess that “Truly God is among you!” Proclaim the Word of God in your everyday life. If you are walking closely with Him and studying His awesome Word then you will want to speak of His glory. You will see His glory in everyday happenings in your life. In those you have opportunities to share testimonies of God’s Word. As you do you will see unfold before you the power of God’s Word as it touches the lives of those who need Jesus Christ.

So. Will you earnestly desire the gift of proclaiming God’s Word? Pray asking for God’s gift to prophesy His truth and then seek Him in His Word so you may be equipped to proclaim the Good News!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon