Archive | October 2014

Concerning Grace

Oct31

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! — Romans 6:14-15

May it never be!? But don’t we take advantage of God’s grace? A gift through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Himself! And then knowingly, blatantly sin, making excuses for our sin? It’s as if we are mocking Him and spitting on Him*.

Let me give you an example that I was convicted by.
[Be Subject to Government] Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Romans 13:1)

Does that include the speed limit? “It’s okay to go over by 5 mph because the police won’t stop you for that”. Doesn’t “Go with the flow of traffic” sound the same as saying “everyone else is doing it”? Are the police our authority or is God and His Word? (If God and His Word, then we ultimately obey the police and the law of the land).

There are many more examples as we travel through our day when we have opportunity to obey or take advantage of God’s grace by not living up to God’s standard but the standard of man. Hopefully we are now more aware of our responsibility concerning the wonderful, sacrificial gift of grace.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

*Mark 10:34

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Student See, Student Do

Oct30

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. — Colossians 3:12-15

Through the Word of God (Bible) we see Jesus. He is compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. He is forgiving and loving. It is only through Christ that His church is unified and it is only in following Him, learning His attributes and practicing them that we can experience the peace of Christ.

Jesus our example, the Holy Spirit our teacher. As we draw closer to Jesus Christ, study His Word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and learn, we will reflect the character of our teacher. We will reflect Jesus to others.

The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. — Galatians 6:6-8

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

The Greatest Thing In All My Life: Serving You

Oct29

Mark Pendergrass
The greatest thing in all my life is serving You.
The greatest thing in all my life is serving You.
I want to serve You more; I want to serve you more.
The greatest thing in all my life is serving You.

http://music4christ.cjb.net

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. — 1 Peter 4:10-11

serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; — Acts 20:19

not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; — Romans 12:11

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; — Romans 12:6-11

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

The Greatest Thing In All My Life: Loving You

Oct28

Mark Pendergrass
The greatest thing in all my life is loving You.
The greatest thing in all my life is loving You.
I want to love You more; I want to love you more.
The greatest thing in all my life is loving You.

http://music4christ.cjb.net

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” — Luke 10:27

by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” — Deuteronomy 30:20

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, — Daniel 9:4

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

The Greatest Thing In All My Life: Knowing You

Oct27

Mark Pendergrass
The greatest thing in all my life is knowing You.
The greatest thing in all my life is knowing You.
I want to know You more; I want to know you more.
The greatest thing in all my life is knowing You.

Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; — Deuteronomy 7:9

Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. — Psalm 91:14

Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. — Psalm 73:25

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God. — Psalm 42:1

With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments. — Psalm 119:10

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Psalm, Hymns and Thanks

Oct26

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; — Ephesians 5:19-20

Today is the perfect opportunity to do this. Hope you have the chance to worship God with others in unity to the praise and glory of our Lord.

God bless your Sabbath day.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Let’s Worship

Oct25

Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. — Psalm 95:6

Yes, let us. He deserves our worship and praise but do we earnestly practice and seek Him in worship with our whole heart, our whole being, in spirit and truth?

I am guilty and ashamed to admit that I neglect the worship of the Lord as He deserves.

Join me as we put into daily practice prayer, seeking, and worship of our Mighty God continually!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Where Were You?

Oct23

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

2 “Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
3 “Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
5 Who set its measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?
6 “On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who enclosed the sea with doors
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
9 When I made a cloud its garment
And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 And I placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther;
And here shall your proud waves stop’? — Job 38:1-11

Very humbling.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Amazement

Oct22

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; — Luke 5:4-9

It is amazing what God can do when we obey and let Him work through us. This testimony of Simon Peter’s encounter with Jesus tells us just that. Peter worked, along with others, all night and caught nothing. Under their own power they worked very hard through the night. I am pretty sure they felt defeated, tired and lacking hope. What changed that next morning? Jesus instructed, they obeyed and the outcome was plentiful.

They were amazed and Peter humbly fell down at Jesus’ feet. God’s power is bigger, better, stronger and more productive than ours. Our reliance on Jesus as He works through us will keep us amazed at what He can do with a willing, humble and obedient heart and soul. Do you want to be amazed? Let Jesus work in you.

This amazing event was only a taste of what Jesus had planned for Peter and the disciples. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” (Luke 5:10b) Can you only imagine what our Lord can do through you to catch men for His sake? These fish that Peter and the others caught are slim pickins compared to what Jesus can do through us to reach a lost and dying world.

Be amazed!!!! Start by obediently following the Lord Jesus.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon