Archive | February 2015

Consider Sufferings

Feb18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. — Romans 8:18

Would that be a heavenly perspective? When I consider the sufferings of this world compared to being in the presence of God Almighty, it pales a little. When I consider that the suffering of this world only lasts a blink compared to eternity of being in the glory of God, I strive to endure.

The sufferings of this life are only temporary for those who know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Life here and now is incomparable with the glory that is to be revealed to the children of God.

Are you suffering without hope? Is there no light at the end of your tunnel? Turn to Jesus who is the Light of the world and let Him give you a heavenly perspective as you seek Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Weakness

Feb17

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. — Romans 8:26-27

Oh how great our need! Our need for God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to fulfill His great purpose. We are weak but He is strong. We do not know how to pray effectively but the Holy Spirit does. Jesus, who knows our hearts, intercedes with the Father on our behalf to fulfill the will of God, just as Jesus did when He was in the flesh.

To God be the glory for the things He has done and has yet to do in our humbled weakness.

For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. 2 Corinthians 13:4

In The Spirit?

Feb16

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. — Romans 8:9-11

Now that is good news. Pretty much black and white. Either you do or you don’t.

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. — John 14:23

Do you or don’t you have the Spirit of God in you? Choose today. It is a life and death situation.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

The Big “If”

Feb15

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. — Romans 8:14-17

Lots of blessings and assurance in these verses, but what about the “if”? “If indeed we suffer with Him”?

Lately my heart has been so burdened for the”lost”. I have shed tears for family, friends, neighbors, people living in the USA and around the world. As I watch the news, read posts on Facebook and interact with the world around me I see such a great need. There is only one answer — Jesus Christ. Are you seeking peace? Jesus is the Prince of peace. I could go on and on about all the answers to questions that can be answered in the Word of God but they ultimately all lead to Jesus.

The real issue here is are you suffering with Christ in your daily walk? Are you stepping out of your comfort zone to share the gospel with a neighbor, co-worker etc.? Are you willing to pray for your government leaders instead of posting their dirty laundry? Are you willing to stand up and be heard for the sake of Christ and His purpose in the world — to be glorified and bring salvation to all mankind? Does the Way, the Truth and the Life flow from your mouth with life saving scripture despite the ridicule that may come?

I am convicted as I write these words. Am I suffering with Him for His glory and the hope of mankind? What “if” I did?

My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart!
My heart is pounding in me;
I cannot be silent,
Because you have heard, O my soul,
The sound of the trumpet,
The alarm of war.
20 Disaster on disaster is proclaimed,
For the whole land is devastated;
Suddenly my tents are devastated,
My curtains in an instant.
21 How long must I see the standard
And hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 “For My people are foolish,
They know Me not;
They are stupid children
And have no understanding.
They are shrewd to do evil,
But to do good they do not know.” — Jeremiah 4:19-22

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

This Is For You

Feb14

What a beautiful Valentine’s message. Thank you BJ for sharing this again. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Beejai's avatarTHE RIVER WALK

Check out this amazing photographer: https://symakphotography.wordpress.com/tag/dying-rose-photo/ Check out this amazing photographer:
https://symakphotography.wordpress.com/tag/dying-rose-photo/

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.  (Psalm 34:18)

This is for me.
This is for you.
This is for the lonely, the tired, the alone, the single.
This is for “where are all the godly men and I’m not spending another dime on Christian Mingle.”
This is for the girl who huddles in the corner late at night hoping daddy won’t come home drunk and horny… again.
This is for the child whose parents sold her to a con man who promised them she would get an education.
Now she walks dusty streets trading her body for a few rupees.
This is for the boy who is afraid, with good reason to go visit his uncle’s house.
This is for the lapsed Catholic who wonders why that priest is not in jail… or at least defrocked.
This is for…

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Under Obligation

Feb13

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. — Romans 8:12-14

“We are under obligation”. Living a Christian life has obligations. We are responsible to walk in the Spirit so that through the power of God in us we are able to put the deeds of the flesh to death. Forgiveness and grace does not give us freedom to live as we did.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Death or Life?

Feb12

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. — Romans 8:5-8

Where is your mind focused? Death or life and peace? Flesh or Jesus Christ?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Slavery

Feb11

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 6:20-23

We are all slaves to something. We choose whom we are enslaved to. Enslaved to sin, free from righteousness, resulting in death or enslaved to righteousness, free from sin, resulting in eternal life.

Who do you choose? I choose Jesus!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Real Salvation

Feb10

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. — Romans 6:12-13

Salvation is not the end all. As some have called it “fire insurance”. Sin is still in the world, all around us. Before salvation we could be found in the depths of sin. Salvation brings us from death to life. So take a look around. Are you still dabbling in sin? Are you still exposing yourself to sin thinking you are safe from it because you are saved? Many whom Jesus healed He told to go and sin no more.

Seek the Lord and His righteousness and watch His transformation in your life as He takes you from unrighteousness with its unrighteous acts to righteousness and its righteous acts. Live in and for Jesus. That is real salvation.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

God’s Love

Feb9

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. — Romans 5:8-11

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. — Hebrews 7:25

Justified (to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit) by Jesus’ shed blood.

Saved from the wrath of God through Jesus. No one but Jesus.

Reconciled (to reconsecrate, to restore) by Jesus’ death.

Saved by Jesus’ resurrection.

Draw near to the One who made salvation, reconciliation and justification possible. He is the only way!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon