Archive | January 2017

Have You Been There?

Jan13

Coming before the Lord with a heart so heavily burdened?

Believing you have been called for “such a time as this”? (Esther 4:14)

Questioning the calling because things aren’t going according to your plan?

But because you made the right choice to go before the Lord, you find encouragement and affirmation?

The battle belongs to the Lord and His will be done. During my quiet time this morning, the thought came to mind that I need to put on the armor of God. My additional “going deeper” passages for the day included Ephesians 6:11:

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

His Word still speaks today to burdened hearts. Seek Him. I now face this day without the burden, encouraged, and knowing without a doubt I am right where God has placed me for such a time as this.

Be blessed. Seek Jesus!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

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Focus + Perspective = Praise

Jan7

Genesis 13

Abram trusted God.

How would you have handled the situation of quarreling when the means of taking care of your possessions comes in direct conflict with another taking care of their possessions?

Abram and Lot ran into this. The land could not sustain them both and their possessions. Quarreling ensued. Abram being the older and leader could have taken what he wanted but instead gave Lot the choice to choose land that he wanted. Lot chose the best of the land – plenty of water and fields to eat from.

Abram resided in the land of Canaan. There he built an altar to the Lord. Abram chose to end the quarreling that would bring bitterness and dissension between Lot and himself. Then he chose to build that altar. Where was Abram’s focus? God!

FOCUS on God gives a whole new

PERSPECTIVE: godly; looking through God’s eyes.

I suppose with the right FOCUS and a godly PERSPECTIVE praise comes easy. To our God, Jesus Christ be the glory!

But I enter your house by the abundance of Your faithful love; I bow down toward Your holy temple in reverential awe of You. – Psalm 5:7

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Morning Perspective

Jan6

Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my groaning.
2 Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
3 In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. – Psalm 5:1-3

Ever wonder or even tried talking to God through prayer in the morning and then eagerly watch for the movement of God in your day?

If you want to see God and His glory you ought to try. Walking daily with Him, beginning with conversation, brings about a whole new perspective on your day.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Fruit of Repentance

Jan3

Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance – Matthew 3:8

So what does it mean to “bear fruit”?

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), – Ephesians 5:8-9

Is your “Christian” walk consistent with goodness, righteousness and truth? If this fruit is not evident in your life then now is the time to evaluate your walk and kneel before God in true repentance.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

New Year 2017

Jan2

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. – Genesis 3:7

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. – Genesis 3:21

Adam and Eve at the realization of their nakedness, due to sin (disobedience to God), clothed themselves in fig leaves. The leaves would not have lasted long, since removing them from the vine would cause them to wilt, turn brown and deteriorate. The uselessness of our trying to cover up our sin.

But God . . . clothed Adam and Eve in animal skins. (God’s ways are always better). I thank Dr. Steve Thompson for pointing out last Wednesday night, that God sacrificed the first animal. The skins that Adam and Eve were clothed in came from an animal sacrificed because of sin. God sacrificed an animal in the Garden and also sacrificed His Son for the sins of all mankind.

From beginning to end God demonstrates his love for his creation — man and woman.

How about making 2017 the year you turn from sin to God? He made the provision through His Son, Jesus Christ. Today! Pray – asking forgiveness for your sin and your need for a Savior. Believe – Jesus died for you, was buried and arose from the dead three days later. Confess – Jesus as Lord! Live – as if He is your Lord.

May God bless your 2017 as you live for Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon