Archive | June 2020

Sovereignty of God

Jun30

The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand, This is the plan devised against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”
Isaiah 14:24‭, ‬26‭-‬27 NASB

God has a plan. He is always at work fulfilling His plan. From the creation of the Universe even up to today, God is working out His plan.

We can willingly be a part of that plan or we can rebel against that plan but His plan will come to completion either way.

My hope is that you look to Jesus, our hope for eternity, and walk according to His plan.

What is His plan? It is written out in His holy word. Read it and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal.

🌹Start by seeking Him daily through His word, asking through prayer for understanding, wisdom, the revealing of His word. Ask for a heart, a soul, a mind that will love Him in it’s entirety. Then watch as the Father transforms your willing heart into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Is Today Any Different?

Jun29

And the people will be oppressed, Each one by another, and each one by his neighbor; The youth will storm against the elder And the inferior against the honorable. For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, Because their speech and their actions are against the Lord, To rebel against His glorious presence. Isaiah 3:5‭, ‬8 NASB

Is it any wonder why the world is as it is today?

The Almighty God, Creator of all, looks upon His creation and sees the depravity, self-centered, lewd, corrupt, unloving, uncaring people lost in their sin.

It breaks my heart that there is such disregard for our Sovereign Lord.

🌹Where is your heart? Are you walking honorably in His presence? Does your speech and actions bring glory to God? Are you one who does justice and seeks truth? Can God move you to stand firm on His truth? To speak that truth with boldness and earnestness?

“Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem,
And look now and take note.
And seek in her open squares,
If you can find a man,
If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth,
Then I will pardon her. Jeremiah 5:1

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

God Is My Salvation

Jun26

“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

Salvation: trust with no fear. Are you there?

Is He your strength and song? Is He the first one you run to when times get rough or when decisions need to be made; seeking His strength? Is He the continual song of your heart? Has He become your salvation?

🌹Today is the day to truly believe with conviction and say:
God IS my salvation. I WILL trust and not be afraid.

(Seek a close Christian friend for prayer, guidance, if you need assurance regarding your salvation).

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

In The Sight of the Lord

Jun25

He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done. 2 Kings 18:3‭ NASB
For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. 2 Kings 18:5‭-‬6 NASB

God used King David years beyond his time on earth. King Hezekiah, whom we read about yesterday, was influenced by the example of David. He trusted in the Lord. He clung to the Lord.
(clung: adhered to, hold tight as embracing, to cleve, remain close, attached).

🌹What impact are you making in the world today? Will you be remembered for your relationship with the Holy God? Will your example have others clinging to the Lord, not departing from following Him and keeping His commandments?

You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. Deuteronomy 13:4

It’s a command, not an option.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Focus of Worship

Jun24

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.
Numbers 21:8‭-‬9 NASB

Our God is good. He will discipline but with every act of discipline He provides a solution. It requires an action on our part.

It was sin that brought about the serpents. It was the bronze serpent, looking at it, that brought about salvation from immediate death.

The serpent then became an idol. “It is the serpent who saved” instead of “God is our salvation”.

He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.
2 Kings 18:4 NASB

King Hezekiah broke in pieces the bronze serpent because it had become the focus of worship. It had become their “salvation”.

It is Jesus upon the cross that is our salvation from sin and death, not just the cross. Looking to the cross cannot be replaced with Jesus and a personal relationship with Him.

The cross is significant but the One who hung on the cross is the One to be worshiped.

🌹 What is your salvation based upon? Who or what do you look to, trust, for security, peace, your salvation?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Wrath and the Outstretched Hand

Jun23

For wickedness burns like a fire; It consumes briars and thorns; It even sets the thickets of the forest aflame And they roll upward in a column of smoke. By the fury of the Lord of hosts the land is burned up, And the people are like fuel for the fire; No man spares his brother. They slice off what is on the right hand but still are hungry, And they eat what is on the left hand but they are not satisfied; Each of them eats the flesh of his own arm. Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, And together they are against Judah. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out. Isaiah 9:18-‬21 NASB

Isaiah is a tough pill to swallow. Even so it is one of my favorite books. It is an eye opener written for God’s people, Israel. I see countries of this day and age, specifically the USA, because this is where I live, and we in the past, have been known as a Christian nation are now experiencing the wrath of God just as Israel and the surrounding nations did here in Isaiah.

God demands our allegiance as His children. He is God, our Creator, Sovereign One, deserving our humble praise, obedience, commitment and love.

God will not hold back His wrath from disobedient children but. . . “His hand is still stretched out.”

🌹How will you respond to the outstretched hand of God? Life as usual or will you be a part of the remnant coming in humble repentance to the God who loves you?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

WISE WORDS

Jun22

The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
Ecclesiastes 12:11‭-‬13 NASB


God uses wise people to prod others to seek Him. He is the master of their works. Hopefully this is true. There are many Christian writers out there.

Christian books everywhere. “The writing of many books is endless”. Have you ever stood in a Christian Bookstore and gazed at book after book after book and feel exhausted in your search?

How do you know what book to choose?

Solomon advises: “fear God and keep His commandments”. Why? Because they apply to all people. A book that I read may be just what I need but it will not be what you need. The Bible is what we all need. It is written for all people.

The Bible should also be first choice so that in the reading of other books you have discernment as to what is truth. Just because a book is labeled “Christian” does not mean that it holds to the truth of the word of God.

Bottom line, “fear God and keep His commandments”. If you’re not reading the Bible you don’t know His commandments nor the God who wrote it.

🌹Make daily reading and meditation upon the Word of God a priority. You will not be disappointed.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Provider

Jun20

PROVIDER

I have really enjoyed meandering in Psalm 145 (again) this week. God speaks through His word. Are you reading and listening? Do you believe what it says? Are you being obedient?

God is our provider. This week (January 11, 2008), due to a miscalculation of mine, the bank account was a little short. I still had two outstanding obligations due in so I was short $15.24 and we had gone out to eat adding an additional $9.81 to that amount. Well, needless to say, my God knew three weeks ago that we would be in this predicament, so He sent $25.00 in the mail that day. Joe was to preach on December 23 but due to snow, services were canceled. The church was gracious and sent a check anyway. God is awesome!! He is alive and working in my life. I hope you see Him working in yours.

The Lord sustains all who fall And raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds. Psalms 145:14‭-‬17 NASB

Praise be to God Almighty, provider of and to His creation!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Obedience

Jun19

Forever
Observing
Christ
Unto
Sanctification

On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.
They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness

And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom
And talk of Your power;
To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts
And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 145:5‭-‬7‭, ‬11‭-‬12‭, ‬21 NASB

When you focus on Jesus you can’t help but overflow with obedience to Him. You long to tell the story of a King who humbled Himself and came to earth to live amongst His creation and then in obedience to the Father, He died on the cross. And the Father raised Him to His rightful place, back upon His throne.

Let us not forget that Jesus is still on His throne today and He deserves our focus of praise and our obedience to tell the world that He lives.

🌹Who will you make your focus today?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Focused unto Sanctification

Jun18

The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord , And Your godly ones shall bless You.
Psalms 145:8‭-‬10 NASB

For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:7‭-‬8 NASB

By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil. Proverbs 16:6 NASB

Sanctification – Set apart for God. Holy. Pure. Christ atoned for our sin on the cross by His truth and lovingkindness. The fear of the Lord will keep us away from evil. Focus on the intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, that works to keep us from evil, sanctifying us.

🌹 May the word of God speak to you today.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon