Archive | July 2020

Willing?

Jul17

For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing,
Isaiah 30:15 NASB

Where is your trust centered?

Yourself? Your job/career? Your government? Your family? Ect.

There is only One who can be truly and fully trusted BUT are you willing?

First and foremost you must repent, that is to turn from your will and ways – self centeredness – and follow and seek God’s will and His way. It is there where you can find rest and peace.

THEN

🌹Get to know the One who can be trusted, through prayer, the reading and studying of His word, and in the fellowship of other believers you will be strengthened. Seek Him.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Choice is Yours

Jul16

Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.
Isaiah 13:11 NASB

The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word. Isaiah 24:3 NASB

Reading through Isaiah is like watching current events. So many correlations between today and this time in history.

The Word of God should be a “learn from history” book but we are a people trusting in our own abilities to change or make better today. That was then, this is now mentality.

History repeats itself because we are a rebellious, self-centered, arrogant people. Self included.

The Word of God reveals the Maker of all. Even in our depravity He desires a relationship with us. He desires to love us, protect us, lead us, use us in His plans here on earth right into eternity.

You want to know God, experience Him, be a part of His plan?

Repent, get into His word, talk to Him (pray), listen and follow in obedience.

You are either walking in His will or in yours. The choice is up to you.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 🌹

Where Are Your Eyes Focused?

Jul15

It shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord  makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 8:19-20

The last couple of days my heart has been heavily burdened for the lost and for the church – especially those who believe in their salvation but are living in fear of the happenings around them instead of in fear of God. Is it because they have forgotten their God or perhaps believe in a God that is not supported by Scripture?

Where are your eyes focused? Is it on the daily events around you? COVID? Deterioration of society? Worry for your future?

Or are your eyes focused on God? The only peace we can encounter when all around us is falling apart. Our Prince of Peace.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

He has come. The government rests on His shoulders. He is mighty over all. Seek His counsel and His ways. He is our peace. He is coming again.

Do you trust in God? Do you trust His plan? Are you seeking Him with a repentant heart? Does He abide in you? A repentant heart and the residing of the Holy Spirit in us will display the fruit of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Now is the time.

Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7

🌹Seek the Lord’s compassion today through repentance and seeking His face continually. Where are your eyes focused?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Are You Sure That You Are Sure?

Jul14

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. John 15:10 NASB

Are you abiding in the love of God? Are you following the example of Jesus?

God has a plan. We are either joined with Him in fulfilling that plan or we are against Him and His plan.

There is no straddling the fence. It’s time to

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5

🌹At death or Christ’s return, it will be too late to abide in Him, follow and obey.

Be sure.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Grandchildren

Jul13

I make a point to rise early every morning to have coffee with my Lord. I start with telling Him how much I love Him and why I love Him. I thank Him for so many things, each day different in my thankfulness.

I share with Him my sin and brokenness, my failures, and that always ends in thankfulness for Jesus’ death and resurrection. Also thanking Him for clothing me in His righteousness.

I then begin to pray for others. I try real hard to pray with a spiritual perspective – God to be glorified, lives to be transformed, salvation to be granted, invitation to salvation be seen – in all situations. I pray for God’s work in the life of His church and the leaders He has appointed.

It ends with asking God to use me “this day” and for understanding of His word as I partake of His sweet words. This goes well with my second cup of coffee.

About now you might be asking what does this have to do with grandchildren (in case you forgot, the Title is Grandchildren).

Well, if you recall, I rise early to be with the Lord because I am kinda partial to my time with Him and I don’t like interruptions. My 5 year old granddaughter is staying with us and she woke up right after I retrieved my second cup of coffee and read Psalm 128.

I have been known to grumble under my breath when things don’t go my way. Today I decided to take another approach. As she climbed up onto my lap we sat as I read to her. What a precious moment and opportunity to look at God’s perspective and allow Him to speak through me to my granddaughter.

God had other plans this morning. Thus the reason a little later than usual and with a testimony instead of a devotion.

‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 🌹

FROM WOE TO GO

Jul10

God never ceases to amaze me. He makes Himself visible if we would only seek Him. I usually write a devotional from the Scriptures I am reading in my daily reading plan but God had other plans this morning. Certain events happened this morning that brought me to Isaiah.

And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”
Isaiah 6:3 NASB

Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” Isaiah 6:5‭-‬7 NASB

Right here is the gospel. When confronted with Holy God, the King of Kings, the Lord of hosts we can’t but realize we are ruined, people of unclean lips. We are sinners who can’t possibly live up to God’s standard.

The coal taken from the Sacrificial altar – Jesus the Sacrifice from the altar of God – cleanses from sin, forgiven. We are clothed in His righteousness.

What do we do with this forgiveness, this new coat of righteousness?

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 NASB

One of the events that happened this morning that inspired this devotion was hearing from a sister in Christ who I have had the privilege to watch God’s movement in her and her families lives.

God has worked to bring this family to answer the call of “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”

🌹Salvation is only the beginning of the work of God in you. What will be your response? “Here am I, send me!”?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

My Will

Jul9

‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NASB

From the Lord’s prayer. Your will be done. Hmm. Have you ever thought on that? God’s will be done… On earth as it is in heaven.

What do we truly seek? Where is our thoughts, heart, mind focused?

The age old problem of my will or God’s will. It’s nothing new.

How can we know God’s will?

Through the prayerful reading of God’s word. Through the fellowship of His saints. Through seeking His will with open eyes looking for His work around us (circumstances).

Unfortunately we get complacent in our walk and we become just as Israel did in the wilderness.

They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city. They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses. Psalms 107:4‭-‬6 NASB

They finally woke up and cried out to the Lord and He delivered them.

Why do we wait to desire God’s will until we’ve made a mess of our lives? Now is the time of repentance. Now is the time to seek God’s will, His kingdom, His righteousness.

🌹Suggestion: Read Psalm 107 with God’s will in mind. Evaluate your life and what you see in the world around you. Do you see God’s will or man’s will?

‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NASB

What is your response?

Mercy

Jul8

They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, Psalm 106:21‭ NASB

Have we forgotten our Savior, our God?

Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, To turn away His wrath from destroying them. Psalm 106:23‭ NASB

O the power of prayer that is brought before a personal God. Moses who walked, talked, lived life in a close, personal relationship with Him. Was Moses perfect? No, but God is. Moses stood in the gap on behalf of Israel for the sake of God’s name.

Are you willing to stand in the gap asking God to pour out mercy on your nation? Family? Friends? Neighbors?

Moses was not the only one to stand in the gap:

But grumbled in their tents; They did not listen to the voice of the Lord . Therefore He swore to them That He would cast them down in the wilderness, Then Phinehas stood up and interposed, And so the plague was stayed. And it was reckoned to him for righteousness, To all generations forever. Psalm 106:25‭-‬26‭, ‬30‭-‬31‭ NASB

Again the power of prayer. O to see what God can do with a repentant heart that prays on behalf of others. It would be reckoned to us as righteousness.

Many times He would deliver them; They, however, were rebellious in their counsel, And so sank down in their iniquity. Psalm 106:43‭ NASB

The mercy of God. Patience of God. And yet we still sin against our God. Until we come to the point of such distress we call out to Him.

Nevertheless He looked upon their distress When He heard their cry; And He remembered His covenant for their sake, And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness. Psalm 106:44-‬45‭ NASB

How long will we wait before we cry out to God for mercy, repent of our sin, and stand in the gap for others?

Save us, O Lord our God, And gather us from among the nations, To give thanks to Your holy name And glory in Your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, “Amen.”

Praise the Lord!
Psalm 106:47‭-‬48 NASB

🌹Will you take time to pray earnestly with me, seeking God’s mercy, until we see His answer and can rejoice and praise His glorious name together?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Holy, Holy, Holy

Jul7

The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake! The Lord is great in Zion, And He is exalted above all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He. Exalt the Lord our God And worship at His footstool; Holy is He. Exalt the Lord our God And worship at His holy hill, For holy is the Lord our God. Psalms 99:1‭-‬3‭, ‬5‭, ‬9 NASB

God reigns. He is on His throne. He is exalted above all the peoples whether we believe or acknowledge it as so.

Reality check. God is holy, whether we believe it or not.

What should be our response to these facts?

Let us praise His great and awesome name.
Exalt the Lord our God and worship Him.

FOR HE IS HOLY!!

🌹How will you respond to God’s holiness today?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Crop Sowing and Reaping Pt. 3

Jul3

You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors, Hosea 10:13 NASB
Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 NASB
Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually. Hosea 12:6 NASB

The book of Hosea is about the call of God to Israel for repentance. It is still speaking to us today. God preserves those who walk with Him, who follow in obedience, and trust their whole being to Him, trust in Him with their lives.

God is calling. Calling us to return to Him.

God is calling. Calling us to repentance.

God is calling. Calling us to drop our ways and trust in His ways.

God is calling us. Calling us to observe kindness and justice.

God is calling us. Calling us to wait for Him.

God is calling. Are we listening?

Wait for Him. It takes a still, quiet heart focused on the Lord God to hear Him. Seeking Him in His word and prayer consistantly. Listening in anticipation, expecting God to reveal Himself.

Do you want to experience God fully? Seek Him through His word, prayer, fellowship with other believers and listen.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 🌹