Archive | December 2022

Living Water

Dec16

“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.”  Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation.  Isaiah 12:2-3 NASB

🌹God of my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, as I practice being steadfast of mind, for You will keep me in perfect peace because I trust in You. You are my strength and song and have become my salvation! You are my God and I will praise You; my father’s God and I will extol You! You are my salvation and I thank You for the gift of living water I have the privilege to partake of from the springs of salvation. From my innermost being flows the river of living water, Your Holy Spirit, because I believe in You, Jesus. May I share this gift of living water with others who are thirsty that they also may partake of the living water of salvation. In Jesus name and for His glory I pray, amen.  Isaiah 26:3/Exodus 15:2/John 4:10/John 7:37‭-‬38 NASB 

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Giving Thanks

Dec15

Then you will say on that day, “I will give thanks to You, O Lord; For although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, And You comfort me.
Isaiah 12:1

O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. For Your anger is but for a moment, Your favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. I thank You, Lord God for Your forgiveness and faithfulness. Thank You for the undeserved favor You bestow on me. Thank You for Your promises. I will give thanks to You, O Lord! Amen.
Isaiah 25:1/Psalms 30:5 NASB


🌹For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Therefore Resulting In . . .

Dec14

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:8 NASB

These Qualities:
Applying with all diligence,
1. In your faith supply moral excellence
2. In your moral excellence, knowledge
3. In your knowledge, self-control
4. In your self-control, perseverance
5. In your perseverance, godliness,
6. In your godliness, brotherly kindness
7. In your brotherly kindness, love.
2 Peter 1:5‭-‬7 NASB

🌹for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
2 Peter 1:11 NASB

Are you confident that you know that you know that you know?

Continually Seeking Him

Sharon

Therefore Finale

Dec13

“Practice these things and you will not stumble“: 2 Peter 1:10

and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:7 NASB

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; (outdo one another in showing honor.) Now as to the love of the brethren, we ourselves are taught by God to love one another. By God’s Word and our Teacher, the Holy Spirit abiding in us. We have been anointed with the receiving of the Holy Spirit of God who teaches us about all things, and is true and is not a lie. We have been taught to abide in Him. Abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. Romans 12:10/1 Thessalonians 4:9/1 John 2:27-28 NASB

So to know that you know that you know . . .

Read God’s word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; practice what you have learned; and abide in Jesus. Abide in His righteousness, His power, His way. Work together with brothers and sisters in Christ, fulfilling what God set us apart for, His purpose.

🌹If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. 1 John 2:29 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Recommended reading: John 15

The Therefore #2

Dec12

“Practice these things and you will not stumble“: 2 Peter 1:10

and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
2 Peter 1:6

Knowlege of Jesus Christ. Knowing that He is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but through Jesus, the Son. Knowing that the Holy Spirit abides in us, the believer. Did you know that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit? By the power of the living God dwelling in us we have self-control to persevere in our sanctification. Let us persevere in disciplining ourselves for the purpose of godliness which is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. Be in the word regularly and let us practice living what we learn.
Galatians 5:23/1 Timothy 4:7-8 NASB

And let us not forget:

🌹seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:3 NASB

By the power of Christ living in us!!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Therefore

Dec9

“Practice these things and you will not stumble“: 2 Peter 1:10

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence (virtue), and in your moral excellence (virtue), knowledge,
2 Peter 1:5‭ NASB

Applying all diligence! The New Testament for Everyone says, “you should strain every nerve”. Our faith is fragile. Faith isn’t a one time decision, it is a constant that needs nourished. Nourished with truths that distinguish right and wrong so we can express and convey right conduct, walk in righteousness. Jesus is our righteousness and His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2 Peter 1:3/Colossians 2:3 NASB

Apply the Word of God. God’s word is the moral compass of moral virtue. In the Word of God is the knowledge of the righteousness of Christ. I believe that God’s word has the power to transform our moral compass and fill us with the knowledge of Jesus Christ. To know Him is to love Him.

🌹Are you diligently reading God’s word on a daily basis?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Know That You Know That You Know

Dec8

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
2 Peter 1:10

Do you know that you know that you know you are saved? I remember an evangelist some 30 years ago make that statement several times during a revival weekend. It has stuck with me.

Our scripture today warns us “be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you“. Why?

For many are called (invited), but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:14 NASB

A very important word, “Therefore”, begins our scripture passage today. “Therefore” calls us to look back to see what we should practice. Join me tomorrow as we begin to unfold the way we can —
🌹Know that you know that you know!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Overcome

Dec7

What a week, plus it has been. Don’t think I have ever been that sick. I can sure relate to Job a lot more now although I believe I am blessed with better friends. The outpouring of prayers and being checked on frequently blessed me beyond measure. I am loved.

Not writing, barely finding the strength to read God’s Holy word, did give me time to contemplate, ponder the affects of sickness which were definitely out of my control. How do I handle this situation in which I find myself and have no control over it?

During this journey, this verse intrigued me.

for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
2 Peter 2:19b NASB

What can overcome us?
Grief, Sorrow, lust of the eyes, illness, wellness, self centeredness, worry, loneliness, stress, success, poverty, well-being, life itself ‐ good or bad.

I prayed and cried out to the Lord for healing. I was tired of being sick and overcome with this illness. I had enough!!!!! O, our God is so good. He listened. He brought to mind the disciples on the lake being tossed about by the storm. He reminded me that all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I came to realize that nothing happens to me that isn’t sifted through my God’s hands. What was the worst that could happen? Death? NO! That is the victory!! Everything is under the control of the Sovereign God and everything happens for a reason and purpose. Maybe I needed to be refocused on what is really important – God Himself. Maybe I needed to learn to persevere when things aren’t so great. Maybe I needed to realize I have a BIG, BIG God who loves me and is with me through every hurting, scary, uncertain moment of my life because He is my peace, comfort, joy, strength, hope, my all in all.

I want to be “enslaved” to the Spirit of God living in me.

🌹For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
1 John 5:4‭ NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon