Archives

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

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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

For The Sake Of All

Feb8

Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. — Romans 4:23-25

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. — Romans 5:1-2

Not only for Abraham only but for all who believe in God. The God who raised Jesus from the dead. The Jesus who sacrificed His life for all that all may have peace, reconciliation with the Creator of all. By Jesus’ sacrifice, we are justified by simply believing (faith).

Are you standing in His grace, exulting in hope of the glory of God? If yes, then go praise and exalt our God for the things He has done for us through Jesus His Son. Let the world know He is your Lord.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Seek First?

Feb6

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, — Matthew 6:33a

He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor. — Proverbs 21:21

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves one who pursues righteousness. — Proverbs 15:9 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. — Matthew 5:6

What are you seeking? How’s that working out for you?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Simply Believe?

Feb5

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered.

“Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” — Romans 4:1-8

Believe. Really? That’s all I have to do?

If it were easy to simply believe wouldn’t more people be doing it? It’s a choice that does not come easy. Why?

Because the only part we play in it is “believe”. Well that is too easy and there has to be more. . .

 Let me relay a little story. In the early 1980s, while working at a hospital, I had the privilege of learning the computer system that was being installed in the hospital. In return for learning I was to instruct all the new nurses that were assigned to the floor that I worked on. At that time computers were pretty archaic. There were basically two keys that you would use and all you had to do was remember the functionality of those two keys. Simple, right?

Out of all the nurses I trained over the next 10 years, I would have to say that over 90% heard these words from my mouth, “You’re making it harder than it is”. They were over thinking it because it “should be harder than it looks”.

Are you making the decision to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God — who died on a cross, bearing your sin, and 3 days later arose from the grave — more complicated than it has to be?

Your salvation and eternal life with God does not depend on anything you “do”. It depends on what God has already done and on whether you believe.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon