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Encounters with God

Sep20

Saturday evening I went walking at one of my favorite places. Surrounded by God’s creation, a few passersby, quiet and able to spend quiet moments with Jesus (actually about an hour).
As I walk I talk with God. I didn’t have much to say so I told God I would walk and listen for His still small voice. I can do a lot of talking and it was difficult to be silent. My mind was wandering instead of listening. But I was reminded that God is sufficient. He is enough for me and all that I need.
At one point I asked, “God, do you have a word for me, a word of Scripture?” Seconds later a young woman walking towards me noticed the shirt I was wearing and said, “I did that VBS! I was the music person!” Then she does a little punch in the air and says, “Game On” along with a little jump in the air. As we passed each other I just thanked God that He spoke to me through that young lady.
Continuing to walk on I pondered my request and how God answered it. Then I thought, I asked for a Scripture. Remembering after I got home that there is a verse on the back of the shirt, I looked it up . . .

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

In the quietness of my walk focusing on God, He not only reminded me that He is sufficient but when I asked Him for a verse He gave me one to affirm my thoughts. My God is sufficient and all I need.

Sunday morning. I’m cruising through Facebook waiting for my coffee to brew. Right in the middle of cruising I close my eyes and whisper a prayer, “God, I am so tired this morning and if I close my eyes for my daily prayer I will fall asleep. Is that okay? I open my eyes and this I see:

Saturdays evening prayer: “Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
Psalms 139:4-‬7 NASB
(Are you thankfully reacting to the Hand of God being on you? Do you know that you can never totally understand the Lord? Are you OK with the knowledge that you cannot hide from an all knowing God?)
Thank you Pastor friend Roger Anderson

How can I possibly leave for church this morning (Sunday) without preparing my heart for worship? Prayer time ensued.

🌹 What an amazing God!!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

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My Joy

Dec16

Remember me, O Lord , in Your favor toward Your people; Visit me with Your salvation, That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance.        Psalms 106:4‭-‬5 NASB

This is my heart’s desire. God, I believe, is calling me to serve His inheritance, His people. There is no greater joy for me than to see God’s people experience Him, to know the joy of their salvation, the peace of God in the midst of turmoil, to know the hope of prosperity in His chosen ones (eternally walking with Him). I glory in His inheritance (His people).

🌹 When people truly experience Him they make a difference in a lost world.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Have You Ever Had One of Those Days?

Oct9

Have you ever had one of those days when everything went perfectly? A day of abundant living? A day when your heart is overflowing with joy?

Well let me tell you that I was blessed tremendously today. Rewind . . .

A few days earlier.  . .

I was feeling down, stagnant in my relationship with God. Things were going well. God was moving through me in a number of lives and I was blessed to watch Him and participate in His work.

Well this morning I awoke at 2:30am and laid there a couple minutes then started to pray. I don’t know when I fell back to sleep but when the alarm went off at 5am I just wanted to hit the snooze button. But, I didn’t.

This morning’s time with God was extra special. I can’t tell you why except that God was at work in me. My usual exalting of His Holy name. My confession of sin. Praying for family,  friends, Pastor, church and anyone God places on my heart. But I noticed that I remembered to pray for a couple people who needed prayer specifically for today. Sometimes I beat myself up because I forget. But not today!!!! My heart was so filled with joy that it was overflowing into praise and thankfulness after prayer that I could hardly contain myself.

As I headed out the door to go to my daughter’s a couple hours later my heart was still overflowing with joy and thankfulness. On my drive there, about 20 minutes, the Lord blesses me with minimal traffic and mostly green lights. Smooth sailing. The scenery was beyond beautiful as I thanked and praised God for the colorful changes in the trees on my drive and the blue skies. When on the freeway,  I turned on praise music and just sang uninhibited to my awesome, loving God who filled my heart with joy overflowing, thankfulness for His revealing His abounding love for me and for opening my eyes to see the beautiful day He was giving me.

The next six hours were spent with my daughter and three granddaughters enjoying their company filled with giggles, stories, snuggles, kisses, playing, exploring and a lot of fun. Speaking of God, singing songs about Jesus.

Then met up with Papa and explored Bass Pro looking at fish and animals. Pretty much exhausted we had dinner with all including Daddy and an uncle.

On the way home thinking over my day and thanking God for giving me such an awesome day and singing praises in worship again, I realize I am truly a very blessed wife, mother, mother-in-law, Gigi and child of God.

Thank You, God for being the beginning, middle and end of my perfect day.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Feast on Jesus

Aug12

“Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16 NASB

Jesus is the word made flesh.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NASB

Jesus is the bread of life.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 6:35 NASB

God calls us to grace and mercy found and granted by Him alone. Called unto salvation. Called to a loving relationship with Him. Called to obedience that exudes out of our love for Him.

Are you missing the joy and delight of the Lord? If so, could it be that you are starving yourself?

He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. Ezekiel 3:3 NASB

The word of God is important to our spiritual health. Without the word to nourish our souls we are walking a misdirected path in weakness and Ill health. Just as our physical bodies need nourishment so does our spiritual bodies.

Let us not neglect the importance of God’s word. Feed in it daily. Chew on it throughout the day.

God’s word keeps us on the straight and narrow.

“I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
Job 23:12 NASB

“How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalms 119:103 NASB

Feast on His word everyday. Not only will they be sweet to the soul but you will get to know just how sweet our Lord is.

🌹 “O taste and see that the Lord is good;” Psalm 34:8

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 🌹

The Park

Feb8

What a beautiful, out of the ordinary, winter day in the Midwest. Opportunity afforded me the blessing to take my grandson to the park for some exercise, fresh springtime air, and to be truthful keep him occupied and wear him out for the rest of the day. (It’s rough on this old body caring and especially playing with these youngins). And to let you know, he wore grandma out. He won.

But the real reason for this post is to tell you that God gives us opportunities to serve Him and tell the world about Him. As I was watching my grandson play, a nice young gentleman, there with his 2 year-old son, started up a conversation. I found out he was new in the area and he was wearing a big ole cross on his chest.

Going to pause here for a moment to rewind to Sunday at church. We, as a church, have been challenged to ask someone to church. Statistics show that a large percentage of people would attend church if they were asked to come. I also have been inspired by a fellow sister in the Lord to witness more. I have been praying asking the Lord to open my eyes, teach me, show me how to witness. He has also placed a very heavy, I mean very heavy, burden on my heart for those who are traveling the wide road to destruction. But back to my story. . .

New in the area, big cross on his chest. . . I say, “I see you are wearing a cross. Does it have any special significance to you?” He told me that when he died he would be with the One who died on the cross. Hallelujah!!! And since he was new in town I asked if he had found a church. He had. That’s great.

As I was driving home and thinking over what had happened and thanking God for opening my eyes to the opportunity I was reminded that I had also directed, invited, a woman and her family to my church when she was asking me if I knew of a church in the area. This was while I was at work. God makes opportunities for us. Those opportunities are there everyday, we just don’t see them because our focus is not on Christ.

Ask God to open your eyes to and heart for the lost of this world. Billions are headed to Hell. God has called us to share the Good News.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Fire

Dec19

To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” — Isaiah 61:3

December 19, 2000. A day like any other day. Rising up getting ready for work, kids out the door to the sitter, drive to work. Well not exactly a day like any other because of extenuating circumstances I did have to make arrangements for my children to be picked up after their half day of school.

My oldest son, the extenuating circumstance, stayed home that day from school. Around noon he called me saying he had a headache. I told him to take some headache medication and call me back in a little bit if it didn’t go away.

No further phone call until 330 in the afternoon from my neighbor down the street. She happened to have my phone number from when she used to babysit my two little ones before they were even in school. This was very unusual for her to be calling me especially at work. The information she would share with me would catapult our family into a series of events that would change our lives forever.

Sharon, your house is on fire. There are fire trucks out in front of your house. My response was “Where is my son”? No one had seen him. . .

Of course I immediately headed home . I left a message at my husband’s job because he was not yet there to tell him that our house was on fire and I was headed home. He tells the story that when he got there he thought the guys were just playing a joke on him. They had to get really serious with him to convince him that that was the truth. (Understand, this was also before everyone owned cell phones).

The drive home which lasted about 30 minutes was the longest 30 minutes of my life. All the way home I just kept praying about my son and hoping that he was not in the house fire. I arrived in our cul-de-sac to find almost every neighbor out in front of the house. The one thing that I really focused on the most was the face of my son standing out there also. The Lord truly blessed me at that one moment. It was the best Christmas present I could receive, seeing the eyes and face of my son standing before me knowing he was not in the house.

Losing everything really puts into perspective what’s important in life. God showed me that day that material things are fleeting but the love of family and the help of friends and church family are far beyond any material treasure. A good insurance company is always a good thing too.

Let me point out some of the things that showed me that God was in complete control of all that happened. Remember, that my son called me at 12 o’clock. The clock on the stove stopped at 12:30. I truly believe that my son’s headache was probably from smoke inhalation. In my sons disobedient stage he left the house soon after he called me. The fire was not even reported until 3:00 PM when my neighbor came home and noticed the flames coming out of the roof. The fire had been smoldering for awhile (remember the clock stopped at 1230).

God bless my neighbor who called the fire department and tried to get in the house knowing that my children are usually home from school at that hour. Another God intervention. My children, the two youngest were at my Pastor’s house.

My husband arrived and so did our insurance agent with a check for 2000 dollars. They made arrangements for a hotel for us for that night and then arranged the hotel that we stayed at until the arrangements for our apartment were made.

Having lost everything our church family and some neighbors pulled together and gave us a Christmas we will never forget. I told my kids that Christmas presents were going to be a little slim but God saw it differently.

He took care of us, blessed us tremendously and we will never look at life the same. He taught us that tragedy may come but we are never alone in it. He is still in the midst of every detail. And I saw that the things of this earth cannot compare to having Jesus. He is worth it all.

Trust me when I say God turned our ashes into beauty.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

When God Moves

Aug24

Have you been there? When you know something is coming but you’re not quite sure yet what it is? When you are on the brink of something great that God has been preparing you for? When the floodgates of opportunity open up for you? When you’ve been walking in the desert waiting, knowing that at any moment you are about to step into the promised land?

Well, I’ll have to tell you that my life has been a whirlwind of God’s movement since Thursday.

If you recall my devotional on Friday, August 22, you will know that God blessed my obedience with six beautiful ladies coming to my house and enjoying a time of fellowship and introduction to my best friend, Jesus Christ.

Nothing, I mean nothing happens by accident. In God’s perfect plan, He knows all that is going on. Another blessing from my wonderful Father came my way when a free admission ticket dropped into my lap for Women of Faith. I was looking forward to going on Saturday.

God also knew that I would be offered a chance to go to the Friday night program. This of course wasn’t offered to me until 45 minutes before I was to be picked up. Since this was Friday and I had worked all week to make my house presentable for Thursday night fellowship I had decided to take Friday as a “lazy “day. I did laundry, which means all my clothes were dirty, so I lounged around in my PJs all day. When I received the phone call I had not seen soap, water, shampoo or a hairbrush all day. Exactly — 45 minutes to get ready, and do I even have any clean and dry clothes to wear?

I debated whether I really wanted to go. I went ahead and started getting ready, asking God whether I should go or not. I was like the verse in James that says, “like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind”. When I was ready I still have not made a decision until I read a verse from my phone. “Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord God is holy”. (Psalm 99:9) I had my answer and off I went for a wonderful evening of worship.

Then comes Saturday. The conference was entitled “From Survival to Revival”. Let me begin by saying that two sessions were entitled Renew and Restore, which are two of the keywords in my mission statement. I am currently doing a Bible study and one week was on recharging, another topic of one of the sessions.  And then there was the final session on Revive. I believe I was there to be revived by God so I could be ready for the mission He is about to unfold through me.

Christine Caine, one of the speakers, spoke out of Joshua chapter 1 where God told Joshua to cross over into the promised land. The promise. Loud and clear I heard, through Christine, that God has prepared me and am I ready to cross over to what He has promised.

God gave to me a promised vision many years ago but He has been at work in me preparing me to cross over to that promise. Am I ready? Yes, although I am afraid, not of where or what God will do through me, but of my failure to lean on, trust in, surrender all to Him. I will move forward with my Lord because I know He loves me and He has promised to be with me always. So my weekend has been a whirlwind that has blessed, challenged and humbled this servant of the Most High God.

Was all this just coincidence? I don’t think so. I hope this testimony encourages you to be ready to be used by God. Sit at the Saviors feet and learn. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Trust him with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. God has great plans for you and it is an exciting journey.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Journeys End

Mar21

Today ends a one year, six month, and 19 day journey of a lifetime. The Lord taught me so much about trust, dependence, who I am in Him, who He is and how much He takes care of His children. Let me share this adventure and hope you find encouragement, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of God at work in your life.

June 2012: I’m searching the net looking at airline fares. My desire was to go and see my parents. This was a usual ritual of mine every so often with hopes that I would see a fare that was reasonable. Didn’t happen often as I only saw my parents about every three years and most of those times they came to see me. But. . . this particular day I found an unbelievable, outstanding fare and immediately went to the Lord in prayer asking if this was possible and could I purchase these tickets for my husband and me. There was an underlying urgency with this request as my Dad was needing a two vessel bypass and a valve replacement. I wanted to spend some time with him in case this surgery would go bad. I bought the tickets.

I went to my boss at work and told her about my intentions to go see my parents in August. Unfortunately, I neglected to email her this information, even though we talked often of this trip in the office. (Understand I hold no blame on anyone. I believe it was the will of God as you will see soon).

First part of August my boss asked, “when is your trip again?” I reminded her it was set for August 29th. My boss, “I don’t have an email request from you.” I told her I thought I had but would send her one now.

That afternoon things turned interesting. As my boss passed by my desk to enter the office of her boss, I distinctly heard deep inside, “Sharon, you are on your way out of here.” I laughed to myself. After the meeting my boss passed by my desk, went to her office and emailed me a denial for my vacation along with an explanation that if I take the vacation I am signing my own resignation.

When I weigh family against work, family relationships and well being always come first. My Father could possibly be heaven bound soon and I believe God was leading me to go see my parents. I returned an email stating that she could then consider this my notice.

On August 25th I received a call from my mother telling me that my Dad was in ICU in a diabetic coma. God had affirmed that He was with me and I had made the right decision. My husband, daughter and I arrived at my Dad’s bedside on August 29th.

My Dad never did have the surgery. On September sixth my husband and daughter returned home while I stayed to minister to my parents. My Dad was diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) and over the next six months he was in ICU three times, nursing homes three times and home twice. In February 2013 my Dad began to regain a quality of life. He returned to his ministries at church and became active again. All praise due to God, the great healer.

I stayed on after that because my Mom was having health issues that they needed assistance with. January 2014, my Dad is beginning to change. He starts sleeping more. A doctor appointment shows that his liver is not functioning well. Mid February an ultrasound shows tumors in his abdomen. He quickly goes from cane to walker to wheelchair to bedbound. A liver biopsy on February 12th shows cancer.

My Dad went home to be with the Lord in his sleep on March 20th at 7am.

What a journey. I have grown more dependent on Jesus Christ, trusted Him in tough trials, basked in His love, rested in His peace, walked with Him, talked with Him and I love Him more than I ever have before. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.

I thank my husband and children for allowing me this time with my folks, for their sacrifice. I thank God for the privilege to follow Him into the unknown (finances cut in half, away from husband, not knowing when or if I would return home), the honor and privilege to serve Him by ministering to my parents, and most of all for His ever present walk with me.

My journey complete with my Dad. Overjoyed with the time I had with him. On with the next journey as Mom and I discover His plan for us.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

For Dad:  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. — 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Debt Testimony

Feb25

I was warned. Young married couples tend to go into debt when first married because they need (want) so much. They want what Mom and Dad worked 25 years to get. My husband and I did pretty well in the beginning then we bought our first house. That was instant debt but so much more was added because we need new furniture, new appliances, new lamps, and the list goes on.

Before long we were up to our eyeballs, okay, over our heads in debt. We were struggling to make it from paycheck to paycheck. My husband and I were getting tired of being in debt so we decided to give our debt to the Lord. We were also convicted that we needed to pay our debt because we created it.  We started by repenting of using God’s provisions for selfish reasons, for mismanaging the things He had given us and promising to give Him control of our finances.

At the top of that list was tithing. We started with a little step of faith by tithing off of our net income for one year. We had to trust the Lord at His Word and so after that one year we started tithing off of our gross income. It never ceased to amaze me how month after month He met all our needs and we still had money left over. His word proved true. (Malachi 3:10)

My husband and I took a class at church, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, and started to practice some of the principles in that program. We started to pay off credit cards and loans and our indebtedness declined. It was still a struggle but learning to lean on the Lord and trust Him was the benefit of our journey.

At one point in this journey my husband left his job but we continued to tithe, even the 2 weeks vacation he received when he left. That turned out to be a testimony to the person who collected the tithe in our Sunday School class. She wanted to give it back but we insisted that it was God’s money and He would take care of us,  which He did.

It took 5 long years to get us out of debt. God is wonderful. It was not easy and we suffered through it. We ended up losing our house to fire and I lost my job in the midst of this but through it God delivered us from debt. My husband and I have been debt free for 13 years and we do not own a credit card and have not for over 13 years. Without a credit card I have to trust God for my provisions. As yet He has not let us down.

When I look at the lessons learned from this experience the one that stands out the most is that an extreme debt has to be paid by suffering. Just as Jesus suffered to pay our debt. He paid my debt on Calvary and that is for eternity. My financial debt was paid by my suffering but God was there through it all. I learned that I can trust Him with my needs. He is all I need. Jesus is sufficient.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. — Malachi 3:10