Despised & Forsaken

Apr5

Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.
Luke 18:31 NASB

Isaiah, the prophet:
He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Isaiah 53:3 NASB

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
John 1:10‭-‬11 NASB

2000+ years ago Jesus came as the prophets had written. He was despised. He was forsaken. His own people turned their backs on Him.

🌹Those who were His own did not receive Him. This Easter Season what will your response be to the Messiah? He came to His own – YOU. Will you receive Him?

Do you know Jesus? You can. . .

Lord Jesus I want to know You and receive You as Savior, and walk with You as Lord of my life. Forgive me for the sorrow and grief I caused by my sin that placed You on the cross. I no longer want to hide my face from You. In Jesus name and for Your glory, amen.

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Just Be There

Apr4

Job, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil, who held fast his integrity, was smitten with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head by Satan. (Job 2:3‭, ‬7 NASB)

Well, when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they met up and came together to sympathize with him and comfort him.
Job 2:11 NASB

When the friends arrived, looking upon Job from a distance and noticing their friends adversity, composed themselves and joined Job.

they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.
Job 2:13 NASB


🌹Sometimes we don’t need to say anything. We just need to be there. We don’t always have the answers or know what to say. They just need someone to be near. 

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

The Heavens

Apr1

Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
Psalms 102:25 NASB

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Psalms 19:1 NASB

🌹O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!                    
Psalms 8:1‭, ‬3‭, ‬9 NASB
Amen, in Jesus name.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 

I Do It My Way?

Mar31

The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NASB

Do you seek the Lord’s counsel before entering into the plans of your heart? Before you take that new job, buy a new house, car or whatever? Before you seek a new church different from where you normally attend? Before you open or close a door in your life?

Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
Proverbs 19:21 NASB

God is Sovereign, having supreme power and authority. His will be done. It WILL be done. Should we not seek God’s counsel in all our plans?

The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
Psalms 33:10 NASB

🌹Sovereign Lord, I entrust my future to You. Turn my heart to seek Your plans and to join You in fulfilling those plans according to Your divine will. Move my heart to seek Your kingdom first and Your righteousness and may Your plans bring me to my knees in submission to Your will that Your name may be glorified through me. In Jesus name, amen.
(Isaiah 14:26‭-‬27, Matthew 6:33 NASB)

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Trust & Rely

Mar30

O God, it is You who knows my folly, And my wrongs are not hidden from You.
May those who wait for You not be ashamed through me, O Lord God of hosts; May those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel,
Psalms 69:5-6 NASB

God, I am a sinner. My wrongs are not hidden from You. Wipe my sins away, dear God, and let not those who wait for You be ashamed nor those who seek You be dishonored through me, O God.

Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Dishonor has covered my face.
Psalm 69:7

Jesus, may I bear unwarranted reproach and dishonor with courage as You did for my sake. May I be brave for the sake of the gospel.

I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.
Isaiah 50:6‭-‬7 NASB

🌹Who is among you that fears the Lord, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
Isaiah 50:10 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Attention to the Word – Part 2

Mar29

And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
Proverbs 16:20b NASB

Where does trust come from? Isn’t trust built in relationships by spending time and getting to know someone? We are instructed to trust in the Lord.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 NASB

But where does trust in the Lord come from? It comes from knowing Jesus. And how do we come to the knowledge of Jesus? Through the word of God.

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalms 119:105 NASB

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord.
Jeremiah 17:7 NASB

Blessed is the one who not only trusts IN the Lord but whose trust IS the Lord!!
Wow!!

🌹Lord God, I want to taste Your words and know their sweetness. May Your words be sweeter than honey to my mouth. As I taste I ask for wisdom and understanding and surrender to Your will in full trust of who You are and whose I am. In Jesus name, amen.
(Psalms 119:103 NASB)

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Attention to the Word – Part 1

Mar28

He who gives attention to the word will find good,
Proverbs 16:20a NASB

The Bible is the word of God, the story of Jesus Christ. The Word is a person. Jesus Christ.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 NASB

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

How much attention do you give to the Word? The word of God? It is impossible to know God intimately without reading the Bible, God’s word.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17 NASB

The word of Christ. The Word who brings forgiveness, salvation, life and so much more.

🌹O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psalms 34:8 NASB

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within me, with all wisdom. I will read Your word, teaching and admonishing others in the faith with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. I will sing with thankfulness in my heart to You, my God. (Colossians 3:16 NASB)
This I pray in the name of Jesus,  amen. 

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Friday Praise: Salvation

Mar25

I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10 NASB

🌹O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;
Thank you God for the forgiveness of my sin and Your grace that has clothed me with salvation and wrapped me in the robe of Jesus’s righteousness. Wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness for my good and Your glory. In Jesus name, amen.
(Isaiah 25:1 NASB)

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Refuge, Shield and Shelter

Mar24

Do homage (or lay hold of instruction) to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon (quickly, suddenly, easily) be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!
Psalms 2:12 NASB

🌹Lord, let all who take refuge in You be glad. Let them sing for joy and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord. You surround him with favor as with a shield. As I pray, my heart cries out on behalf of Your people of the Ukraine, Lord. Shield and shelter them that they may sing praises to Your name. Praying also for those we are not aware of who are crying out to You needing Your shield and protection. May they all know that You are the Lord their God. To Your glory in Jesus name. Amen
(Psalms 5:11‭-‬12 NASB)

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Cost of Deliverance

Mar23

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 11:4 NASB

“In the day of wrath”. As I read this verse I thought of the wrath that is being brought down on the Ukraine right now.
Where are the riches? Where is the security and peace of these riches? Are these riches profitting any of those in the midst of wrath?
One day a great wrath is coming on all mankind:

Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them On the day of the Lord’s wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.
Zephaniah 1:18 NASB

The only thing that will save anyone from death is . . . Righteousness. And since no human has a righteousness of their own we must put on the robe of righteousness, which is Jesus Christ.

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB

🌹Jesus Christ became to us righteousness. Will you be depending on the riches of this world or on the  righteousness of Jesus Christ?

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon