Gethsemane

Apr11

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mark 8:31 NASB

Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
Matthew 26:36‭-‬38 NASB

“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 12:27 NASB


🌹Jesus. Perfect example. When troubled and deeply grieved You went to Your Father. You did not go seeking Your own way or asking to be taken out of what was coming. You went to the Father to connect, be strengthened, not forsaken. You confirmed Your calling, the purpose of Your life on earth with the Father. Before facing rejection and suffering You went to the Father. Jesus, may I be found kneeling at Your feet seeking Your strength when faced with suffering and persecution for Your name sake. Thank You for being my perfect example of what to do when facing trials, hard times, persecution, etc. In Jesus name and for Your glory. Amen.

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Silent

Apr8

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.
Isaiah 53:7 NASB

Don’t you find it amazing how Jesus was verbally slandered, ridiculed, beaten, harrassed and yet . . . did not open His mouth? He is God!! And He said nothing.

Equally amazing is that all four gospels mention Jesus’ quietness.

But Jesus kept silent.
Matthew 26:63 NASB

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Matthew 27:12 NASB

But He kept silent and did not answer.
Mark 14:61 NASB

But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.
Mark 15:5 NASB

And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing.
Luke 23:9 NASB

and he entered into the Praetorium again and *said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
John 19:9 NASB

With these four eyewitnesses to the silence of Jesus, there must be a lesson here. Could it be that Jesus was content in knowing He was doing the Father’s will and that at anytime He could stop the process? Could He be showing His believers how to trust that He with the Father are in control? Could it be that Jesus was secure to trust the Father’s plan so He didn’t have anything to prove?

Jesus never tried to prove He was God. He never tried to bargain His way out of the situation. He simply trusted.

🌹God, I humbly bow before Your throne, asking that when faced with persecution, as it says in Your word, *”Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”, that I would desire to bring glory to You instead of trying to save myself. I trust You with every day of my life. Here I am, totally surrendered, simply trusting. In Jesus name, amen.

*2 Timothy 3:12 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Iniquity Encounter

Apr7

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on (encounter Him) Him.
Isaiah 53:6 NASB

The priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who goes astray when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him that he may be forgiven.
Numbers 15:28 NASB

Without a sacrifice of atonement, there is no forgiveness. Jesus was the sacrifice that made atonement for our sins. Once and for all. We have been redeemed.

When you come to the foot of the cross  and encounter Him, Jesus, knowing He took your iniquity, all of it, upon Himself, that is when eternal salvation takes place. That encounter that turns us to God’s way, the surrender of our soul to follow Jesus as His disciples.

🌹Holy God. God of mercy. God of grace. I confess that I have forsaken the right way and gone astray in my heart and do not know Your ways. Do not be angry anymore, Lord. In my affliction I went astray, but now I seek to keep Your word. I pray God that as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, that You would keep my mind from being led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to You, the Christ. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ and for His glory, amen.
(2 Peter 2:15; Hebrews 3:10; Psalms 119:67;
2 Corinthians 11:3)

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Healed

Apr6

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being (peace) fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 NASB

Jesus You Yourself bore my sins in Your body. You carried my sin up to the cross in Your body so that I might die to sin and live to righteousness, a righteousness not of my own doing, for wounds I was healed. Thank you Jesus for taking my deserved punishment and redeeming my soul, my life. As I ponder Your sacrifice for me, may I present my body a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to You my God, a soothing aroma. For Your glory and in Your name I pray. Amen
(1 Peter 2:24/Romans 12:1‭ NASB)

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

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