Disconnecting Day 2b

Nov3

The same Sunday. Now it is church service.

Music that morning:
*The Potter’s Hand: Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Savior, I know for sure all of my days are held in Your hands, crafted into Your perfect plan.
*I Need Thee Every Hour
*Without Him
     – I could do nothing
     – I’d surely fail
     – I would be drifting
     – How lost I would be
     – I’d be dying
     – I’d be enslaved
     – life would be hopeless
But with Him I am SAVED!!!
Created by Him, for Him. I need Him and without Him I am NOTHING!!!

Sermon was from John 15:1-5. One of my favorite passages.

As the branch receives all it needs from the vine, we find all sufficient grace in Christ. All we need!
– God is an expert at producing fruit – it is His plan
– God is I AM (Exodus 3:14)
I AM
     – Bread of life (John 6:35)
     – Light of the world (John 8:12)
     – the door (John 10:9)
     – the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
     – the Resurrection & Life (John 11:25)
     – the way, truth and life (John 14:6)
     – the True Vine, Father the Vinedresser (John 15:1)

When “we do”, we miss putting Jesus in the center of all we do, leaving Him out.
Jesus is the source of the branch’s (our) power! As a Christian, EVERYTHING has to be done for the glory of God! We can do nothing without Him.

🌹Take time to be still. Be there. ABIDE. And remember that we are the branch – every breath, every step is from God.

Pray: Lord, be fruitful in whatever You have for me today.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Disconnecting Day 2a

Nov2

Day 2 was a Sunday and as I work at a church my husband and I visited a neighboring church.

Sunday School: The Gospel’s Goal
First verse to catch my attention? Isaiah 43:7

Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory,Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

Isn’t this what God informed me yesterday?
So, what is our purpose in being created?

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 NASB
(We are created for “good works”, not for our own glory and “good will”).

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NASB

🌹Every God given breath, necessary for life, is to bring glory to God.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Disconnecting Day 1

Nov1

What a place to start when taking a weeks sabbatical to reconnect with God. God made it very clear where He stands when it comes to reconnecting, refreshing, renewing our relationship.

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:16 NASB

This verse came to me in my morning prayer time. I was created through Him and for Him.
Relationship established. I needed to begin right here. He is the whole reason I exist.

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
1 Corinthians 8:6 NASB

And without God I am nothing.

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
John 1:3 NASB

🌹For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Solitude with Almighty God

Oct22

Are you weary, overwhelmed, finding it hard to see God at work? Is it hard to keep your focus on Almighty God?

Praise God He is available. Praise God He opens His arms and says “Come”.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

God wants our souls to be at rest. He is our burden bearer. So we take the step to come to Him. Then what?

Be silent before the Lord God!
For the day of the Lord is near,
For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice,
He has consecrated His guests.
Zephaniah 1:7

Be silent. Take time away from the hustle and bustle, demands of the world, burdens of ministry, lack of peace.

Even Jesus, the Son of God, being God Himself sought solitude with the Father.

After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
Matthew 14:23

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Mark 1:35

After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.
Mark 6:46

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
Luke 5:16

It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12

This time is taken to stop stressing about provision, focusing on troubles, and fearing, but a time to be strengthened, uplifted and to focus on God.

‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:31

I will personally be taking a week off to focus, seek and reconnect with my Lord God. I know that I will be refreshed, strengthened, and ready to serve my God without weariness, running the race without getting tired. I would appreciate your prayers during this time. I plan to sign off social media tonight and  return on November 1.

🌹I leave you with this:

The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’
Numbers 6:24-26

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Power of The Word

Oct21

The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
Jeremiah 23:28‭-‬29 NASB

The Word spoken rightly, in truth is powerful! The Word of God is like fire, all consuming everywhere it spreads.
The Word of God shatters, destroying falsehood, lies, deception.

If you have God’s word speak His truth. Someone needs to hear.

🌹Jesus is the Word. (John 1:14).
for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:29 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

If

Oct20

At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.
Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.
For My people have forgotten Me, They burn incense to worthless gods And they have stumbled from their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in bypaths, Not on a highway,
Jeremiah 18:7‭-‬10‭, ‬15 NASB

If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.
Malachi 2:2 NASB

If you turn from evil . . . God says, “I will relent”.

🌹For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Psalms 84:11‭-‬12 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Listen and Heed

Oct19

Listen and give heed, do not be haughty, For the Lord has spoken.
Give glory to the Lord your God, Before He brings darkness And before your feet stumble On the dusky mountains, And while you are hoping for light He makes it into deep darkness, And turns it into gloom.
But if you will not listen to it, My soul will sob in secret for such pride; And my eyes will bitterly weep And flow down with tears, Because the flock of the Lord has been taken captive.
This is your lot, the portion measured to you From Me,” declares the Lord, “Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood.
Jeremiah 13:15‭-‬17‭, ‬25 NASB

🌹I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
Isaiah 44:22 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

For The Love of God, Repent and Return.

Oct18

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”
Ezekiel 18:32 NASB

God has no pleasure in sending anyone to Hell. In that is the love of your Creator. So much love that He sent His only Son to take the penalty of sin for all mankind.

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
John 3:17 NASB

So.  .  .

Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:6‭-‬7 NASB

The time is now.  .  .

🌹Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 3:19 NASB

Want to but not sure how? Connect with someone you know to be a Christian. Talk with a Pastor. Don’t wait. Your life depends on it. If you know God personally, tell (warn) others.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Is Your Heart Dull?

Oct15

In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’
Matthew 13:14‭-‬15 NASB

🌹But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
Matthew 13:16 NASB

Are you blessed or dull?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Not of This World

Oct14

If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
John 15:19‭-‬21 NASB

🌹Expect to be persecuted and hated by the world if you walk with God and live out the call to share the gospel.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon