Pardoned

Aug13

“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

God is calling His church to return to Him. Are you truly repentant? Are you seeking the Lord daily? Hourly? Minute by minute?

He sought you. His compassion offers freedom when we walk with Him, forsaking the way of mankind.

You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
1 Corinthians 7:23 NASB

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.
Isaiah 43:25 NASB

🌹 Have you received His pardon? Are you walking in freedom with Jesus?

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

Light

Aug11

“No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory. Isaiah 60:19 NASB

As a kid do you remember chasing your shadow or trying to run from it? Or watching your children at play chasing or running from their shadow?

We watch daily the sun moving and setting to bring darkness upon the earth with just the moon for light at night.

But one day, as children of God, we will experience a day when all darkness will vanish because all we have is the light of our God forever in eternity.

This verse is still pertinent in the here and now in the light of salvation. Jesus is the light of the world. Today. Now. We have no need to chase our shadows, or fear the darkness that seems to envelope us when in the mighty presence of the Lord all darkness and shadows disappear.

Turn to the Light and let Jesus conquer the shadows and deep darkness within you. Let His light shine so bright that it dispels the shadows of those around you.

🌹 Be a light to the world.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Our Abode

Aug10

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”. . . Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”              John 14:21‭, ‬23 NASB

What wonderful words, “We (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) will come to him (me) and make Our (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) abode (residence; dwelling; habitation; home) with him (me).

God making His dwelling place, His residence, His home in us. Wow!!!

BUT. . . there is a stipulation. If we love Him.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 NASB

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”           1 John 5:3 NASB

“And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.”                           2 John 1:6 NASB

We must be obedient to God. How can we be obedient to Him if we don’t know how? He makes Himself and His will known in His word. We have to open the word of God and read it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Every chance you get to read and apply God’s word will open the door for His appearance in your life.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”                      Revelation 3:20 NASB

Feast upon His word and hold fast to the promises He gives us.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”                        John 8:51 NASB

The word opens the door to the presence of God indwelling in you. Obedience to God’s word brings promise and the love of God that will overflow to the world around you as they see you walking in His commandments.

Strive for the perfection that can only be found in God.

“but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
1 John 2:5‭-‬6 NASB

🌹Walk as Jesus walked.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

What Are You Professing?

Aug6

They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.         Titus 1:16 NASB

What are people in the world seeing in you? Do they see themselves? Living life in discontent, fear, greed, selfishness, pride, disobedience?

Or do they see Jesus? Contentment, peace, godliness, righteousness, giving, loving, mercy, grace, obedience – the qualities of Christ living, abiding in you?

Is God’s word planted in your heart? Is He your constant companion? Are you fully aware of His presence throughout your day? Are you clothed in His righteousness? Obedient at all cost to His will, His plan, His purpose?

The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 1 John 2:4 NASB

A sure gauge, plumbline to assess ourselves. Jesus is the Truth. If He is abiding in you then obedience to God will be evident. The Holy Spirit enables us to be obedient to His word, His commandments, His will and His purpose.

Without Him we are nothing, able to do nothing. With Christ in us we are able to be content whatever the situation, be fearless in the unknown because we are secure in the One who knows all and able to be obedient.

🌹 Are others seeing Jesus in you?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Enduring Word

Aug5

“In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord , saying, “Take a scroll and write on it all the words which I have spoken to you concerning Israel and concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day. Perhaps the house of Judah will hear all the calamity which I plan to bring on them, in order that every man will turn from his evil way; then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.” Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord which He had spoken to him.” Jeremiah 36:1‭-‬4 NASB

God spoke. His word is written. God’s Word was read to the people and finally made its way to the king.

“Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning in the brazier before him. When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe’s knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.”
Jeremiah 36:22‭-‬23 NASB

The Word of God burned in the fire even way back then and yet His Word is still alive today.

“Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the son of Neriah, the scribe, and he wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and many similar words were added to them.” Jeremiah 36:32 NASB

Plant God’s word in your mind and heart and His word will endure in you. Reading, meditating on, memorizing. The Holy Spirit knows the word and will bring it to mind when needed as you walk and abide in the Lord.

Plant it so deep that you would be like Jeremiah. Not being able to hold back from proclaiming God’s word.

“But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.”
Jeremiah 20:9 NASB

🌹What is worse than Bibles being burned? Dusty Bibles on the shelf that are never opened.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Mark

Aug4

“This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s ‘; And that one will call on the name of Jacob; And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord ,’ And will name Israel’s name with honor.
Isaiah 44:5 NASB

Who is your Lord? Who do you belong to? Do you bear the brand-marks of Jesus?

“From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.” Galatians 6:17 NASB

Jesus bore the marks for you. Until we are ready to bear His mark can we truly say that we are His? Are we willing to follow in obedience into whatever situation, circumstance God calls us to? Are we willing to take His brand-marks? To go that far for His namesake?

“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;”
Philippians 3:10 NASB

Jesus came to save the lost, to reconcile mankind to the Father. Is that not what bearing the brand-marks of Christ is? Willing at all cost to reconcile mankind to God?

Can we say that we are:

“always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”?
2 Corinthians 4:10 NASB

🌹Are you willing to wear the brand-mark of Christ “in order that I” (others) “may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”?
Philippians 3:11 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Wake Up Call

Aug3

I am reading through the Old Testament now and about the prophets that God sent to worn the people of Israel.

As I read and listened for the Holy Spirit’s direction on a devotion for the day, I couldn’t help but put myself in their shoes.

They came with good news that is dependent upon the action of the people. It sounds like bad news. It is depressing news. No uplifting sentiment. No “feel good” message.

As God’s church experiences the current situation in the world, are we listening? The prophets are of old. The Holy Spirit is now residing in the church. . . Or is He? All things, ALL things happen for a purpose. God is sovereign over ALL. Thus He will use our current circumstances to bring glory to Himself and fulfill His purpose.

We have a choice that can affect the outcome of these days.

Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. Jeremiah 26:13 NASB

🌹Are God’s warnings good news or bad news? The choice is ours. Choose to repent and follow or continue to live life as if what’s happening around you is not God calling His church to wake up.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Everlasting Rock

Jul31

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

The darkness of the world is all around us. People are living in fear and uncertainty. This environment can cause the one who fears the Lord, that obeys Jesus, is a child of God, to walk in darkness and fear just as the world fears. What is the answer?

“trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”

Long for the presence of the Lord. Seek Him diligently. Learn God’s righteousness. Experience His sovereignty.

At night my soul longs for You,
Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently;
For when the earth experiences Your judgments
The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:9

God is at work. Let Him fulfill His will.

I will go away and return to My place
Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. Hosea 5:15

Prayer:

“God, You are my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For You, Lord God, are my strength and song, And You have become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

🌹Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the  Lord, we have an everlasting Rock. Isaiah 26:4

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Jul30

“Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people, The fruit of their plans, Because they have not listened to My words, And as for My law, they have rejected it also.” Jeremiah 6:19 NASB

Events in the Bible are unfolding right before our eyes. God speaks through His word. He speaks truth, His desire and instruction for mankind. But if we do not spend time in His word we live a misdirected life. We live “The fruit of their (our) plans”. We reject God when we are not living by His standard found in His word.

“Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord which is poured out on us because our fathers have not observed the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.”
thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place and it shall not be quenched.”
2 Chronicles 34:21, 24‭-‬25‭ NASB/
2 Kings 22:13, 16‭-‬17‭ NASB

It is not my intent to bring doom and gloom, but to bring your heart back to a personal, intimate relationship with God so you may be strengthened to fulfill His plan, His will, His purpose. God’s blessing will be upon you.

Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord.
2 Chronicles 34:27/2 Kings 22:19

🌹He is listening. Spend time in prayer. Spend time in His word. Ask God to increase your faith.

Here is an encouraging word:

‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the Lord . ‘Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it. Jeremiah 5:22 NASB

He tells the waves how far they can go! He is in full control of all that is happening in your life. He can be trusted. Will you surrender to His will today?