Listen And Miss The Mess

Jun15

Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. — Isaiah 30:21

An incident happened last evening that brought my mind to reflect upon this verse at the rib cook-off fellowship at church. Everything went well and with an extremely full stomach I thought it a good idea to work off some of that fullness by helping clean up.

I gathered up my glass salad bowl with a bit a fruit salad left to take home (I didn’t eat any at the dinner hoping to have leftovers to enjoy later) and placed it out in the hallway on a dehumidifier unit. A thought came immediately into my mind, “If you place that bowl there it could fall off from the vibration of the machine”. I chose to ignore that wise counsel and placed it there and went back to cleaning up.

It wasn’t very long when I was approached by a man who informed me that my salad took a dive and the bowl shattered into pieces. Hmmm. Now there is a mess to clean up. Why couldn’t I have listened to that thought that came into my head?

God does that. He speaks to us. Sometimes a still small voice, sometimes as clear as I heard the instruction to not put the bowl where I placed it. When the Lord speaks we should heed His words or we will find ourselves in a big mess that we will have to clean up.

The Lord God promises us that “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” In seeking Him daily listen and practice obedience to His every Word.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Righteous in God’s Eyes

Jun14

Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. — Luke 1:6 (NLT)  
They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. -Luke 1:6 (NASB)

In the sight of God are you righteous? Righteousness is characterized by uprightness or morality: Morally right or justifiable. Acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous. Many people who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can be upright and moral. So what is the difference?

God is the judge on righteousness. I believe it is also seen in our reaction to our walking with the Lord. We are careful, diligent, focused on obeying His Word because we desire to please our God. In our desire to walk in the light of Jesus is where our righteousness is seen. We can walk in an upright and moral manner but not have the desire to please God in our walk.

So what does your walk look like? Is it different enough that God would see you as righteous in His sight?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Blessed Is The One Who Is Forgiven

Jun13

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! — Psalm 32:1

How true a verse this is. Forgiveness of sin brings salvation, eternity in a relationship with Almighty God through Jesus Christ. From forgiveness comes confidence that we can walk our journey not worrying about stumbling because we are already forgiven. Forgiveness brings us boldly to the throne of God because we know He is a compassionate, forgiving God who accepts us.  Forgiveness gives us courage to venture out into faith knowing that when we make a mistake we are forgiven. Knowing we are forgiven lifts the burden of an unintentional sinful act that is weighing us down.

All sin covered by the blood of Jesus. Forgiveness is free for the asking and accepting of the gift of forgiveness.  That is the key. Sometimes we fall short of the glory of God but we don’t accept the forgiveness of God because we can’t forgive ourselves. If God has forgiven then we need to forgive. Why? Because blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Thank God for His tremendous blessing of forgiveness!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Spiritual Exhaustion

Jun12

Exhaustion has seized me
Emotions awry
Off to bed I go
Before I cry.

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” — Matthew 5:3 (MSG)

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Conviction

Jun11

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.strong>For,
“The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. “He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it. “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. — 1 Peter 3:8-17

Wow, what conviction when I read this. In the heat of the moment, when insulted, blamed, evil being flung at you, are you harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit? My reaction is usually opposite of this. I allow their intimidation and become troubled deep within my soul.

What I need is to sanctify Christ as Lord in my heart so I may turn away from evil. With Him I am able to keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which I am slandered, those who revile my good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better to be riled for doing what is right than doing what is wrong.

Jesus suffered and died for us. Can we not hold our tongue and uphold our Lord? We must seek and pursue peace whatever the cost. So be a blessing and be blessed. “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer,”.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Wisdom

Jun10

Wisdom have I none, Lord
But what comes from Thee
It’s mine for the asking
Your wisdom bestow on me.

As I daily seek Thee
May I lean on Thee
In Your wisdom basking
For eternity.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. — James 1:5

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Bitterness

Jun9

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” — Lamentations 3:19-24

Have you ever experienced bitterness? That something that is hard to bear, distressing, painful, grieving your soul that brings the taste of bitterness? Remember lest that bitterness turns to fierce, cruel, ruthless, relentless or hostile bitterness, that there is hope.

This is our hope: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

God has a plan and sometimes that plan doesn’t sit well with us causing bitterness. Take your bitterness to the Lord. His compassions never fail. He is faithful. Trust Him and wait on Him. He is our portion. He is all we need and the answer to all our woes and bitterness. He will renew you with His faithfulness and compassion every new day. Praise the Lord God Almighty.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Adorned

Jun8

Adorn: to make more pleasing, attractive, impressive, etc.; enhance:
Synonyms of adorn: embellish, beautify, enhance, enrich, array

that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. — Titus 2:10

How do you wear the doctrine of God our Savior? Are you aware of your speech and actions at all times and how they could affect your witness of the One you represent? What is your first response when you realize you haven’t represented the holy, perfect, worthy God? Does it tear at your very soul and crush your heart? Do you run to the throne of God seeking His forgiveness?

Let us be so entwined in our relationship with Jesus that every deviation from His teachings makes us sorely regretful. Let us adorn the doctrine of God in all things. In this way we are a witness of a wonderful, merciful, holy, loving God.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Continually Seeking Him!

Jun7

Amazing! God makes Himself so visible especially in those times of great need, when dismayed, fearful and weak.

God knows my heart and speaks straight to it. Open my Facebook page and out from the News Feed comes scripture of comfort, support, and strength from my dear friends in Christ who post the Lord’s Word. (I love how God uses all of us to minister to each other.)

Opening up the Word of God, the Scriptures draw me to words of comfort, support and strength as they jump out from the pages of God’s Word. Now opening up my Scripture treasure chest, I pull out the card of the day and there He is again.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

So very grateful for my loving, intimate relationship with the Lord.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Changed

Jun6

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face continually.

Psalm 105:1-4

Sometimes I just need to be reminded of why I am here and my purpose. When I am reminded I am changed and so are others. 

Thank you Lord for your Word and it’s reminder to me.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon