Vessel of Light

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
2 Corinthians 4:6‭-‬7‭ NASB

🌹God, thank you for filling this dark vessel with Your glorious Light. Shine Your Light through the broken pieces of this vessel to others around me. I am humbled by the surpassing greatness of Your everlasting power that resides in me. Help me not to waste opportunities to shine the Light of the knowledge of Your glory God in the face of Christ. In the name of Jesus and for His glory, amen.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Jesus, Sustainer

Sustain: to keep (a person, the mind, the spirits, etc.) from giving way, as under trial or affliction.

But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying to the Lord with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.
I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.
Psalms 3:3‭-‬5 NASB

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Psalms 55:22 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Decisions

Warning: this is a long one.

Testimony:
I know you have been there, where you are faced with a circumstance you don’t know how to handle. In your carnal (fleshly) mind you think of a quick, rash decision. But . . . God.

Recently I was faced with a circumstance that made me angry. It brought me to tears. I cried out to the Lord for help. The next few events happened without my really being aware until I looked back over my day and saw the trail of guidance my Lord left for me.

I received a phone call asking for assistance if I could. I did. This godly, prayer warrior woman, without her even knowing, revealed that I needed to persevere. I needed to continue to pray, pray, pray. I needed to trust the Lord.

Before and after this encounter I had received a few texts from another friend regarding scripture references from a Bible Study she attended. It is here where God moved in a miraculous way and I can admit I am so glad that I am human and in the hands of my Lord.

I was given Psalm 53:7-12
This is not what I looked up and read, but this is:

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. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:7‭-‬12 NASB

Not Psalm but Isaiah. My Lord Jesus faced life oppressed and afflicted and didn’t open His mouth. He had a mission to fulfill no matter the cost. Who am I to expect a perfect life when the perfect One suffered?

Oops, or was it really? It wasn’t Psalm 53, but 52:7-12 and again I was looking in Isaiah.

How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, They shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes When the Lord restores Zion. Break forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God. Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the Lord. But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives; For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 52:7‭-‬12 NASB

God has made a way! He reigns! He will comfort! I am redeemed! Salvation is mine! Victory is coming!!

Again, another change. God at work. Psalm 51:10-12 but I read, again, Isaiah.

Was it not You who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over? So the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass, That you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?
Isaiah 51:10‭-‬13 NASB

Praise God, I have something to look forward to, hope. My God is mightier than any circumstance so I will persevere until His return or He takes me home.

God’s word is so amazing and I would not want to neglect the Psalms that were sent to me. God is an amazing, wonderful, loving, caring God who is always a prayer away.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Psalms 51:10‭-‬12 NASB

🌹“Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire.” But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones. Psalms 52:7‭-‬9 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Undeserved Grace

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear (revere) Him.
Psalms 103:10‭-‬11

God, I am humbled when I am faced with your grace. When I consider Your holiness in view of my sin I am ashamed. But God . . . You have not given me the punishment I deserve. Your lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For Your compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. I give glory to Your name, God, for Your mercy and grace. Amen
Lamentations 3:22‭-‬23/Psalms 36:5/Psalms 36:7 NASB

🌹I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.
Psalms 89:1 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

True Reverence

And if you call upon Him as [your] Father Who judges each one impartially according to what he does, [then] you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence [on the earth, whether long or short].

You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold,

But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.

It is true that He was chosen and  foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world, but He was brought out to public view (made manifest) in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you.

Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.

1 Peter 1:17-21 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

Am I walking through this life with true reverence for God?
Is my life fruitful?
Do I recognize that my life has been purchased with the precious blood of Christ?
Is my faith and hope centered and resting in God?

🌹Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Psalms 26:2 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Hold Fast Without Wavering

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
Hebrews 10:23 NASB

Brothers and sisters, as partakers together of a heavenly calling, let us consider our confession — Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
Christ was faithful over His house, whose house we are, so let us hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
God is faithful, calling us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hebrews 3:1/Hebrews 3:6/1 Corinthians 1:9 NASB

God is faithful to keep His promises. . .

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11 NASB

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB

🌹Would you join me in this heavenly calling to boldly confess the hope we have in Jesus so others may also know Jesus as Lord?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Prophesy

prophesy: to speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God’s stead.

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
1 Corinthians 14:1, 3 NASB

Pursue love so all that you do will be done in love. Earnestly desire the greater gift to prophesy because the one who prophesies enlightens and uplifts another. This one also advises, cautions, and encourages and also consoles, giving solace and comfort during grief or disappointment. And any unbeliever watching will be convicted.
1 Corinthians 16:14/1 Corinthians 12:31 NASB

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35 NASB

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
1 Corinthians 14:1‭, ‬3‭, ‬24‭-‬25 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Because I Love Jesus

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble (distress); I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see (cause him to feast his eyes on) My salvation.”
Psalms 91:14‭-‬16 NASB

Wow! What a promise!
Because you love God, He will deliver you. He keeps all who love Him; preserving the faithful, His godly ones, who know His name.
Those who know His name will put their trust in Him for He will not forsake those who seek Him.
To those who love, know and trust Him He says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” God will satisfy us in life and cause us to see His salvation!
Oh let us offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to honor our Savior and walk in the path of righteousness so we may experience the salvation of our God.
Psalms 145:20/Psalms 9:10/Psalms 50:15/Psalms 50:23NASB

🌹If anyone serves Me (Jesus), he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:26 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

In You I Trust

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
Psalms 91:2 NASB

Lord, You have been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.
Lord, You are my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Psalms 94:22/Psalms 18:2/Psalms 25:2 NASB

🌹In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?
Psalms 56:4 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

My Shelter

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalms 91:1 NASB

🌹God, You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. Thank You, Almighty God. In Jesus name, in Whom I trust, I pray, amen.
Psalms 32:7 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon