Tag Archive | Bible

Set My Soul Afire Lord

Jul31

Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. — Acts 4:13

Were Peter and John uneducated? I believe they were educated by the Master Himself. It must have been a different education because “they” were amazed and recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. They were different. They had performed a miracle in the name of Jesus. What about today? Are miracles still possible? Is Jesus still alive?

Today we lack, my opinion and observation, being recognized as being with Jesus. I do know some who have sat at the Saviors feet and been instructed by His Word and Holy Spirit. I bet you know a few yourselves. You can just tell that they have been with Jesus by their countenance. Many of those have a passion for the things of God. A heart like God’s. How does one get a heart like God? A passion for the things of God? From God Himself. From sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning from the Master.

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.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.

Psalm 51:10-13

Time spent at the feet of Jesus allows the Lord to do a work in us. It is by His power, and His only, that we can have a clean heart. Surrender to His ways. He will renew our spirit to be steadfast in the passion He puts in our heart. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide our steps, our way, our coming and our going. He will sustain a surrendered, sacrificial and willing heart. Why would God do all this? So that we can teach transgressors His ways and see the awesome glory of God as sinners are converted to Him. Your daily time of seeking the Lord is so very important. God can use you. Spend time at His feet so He can set your soul afire.

  • Set my soul afire Lord
    Set my soul afire
    Make my life a witness
    Of Thy saving pow’r
    Millions grope in darkness
    Waiting for Thy Word
    Set my soul afire
    Lord set my soul afire — Chorus to Set My Soul Afire

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Where Is Hope?

Jul30

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. — Romans 15:4

Is hope lacking in your life? As you look around you are people moving through life with no hope?

Hope can be found in the pages of a best selling book — the Bible. Do you need encouragement, direction, comfort, courage, hope? Open the Word of God and seek what you need. For whatever was written in earlier times was written for us — the Old Testament and the New Testament. And not only is the Bible a great source of hope for us but as we find our hope in the Bible we can share that hope with the world that is in need of hope also.

Seek the hope found in Jesus Christ through perseverance as you study the Word and are encouraged by the Scriptures. Then share the gift of hope with others.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Hope For The Future

Jul24

“There is hope for your future,” declares the Lord, “And your children will return to their own territory. — Jeremiah 31:17

I believe there is no greater joy than when you see the years of prayer you put in for your children begin to be answered.

My husband and I have often discussed how we were not the best parents but did the best we could — most of the time. We both believe it is by grace that our children managed to survive our rearing of them. I thank God that He is perfect and loves my children more than I could ever love them.

All our children have reached adulthood, despite their parents, and have not always followed our advice and counsel nor that of the Lord. They have wandered out into the world and made mistakes — but haven’t we all. In my 21 months away from my family I focused a lot on praying for my husband and kids, many times on my knees crying out on their behalf. My children were introduced to Jesus, all making a profession of faith, and then wandered into the world without Christ. It has just been recently that I see the miracle transformation taking place in all of them and I am ecstatic.

Rebellion from attending church has been turned into faithful consistent attendance. Never seeing them open the Word of God to asking where their Bible is, and seeing them reading it. Finding one in prayer and meditation with an open Bible. Alienation from church and Christians to a desire to fellowship.

The point of this is that my ever faithful God, in His perfect timing is answering my prayers and my tears are now tears of joy. Thank You Lord God for listening and for answering. Thank You for what You are doing in the lives of my children. May You continue to be glorified in their transformation. There is hope for my future and theirs.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

God Gave Light

Jul23

thFor God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. 17 Here’s the point. God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction.

18 No one who believes in Him has to fear condemnation, yet condemnation is already the reality for everyone who refuses to believe because they reject the name of the only Son of God. 19 Why does God allow for judgment and condemnation? Because the Light, sent from God, pierced through the world’s darkness to expose ill motives, hatred, gossip, greed, violence, and the like. Still some people preferred the darkness over the light because their actions were dark. 20 Some of humankind hated the light. They scampered hurriedly back into the darkness where vices thrive and wickedness flourishes. 21 Those who abandon deceit and embrace what is true, they will enter into the light where it will be clear that all their deeds come from God. — John 3:16-21 (The Voice)

God gave us the Light. Come to the Light. Bow before Jesus in prayer. Know the Light. Read God’s wonderful story of Jesus in the Bible. Seek the Light and worship the Light. Jesus is the light of the world.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Accurate Handling

Jul21

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15

How can we accurately handle the Word of truth if we don’t know it?

So many have come to the altar seeking forgiveness from sin, asking Jesus into their heart and then walking out the door to live a life unchanged. What makes the difference? The Word of God. It is God’s love letter to His children where He tells us everything we need to know to live a life for Him. To live a life that will bring Him glory. To live a life unashamed. To live a life approved by God.

An approved workman tells others that Jesus is alive! He has risen from the dead and desires to walk daily with them. He wants the best for us so He guides us by His Word. When we tell others of Jesus, we need to be sure we are representing Him in truth. How can we know that we are speaking the truth of God? Open the Bible and study it. Read it everyday. Meditate on it. Memorize it. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

We have the hope of being an adequate workman for God when we study the Word of God, accurately handling the word of truth so that we are fully equipped to fulfill God’s plan for us all.

Are you equipped? Are you ready? Diligently seek Christ through the Word of God.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

The Bible

Jul8

BIBLE
Treasure
Truth
Perfect
Sure
Wisdom
Everlasting
Guidance
Insightful
God’s Word

Who could want or ask for more? All we need for life. The Word is Jesus Christ!

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  Psalm 19:7

The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. — Psalm 119:160

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
for I am always thinking of your laws.
I am even wiser than my elders,
for I have kept your commandments.
Psalm 119:98-100 (NLT)

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Compare

Jun29

I have had the honor and privilege to teach Bible Studies to an array of different women and children. From school age to women well into their 80’s. It has become my passion but it didn’t start out to be.

Being involved in church found me wanting to serve and after all the church was in need of Sunday School teachers so it was only obvious that I should step up and serve in this way. Three year-olds, five year-olds, fifth and sixth graders. I’ll have to admit I did it without fervor or passion, just commitment. I decided it was not my calling. I would of course still substitute now and then.

Well, God had other plans. As I studied the Bible the more excited I became about its contents. The more excited I became, the more I wanted to tell others and Jesus opened the doors to do just that. I am truly honored that God would mold me into a teacher — not of my will — but of His, which makes it that much more important that I teach to honor God.

One of the things I stress to everyone I have the privilege to teach is for them to “open your Bible”. I am merely an imperfect human and although I have been given the gift of teaching and I try very hard to not dishonor God’s Word I can make mistakes. I would prefer someone to call me on it than to take my teaching as truth.

As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. — Galatians 1:9-10

How can we know if the truth is being preached or taught correctly if we don’t check it against the Word of God (Bible)? If I am taking the word of another without testing it against the Word of God, is that not just the same as seeking the favor of man? If I accept whatever that person says as fact, can that be construed as striving to please man? If I am willing to accept man’s word as truth then I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. Those words are very convicting.

The truth of the gospel must be taught with truth but it is our responsibility to know if the truth is being spoken. Open the Bible and compare what you hear to what is written in the Word of God.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Attitude

May31

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; — Ephesians 5:19

Isn’t attitude a choice? When you rise in the morning is your attitude one of thankfulness to God for a brand new day of life; reverence of Him who IS; and seeking His wisdom to make the most of your time? (Ephesians 5:15-16)
Paul tells us to not be foolish but understand what the will of the Father is. Be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:17-18) How is this accomplished? By reading and studying the Bible and by prayer. Our attitude is greatly influenced by our involvement with the Lord Jesus.
Attitude is a choice and I choose to seek Jesus so that my attitude overflows into my day to touch the lives of others all the while singing and making melody with my heart to the Lord!
Are you ready for an attitude adjustment?
Continually seeking Him,
Sharon

Praise the Word of God

Feb9

I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. Psalm 119:7

When I learn the righteous judgments of God, I am made right with Him. My heart is upright before My God who deserves to be praised from an upright heart. His Word cleanses me and purifies me to a standard worthy to praise the Almighty Holy God. He has given me His Word to correct my ways, to walk blamelessly before Him and to enjoy His presence. Only those worthy may enter into the presence of God. I am made worthy only through Christ who lives in me and teaches me through His Word.

My joy overflows from the love of God’s Word. That joy needs to be expressed and it is in thanks to the One Who wrote the Book. Worthy is He of all the praise I can muster for His marvelous Word that transforms a loser to a victorious winner, a sinner to reconciliation with The Creator, a heart of hurt to a heart of joy, a garland instead of ashes, oil of gladness instead of mourning, mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. God’s Word is great!!! Read it daily. Meditate on His Word and treasure it in your heart that you may not sin against Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. — Isaiah 61:3

Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. — Psalm 119:11

Unashamed

Feb8

Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes!  Then I shall not be ashamed When I look upon all Your commandments.                                                                                                      — Psalm 119:5-6

Oh, Lord I desire to have my way established by Your Word, my feet to follow in Your way. You have “brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,” of a sinful life and “set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm”. A rock set upon the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ and His Word.

When my steps are established by You, Lord, You are delighted. I surrender my life to You so that You will establish my path. I study Your Word that I may walk, watch the path of my feet for Your glory. “May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, so that I will not be ashamed.” In my adherence to Your Word You keep my life and will not allow my feet to slip. 

Thank You, Lord, for giving me life through Jesus and instructions for life through Your Word so that I do not have to live life ashamed. All glory be to God Almighty!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. — Psalm 40:2

Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. — Proverbs 4:26

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way. — Psalm 37:23

“He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail. — 1 Samuel 2:9

Who keeps us in life And does not allow our feet to slip. — Psalm 66:9

May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, So that I will not be ashamed. — Psalm 119:80