Tag Archive | Bible

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

The Word

Feb7

 You have ordained Your precepts, That we should keep them diligently. — Psalm 119:4

God has ordered (commanded) us to keep His precepts (order, guide, instruction) diligently (done or pursued with fervent effort).

With great focus we need to search the Scriptures for our own good. Within the pages of His Word are the instructions for life, our guide for contentment and peace. He commands us to follow and keep His instructions because He loves us and wants the best for us. God “came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven”. He came down — says to me that He wanted to be sure we got the message. He “gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments.” God’s word is just, true, and good.

The more we persue God’s holy Word the more diligent we are to study because His Word becomes alive right before our eyes. We see God in all His glory. We see His unconditional love for all mankind. We see forgiveness and salvation. We find love, peace, joy and a God who is faithful and trustworthy. To God be the glory forever and ever through His Son Jesus Christ.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. — Deuteronomy 4:13

Then You came down on Mount Sinai, And spoke with them from heaven; You gave them just ordinances and true laws, Good statutes and commandments. — Nehemiah 9:13

“They”

Feb6

 Yes, they do no unrighteousness [no willful wandering from His precepts]; they walk in His ways. — Psalm 119:3

“They” are the blessed whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord, who observe, or keep, God’s testimonies and who seek Him with all their heart. “They” do no unrighteousness. How can that be if we are all sinners? The difference is whether we willfully sin or realize we have sinned after the fact when the Holy Spirit has convicted us.

Practicing sin or willfully wandering from God’s way (His word: precepts, statutes, testimonies, commandments) is walking in unrighteousness. But those who follow and practice God’s word, practicing a godly lifestyle will walk in righteousness. In other words, to walk the walk of righteousness we must know how to walk.

Seeking God through His word enables us to know His commands so that we can apply them to our lives. The transformation from unrighteousness to righteousness comes from seeking the Lord God with all our heart and searching His word diligently.

Within the pages of the Bible is the way, the truth and the life. That way, truth and life is Jesus, our righteousness. We need Him. So I encourage you to seek Jesus through His word, following His commands by applying them to your life. You will be blessed.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.  — 1 John 3:9

We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him]. — 1 John 5:18

Blessed

Feb4

How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the Lord. Psalm 119:1

Who doesn’t want to be blessed? God says that those whose way is blameless are blessed. How do I walk blameless? I walk in the law of the Lord. The law is His word, the Bible. To accomplish a blameless walk I will need to open the Bible and read it. The more I read, the more I am blessed as the word infiltrates my heart and overflows into my life.

As I apply my Lord’s word to my walk, a blameless walk, He takes delight in me. That makes me smile and blesses my heart. Nothing delights me more than pleasing my God. Walking in the righteousness of Christ guards me as I walk the blameless walk with Him.

In my relationship with Jesus I have learned to revere (fear) Him and my desire is to walk in His way. I hope that is your desire too. So, open the Bible, search it’s contents and experience a life like you have never experienced before. The Holy Spirit is your teacher and He will help you walk the blameless walk. So be blessed.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

But the blameless in their walk are His delight. Proverbs 11:20b

Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, Proverbs 13:6a

How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. Psalm 128:1