Tag Archive | faith

Hope To Be

Aug23

All I am
And hope to be
I’ve found in Jesus
Who died for me.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. — Galatians 2:20

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. — Philippians 1:21

 

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

God Really Cares

Aug21

casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. — 1 Peter 5:7

What are you worried about? What in your life is causing you anxiety? Do you know that God cares for you and that you can take anything and everything to Him in prayer?

God is Sovereign which means He is in control of all things and knows what is happening in your life. If God is in control of your life, that means you can trust Him. Who else can you trust with every aspect of your life? God says He can and He will. If we trust Him than it is a sin to worry/have anxiety. Our faith is weak when we worry. Why are you carrying the burden of worry when the Lord is waiting to hear about all that makes you anxious? He cares for you.

Okay, lets say that we are good at taking our worries and anxieties of life to God and spilling it all out to Him. That is wonderful. But do we take it back or leave it in His capable hands, trusting Him to see us through and give us direction? Take each specific worry or anxiety to God telling Him all about it. After each specific statement tell Him you trust Him to take care of that which is worrying or causing anxiety in you. Then trust Him for the outcome knowing He cares for you. To God be the glory in your life as you cast ALL your anxiety and worry on Him. He really cares for you.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

“The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of faith is the end of anxiety” — George Muller
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength” — Corrie ten Boom

Justified

Aug18

Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? — Job 4:17

How then can a man be just with God? Or how can he be clean who is born of woman? — Job 25:4

If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? — Psalm 130:3

nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. — Galatians 2:16

It is only by and through Jesus Christ that we, “mankind”, can be “just with God”, “pure before his” (our) “Maker”, “clean”, and able to “stand”. There is no other way. We need to realize that we are nothing without Jesus and it is all about Him, not us. Turn your life over to Jesus today so that you may be “justified by faith in Christ”.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Step By Step

Aug8

Now the Lord said to Abram,

“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing; — Genesis 12:1-2

Four days a week I walk four miles in the morning. On two of those days I take a very long path down hill at the beginning of my walk and, you guessed it, I have a very long hill to climb at the end of my walk. That can be pretty taxing the last quarter mile of your walk.

The other day my walking partner and I took that particular route walking a total of five miles and it was a chore to get up that hill. I thought I was going to pass out and for the next two days, thank the Lord it was the weekend, I paid a price with a very painful hip. That is not why I am writing this. On this particular day I looked up the hill desiring the top to come but it seemed so far off. It was as if the top kept creeping away the more I walked. It was grueling trying to keep my eyes on the top of the hill and realizing I still had so far to go to get to the top.

The following Tuesday I took that route again but when I got to the end I didn’t look up the hill. I focused on my feet and each step I took. As I went along I kept focused on the moment and enjoyed each step. By the time I looked up I had conquered most of the hill and so the short distance left was not much of a challenge.

As I thought about the difference in these two days my mind wandered off to how God gives us instruction as we need it. With Abram it was go. Abram under the direction of the Lord set out to “the land which I will show you”. How is that for direction? All Abram was told was to “go forth from your country and from your father’s house”. All Abram had was the Word of God and a promise. How’s that for trust? One step. One step of faith. Trust in the One God.

God directs our steps, path, each day. We only see a portion of the picture He is painting of our lives. I think that is a good thing. If we actually saw some of the things God has planned for us I think we would turn tail and run down the hill. On the other hand sometimes we long so much for what God wants us to do that we tend to not notice each step along the way. We miss out. God is building us into His perfect child one step at a time. Each step draws us closer to the fulfillment of His plan. Let us not forget to enjoy the journey. Trust each step to the Almighty. The reward is still waiting when we get there but let us not regret the steps it takes to reach it.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Mustard Seed

Jul22

And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you. — Luke 17:6

My faith does not determine what God can do. With God all things are possible. God’s plan will be fulfilled despite my level of faith. The size of my faith is not the issue. The object of my faith is.

I have heard — praise God, not for a long time — someone say that the reason a prayer was not answered was because you didn’t have enough faith. My response to this, “When did God determine how He would answer prayers by how much faith I had?” God is God and does not need counsel from me. “I only need enough faith to see what God can do and once I see that, a mustard seed of faith is all He needs to do the impossible.”*

Ask God to use your mustard seed of faith to do the impossible in your life for His glory.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

 

*Grandpa Pearson p.9, 50 Days of Unleashing Hope Daily Devotionals, Ray Johnston

Faith Is The Victory

Jul9

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. — 1 John 5:4

What makes you different from every other person born of flesh and blood? All mankind is born of flesh and blood, born of the will of man. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. — John 1:12-13

Born of God. How is one born of God? To know Jesus Christ, that He is righteous. To know Him is to follow Him by practicing righteousness. To know that He died for us and rose to victory over death. To have a personal relationship with Him. That is what it means to know Him and know that He is righteous.

Being born of God makes us overcomers because Christ lives in us. He who lives in us is greater than he who is in the world. Jesus has wisdom greater than, power greater than, victory greater than he who is in the world. We are so blessed to have Jesus living in us. He is our victory! He is our righteousness! He is our overcomer!

It is by faith that we shall overcome. Faith in Jesus Christ. He is the VICTORY!!!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. — 1 John 2:29

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. — 1 John 4:4

Overflowing Hope

Jul6

May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. — Romans 15:13(GW)

Are you lacking hope? Are you missing the source? Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. — John 3:16-17 Jesus is our Savior, the giver of eternal life, to everyone who believes in Him.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, — 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Belief that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and God raised Him from death.

That belief is faith. Through our continued living faith, God fills us with joy and peace. Is your life filled with joy and peace? Most faces I see and pass by daily don’t show it, so I wonder how many people really are experiencing joy and peace in their lives. That raises two thoughts in my mind. The first, do they know Jesus? Really know Him? Second, am I living out my faith that others can see it?

If we are living our faith out with joy and peace then we should be overflowing with hope by the living power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. What would you say is the level of hope in our world today? Is that overflowing hope present in our lives? Is it impacting our corner of the world? What can we do to bring hope to the hopeless?

Let us evaluate our faith. Let us seek Jesus through faith and experience the joy and peace that will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, overflow our lives with hope for ourselves and others.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Things Above

Jun30

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. — Colossians 3:1-2

Have you been raised up with Christ?  having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him (Jesus)  from the dead.  (Colossians 2:12) Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins, was buried and then rose from the grave by the power of  God? By faith you have been saved.

Can you say,“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me”? (Galatians 2:20) Are you seeking and setting your mind on the things above, where Christ is?  God’s transforming power begins in our lives at the moment of salvation. He will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:21)  It is a continual process. We must seek and set our minds on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth. The things that are of interest to God, not man.* God’s will, His purpose and His glory.

Our very life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is our life. He is worthy to be praised and glorified because He is God. That should be enough but we also carry a gratitude for His amazing love for us. Isn’t He worth our seeking Him. Isn’t He worth setting our minds on His will and purpose? Isn’t He worthy to be glorified?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

*Matthew 16:23

The Promise of His Promises

Jun24

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. — 2 Peter 1:4

God’s promises come with a promise. God is so awesome! By His precious and magnificent promises we may become partakers of the divine nature. The likeness of God created in righteousness and holiness of the truth is in the new self we put on with the trusting acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior in our lives. We share His holiness. Isn’t that reason enough to trust in His promises? We are blessed beyond comprehension by the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s time to trust in those promises of God. His promises.

Let our trusting faith in His promises help us to grow in our faith until the day He calls us home. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. — 1 John 3:2

What a glorious day that will be. In the meantime seek the Lord and His strength while He can be found.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. — Ephesians 4:24

For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. — Hebrews 12:10

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