Tag Archive | God

Extraordinary Spirit

Sep10

Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.”
Daniel 6:3‭-‬5 NASB

“We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.”

Today’s religion is often taken lightly in the sin department. “God is a forgiving God.” “Jesus died for my sins – past, present and future.” Although these are true it is so much more.

We tend to think that a little lie is okay, talking about others, or speeding over 5 is alright. But sin is sin. No such thing as a little sin versus a big sin. Sin is disobedience against God.

Here Daniel was displaying himself as a child of God who wanted to bring honor and glory to his God. He was obedient to God which overflowed into his personal life.

🌹O that we walked in such a way that there would not be found any negligence or corruption in us. That we would display an extraordinary Spirit. The Spirit of God Himself in us for all the world to see.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Writing on The Wall

Sep8

but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; . . . and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not glorified.
Daniel 5:23 NASB

King Belshazzar saw the writing on the wall and that night his life was taken. He had gone too far defaming the name of God.

He trusted in his own ability and ways. He was secure in his own fun and games with absolutely no regard to the things of God.

🌹Is God glorified in your life? Are you aware that He is your very life-breath and all your ways?

🌹Don’t wait until you see the writing on your wall. Turn to God (repent) and seek His forgiveness, truth and way. Let Him breathe new life into you for His glory.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Put on The Lord Jesus Christ

Sep4

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Romans 13:8‭,11,14 NASB

Do you ever think about or look at people around you the same way you imagine God looks at you?

From the day He created you His desire has been to love you, walk with you, talk with you, guide you, have a real and intimate relationship with you. How long did you walk in your disobedience and neglect before someone, or many, shared Jesus with you?

We have all been on the road to destruction. Many of the people you see everyday are on that road. Does your heart break over their destination as God’s heart broke over yours?

Every person on earth was created by God. Every one of them. Are you praying for and shining the Light to the people in your portion of the world?

🌹Salvation is near. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

You Are Responsible

Sep1

When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.
Ezekiel 3:18‭-‬19 NASB

Most up us know that God has sent us to share the gospel message to the unsaved, those walking in blindness and their wickedness. The message of salvation is our responsibility as the children of God. His disciples. His ambassadors. It is a responsibility God takes seriously. Do you?

But I’m not so sure that we take seriously the guidance of the family of God.

Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.”
Ezekiel 3:20-‬21 NASB

God created His church that we may encourage one another in the faith but to also draw a wayward soul back to repentance. We cannot stand silent while our brother or sister walk away from the Lord. Our hearts should break at the waywardness of another child of God. There are consequences for us if we do not counsel the wayward one.

The good news is that we do not have to do it alone.

But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 3:27 NASB

To accomplish God’s will you must be walking in a personal relationship with Him so that you can clearly hear His guidance.
(That means knowing His Word (the Bible), praying, being part of the community of God (fellowship).

🌹God gives us the courage, strength, words of counsel to speak truth to others, lost as well as the saved.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Obedience Required

Aug28

Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I make the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations which they have committed.
Ezekiel 33:29 NASB

Ezekiel, under the direction of God, spoke to the Israel nation warning them to obey God’s command and turn back to Him.

What is a Pastor? A man called of God to speak His word. Both Prophet and Pastor are called to speak God’s word.

Our responsibility is to listen and obey. We are blessed at this period of time to have God’s written word and the Holy Spirit to be able to discern the truth coming from the mouth of a Pastor. Is it truth? If you are reading your Bible and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will be able to accurately discern the truth.

What is your habit of church attendance? Is your Bible open? Are you relying upon the Holy Spirit to discern the words? Are you listening and ready to obey?

Or are you just attending for the sake of attending?

“But as for you, son of man, your fellow citizens who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, ‘Come now and hear what the message is which comes forth from the Lord.’ They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain.
Ezekiel 33:30‭-‬31 NASB

🌹”They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them”
Obedience requires action.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Joy

Aug27

You, O Lord, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation. Lamentations 5:19 NASB

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows.
Psalms 45:6‭-‬7 NASB

Are you anointed with the oil of joy?

There is much joy to be found in knowing God is eternally seated on His throne. Our God who rules in righteousness and justice and love.

On awakening this morning and checking on the hurricane hitting the Louisiana and Texas coast, I read “this could have been so much worse”. Were you praying for the people in the path of this storm? God answered prayer. It may not have been the way we wanted but it was better than expected. Did you thank Him for His mercy in this situation?

As numbers seem to be rising in Covid cases, are you turning to, relying on the One who sits upon the eternal throne? God has this. Are you abiding in His strong tower? Is He your refuge?

But You, O Lord, abide forever, And Your name to all generations.
Psalms 102:12 NASB

God is your only hope in a world seeking their own way, truth and life. Jesus is the only way, truth and life and no one comes to the throne of the Father but by Him. Can you rejoice in that? Can you enter into the Holy of holies and bow before the throne? If not it is time to bow down in surrender to God and His will. That is where real joy is found even when everything around you is falling down.

“But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.
Psalms 102:27 NASB

Hallelujah!

🌹The joy of the Lord is our strength.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Do Not Fear

Aug26

Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the Lord. We lift up our heart and hands Toward God in heaven; We have transgressed and rebelled, You have not pardoned.
Lamentations 3:40‭-‬42 NASB

“We lift up our heart and hands toward God in heaven;”. Do we? With repentant hearts or with raging fists?

Nothing happens without the approval and working of the Lord God. He did not make all of creation, including people, and then not involve Himself in His creation. As you look around what do you see? Are we looking for pardon yet living our lives as if our Creator has no say or part in where we go, what we do? If so, we need to “examine and probe our ways”. When we do we will find that we need to return to the Lord.

God is patient not wanting anyone to perish but He is also holy and just and will not allow us to continue in disobedience to Him.

Now is the time to seek the Lord with repentant hearts, turning to Him, crying out to God who can redeem you and give you peace even when the rebellious world around you is falling apart.

You have heard my voice, “Do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief, From my cry for help.” You drew near when I called on You; You said, “Do not fear!” O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause; You have redeemed my life.
Lamentations 3:56‭-‬58 NASB

🌹Are you experiencing peace, content in the Lord or are you walking with and looking like the world around you?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

For His Namesake

Aug25

The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy.
2 Chronicles 36:15‭-‬16 NASB

God warns before punishment. Why? Because He has great compassion on His people. But there comes a point when enough is enough.

and the Lord has brought it on and done just as He promised. Because you people sinned against the Lord and did not listen to His voice, therefore this thing has happened to you. Jeremiah 40:3 NASB

Remedy:

For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as booty, because you have trusted in Me,” declares the Lord.'” Jeremiah 39:18 NASB

The world is going through some scary, hard, uncertain times. But God. . . It is all about Him. Until we confess, trust and realize all things happen for His namesake we will continue to live in fear and uncertainty.

Then you will know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.'”
Ezekiel 20:44 NASB

He is the way, the truth, the life. It is all about Him. We have the awesome privilege to walk and work along side THE Almighty God, but He will not force Himself upon us. The choice is ours.

🌹Does your life demonstrate the fact that life is all about God? All for His namesake?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

His Eternal Covenant

Aug24

“Thus says the Lord , ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers.”
Jeremiah 33:20-‬21 NASB

What a promise! Thank God we can’t change night and day. We would be foolish enough to try. Just as we can’t change God. He is the same today, tomorrow and forever. Thank God for His Son, Jesus, who reigns forever.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NASB

🌹 Thank God for His new covenant in Christ.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

For Debbie B.

Aug21

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.                     Jeremiah 17:7‭-‬8 NASB

Sometimes we have to face the heat of unexpected, unwanted circumstances. Fear can grip us, immobilize, and draw us to a dark place.

But God. . . Jesus. Light of the world who makes the darkness light. He is Almighty God. He knows us intimately. Our every hurt, fear, joys, ups, downs – our every thought, our very soul. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

That is why we can trust Him. That is why trusting Him is peace for the soul. Dig deep into the sweet water of His word, flowing with wisdom, peace, the revelation of God Himself.

As we trust God, especially in the heat, we can be fruitful. Peace beyond the world’s understanding shines the Light for others to see God as we trust in Him.

🌹 Trust and obey.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon