Tag Archive | grace

Where Do We Seek Answers?

Oct23

“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name, ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
Jeremiah 33:2-3 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.33.2-3.NASB1995

Where is your first stop when you are seeking answers?

Is it the throne of grace where ‘THE GOD’ who has all the answers we could ever seek?

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.4.15-16.NASB1995

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.29.13.NASB1995

Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
Isaiah 55:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.55.6.NASB1995

🌹Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Psalms 45:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.45.6.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Grace

Aug12

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.6.NASB1995

Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.23.12.NASB1995

For the hand of God made all things. There is nothing created that did not come into being without Him. God says, “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Isaiah 66:2 /1 Peter 5:5 NASB1995

🌹For though the Lord is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar.
Psalms 138:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.138.6.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Faith, Works, Justified Part 1

Jul9

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
James 2:24-26 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.24-26.NASB1995

In Joshua, chapter one, God’s people were about to cross into the Promised Land given by God. ¹Joshua sent two men, spies, to view the land, especially Jericho. The king of Jericho got wind of this and sent word to Rahab to bring the men out who had entered her house.
But . . . the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
Joshua 2:4-7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jos.2.4-7.NASB1995

¹Rahab asked of the men she hid to have mercy upon her and her family confessing that, “the Lord your God, He is God in heaven and on earth beneath.” The men agreed to deal kindly and faithfully.

¹Rahab helped the men escape and their parting words were . . .
. . . “We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household.
Joshua 2:17-18 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jos.2.17-18.NASB1995

She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
Joshua 2:21 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jos.2.21.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

🌹Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

¹Reference: Joshua 2:1-21

Faith: Soul Preserver

Jul8

But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result (by the deeds) of the works, faith was perfected (completed); and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
James 2:20-23 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.20-23.NASB1995

The work of God is that we believe in Jesus. The gift of God is grace through faith.
John 6:29/Ephesians 2:8 NASB1995

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
James 2:17 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.17.NASB1995

🌹But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:38-39 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.10.38-39.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Testimony* of God’s Abounding Love

May6

Do you ever recognize the abounding love of God in the little things?

Those little things are so huge to me that I stand in awe that God loves and cares that much for me.

This morning I was running late to work. What can take me anywhere from 15-20 minutes to drive – and usually it’s closer to the 20 – took 13 minutes.

Let me set up the reason why I know God showed His love to me today. I have two stop signs, one on a busy thoroughfare and ten stop lights, one I call the longest light in history if red, on my journey to work.

The first stop light on the busy thoroughfare had no cross traffic. Out of the ten stoplights I had to stop at three of them and the real blessing is “the longest light in history” was green. Woohoo.

I pulled into the parking lot with two minutes to spare. (And no, there was no speeding or illegal driving in the making of this testimony)

God has our days perfectly planned out and when we love Him with all our heart we see reasons to thank Him and praise Him!!!

🙌 Look for ways that God blesses you today. Thank Him and praise Him!!

🌹The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
Psalms 103:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.103.8.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

* written July 1, 2023

Grateful for God’s Grace

Mar31

The majority of devotions I’ve written this month, I have written about, “Loving Your Neighbor”, a challenge for anyone.
God has taught me a lot through these “neighbor” verses, making me aware of just how hard hearted I can be sometimes because my neighbors don’t meet my criteria. I am reminded that God loved me so much He sent Jesus to die for me, you, and the world.

“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.
John 3:16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.3.16.NASB1995

I am to love my neighbor as Christ loved me. These are the ones I now pray for and I will practice loving my neighbor.

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
James 2:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.8.NASB1995

🌹A good man will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
Proverbs 12:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.12.2.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Slander or Grace

Mar13

Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy (silence); No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure.
Psalms 101:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.101.5.NASB1995

God knows our intentions, both of the mind and heart. We are totally transparent to God, so let us be truthful with ourselves. Let us rid ourselves of the things that God despises and surrender to His will, His way, His truth.

These the Lord hates, which are an abomination to Him (of His soul):

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
Proverbs 6:16-17, 19 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.6.17-19.NASB1995

🙏 God forgive me for slander spoken in my heart against my neighbor; for lies I speak outwardly and inwardly regarding my neighbor. Help me to not be a false witness full of lies, but a true witness of your truth and forgiveness. God clothe me in Your righteousness for Your namesake; for Your glory. Amen.

🌹A good man will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
Proverbs 12:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.12.2.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Shine for Jesus

Mar3

God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon (with) us— Selah.
That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.
Psalms 67:1-2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.67.1-2.NASB1995

Have you ever seen a person or persons who’s face shines, where their smile lights up the room, noticing there is something different about them? Is their countenance shining with the light of the Lord?

Remember Moses of the Old Testament? His face shown because of time spent with God.

The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
Psalms 98:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.98.2.NASB1995

We are to be a light to the nations.

The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;
Numbers 6:25 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/num.6.25.NASB1995

🌹“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
Matthew 5:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.14.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Thankful for God!

Feb7

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
Psalms 86:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.86.15.NASB1995

🙏I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever. For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Psalms 86:12-13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.86.12-13.NASB1995

🌹Make glad the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
Psalms 86:4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.86.4.NASB1995

Have a great weekend!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Grace-o-meter

Feb4

Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:60 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/act.7.60.NASB1995

What is your grace-o-meter?
Are we as gracious to our persecutors, or the unsaved of this world, as Stephen was? What about other Christians?

Do I show as much grace to others as Jesus shows to me?

🌹. . . ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:39b NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.22.39.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon https://indasharonjesus.org

*** That person would