Tag Archive | joy

No Fear, Only Hope

Nov9

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.             John 14:27 NASB

Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.  Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.      John 16:20‭, ‬22 NASB

Even though this word was written at a time when Jesus was talking to His disciples about His leaving to return to the Father, it is still pertinent today. God’s word transcends time to speak to all generations.

We may be facing a time in our lives of personal weeping and lamenting. We also may  be facing a time in history when we will be weeping and lamenting the times we have had freedom from ridicule and persecution as a Christian.

But GOD!!! Hallelujah, but God. . .

He has given us peace that the world cannot comprehend. We have the promise that Jesus “will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”

So as the world rejoices while we weep and lament over the depravity in the world, let us hold fast to the promises of God and be at peace.

🌹 No fear, no troubled heart. Only hope.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Fruitful or Dried Up

Nov4

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.            John 15:1‭-‬2 NASB

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4‭-‬5 NASB

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.            John 15:6 NASB

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. John 15:8 NASB

🌹 Are you abiding in Christ, the vine, being nourished by the vinedresser, the Father’s word, being transformed by His pruning, producing fruit in the power of the Holy Spirit

OR

Are you a dried up branch, void of the movement of God because you do not abide in Jesus, the vine, only to be gathered and used for the fire?

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.           John 15:11 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Keep His Commandments

Nov3

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” John 14:21 NASB

Do you want to know God, to have Him reveal Himself to you, to know His abounding love for you? Keep His commandments.

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

John 14:23 NASB

Do you want to God to abide in you? Keep His commandments.

He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

John 14:24 NASB

Do you want to discern the word, the voice of God? Keep His commandments.

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:9‭-‬10 NASB

🌹Do you love the Lord God?

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.          John 15:11 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Greater Works

Nov2

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. John 14:10 NASB

Jesus abides in the Father and the Father in Him. The Father abiding in the Son worked for the fulfillment of His plan through Jesus. Do you believe in Jesus? Then . . .

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.        John 14:12 NASB

Greater works you will do if you believe and abide in Christ who abides in the Father. How?

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.       John 14:16‭-‬17 NASB

The Holy Spirit, abiding in you because of your belief in Jesus Christ, will enable you to fulfill God’s plan. The continuation of what Jesus started – sharing the truth, the good news.

Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”    John 18:37 NASB

This greater work that Jesus spoke of is the spreading of the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit in you. How many people in the world have the Holy Spirit residing within them? That is the greater work. The Holy Spirit in the believer spreading the gospel worldwide, everyday.

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.         John 15:11 NASB

🌹 Are you surrendering to the abiding Holy Spirit within you? Are you trusting Him to use you to further the work Jesus started? Are you listening, ready to respond at any moment? Someone’s life could be dependent upon you.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Have You Ever Had One of Those Days?

Oct9

Have you ever had one of those days when everything went perfectly? A day of abundant living? A day when your heart is overflowing with joy?

Well let me tell you that I was blessed tremendously today. Rewind . . .

A few days earlier.  . .

I was feeling down, stagnant in my relationship with God. Things were going well. God was moving through me in a number of lives and I was blessed to watch Him and participate in His work.

Well this morning I awoke at 2:30am and laid there a couple minutes then started to pray. I don’t know when I fell back to sleep but when the alarm went off at 5am I just wanted to hit the snooze button. But, I didn’t.

This morning’s time with God was extra special. I can’t tell you why except that God was at work in me. My usual exalting of His Holy name. My confession of sin. Praying for family,  friends, Pastor, church and anyone God places on my heart. But I noticed that I remembered to pray for a couple people who needed prayer specifically for today. Sometimes I beat myself up because I forget. But not today!!!! My heart was so filled with joy that it was overflowing into praise and thankfulness after prayer that I could hardly contain myself.

As I headed out the door to go to my daughter’s a couple hours later my heart was still overflowing with joy and thankfulness. On my drive there, about 20 minutes, the Lord blesses me with minimal traffic and mostly green lights. Smooth sailing. The scenery was beyond beautiful as I thanked and praised God for the colorful changes in the trees on my drive and the blue skies. When on the freeway,  I turned on praise music and just sang uninhibited to my awesome, loving God who filled my heart with joy overflowing, thankfulness for His revealing His abounding love for me and for opening my eyes to see the beautiful day He was giving me.

The next six hours were spent with my daughter and three granddaughters enjoying their company filled with giggles, stories, snuggles, kisses, playing, exploring and a lot of fun. Speaking of God, singing songs about Jesus.

Then met up with Papa and explored Bass Pro looking at fish and animals. Pretty much exhausted we had dinner with all including Daddy and an uncle.

On the way home thinking over my day and thanking God for giving me such an awesome day and singing praises in worship again, I realize I am truly a very blessed wife, mother, mother-in-law, Gigi and child of God.

Thank You, God for being the beginning, middle and end of my perfect day.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Feast on Jesus

Aug12

“Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16 NASB

Jesus is the word made flesh.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NASB

Jesus is the bread of life.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 6:35 NASB

God calls us to grace and mercy found and granted by Him alone. Called unto salvation. Called to a loving relationship with Him. Called to obedience that exudes out of our love for Him.

Are you missing the joy and delight of the Lord? If so, could it be that you are starving yourself?

He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. Ezekiel 3:3 NASB

The word of God is important to our spiritual health. Without the word to nourish our souls we are walking a misdirected path in weakness and Ill health. Just as our physical bodies need nourishment so does our spiritual bodies.

Let us not neglect the importance of God’s word. Feed in it daily. Chew on it throughout the day.

God’s word keeps us on the straight and narrow.

“I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
Job 23:12 NASB

“How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalms 119:103 NASB

Feast on His word everyday. Not only will they be sweet to the soul but you will get to know just how sweet our Lord is.

🌹 “O taste and see that the Lord is good;” Psalm 34:8

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Lord Be Magnified

Jul23

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!” Psalms 40:16 NASB

What is your “rejoice” manometer reading these days?

Pressure of everyday life can be overwhelming. Then thrown in there is disappointment, fear of the outcome of situations, uncertainties all around us because nothing is “normal” these days.

Where do you turn? What is it that you are seeking? In an uncertain world, there is only One who can give you peace from the pressures of life. Seek the Lord. Let Him be your joy and gladness. Seek and you will find.

In Christ alone is salvation. Are you assured of your salvation in Him? Are you grateful for it? If you love your salvation, make it known. Continually seek to magnify Him in words and actions for others to see and your heart will rejoice in God.

🌹Those who seek God can’t help but rejoice in Him and magnify Him to the world.

If you are questioning your salvation, seek out a strong Christian who can guide, mentor, and pray with you and for you.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

O Come Let Us Adore Him

Nov22

O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.  — Psalm 95:1-2

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Today’s Encouragement

Apr3

I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

— Psalm 16:7-11

A little encouragement and hope for your day.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

God Of Hope

Mar30

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. — Romans 15:13

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon