Tag Archive | life

For the Sake of Christ

Aug3

And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Mark 8:34‭-‬35 NASB

What does it mean to “to take up your cross”?
As I meditate on this verse, I come to the conclusion, I must be like Christ.

Jesus denied His will to be obedient to the Father’s will. I must deny self – my will, my desire, my way – seeking God’s will, His plan for my life.

Jesus carried His cross, despite the outcome, to fulfill the Father’s plan. If I am to carry my cross, I must obediently follow God’s plan for my life, no matter the outcome. The gospel needs to be shared, no matter the cost.

What are your thoughts?

🌹saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Luke 22:42 NASB
🌹For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
Mark 8:36 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Who is God?

Jul26

For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God,
Psalms 18:31 NASB

I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God.
Isaiah 45:5a NASB

See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
Deuteronomy 32:39 NASB

Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.
Isaiah 43:10c NASB

‘I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He.’ ”
Isaiah 41:4b NASB

Do you believe? I do!

There is no one holy like You, Lord! Indeed, there is no one besides You. There is no rock like You, God. I shall praise You forever. Glory to Your name, amen.
1 Samuel 2:2 NASB

🌹There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name. For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.
Psalms 86:8‭-‬10 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Show Me Your Glory!

Jun2

Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”
Exodus 33:18 NASB

One of my all time favorite verses. Show me Your glory, Lord God! Moses saw a glimpse of God’s glory. I’m looking forward to the day when I will see the full glory of my Lord face to face.

But can we see God’s glory, a glimpse, today? In this day and age? I believe we can.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:38-39 NASB

The rivers of living water is the Holy Spirit working in the believer, the child of God. The work of the Holy Spirit through the believer allows the believer to see the glory of God.
God shows His glory through answered prayer, or the Sonshine in the midst of the storm, or the light of salvation in the eye of a new believer or the healing of  physical or emotional hurt. . . The list goes on. How long has it been since you saw the glory of God? When was the last time, if ever, did you pray to God asking, “Show me your glory”?

🌹“I pray You, show me Your glory!” Amen.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Path of The Righteous

May9

In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the Light of men (mankind).
John 1:4 NASB

I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. — Jesus
John 12:46 NASB

Jesus came as the Light to the world. As believers we have the Light living in and working through us.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
John 8:12 NASB

The righteous journey from salvation, the light of dawn, to our journey end, the promised land, our light should be shining brighter and brighter until that glorious day when our light will be outshined in the presence of our Lord Jesus.

Is your life shining brighter and brighter?

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 NASB

🌹But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
Proverbs 4:18 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Find Life, Righteousness and Honor

Apr10

God loves and blesses those who pursue righteousness:

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves one who pursues righteousness.
Proverbs 15:9 NASB

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6 NASB

God delights in loyalty.

For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6 NASB

He who pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness and honor.
Proverbs 21:21‭ NASB

Find life. Jesus is the “life”:

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 14:6 NASB

Find righteousness. Jesus is our righteousness.

having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:11 NASB

🌹What an honor to be filled with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, our Life, Lord and Savior, to the glory and praise of God!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Entrusted With the Gospel

Dec28

For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 2:15-‬17 NASB

Holy, Royal, Majestic, God, Your ways are perfect. Your will be done in the lives of Your chosen ones, a holy priesthood, a holy nation of believers, a people for Your own possession. Thank You, God, for calling us out of darkness into the marvelous Light of Christ so that we may proclaim His excellencies. For we once were not a people, but now we are the people of God; we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy. We are not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from You God. With sincerity may we in Christ, spread the gospel, in the sight of God. For we are a fragrance of Christ to You God. A fragrance to those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. For those who reject You are dead already and facing an eternal death with no hope – an aroma from death to death. But praise be to You God for those who respond to Your call – an aroma from life to life. A life of joy turned to eternal life of abundant joy. I pray that I will be a sweet aroma of Christ to God, speaking the word of God in truth for the salvation of the lost and the glory of my King!! Amen. 1 Peter 2:9‭-‬10/2 Corinthians 3:5 NASB

🌹but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Live to God

Dec26

For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
Romans 6:10 NASB

Jesus died for you. Jesus died for me. Jesus is alive. Do you believe it? Jesus lives to God. Do we?

🌹Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Ephesians 5:1‭-‬2 NASB

An offering and a sacrifice to God. Are we a fragrant aroma to God?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Dry Bones?

Nov17

Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
Ezekiel 37:5‭-‬6 NASB

I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life,
Ezekiel 37:14a NASB

Wouldn’t it be wonderful for God to use us to make His name known? One day everyone will know that God is Lord! His name will be known despite us!

I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.” ’
Ezekiel 38:23 NASB

“My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.
Ezekiel 39:7 NASB

🌹Do we want to miss out on the joy, the intimacy, the awe and wonder of God’s work, the strength, peace, and understanding of the Holy One? Are we shining the Light, Jesus, in the world or are we dry bones needing revived?
I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.” ’
Ezekiel 38:23 NASB
Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

God Cares

Nov11

Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than (is it not) that he should turn from his ways and live?
Ezekiel 18:23 NASB

The Creator of every human being alive, loves His creation. For God so loved the world. He put each of us here on earth for a purpose, to love our Creator, God, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We are a broken, messed up people in need of help. Help to turn from our wicked ways, yes, every one of us. God saw and knew our need so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, the only One who could and did pay the price for our sin. Jesus paid it all and we can have that pardon from sin and death if we believe. BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God and came to earth, setting aside His glory for us, God’s creation, to pay our debt.
Once we are His He pardons our iniquity and passes over our rebellion when we repent and return to Him, a God like no other. He does not retain His anger forever because He delights in unchanging love.
So a God who would go to those lengths for His own creation, how could He possibly take pleasure in the death of anyone who dies? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”
John 3:16/Mark 12:30/Micah 7:18/Ezekiel 18:32/Galatians 5:22-23 NASB

🌹You want to truly live? Surrender your life to Jesus Christ and know what it really means to live. Experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as the Holy Spirit guides your life. Let God transform you into who He has called you to be, His child. If you’re a believer but God is not forefront of your life, it’s time to repent and return to your Creator. He is waiting with loving open arms.

Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’
Ezekiel 33:11 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

1 John 5:9

Oct4

 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. 1 John 5:9 NASB

Glory to the God of truth who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, — the way, the truth, and the life — and our Helper, the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth sent from the Father. The Spirit is the truth.

Jesus, Your very works testify about You, that the Father sent You. And the Father who sent You, has testified of You. “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” God, You testify of Jesus and Your testimony is truth. In Your Holy Word You have given us true testimony of Your Son, our Savior. I pray we seek the truth of Scripture as it unfolds the life of Your Son to true understanding and knowledge of the great gift of life given through Jesus, our salvation. Thank You for Your Word, Lord God. Amen. Isaiah 65:16/John 14:6/John 15:26/John 15:26/John 5:36‭-‬37/John 8:18/John 5:32 NASB

But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.  John 5:34‭

🌹You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. John 5:39‭-‬40 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon