Tag Archive | Love

Know

Jun19

“Cease striving and know that I am God; — Psalm 46:10

Know: experience, understand
Cease striving, relax, wait upon the Lord and know. Know that He is our refuge: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.*It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.^ my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my Savior — from violent people you save me.~

*Psalm 46:1
^Psalm 118:8
~2 Samuel 22:3

Know that we find rest in Him when we spend time in prayer with Him. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;* He bids us “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.^

*Psalm 37:7a
^Matthew 11:28

As we seek refuge and rest in Him we know forgiveness as we confess our sins. But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.* And experience His grace: But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.^ 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.~

*Psalm 130:4
^Psalm 86:15
~Hebrews 4:16

Being still and focusing on Jesus we find peace, love and wonderful fellowship. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.* For He Himself is our peace.^ He has given us peace: 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.~ For He is the Prince of Peace+

*Philippians 4:6-7
^Ephesians 2:14a
~John 14:27
+Isaiah 9:6

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. And There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.* In this abiding we have fellowship with Him: that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;^

*1 John 4:16,18
^Philippians 3:10

We will know joy with time spent with Jesus in prayer and fellowship: Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, That he may see His face with joy, And He may restore His righteousness to man.* For I will turn their mourning into joy And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.^

*Job 33:26
^Jeremiah 31:13b

That time you take to be still you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”* Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.^ Sitting with Jesus builds our confidence to follow Him without wavering. For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.~

*John 8:32
^John 14:6
~Proverbs 3:26

So in closing we can see that being still in the presence of God is essential to our lives. Jesus is our Refuge, Rest, and because of His grace and mercy we know forgiveness, His awesome love, and we have fellowship with Him as God planned. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.* Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We need Him everyday. He bids us come.

*1 Corinthians 1:9

“The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He. — Deuteronomy 32:4    

KNOW HIM!!!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Bitterness

Jun9

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” — Lamentations 3:19-24

Have you ever experienced bitterness? That something that is hard to bear, distressing, painful, grieving your soul that brings the taste of bitterness? Remember lest that bitterness turns to fierce, cruel, ruthless, relentless or hostile bitterness, that there is hope.

This is our hope: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

God has a plan and sometimes that plan doesn’t sit well with us causing bitterness. Take your bitterness to the Lord. His compassions never fail. He is faithful. Trust Him and wait on Him. He is our portion. He is all we need and the answer to all our woes and bitterness. He will renew you with His faithfulness and compassion every new day. Praise the Lord God Almighty.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Writer’s Block

Jun4
having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. — Colossians 2:7

Sometimes scripture just jumps off the page and you have such a testimony to tell. Other times scripture just seems to sit on the page and do nothing. Let me tell you that scripture is always good and has something to say but it is the one who reads it that is closed to it. It could be that the person has not received the Holy Spirit, through salvation, to interpret the scripture. It could be that sin in the life of a person is blocking understanding. It could be that it is just a dry time in the life of a person. Today I am experiencing a dry time.

Dry times are those times when we need to rely upon the Word of God that is firmly rooted in our hearts that establish our faith. When I have a dry time I always seem to look to who God is, all the blessings He has bestowed upon me, and how He has transformed me and continues to do so. I can’t help but be filled with joy and gratitude when I focus on Him. Psalm is usually the book I look to. Today Colossians spoke to me.

I overflow with gratefulness when I examine my life and realize the work of transformation the Lord has done in me. It is not anything I have done but what He has done. When I am reminded of His great mercy, grace and love I can’t help but be grateful and write of the joy that comes from focusing on the One true God.  Again He has come through with something to write about. To God be the glory!

Thank You Jesus.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

How Can I Say Thank You?

May16

How can I say thank you to the One who loves me so?
Who chastens me when I’ve done wrong to make me purely whole
Who strengths me when I am weak to show His glory true
And draws me to His loving arms to hold me when I’m blue

How can I say thank you to the One who loves me so?
Live each day of life for Him and pray for every soul
Touch a life for Jesus and I never will regret
I’ve shown the Lord my thankfulness by how my life is spent

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

All My Heart

May8

Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. — 1 Samuel 12:24

When I consider all the Lord has done for me — relocated from on high to a dark world of sin; endured extreme pain, ridicule, being mocked; experiencing rejection and ultimately on the cross loneliness, shame and sin — how can I not believe with all my heart in Jesus Christ.*

He has given me life worth living filled abundantly with love, peace, joy, contentment and a journey beyond all my expectations. Let me make it clear that I am not perfect and make many mistakes while the Lord conforms me to His will. I still have freewill and that “will” many times has a hard time trusting. But I will continue to return to God with all my heart.«

I choose to fear and serve Him with all my heart. I choose to seek Him, love Him, observe and keep His law, hold fast, walk in His ways giving thanks and doing it with all my heart. The more I practice these the more my trust toward the Lord increases so that I trust Him with all my heart.

As I trust my Lord I rejoice and exult Him with all my heart!»

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

*Acts 8:37
«Joel 2:12
»Zephania 3:14

Our Hope Is God

May6

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. — Psalm 42:5

So it seems that all at once things get out of your control, you lose your grip, all your plans seem to come falling down around you. This can’t be!!! I am walking with the Lord. He knows the plans I have — I shared them with Him. How could this be happening?

Sounds like life, doesn’t it? Well, how are we to react? Anger? Tears? Retaliation? Uncontrolled tongue? Emotional reactions are okay if they do not make us sin. Let us remember that we have Someone who loves us, cares for us and wants the best for us. So doesn’t it make sense to humble ourselves and go directly to the Lord?

Our hope is God. Taking it to Jesus in prayer we are ushered into His presence. There we praise Him because we trust that He is God and believe that He is in control. In the presence of the Lord our perspective can come under review of the Holy Spirit and change our hearts to God’s will and perspective. We have no idea what God’s plan is. All we can do is draw near, trust and hope in the Almighty God of the universe who works in us for His glorification. Remember it is all about Him but also remember He loves us and wants the best for us.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” — Lamentations 3:24
How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance. — Psalm 89:15

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Great is Thy Faithfulness

May5

Prayer has been the subject of my devotionals the past three days  and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share this old hymn that supports prayer so well. If not for God’s faithfulness we would not know compassion, mercy, provision, love, peace, guidance, strength, hope, salvation, contentment, joy and blessings. All this from a God who is, was and forever will be. The more we talk with Him the more we enjoy His presence and experience His faithfulness.

 

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

 

The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord, — Psalm 89:5-6

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

The Words of My Heart

Mar2

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. — Deuteronomy 6:5-6

I know I have done a devotional on the first and foremost commandment before but I believe it is worthy of repeating again and again just as it is in the Bible. The focus this time will be more on verse 6.

Moses was serious about His relationship with God and fulfilling His purpose. He wanted the Israelites to be serious about it too. Is your relationship with the Lord and His purpose for you a serious matter in your life? Is it important enough to share with others? Do you impress the Word of God on your heart and soul?

This is really not an option. It is a commandment. So if you love the Lord your God, you will read His Word, pray for understanding, and practice what you read. Be a walking testimony of God’s Word. Maybe that would be like binding them as a sign on your hand or as frontals on your forehead. Be so transparent that Jesus is seen written all over you and when you speak you proclaim the words of God. Be a blessing.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. — Deuteronomy 11:18

I Love The Way You Love Me

Feb24

Lord, I love the way You love me

You are so good to me
Lord, I love the way You love me
For eternity.
God, I love the way You love me
In the way that You direct.
God, I love the way You love me
Always to protect.
God, I love the way You love me
You’ve always got my back.
God, I love the way You love me
In You I never lack.
God, You are amazing
That You would love even me.
So much that You would send
Your Son to Calvary.
Jesus, I love the way You love me
In Your faithfulness so true
Jesus, I love the way You love me
Help me to be faithful too.
Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Sin Loses It’s Power

Feb24

Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, you must have the same attitude he did; you must be ready to suffer, too. For remember, when your body suffers, sin loses its power, — 1 Peter 4:1 (TLB)

What was Jesus’ attitude when He suffered and died for us? “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate *said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” And He did not answer him with regard to even a singlecharge, so the governor was quite amazed.

Christ suffered and yet did not open His mouth. He did not complain, grumble or lose His focus — to fulfill God’s purpose. Do we have the same attitude or are we saying, “that’s not fair” or “woe is me” or even “I don’t deserve this”? When we are in the midst of suffering are people amazed at our attitude? They should be if we are following in the footsteps of Jesus. We have been called for this purpose.

“Your old evil desires were nailed to the cross with him; that part of you that loves to sin was crushed and fatally wounded, so that your sin-loving body is no longer under sin’s control, no longer needs to be a slave to sin; for when you are deadened to sin you are freed from all its allure and its power over you.” Jesus suffered and died enabling us to have power over sin by the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. The power of God eliminates the power of sin in our lives.

Are you suffering? Praise God for when the body suffers, sin loses its power. The more we focus on God and His purpose the less power sin has over us. Seek Him in every aspect of your life. Seek Him continually.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. — Isaiah 53:7

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate *said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” And He did not answer him with regard to even a singlecharge, so the governor was quite amazed. — Matthew 27:12-14

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, — 1 Peter 2:21

Your old evil desires were nailed to the cross with him; that part of you that loves to sin was crushed and fatally wounded, so that your sin-loving body is no longer under sin’s control, no longer needs to be a slave to sin; 7 for when you are deadened to sin you are freed from all its allure and its power over you. — Romans 6:6-7