Tag Archive | relationship

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Jul30

“Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people, The fruit of their plans, Because they have not listened to My words, And as for My law, they have rejected it also.” Jeremiah 6:19 NASB

Events in the Bible are unfolding right before our eyes. God speaks through His word. He speaks truth, His desire and instruction for mankind. But if we do not spend time in His word we live a misdirected life. We live “The fruit of their (our) plans”. We reject God when we are not living by His standard found in His word.

“Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord which is poured out on us because our fathers have not observed the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.”
thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place and it shall not be quenched.”
2 Chronicles 34:21, 24‭-‬25‭ NASB/
2 Kings 22:13, 16‭-‬17‭ NASB

It is not my intent to bring doom and gloom, but to bring your heart back to a personal, intimate relationship with God so you may be strengthened to fulfill His plan, His will, His purpose. God’s blessing will be upon you.

Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord.
2 Chronicles 34:27/2 Kings 22:19

🌹He is listening. Spend time in prayer. Spend time in His word. Ask God to increase your faith.

Here is an encouraging word:

‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the Lord . ‘Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it. Jeremiah 5:22 NASB

He tells the waves how far they can go! He is in full control of all that is happening in your life. He can be trusted. Will you surrender to His will today?

The Choice is Yours

Jul16

Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.
Isaiah 13:11 NASB

The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word. Isaiah 24:3 NASB

Reading through Isaiah is like watching current events. So many correlations between today and this time in history.

The Word of God should be a “learn from history” book but we are a people trusting in our own abilities to change or make better today. That was then, this is now mentality.

History repeats itself because we are a rebellious, self-centered, arrogant people. Self included.

The Word of God reveals the Maker of all. Even in our depravity He desires a relationship with us. He desires to love us, protect us, lead us, use us in His plans here on earth right into eternity.

You want to know God, experience Him, be a part of His plan?

Repent, get into His word, talk to Him (pray), listen and follow in obedience.

You are either walking in His will or in yours. The choice is up to you.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 🌹

Difficult Last Days

Dec13

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. — 2 Timothy 3:1

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, — 1 Timothy 4:1

The Old Testament is filled with testimony after testimony of the prophets, through God’s direction, warning Israel of the disaster that comes from turning away from Him.

Look about you. What is going on in your corner of the world? Examine your life. What’s going on there? Who are you listening to? Who are you following? Where is Jesus in the picture of your life?

WARNING!!!!!

Difficult times are coming and some will fall away because they are not seeking, walking, knowing, loving, adhered to Jesus.

What condition is your life in right now? Do you need to stop and evaluate and refresh your relationship with Jesus? Don’t delay. Do it now.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Forgiveness And Reconciliation

Sep19

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying,  ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”  But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. — Genesis 50:15-20

What a man Joseph was. His brothers plotted against him causing him much strife in His life but in the end he brought restoration to his brothers. They were reunited — himself,  his dad and brothers — and together they continued to grow into a great nation. Joseph forgave his brothers and restored their relationship which affected future generations. Reminds me of God who, through Jesus, restores our relationship with Him which in turn affects our future generations. Are you forgiving as Joseph was? Are you affecting a change in your future generations by your relationships in current relationships? How is your relationship with God? Have you sought His forgiveness and reconciliation?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

What’s Your Excuse?

Aug20

God is not dead!!!! Hallelujah!!! He is real, alive, authentic, relational. And He wants you to know Him. What are you waiting for?

Stubborn? When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.— Mark 16:11

Uninformed? To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. — Acts 1:3

Unwilling? 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 5:30-40

Afraid? “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! — Luke 12:4-5

And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. — Revelation 1:17b-18

What are you going to do? The result, life or death, is your choice.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Acknowledge God

Jan29

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. — Romans 1:28-32

The decision (choice) to not acknowledge God leads down a road of personal, relational, and societal destruction. And we have the audacity to ask, “why is the world in such a mess?”.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

To Speak Or Not

Nov16

And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” — Acts 4:18-20

Do you ever think about what your response would be if confronted by the law and told not to share Jesus? Has Jesus made such an impression in your life that you are willing to risk imprisonment, ridicule, your very life? Is Jesus so alive in your life that you can’t stop speaking of what you have seen and heard?

If not, what needs to change about your walk with the Lord? Are you reading His Word, seeking Him through prayer, loving Him with ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength and heeding His words in obedience?

Today is the day to make a change. Take time during worship to come face to face with where you are spiritually and humble yourself before the mighty God confessing, repenting and let the healing begin to bring you back into a right relationship with God so that you are effective for His glory.

God bless your worship today.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Student See, Student Do

Oct30

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. — Colossians 3:12-15

Through the Word of God (Bible) we see Jesus. He is compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. He is forgiving and loving. It is only through Christ that His church is unified and it is only in following Him, learning His attributes and practicing them that we can experience the peace of Christ.

Jesus our example, the Holy Spirit our teacher. As we draw closer to Jesus Christ, study His Word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and learn, we will reflect the character of our teacher. We will reflect Jesus to others.

The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. — Galatians 6:6-8

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Skipping Calves

Oct4

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. — Malachi 4:2

I hope you had time to meditate over yesterday’s devotion. It really is a great gift our Lord God has given us to be forgiven AND to have our sin Covered. And then today to look upon the one who can do that. Can you help but fear or reverence His name? Loss of sin, healing begin. It is enough to make me “go forth and skip about like calves from the stall”. I hope you really experience the happiness that come from a heart forgiven, a life healed and a reverent relationship with THE NAME above all names.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

It’s Really Jesus Doing The Work

Oct2

So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. — 1 Corinthians 3:7-8

How humbling and revealing these verses are. It is a wonderful thing to lead someone to the Lord — exhilarating, exciting, pleasing and a bit of pride can slip in thinking that “we” led someone to the Lord. Truth is revealed here. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit and in obedience to Christ we share the gospel. The Lord is the one who changes the heart of the person to whom we are speaking. So the only part we play is surrender and willingness to be used for God’s purpose and glory.

As some of you may remember I spent two years with my Mom and Dad caring for their needs in another state, away from my family. While I was there the Lord taught me the reality of these verses. I often thought about my family and how I was not there to speak of Jesus and be an influence on them. How in the world are they going to continue to follow and grow in their relationship without me there to remind them and be an example?!!!

I tell you that my family grew in ways that blew my mind in those two years and the only real influence I had was my time of prayer for them each day. I had to rely on the Lord to change their lives and be the reminder that He is alive, loves and is with them always.

Jesus can do more and be more of an influence on your family than you can. Our focus needs to be on our relationship with Jesus. The closer our walk with Him the more influential we are to others “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13) Are you willing to surrender to the will of God and let Him use you to lead others to Jesus? He is waiting to transform you into a witness of His glory.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon