Tag Archive | restoration

Decisions

May19

Warning: this is a long one.

Testimony:
I know you have been there, where you are faced with a circumstance you don’t know how to handle. In your carnal (fleshly) mind you think of a quick, rash decision. But . . . God.

Recently I was faced with a circumstance that made me angry. It brought me to tears. I cried out to the Lord for help. The next few events happened without my really being aware until I looked back over my day and saw the trail of guidance my Lord left for me.

I received a phone call asking for assistance if I could. I did. This godly, prayer warrior woman, without her even knowing, revealed that I needed to persevere. I needed to continue to pray, pray, pray. I needed to trust the Lord.

Before and after this encounter I had received a few texts from another friend regarding scripture references from a Bible Study she attended. It is here where God moved in a miraculous way and I can admit I am so glad that I am human and in the hands of my Lord.

I was given Psalm 53:7-12
This is not what I looked up and read, but this is:

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. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:7‭-‬12 NASB

Not Psalm but Isaiah. My Lord Jesus faced life oppressed and afflicted and didn’t open His mouth. He had a mission to fulfill no matter the cost. Who am I to expect a perfect life when the perfect One suffered?

Oops, or was it really? It wasn’t Psalm 53, but 52:7-12 and again I was looking in Isaiah.

How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, They shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes When the Lord restores Zion. Break forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God. Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the Lord. But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives; For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 52:7‭-‬12 NASB

God has made a way! He reigns! He will comfort! I am redeemed! Salvation is mine! Victory is coming!!

Again, another change. God at work. Psalm 51:10-12 but I read, again, Isaiah.

Was it not You who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over? So the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass, That you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?
Isaiah 51:10‭-‬13 NASB

Praise God, I have something to look forward to, hope. My God is mightier than any circumstance so I will persevere until His return or He takes me home.

God’s word is so amazing and I would not want to neglect the Psalms that were sent to me. God is an amazing, wonderful, loving, caring God who is always a prayer away.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Psalms 51:10‭-‬12 NASB

🌹“Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire.” But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones. Psalms 52:7‭-‬9 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

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1 John 5:16-17

Oct10

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
1 John 5:16‭-‬17 NASB

Lord God, I offer up a prayer by faith for my brother/sister who is caught up in a sin. I pray You will restore him/her and forgive him/her. Lord, I know intercession on behalf of those who once were enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, blaspheming the Lord, You will not hear my prayer on their behalf. In the case of those who have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. God, I pray for Your extravagant love to be poured out on my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and keep us from falling away into blasphemous sin. Father, God I pray I will not neglect to pray for Your saints. Thank You Father for the offer of salvation through Your Son. Thank You, Jesus for Your sacrificial obedience on the cross and thanks be to the Holy Spirit who convicts and leads to salvation, forgiveness, and guidance to walk into eternity by faith through grace. To You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be honor and glory forever, amen.
James 5:15/Jeremiah 14:11/Jeremiah 7:16/Numbers 15:30/Hebrews 6:4‭-‬6 NASB

🌹For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Hebrews 10:26 NASB

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

The Bible

Jul8

BIBLE
Treasure
Truth
Perfect
Sure
Wisdom
Everlasting
Guidance
Insightful
God’s Word

Who could want or ask for more? All we need for life. The Word is Jesus Christ!

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  Psalm 19:7

The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. — Psalm 119:160

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
for I am always thinking of your laws.
I am even wiser than my elders,
for I have kept your commandments.
Psalm 119:98-100 (NLT)

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Dry And Weary Land

Apr29

[ The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God. ] [ A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. ] O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. — Psalm 63:1

Have you been there? In a dry and weary land? I know I have. Unexplained weariness, trouble focusing, no motivation. The day, week, month just seem dry. No real explanation. The presence of God seems distant although you know better than that.

Why do you know better? Because you believe in the Word of God that tells you so. Refreshment comes when you remind yourself that “God, You are my God”. Then surrender to the thirst of the soul and yearning of the flesh to be restored to fellowship with the Almighty God. Seek Him earnestly and He will be found and you will be satisfied.

Hallelujah, praise to the King!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

New Year’s Resolution?

Jan2

Psalm 25:1 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

The soul. The life and spirit of each person. So, to lift up my soul to the Lord is to lift up my life, my spirit. Lift or raise as an offering, a sweet aroma to God. An offering, a sacrifice on the altar of God. God desires your free will offering – your life – to be given to Him so He can do a marvelous work in you. The work of restoration of your soul (clean up the gunk and make better) and then His work to the world through you. Are you willing to lift up your soul to the Lord God and be renewed, refreshed, changed for the better? May God lead and bless you and your endeavors to lift up your soul to Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon