Tag Archive | salvation

Free

Oct7

As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way,  bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the         Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” — Exodus 14:10-12

Often times we can’t see past our circumstances to see that God has our future covered. We want to run back to the familiar even though God has a better life planned for us. We have a choice (again with the choices) — trust God with your life or stay in bondage, slavery where you are.

Jesus offers a way out. He offers freedom right where you are. Are you ready to be free from the bondage of sin and the overwhelming circumstances you’re in? Come to Him. He is waiting.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. — Matthew 11:28

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. — John 8:31-36

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Do You Believe?

Oct6

King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.” Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to   become a  Christian.” And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.” — Acts 26:27-29

Are you a Christian? One who believes that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross washing away your sin, was buried, and 3 days later rose from the dead? Do you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus? Will you confess Him to others?

Are you one who doesn’t yet believe? Are you desiring the freedom from shame and guilt? Believe now, confessing your sin before God and your need of Him in your life. Trust Jesus with your life and confess Him as your Lord. Today is the day to choose life. Eternal life. Won’t you come? Come to Jesus?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Life

Sep23

In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind? — Job 12:10

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having  overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all  people everywhere should repent,  because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” — Acts 17:22-31

That man is Jesus Christ.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Perseverance Has It’s Reward

Sep12

These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night.” — Genesis 31:41-42

20 years Jacob put up with Laban’s oppression and scheming ways. I believe he did it for the love of his family. He wanted them well taken care of. He was looking out for their welfare.

How long would you endure with a self-seeking, oppressive, unfair boss just to ensure the well-being of your family? Sometimes we are quick to run, give up when treated unfairly.

God blessed Jacob with a large family and great wealth to care for that family. When God said it was time to return to the land of his father he went.

Perseverance has it’s reward. Thank God that Jesus persevered on the cross for us. Thank God that we are well taken care of by the blood of the Lamb and that one day we will reunited in the homeland of our Father.

Persevere to the end because perseverance has it’s reward.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

 

Broken And Contrite Heart

Sep10

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

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.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

— Psalm 51:1-17

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

— Psalm 34:18

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

Seeking Generation

Aug17

 

The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,

The world, and those who dwell in it.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face—even  Jacob.              Selah.            — Psalm 24:1-6

Do we have a generation of seekers alive today? Who are those of the generation who seek Him, who seek His face?

Could it be those who dwell upon the earth knowing that the Lord is the Creator of the earth and all that it contains? Those who believe the world and they themselves belong to God? Could that person or persons have clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted their souls to falsehood nor sworn deceitfully and been blessed? Are you that person who has received righteousness from the God of your salvation and been granted entry into the Lord’s holy presence? Do you seek Him?

We need a generation that Seeks the Lord and His strength; that seeks His face continually. (Psalm 105:4) Are you a part of that generation?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Blessing And Righteousness

Aug14

He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. — Psalm 24:5

What a wonderful gift for practising a life with clean hands and a pure heart. Jesus is the best gift anyone could receive. He is our blessing and our righteousness. He is to be pursued, sought. He is the answer. He is the way. He is truth. He is life.

Do you want life, blessing, righteousness? Seek Jesus Christ and His free gift of salvation. He is waiting. Won’t you come?

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. — Romans 10:9-10

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Ascend And Stand

Aug11

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? — Psalm 24:3

My initial response to this is, “not me”. I am but a filthy rag, even on a good day compared to the Lord God Almighty and His pure holiness. I have never, that I can recall, imagined myself standing before God. I am always on my knees in humble adoration if not lying flat on my face before Him.

But God. . .

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God  prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. — Ephesians 2:4-10

But now in Christ Jesus you who  formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 

Only through Jesus Christ and Him alone may I ascend into the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place. How about you? Are you ready to accept God’s grace through Jesus Christ so you can ascend and stand in confidence before the Creator of you?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

It’s The Lord’s

Aug8

Glenda, this is for you. Thank you.

I was recently challenged at a women’s get together at my church. The challenge was to literally hide God’s Word in my heart. If I would take the time to memorize the Word of God I would be equipped to: share the gospel, stand against the attacks of Satan, be encouraged when discouraged, strengthened when weak, victorious in fear, and so on and so on.

I decided to memorize Psalm 24. One verse a day. Friday morning I wrote the verse down and started repeating it throughout the day.

Saturday came and went without writing the second verse or memorizing it. Had I given up already? No. Life just gets in the way, or actually I let life interrupt. I did continue to repeat Psalm 24:1 throughout the day — but it was different this time. I wasn’t trying to remember the verse so it started to penetrate my thoughts, meditating on His awesome Word. Today I plunged deep into the unfathomable, overwhelming, deep, personal, unchanging Word. How could one little verse be filled with so much?

Let me share Psalm 24:1.

The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it.   (Yes, I wrote it from memory).

When I try to wrap my mind around the fact that earth itself, all it contains, and every last living being on it belongs to the Lord, I am blown away. I don’t even have words that can contain, explain, make fathomable that one verse. There could be books written about this one verse and still not touch on the awesomeness of God and His divine hand print on HIS earth. HIS world.

I will point out that the part of this verse that stood out the most was that I, little insignificant me, belongs to God. WOW! This brings me great joy, peaceful security, undaunting confidence, faithful courage and so much more. I am loved. I belong.

There are some who read this verse and do not find the things I see. They don’t want to belong to God. They fight the truth that they are already His. That stubborn, unrelenting, I am in control, non-surrendering person keeps themselves from experiencing what their souls long for. To belong. To be loved. To feel secure. To know peace. God wants to bless those who dwell on His earth but there must be a surrender of one’s will to that of God.

Do you want to trust? Surrender to Jesus Christ today and know true peace, security and belonging. Then learn His Word. Plant it in your heart and meditate on it day and night.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon