Tag Archive | seek

Wisdom and Innocence

Apr4

For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. — Romans 16:19

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. — 1 Corinthians 14:20

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Today’s Encouragement

Apr3

I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

— Psalm 16:7-11

A little encouragement and hope for your day.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Greet

Apr2

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also  greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from  Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and  Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the  household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. — Romans 16:1-16

18 times the word “greet” is used in this passage. I just had to look the word up. . .

According to dictionary.reference.com it is 1. to address with some form of salutation; welcome. 2. to meet or receive. It’s a verb meaning it requires action.

The Greek word for “greet” is aspazomai. It means “to draw to oneself”. To salute, greet, bid welcome, wish well to; receive joyfully, welcome. “Used of those accosting anyone; of those who visit one to see him a little while, departing almost immediately afterwards; to pay respects to a distinguished person by visiting him; of those who greet one whom they meet in the way; a salutation was made not merely by a slight gesture and a few words, but generally by embracing and kissing, a journey was retarded frequently by saluting” (Greek Lexicon)

How do you greet the Lord’s saints? Do you acknowledge your brothers and sisters in Christ with joy, respect, acknowledging your love for them in Christ? Are they encouraged and lifted up by your greeting? Remember that “greet” is an action word. Greet the saints with the same respect you would Jesus.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

God of Peace

Apr1

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. — Romans 15:33

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! — 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now the God of peace, who  brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. — Hebrews 13:20-21

God Of Hope

Mar30

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. — Romans 15:13

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

My Father’s House

Mar29

And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s  house?” — Luke 2:49

Here is your reason to be in church. Are you a Christian (follower of Jesus Christ)? Jesus “had to be in” His “Father’s house”. Follow Him to His (and your) Father’s house.

Praise and worship Him today!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Who May?

Mar28

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?

He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.

He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the Lord;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;

He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken. — Psalm 15

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Accept One Another?!

Mar27

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. — Romans 15:7

Now that’s a tall order!!! Accept others with all the baggage they carry? Accept those high maintenance, outcasts of society, and the egotistical, arrogant, selfish, prideful, disobedient, unfaithful? . . . well enough talking about me. I’m a sinner. I admit it. But with Jesus becoming my life He is transforming me into a godly person ready for heaven.

Do we reach out to people, just like us, to introduce them to Jesus? Do we accept THAT kind of person when they walk through the doors of our churches or do we shy away and ignore and shun them? Reminds me of a testimony:

A number of years ago a young woman visited the church I was attending. She filled out an attendance card so she made the list for visitation Monday.

An older couple (Deacon and wife) and I were the ones blessed to visit her that Monday. We arrived at her trailer and she seemed genuinely happy to see us and invited us in. In this tiny trailer we stepped over and around toys, dirty clothes, a mattress in the middle of the floor with wadded up sheets and sat on a dilapidated sunk down low, filthy, well worn couch. What would your reaction be and what expression would she have seen on your face?

To the glory of God I marched in there with a smile on my face, thanked her for visiting our church, gave her information and shared the gospel. She was no different than me when it came to my need for Christ.

People need the Lord. Will we let their garbage stop us from accepting them, sharing the gospel and helping them grow in Christ? Jesus accepted our garbage all the way to the cross. What are you willing to do for others?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

One Accord

Mar26

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify  the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. — Romans 15:5-6

Amazing verse. God who gives perseverance and encouragement — something needed in every relationship and keys to successful relationships — grant us to be of the same mind — that of Christ Jesus — so together we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

He gives His church the tools to accomplish His glory. God is all we need in Christ Jesus.

So persevere and encourage one another in the mind and manner of Jesus for His glory!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Written For You

Mar25

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. — Romans 15:4

Are you desperate to see a future that doesn’t look dismal? Are you existing to just exist? Is life a dark tunnel of confusion and desperation with no light at the end of the tunnel? No purpose. No reason. No HOPE?

The Bible was written for you! It is filled with instructions for living. It is filled with purpose. It is the light that leads to hope. The Word of God is the Light that floods the dark tunnel.

Try. Let the Scriptures encourage you to persevere in life and give you the hope you so desperately need.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon