Have you?

Sometimes when people are struggling with this or that, they get really annoyed with me when, trying to help, I ask, “Have you asked the LORD?”

Have you ever wondered WHY when GOD told someone HE will do something, many- like Moses (Exodus 33:14-15) and King David (2 Samuel 7:16, 25-29), turn right around and then pray to GOD and ask GOD to do that very thing HE had just promised to do?

Ezekiel explains it this way, Ezekiel 36:³⁶…For I, the Lord, have promised it, and I will do it. ³⁷ The Lord God says: “I am ready to hear Israel’s prayers for these blessings and to grant them their requests. Let them but ask…” (Living Bible).

Take for example the Promise GOD gives in Psalm 121:8 “The LORD shall preserve your going out and coming in (traveling around).

That Hebrew word translated preserve means to keep, tend, watch over, guard, protect and take care of.

That promise in Psalm 121:8 is why we pray for traveling mercies.

Have you asked the LORD something according to HIS word?  Then wait and look to see how HE will answer you.

Psalm 123:2 “…Our eyes wait upon the LORD our GOD, until HE has mercy on us.

So, call unto the LORD!

Hugs

Sharon

Don’t leave GOD out!

A friend contacted me in a panic.  She had heard something on the media that freaked her out.  What she heard may very well be true, I don’t really know but I do know that she left GOD out of the picture. She forgot JESUS promises.  We can really get into a lot of trouble when we leave the LORD out of the equation.

“Let not your heart be troubled (don’t allow an outside source to stir you up).  You believe in GOD, believe also in ME” (John 14:1).

“…for HE (JESUS) said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

At times life can seem overwhelming.  Perhaps, like I have done in the past, you are trying to take on, by yourself, something you were never meant to handle on your own.

But we don’t have to do that.  GOD encourages us, “come boldly unto the throne of grace (pray), that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to HELP in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

  
Look unto JESUS the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

PRAYER: LORD, thank YOU that YOU are always with me and are willing to help but want me to ask. YOU have not let me go. I am still in the palm of YOUR mighty hand and YOU will fulfill YOUR purpose for me just like YOU promised YOU will do. I pray in JESUS name (character and purposes) Amen.

I really do believe, yet…

I really do trust in the LORD with all my heart and really believe HIS Word the Holy Bible. Yet there are times fear invades my heart. Recently innuendos from the enemy causing fear hit when an especially bad flareup of ongoing severe problems of a loved one manifested. There was no human help available.

So, you know what I did? I ran to the throne of grace, by calling out to the LORD of heaven and earth, to receive mercy and grace to help in my time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Yes, I take those thoughts helpless fear to JESUS and tell HIM how I feel (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Usually then a verse or a phrase from a Bible verse will come to mind and as I speak it out aloud, peace will settle over me.

You know why? Because the Word of GOD is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). It is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and it cuts through those lies of Satan and the spirit of fear flees when I speak out loud the word placed in my heart (Philippians 2:13).

Looking to JESUS the Author and Perfecter of my faith.

Hugs

Sharon

The end of the matter

What an awesome time in the mountains at my favorite place- Camp Elim.  I worked there for many years.  This complimentary retreat in the beautiful pine trees and aspens for my 77^th birthday was totally refreshing. The amazing teaching, awesome singing, delicious food and fun fellowship with old and new friends was quite a energizing break for me.

Now, I want to encourage you on the end of the matter for I found the teaching quite good. 

What do you do when things are hard? 

In the 1^st session Jon Glock took us to Jeremiah 1 to underscore GOD’s call and promises to the young man Jeremiah (late teens or barely 20-year-old).  In sessions 2 and 3 we see why Jeremiah is nicknamed the weeping prophet. For he not only proclaimed GOD’s message to the people, but he also shared freely of his personal struggles through persecution and mockery. Then for the last session we went to Lamentations 3, which is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.

From Lamentation 3:17-18 Jon emphasized a concept, and 4 words.

Soul defined as being the whole self.  In these 2 verses we see 4 ways Jeremiah’s soul is affected by his reflection on his circumstances.

Peace– Jeremiah had no peace at this point.

Happiness or joy– Jeremiah had forgotten what it was like to be happy.

Strength– His strength was gone.

Hope– Jeremiah’s hope had perished. 

In Lamentations 3:19-20 Jeremiah remembered (FOCUSED on) his affliction, misery, the bitterness he felt, and he was humbled.  He felt helpless, discouraged, depressed to the point of despair, and wanting to quit.

but then, after Jeremiah cried out to the LORD, I think its scripturally accurate to say the HOLY SPIRIT brought to his mind/ turned Jeremiah’s mind to what he needed to FOCUS on (Proverbs 21:1).

Lamentations 3:21- Jeremiah recalled and chose to FOCUS on things he knew true about GOD and what GOD had promised.  Doing so brought him hope.

WHAT came to Jeremiah’s mind?

It is because of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed

GOD’s compassions don’t fail!  HIS compassions are new every morning.

Great is GOD’s faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Then Jeremiah declared, “the LORD is my portion (that which gives me –my soul strength) therefore, I will, hope in HIM.  the LORD is good to them that wait for HIM, to the soul that seeks HIM.” (Lamentations 3:24-25).

Haven’t you found that true? I sure have!

The one line take-away Jon gave was: You must THINK (FOCUS) right to be able to do (live) right.

I, Sharon, know from repeated experiences, that these truths about where you find help in trouble and how your FOCUS affects your entire being is right on. When things get dark/ heavy with hard impossible stuff, as it has over, and over, and over again these past few years, causes me to cry out to GOD. often either a characteristic of GOD or a promise from GOD’s word comes into my mind or I’m nudged to open the Word of GOD and a word there strikes me. 

I know it is the HOLY SPIRIT nudging me or reminding me because JESUS said that is what the HOLY SPIRIT would do (John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:10).

Whatever truth concerning GOD’s nature/ or scriptural promise that comes to mind lifts me up, giving me peace, joy and hope.  Thereby, I am strengthened incredibly in my faith, my understanding and even physically and emotionally I feel it. I am filled with thanksgiving and am enabled to go on with a real smile anticipating what GOD is at work achieving through it all (2 Corinthians 4:15-18).  

Most often the circumstances don’t automatically change, but my FOCUS and attitude sure do. GOD tells us we are to live by faith not sight (Habakkuk 2:2, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38- remember repetition in GOD’s Word brings with it emphasis).

Often, I am compelled to share the very comfort I have just received from GOD (2 Corinthians 1:4) in hopes that another needs that word and will be comforted with GOD’s message to me.  That’s why you hear from me so much.

Stop for a moment, be still and consider, which truth about GOD/ or which of HIS great and precious promises do you go to (FOCUS on) the most in times of struggle?

hugs

Sharon

A place of safety

“GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

As I drove home from work at the Space Center I’d often spot antelope traveling in herds.  Between Colorado Springs and where we lived in Ellicott is an antelope reserve.  It is a place of refuge, a safe place, no hunters allowed.  As the song goes, “where the deer and antelope play” Along that stretch of road I never saw one deer, but I saw many frisky young antelope frolicking with their graceful mothers sedately grazing nearby.  They could only do that because they felt safe.

We too can feel safe for GOD is our refuge, our safe place where we can run to when there is danger, or we are confused.  “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

“GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Hugs

Sharon

GOD is my helper

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)  For the LORD is my helper (Hebrews 13:6)

In the Bible I saw GOD was with Joseph throughout his struggles and gave him authority in every place GOD put him. Joseph understood that things did not just fall into place for him wherever he went because he was something special; he never took credit but rather said, “It is not in me: GOD…” (Genesis 41:16)

In Judges we see the LORD was with Judah- HE gave Judah an assignment and authority and the job was done. (Judges 1:2,19).  The LORD with a group of people, GOD gave them a specific job and HE enabled them to achieve it by sending out a man to show them the way (Judges 1:22-24).

We are told that GOD is always with us so that “we may boldly say the LORD is my helper” (Hebrews 13:6).

In each of these cases GOD gave out assignments to specific people and placed them in their own territory (2 Corinthians 10:13 NIV) and HE was with them to get the job HE had assigned to them done (1 Thessalonians 5:24). It is one of GOD’s ways, and GOD is faithful and unchanging.

Note: GOD was with the one HE placed there to do a job GOD chose for him to do. Describing this in the Old Testament GOD spoke of HIS servants an ax. Just as one picks up an ax to chop wood, HE used the one HE chose to do that which HE wanted done.

“Should an ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or can the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or, as if a staff could lift up itself, as if it were not mere wood!” (Isaiah 10:15).

Do we try to pick out our own jobs? Or wait for GOD’s direction?  Do we go our own way and when we tackle a job and complete it successfully, do we take the credit as if we did it on our own? We need to remember that everything we have we have received therefore there is no reason to boast (I Corinthians 4:7).

See why we should be like Paul and ask, “LORD what would YOU have me do?” (Acts 9:6). GOD gives us a task according to HIS plan and purposes and HE is with us to swing the ax till all the wood is chopped.

Hugs

Sharon

Helps us overcome

the HOLY SPIRIT helps us overcome our weaknesses

“Well, I’m not going to curse anyone!” defiantly declared a gal in our Friday Bible study.

But that wasn’t what those words in 1 Corinthians 16:22 were saying at all.  What it was saying was all who do not know JESUS are already under a curse and our LORD cometh (to execute judgment).

To help us understand what is meant let’s go to Galatians.  Galatians 3 begins with the startling words, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes JESUS CHRIST hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the SPIRIT by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the SPIRIT, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

****Notice here obeying the truth is believing in JESUS’s work keeps and makes us perfect, not our actions.

Galatians 3:10 for as many as are of (depending on doing right) the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.¹¹ But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of GOD, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.¹² And the law is not of (depending on) faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them.

¹³CHRIST has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:

Now the Law had its purpose:

²³ But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster (showing us right and wrong) to bring us unto CHRIST (it showed us our sin and our need of JESUS), that we might be justified by faith (Romans 3:22, 24).²⁵ But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (the law).

We no longer need a schoolteacher for when we believe in JESUS we are set free from the curse of the law and the HOLY SPIRIT of promise comes in us. HE leads us and enables us in the way we should go.  No longer do we need to look to rules.  Now the HOLY SPIRIT doesn’t just tell us what GOD wants us to do and directs our path by placing within us HIS desires (Philippians 2:13 and Hebrews 10:16-17), HE is the power that motivates/ enables us to do it for the SPIRIT helps us overcome our weaknesses (Romans 8:26-27).

People who do not believe in JESUS’ finished work are still under the curse and will be judged when JESUS comes.  But we who trust in JESUS have been justified by CHRIST who took our judgment on HIMSELF on the cross.

See how all three of the trinity work together for us?  what a mighty GOD we serve!

Hugs

Sharon

Arrows of light

I was talking with a someone this morning about the temptation he is facing.  He has become discouraged and doesn’t think GOD will help him fight.  I told him to go read Psalm 107 that shows us no matter how many times we blow it if we sincerely cry out to HIM for help HE will help.

It is no secret that bows and arrows have been used since the earliest days in battle.  But have you ever considered that the LORD GOD Almighty uses HIS arrows to defeat our enemy?  Since GOD never misses the mark, when HE shoots an arrow it is guaranteed to hit the bullseye every single time.

“But in my distress, I cried out to the LORD” (Psalm 18:6).

    “HE shot out HIS arrows of light (HIS word is sent forth) and scattered the enemy

HIS lightning flashed and confused the enemy” (Psalm 18:14).

What is meant by GOD’s arrows of light?  I believe one aspect of HIS arrows is HIS Word.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

“The entrance of Thy Word gives light” (Psalm 119:130).

We see our LORD JESUS used those “arrows of light” each time JESUS was attacked with the temptations from Satan’s lips.  When tempted, JESUS simply said, “It is written…” and HE spoke aloud the Word of GOD, nothing more. (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10-11).  After several tries, the devil left for a season.

When the fiery darts of temptation come, cry out to the LORD for help (Hebrews 4:16) and GOD will send forth HIS arrows of light (the Word of truth) and GOD’s truth will come into our minds.  If we speak it out loud and, in that way, resist the devil, the devil will flee from us (James 4:7).

Do you know why that is?

GOD put it this way, “MY word that goes forth from MY mouth it will accomplish all that I send for it to do and will prosper everywhere I send it.” (Isaiah 55:11).

When the fiery darts of the devil’s lies come flying at you, tempting you, take up your shield of faith and ask GOD for help.  Then take the word the HE sends into your mind (Philippians 2:13) and speak it out loud and clear for it is the sword of the SPIRIT (Ephesians 6:17) as well as GOD’s arrow of light and it will hit the bullseye.

I urge you in Christ’s stead to consider these things and may the good LORD give you wisdom and understanding (James 1:5, 1 Corinthians 2:10) as HE guides you with HIS peace (Colossians 3:15), strengthens you with HIS joy (Nehemiah 8:10), and enables you with HIS grace (Hebrews 4:16). Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”(Romans 15:13) Keep looking unto JESUS (Hebrews 12:2) and talk over your thoughts with HIM (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Hugs

Sharon