Sharon's Sharings

I have been thinking about discernment lately. The dictionary defines discernment as  “The act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment” With the amount of information that has been given to us the past 2-3 months on the Corona Virus, discernment has been increasingly important.       “Is the virus real?”       “Who is at risk?  Am I at risk?”       “Should we stay home?”  “Is it OK to go grocery shopping?”       “Should we wear masks?”       “Is it all a conspiracy to control us?” All of these questions and concerns have come at us from TV and newspaper, social media and friends.  I have gone from feeling fear to having faith, from extreme concern to throwing caution to the wind, from anxiety to confidence.   All ‘feelings’.  After praying and reading the word, I am able to put those feelings aside and trust the Lord.  This is my guiding scripture:      “Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on you       own understanding.  In

                                                                         Hello Friends ,  A scripture I recently read is Proverbs 12:26.  “The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.”  I’ve asked God to give me the words to share with you.  I am trusting He is guiding me. One definition of friendship is “a friendly relationship”  In life and especially in church we hope that is our connection to people.  Women especially need friends – we  need  connection.  We  need  other women. I think that is part of why this quarantine has been so difficult.  We are unable to connect in our usual manner.  No Sunday morning conversations.  No Bible Study.  No coffees or lunches together.  We’ve encouraged you to reach out by phone but I know it is not the same. My personality is one that if this continues too long I could disconnect from the majority of you.  I would self-isolate.  I do not want that to happen to any of us.  So.... unt

                                                                      May 8, 2020 This is such a hard time for all of us to be separated that I hope to bring some encouragement to you on a more frequent basis by sending out emails.   Today, I want to say how much you are all missed by me and I believe all women of Foothills.  I believe God made us women to be social and to rely on each other for fellowship.  This is so true when I look at our Bible Study, that has been such a blessing. I read this recently and I want to share it with you: “The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.  What can mere people do to me?” Psalm 118:6 NLT I want to believe this, I try to believe it.  During this time of separation and uncertainty, we can get frightened or overwhelmed by our circumstances.  I can forget  Who  is for me (us)             The Maker of Heaven and Earth is for us. ~ Psalm 146:6                         The King of Glory is for us. ~ Psalm 24:8  

Good Friday Morning, I have no idea how many weeks we are into this stay at home order.  I do know it seems a very long time! Today I want to talk some about  HOPE .   “ Hope  deferred makes the heart sick, but when desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life”  Proverbs 13:12 Amp Deferred means postponed or delayed.  What this says is what we hope for is not gone forever but “delayed”.  According to Jamison-Taussett-Brown Bible commentary :  When the desire comes or is fulfilled it is “realized".  The tree of life is "cause for happiness”. I liked these short explanations because I can apply it easily to our current situation.  We are all hoping the Pandemic stay home order ends soon  When our desire for it to end comes about, it will be a cause for happiness. The problem is the delay.  We do not know exactly when we will meet together again.  But… our God knows.  Our  HOPE  is in Him.  Don’t give in to despair.  Continue to pray and seek the Lord’s guidanc