Sharon's Sharings

  Humility – “A lack of false pride; modest opinion of one's own importance or rank;  meekness   Do I demonstrate this virtue?  Sometimes I am so sure I am right about a situation.  It could be an opinion or a disagreement.  My side is the correct side.   Humility is a virtue I admire and strive for.  Proverbs 11:2 NLT “ Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”   Proverbs 29:23 NLT “ Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor”.   Now we are back to that dirty word – “Pride”.  It can get us into all kinds of trouble.  Proverbs 3:7 NLT “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.  Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil”.   Am I sometimes prideful?  Absolutely!  I’m ashamed to say “I” think I am right.  I can figure out a problem without prayer or Godly input and advice.   I have judged what I consider pride in others, but I don’t always see it in myself.   Ephesians 4:2 NLT “Always be humble and gentle.  Be patient with each other, making allowance

  The past two weeks have given me the opportunity to pray about some family and non-family issues. God has shown me in many different ways how important it is to continue to “pray without ceasing”   1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT says: “ Never stop praying ”                                                       Sometimes I get tired of praying.   I say to God    “I have prayed about this same situation for so long – years!   You know, God, please just do something – or don’t- I give up!"   Of course that is just where God wants me!   Trusting Him to make it work, not me.    Have you ever said or thought something like this or am I the only one?   Romans 12:12 NLT “ Rejoice in our confident hope.  Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”   I know the only way some hurts can be resolved is by God’s intervention through prayer and supplication.  Psalms 142:1 NKJV “ I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.”   The KJV and NKJV use the word s

    Good Morning my Friends,   I recently read in my Jesus Calling devotional “Understanding will never bring  you Peace.  That’s why I have instructed you to trust in me, not in your understanding.”    I am a master at trying to figure things out.  I include the Lord, but it is to say: “why Lord?”  Instead of Proverbs 3:5,6 NLT “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”     I have questioned why this Pandemic has carried on so long? Why life can be so difficult at times? Why, why, why?  It gets me nowhere. If I figure out one thing, there is always another thing to question.    I can pray and ask for understanding but the understanding God gives me may be different than me trying to figure out a situation and “understand” it from my limited perspective.  This past week I thought I had figured out a solution to a problem.  I “forgot” to pray and ask God’s advice.  Really, I jus

  Greetings Ladies,   This is Jo Allis writing to you this week. Sharon asked if I would do so as her daughter and family from Utah are   here visiting.     I had a couple of frustrating experiences this week.    I messed   up   the membership application on our website . Messed up doesn't sound very professional but there is just no other way to say it.   I   also   somehow   uninstalled my printer at home. I did not know how to fix either problem. Well my son fixed our home printer and he was nice about it.    I reached out to Pastor Jen about the membership application and she was gracious. She said it sounded like I was having an “I love Lucy kind of day”. Yes, indeed I was. I felt like I just could not do anything right. After, I beat myself up and cried. I prayed and called on God for comfort.   He reminded me of a word He gave me about comparing myself to other people a few years ago. He led me to Psalm 139:13,14 “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s wo

Good Morning, Unexpected life happened to me this week so I am a day late in sending my weekly email. I’m not very good with unexpected and unplanned.  I like my life to be organized and orderly.  I am a “planner”.  I’m not great at spontaneity.  Although being married to a spontaneous man and having children and grandchildren has made me better at dropping my plans for someone in need or having fun. The past several months have definitely been unexpected and unplanned.  As we all know many plans have had to change or be cancelled. We have had many disappointments at this sudden change in our daily lives.  Jim and I are celebrating our 50th Anniversary next week.  We had to cancel plans to celebrate with family and friends.  We had to cancel a year long planned trip.  I’m sure many of you have different but similar stories.   If you are like me, it is so frustrating and confusing to know what God is doing.  But this I know - God is still God and He is in control whether the p