Sharon's Sharings

 Good Morning, I hope today finds you well and discovering hope in this season of our lives. A couple of weeks ago, the worship team led us in a Matt Redmond song:  You Never Let Go. This song is based on Psalm 23.  We don’t need to fear evil.   Psalm 23:4 NKJV “ I will fear no evil for You are with me…” I love the words to the entire song, but the chorus I especially love Oh no, You never let go Through the calm and through the storm Oh no, You never let go In every high and every low Oh no, You never let go Lord, You never let go of me It brings comfort and hope to know God NEVER lets go of us.  We may not always have the connection with God we would like, but He is always connected to us.  He is always waiting for us to come to Him and trust Him with our highs, our lows, our storms and troubles.  Matthew 14:30,31 NLT  But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “ Sav...

 Our Pastor’s theme for this year (2021) is HOPE.  That is certainly what we need all the time, but especially now.                               Strong’s Concordance #1680, hope – elpis .  My Spirit Filled Bible, edited by Jack Hayford, gives this definition.  “Hope – not in the sense of an optimistic outlook or wishful thinking without any foundation, but in the sense of confident expectation based on solid certainty.  Biblical hope rests on God’s promises, particularly those pertaining to Christ’s return.  So certain is the future of the redeemed that the NT sometimes speaks of future events in the past tense, as though they were already accomplished.” Without hope, Proverbs 13:2 NLT says;  “ Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” Our faith is based on hope.  Hebrew 11:1 NKJV “ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evi...

     Last week I shared I want peace in my mind and heart. “ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NLT    I fell short of that this past week.  My discouragement is not so much with our world affairs but with the realization that our time on earth is short.  2 Timothy 3:1 Amp  “ But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]”  We very well could be living in the generation when the rapture will occur.  My concern with this realization is for family and friends that have not yet chosen Jesus. I was deeply encouraged though, by comments made by friends.  I totally believe God is in control and has a plan for each of us individually as well as for the United States and the world.      I have c...

 My Friends, What a week this has been.  Not how I wanted to start 2021. As I think about this past week, this past year and I mouth the words to others “God is in control”, I wonder if I believe it.  Is God in control or has He given up on us.  So I stop and pray. I want to say “God, please show me what is going on. What is your plan?”  But I know that is presumptuous and arrogant.  God owes me no explanation.  After I ask forgiveness, I say “God, please show me how I can best serve you in these turbulent times.”  And, I mean it.  I truly want to know what my role is.  I know there is no peace in our world but I want peace in my heart.  John 16:33 NLT ” I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  Philippians 4:7 NLT “then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand....

 January 1, 2021!  It is finally here.  I saw a post praising the many good things of 2020.  In general it is hard to remember 2020 as being a good year.  So many tragedies, so many disappointments.  It was a strange and definitely different year. As I look back though, there are many positives and blessings.  For me and my family there have been no deaths from Covid 19.  We have been able to see each other in limited ways.  We have chosen not to quarantine to the point of never seeing anyone.   Sometimes I have been fearful.  Thinking of the “what ifs?”  At those times I try to remember 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT  “ For God has not given us a spirit of  fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.”  Also, Philippians 4:6 is a timely reminder of who is in charge of our universe.   “ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all ...