Sharon's Sharings

Greetings, Control, or lack of it seems an appropriate topic this week.  Having surgery and not feeling my normal self, plus loosing use of my left arm, has left me feeling out of control.  As my husband would tell you, I like to be in control.  I know where things go and I know how I like them done.  I think most of us are like that to some extent. Having to rely on others is very humbling.   Who do we let control our lives?  Do we give control to God or do we try to manipulate and change circumstances to meet our expectations? Prov. 19.21 says: “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel – that will stand.” Once we realize that God is sovereign, that He is in control of every thing, we have the assurance that He is on our side.  We can have peace even when things in our personal life or in our world seem out of control.  Lamentations 3:37 NLT “Who can command these things to happen without the Lord’s permission?”...

Today I want to look at wisdom.   Wisdom:  #1.  The ability to discern or judge what is true, right or lasting; insight                     #2.  Common sense; good judgment.                 #3.  The sum of  learning through the ages; knowledge. I like all of these definitions.  As you can see by the first definition, wisdom often goes along with discernment.  We need wisdom to discern how to use good judgment.  I also like # 3.  Those that have known Jesus personally for many years frequently have an abundance of knowledge that the immature believer may not have obtained yet. I look to women and men in our church body for counsel knowing they have years of experience and wisdom.  Many have given me Godly advice.  I so appreciate their guidance.  Spiritually, wisdom should look different from the world’s definition....

 I am aware this past week of how blessed I am.  My husband and I have been able to go on a weeks vacation.  We have had a week of relaxation, which we needed. What does being blessed mean?  The Bible Dictionary defines blessed as “make happy or prosperous; enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God.” Deuteronomy 11:26-27 “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. (27) the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today;” From this scripture we see we must obey the commandments of the Lord to receive a blessing.  Deuteronomy 11:22 says “For if you carefully keep all these commandments which I command you to do — to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him” It sounds simple.  “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.  And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”  John 14:21 Luke 11:2...

  I need to start by saying this title isn’t my own.  I read what someone wrote about Decluttering the Soul and it intrigued me.  I know about decluttering our home – I’ve recently done a lot of that in the moving process.  Decluttering my Soul is a new concept. In reading what this author said, I started thinking about attitudes I have that need to go.  What thought patterns do I hold on to that don’t serve me well – that actually hinder me from hearing God?  Psalms 51:10 NKJV “ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Do I pray that scripture and mean it when I ask God to create a clean heart? Psalms 119:11 says, “ Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Do I know God’s word so that I am able to stop sin before I am tempted?  Can I totally let go of a negative thought or behavior, or does it pop back up and I have to deal with it again?  We need to trust what God says in I...