Sharon's Sharings

 Genesis 1:27 NKJ “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Who God is…is beyond comprehension.  And yet, He created us in His image so we can have fellowship with Him!  If I spend much time thinking about that, I am overwhelmed.  I can’t wrap my mind around God loving me enough to first, create me, and then wanting me in heaven forever to be with Him.  I believe, because He created us in His image and likeness, we have intrinsic worth as an individual.  God desires us to be the best version of ourselves.  We are to be accountable to Him and each other and accept the responsibilities He has given us. Sometimes it is hard to believe in ourselves and accept that the God of the universe loves us and only wants what is best for us.  We might know it in our “head” (mind) but it has not penetrated our spirit.  God created us as spiritual beings.  1 Thessalonians 5:23 NLT “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, an

 As you are aware, next week is Thanksgiving.   A time when we often concentrate on what we are thankful for.  I realize I need to be thankful everyday – not just one day a year.  Our thankfulness should begin by being thankful that God chose us to be His child.  He allowed His Son to die a cruel death so we can live eternally. 1 Corinthians 15: 57 “But thank God!  He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Being thankful in all circumstances can be a challenge.  It is easy to be thankful for events that we consider a Blessing.  Are we thankful for events that hurt us or cause us to grieve?  For me, it can take time to develop a thankful heart and attitude when I’m hurting.  Ephesians 5:20 “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” NLT  A spirit of joy can only be found as we praise and thank Him in all circumstances. We cannot have true joy without a thankful heart.  Remember that joy from the Lord is not the s

Recently we had to make a big decision, should we buy a home we had viewed?  We have been praying about this decision for months. Asking God to provide the perfect home for us.  We have looked at many homes. God said, “no” on two we liked.  How did we know this is the right home for us?  We did not hear an audible, “ This is your home. ”  We continued to pray.  We relied on Psalms 32:8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advice you and watch over you.” NLT.   We did not make a hasty decision. We knew if this was the home God intended for us, it would continue to be available. We also knew my husband and I would need to agree – which we did.  And…I’m happy to say, God has provided us with our perfect home! Decisions we make based on what the Lord wants for us can be difficult. We may struggle with what we want and what we believe God wants.  But always, we can trust that the Lord’s direction for our life is best for us.  Matt 7:11 “So i

 Today I want to resume examining “The Lord’s Prayer”    “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.” NLT Luke 11:4 “Forgive us our sins, so we forgive those who sin against us” We are humans who sin. We violate the will of God. Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we fall short of God’s glorious standard.” NLT   But….God gives us a way out. If we repent, God will forgive us. We are also instructed to forgive others as God forgives us.  Mark 11:25 says, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” NLT This is such an important principle that as Christians, forgiving those who sin against us is not an option. We cannot stand before God with unforgiveness in our hearts. Luke 11:4 “And don’t let us yield to temptation” We have an evil s

  Most of us probably know the Lord’s Prayer in the KJV. I’m going to examine it using the NLT.  Jesus said, “This is how you pray:” “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need,  And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.” The Lord’s Prayer is our example of how to pray.  Luke 11:2 Begins with “Our Father”. We are recognizing that Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father. He and the Father are one.  John 10:30 “The Father and I are one” Luke 11:2 “Hallowed be thy name” – Hallowed means blessed, sacred, revered and respected.  1Peter 1:16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”  Luke 11:2 “Your kingdom come” – “when” not if his kingdom will be established on earth.                 Mark 1:15 “The time promised by God has come at last! He announced, The kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News! Luke 11:2 “Your will be d