Sanctify Yourself

 

Sanctify Yourself

I Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus.”

Sanctify = to make free from sin, to purify (Webster Dictionary)

In the day of Moses, no one could enter the temple if they had any scars, disease, or deformity. When Jesus came, He healed most of the people who had these issues and were sanctified to go into the temple. Today, God focus’ more on the heart than our outward appearances. Here is a litmus test to go by: 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know that Jesus Christ is in you?”

1.     Do you believe in the Word of God, in Jesus Christ who died for you?

2.     Do you have a heart of obedience?

3.     Do you have a heart of compassion and love for others?

4.     Do you have a heart of trust and faith in giving all your cares over to Jesus?

5.     Do you have a heart of prayer daily, of gratitude and thankfulness to Him who has given you all that you have?

I Samuel 16:5 “I am come to sacrifice to the Lord, sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” When we come to the Lord to worship Him, no matter where we are, we must strive to come to Him purified. God be with you while you work with God to purify your mind, body, soul and spirit.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Priorities

 

Priorities

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

In today’s world priorities don’t seem to matter. People tend to live in haphazard ways. Some may put their jobs first and neglect their family and faith. This will only cause chaos in their life. Spouses complain that they are not home enough, or they are neglecting the children. Others put their family first and say they work their job to support the family for food and clothing. If the family is first they may tend to spend most of their time in sports or traveling together. That is wonderful, but who gave us this family? Who really does the supporting? Shouldn’t we show our appreciation to the one that makes it all happen? God gives us 24 hours in a day, how much of it do we spend praising Him and giving thanks to Him. If our top priority is not God who provides our every need and gives us our families, then everything will suffer because of our lack of appreciation to God. Let us put God first, family second and job next, all else after that. “Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

 

The Blame Game

 

The Blame Game

“The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave of the tree, and I ate.” Genesis 3:15. Everyone who has read the Bible knows about that dreaded first sin where Adam ate of the fruit of the tree and blamed his wife. Then Eve turns around and blames the serpent. Did the blame stop there? No, we have been blaming each other from the beginning of time. How many times do struggles come our way and instead of looking to our self we look around for someone to blame? There are so many things that can go awry in our lives and unless we seek to know the cause of it, within our own sphere of being, we will become miserable and make everyone around us miserable. Have we not figured out that what problems arise in our lives are usually brought about by our own doings? Blaming others does not solve our problems, it only escalates into more problems. In 2 Corinthians 13:5 it says to: “Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves. We must look deep into our life on a daily basis. We must recognize our faults, admit our faults and carry them to God. Only He can help us overcome our faults. Blaming others does not ease our pain, cover our sins, or give us rest. Look to God for guidance and direction, forgive those around you and ask for forgiveness for those whom you have blamed. Then read I Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, endures all things, Love never fails.”

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

The Lies We Believe continued

 

The Lies We Believe continued

Lie # 5 “It is my Christian duty to meet all the needs of others.” Sometimes we work so hard to please God and other people that we may suffer from an emotional burnout. We try so hard that we cannot carry on the Ministry God called us to do. We are not called to do it all, only our part.

Lie # 6 “A good Christian doesn’t feel, angry, Anxious or depressed.” Even Jesus Himself felt these emotions. They are not a sign of weak faith. Many times, we stuff these emotions deep within us until finally they spew forth in abundance. It is better to experience the emotion intended for the experience than to hold it all in just to explode later.

Lie #7 “God can’t use me unless I’m spiritually strong.” God can use us at anytime and anyplace whenever He wants. It helps if we are honest about our weaknesses and struggles and share our experiences with those who can benefit from them. God always takes the bad and turns it into good. He can use us!

How to defeat the Lies we believe. Dr. Chris Thurman tells us: to openly rebuke lies. He calls them thought stoppers. Secondly, he suggests memorizing scripture and meditating on them. Thirdly, he suggests not thinking about doing this but doing it!

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

The Lies We Believe

 

The Lies We Believe

By Dr. Chris Thurman

Lie #1. “God’s Love must be earned.” Not true, God loves us unconditionally. When we fail, He lifts us up. When we fail, we don't need to run and hide, we only need to ask God for forgiveness, and He forgives. God's love is unchanging. It's always there.

Lie #2 “God hates the sin and the Sinner.” When a person believes this, they tend to hate their self. They feel God is punishing them. therefore, they punish themselves. God doesn't work that way. Like the woman at the well, he merely says, “go and sin no more.” He wants us to move on with our life, He forgot our past and so should we.

Lie #3 “because I am a Christian, God will protect me from pain and suffering.” Have you not heard that it rains on the just and the unjust? To believe this lie only leads to confusion and mistrust in our God when things do go bad in our life. God gave us free will, he gave us choices and sometimes, we make the wrong ones and things turn sour. Other times we are faced with difficulties merely strengthening our character. We are not exempt from pain and suffering just because we are Christians. God knows too well that we need continuous learning experiences.

Lie #4 “all my problems are caused by my sins.” Remember the story about the blind man. When others questioned who sinned to make him blind. Jesus answered, neither, but this happened so that the work should be revealed in him. If we indeed have sinned which brought on a problem, then we need to deal with it but if the problem is a result of someone's sin or no sin at all then we need to let ourselves off the hook and solve the problems as best we can.

There are four more lies I will address in my next post. For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Trust in the Lord

 

Trust in The Lord

One of the biggest struggles with the children of God is trust. Mark 12:30 says, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. He isn’t telling us to love Him only on Sundays or while reading the Bible. He’s telling us to love Him every minute, every second of the day. He’s not telling us that we should only give Him the part that feels good inside, but He wants us to love Him in our weaknesses and strengths. He doesn’t want to be excluded from any part of our life. He doesn’t want us to invite Him into our homes and tell Him the bedroom and closets are off limits. God doesn’t want us to limit Him in any way. He wants us totally.

So, how do we trust Him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength? Do we dare show Him our bad habits, our weaknesses and failure while knowing He already knows? Do we trust Him only when we are happy and healthy? What about our illnesses, can we trust Him to be our great Physician? Mark 10:27b “with God all things are possible.” Mark 8:34-35 “whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. Forever whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

The cross we bear could be an addiction, a bad attitude, a terminal illness, a bad relationship. Each of us has a cross to bear and Jesus tells us to take it up and follow Him. We must take our burdens to Him and lay them at His feet. No man or woman can do for us as Jesus can. Psalm 118:9 “it is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man.” It is hard to trust God and totally love Him when there is so much suffering surrounding us, but God doesn’t expect us to understand the “why’s of things, He just tells us in Proverbs 3:5 to trust Him and not lean upon our own understanding. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity.”

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Handling Change

 

Handling Change

In this day there are so many changes taking place. How do we handle these changes? The following post is copied from the “In Touch” magazine by Dr. Charles Stanley:

None of us like having our plans changed by others, especially if the alteration is not what we want. But how should we react when the Lord directs our lives down a path we didn’t anticipate? Knowing God’s character and purposes helps us trust His wisdom- even when we don’t understand or like what He is doing. Our response is extremely important. While we can’t thwart His work by refusing to cooperate, any stubborn resistance or negative attitude will hinder our fruitfulness, usefulness, and spiritual growth.

Who is the Lord? God is sovereign, and He does whatever He pleases in heaven and on earth. Psalm 135:5-6 He knows the future and will accomplish His good pleasure. Isaiah 46:9-10. The Lord is gracious, compassionate, and patient. Exodus 34:6 God is for us, not against us. ?  Romans 8:31 What are His purposes The Lord’s plans were formed long ago in perfect faithfulness. Isaiah 25:1 He may nullify human strategies, but His own purposes will be accomplished. Psalm 39:10-11 God’s plans give hope and are for our welfare – not calamity. Jeremiah 29:11 He alone knows when trials are necessary to produce faith in us. I Peter 1:6-7 When He allows suffering, His goal for us is “an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 How should we handle change? Hold your plans loosely and leave room for God to adjust them. James 4:13-16 Commit to the Lord everything you do.  Proverbs 16:1-3 When God closes a door of opportunity, remain watchful for another to open somewhere else. Acts 16:6-11 Always keep an eternal perspective. 2 Corinthians 4:18

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

 

If I Gained the Whole World

 

If I Gained the Whole World

Matthew 16:24, 26 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

Each of us has an established birthdate and an established death date. In between those dates represent the dash (-) of our life. It is but a vapor, but it is how we use that dash that is important. We have a choice to eat, drink and be merry as Solomon put it, to do whatever our hearts desire, knowing that when we are done, all that we have done will end up in someone else’s lap. Or we can rejoice in the fact that God gave us today. A gift in which we can serve Him or not serve Him. The choice is entirely ours but if we chose not to serve Him and do all that our hearts desire there will be an emptiness in our life that will cause us to search for fulfillment. The only way that fulfillment will come about is if we choose to serve God.

Matthew 16, 24, 26 tells us that we belong to God, He makes the decisions for us. Above all, He tells us to choose Him. He is life over death. He is happiness over sorrow. He is quality of life over quantity of life. When God tells us to chose life, He is telling us to live in servitude to Him, knowing full well our life is for eternity. Let us not forget to deny our self and follow God. Help us Lord to lean on you to make the hard choices in our life.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

 

King Solomon in Ecclesiastes

 

King Solomon in Ecclesiastes

King Solomon, the wisest man on earth has found life meaningless and wanting. King Solomon had it all, he had great wealth and great wisdom, yet he spoke as though whatever he did in life, it would all end up in someone else’s hands, whether it be a foolish man, or a wise man, once he is gone, he would not know. He says everything in life keeps going around, “like a river that runs into the sea but is never full.” Ecclesiastes 1:7.

As man we cannot see enough or hear enough, all our pleasures are short-lived. Whatever happens to one can happen to someone else. No one is an island by themselves. Having great wisdom did not guarantee that Solomon would live wisely. Solomon took pleasure in wine and women and still found his life to be empty and meaningless. We often look to earthly pleasures to fulfill the emptiness in our life. We do it to cover the pain or to feel good about ourselves, but we don’t totally accomplish what we set out to do. Solomon in all his wisdom concluded that if we want a meaningful life we must have a relationship with the God who created us. Wisdom and knowledge by themselves do not give meaning to life. We may still find out there is something missing. That something is God, because without Him all that we know and say or do is meaningless without Him.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Lean Not on Your Own Understanding

 

Lean Not on Your Own Understanding

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” Proverbs 12:15

“There is a way that seems right to a man but it’s end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12, 16:25

“The preparation of the heart belongs to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” Proverbs 16:1

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his step.” Proverbs 16:9

“There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel- that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

“A man’s step are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?” Proverbs 20:24

“Every way of a man is right in his own heart, but the Lord weighs the hearts.” Proverbs 21:2

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5,6

In this world there are so many things that we just don’t understand. So many questions, but no answer. I believe that God desires us not to ask but instead trust in Him that in whatever happens is to our best benefit. Mostly, when we or someone else are suffering, it is not about that person. It is about the people around them that are affected by those persons suffering. Our suffering comes to build character or strengthen us and the people around us. But most of it is to bring glorification to our Lord God. When we go about our daily lives, we must consider that God’s way is the only way that will bring us peace. When we have decisions to make, we must first seek God and pray. When we teach others, we must first ask God to give us the words to speak and the listener words to hear. Amazing things happen in our life when if we seek counsel with God and pray.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Making Promises

 

Making Promises

Proverbs 6:1-5 “My son, if

you become surety for your friend, if you have shaken hands in a pledge, you are ensnared by your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend. Go and humble yourself, plead with your friend.”

When we make promises to others, we also make promises to God. Our words become a statement and cause us to become a liar when we don’t carry them out. I know that there are circumstances that can happen that could keep us from carrying out our promises. When that happens, we must always be honest with the person we made the promise to.

When we gave our self over to God, we made the promise to obey Him and His commandments. God tells us that as long as we keep His commandments and statutes, He will bless us continuously. He also tells us that if we don’t then curse will come upon us. We then must decide, whether we want blessings or cursing’s. We must keep our promises to God, thereby keeping our words intact, where we don’t make promises that we cannot keep. Keeping our promises to others gives us a sense of accomplishment, a good feeling from the one we fulfilled the promise. When we don’t fulfill our promise, there is a sense of remorse and a need to explain our actions.

We can’t take back our promise to God. We sealed it with our baptism, but we can be careful of what we promise to others. When we make promises to God, He waits for us to carry them out. When we don’t, He holds back the blessings that He set aside for us. Let us strive to take our promises to God and to others more seriously.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

 

Do Not Forsake Wisdom

 

Do Not Forsake Wisdom

Proverbs 4:6-9 (paraphrased) “Do not forsake wisdom, and wisdom will preserve you; Love wisdom and wisdom will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt wisdom, and wisdom will promote you; wisdom will bring you honor, when you embrace wisdom. Wisdom will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory wisdom will deliver to you.”

As you can see, I replaced the words she and her with the word wisdom. I like how the Bible refers wisdom to the female gender. It’s kind of an uplifting anecdote, don’t you think? When God asked Solomon what the one thing he would want from God, his answer was wisdom and understanding. God tells us that if we ask for wisdom, He will give it in abundance. Wisdom and understanding are two things I sometimes feel lacking in but on the whole we all have these qualities. They guide us in the knowledge between right and wrong. They guide us in making the right choices. When we have wisdom and knowledge, it helps us guide others to what is most important, our Lord Jesus Christ. When we have wisdom and things go wrong in our life, it guides us to God’s word to help us solve problems. All of us have a degree of wisdom and understanding. It is how we put it to use that matters the most. Are we wasting our wisdom and understanding on laziness, falsehood, wrongful activities or are we learning all we can from God’s word and sharing it with others? Can we counsel another if we have not used the wisdom that God has granted to us? Think on these things and ask God to give you the wisdom and understanding in the areas that you need it most. It is there; God will supply.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Blessings

 

Blessings

To all of you who read my post. I want you to know that you are a blessing to me. Having you as a part of my life encourages me to be better, do better. Whether I know you or not, I feel especially blessed by you. To my dearest friends that are struggling with cancer and my friends that are sitting by their loved ones that are soon to leave this world and to those who are facing surgeries, dialysis, treatments, take heart, God is with you. He is beside you with His arms around you. Put your hand in Jesus’ hands and He will comfort you. Lean into Him. He knows and understands what you are going through. He will never leave your side. My heart goes out to all of you who are suffering for one reason or another. Please know that you are in my prayers. All of God’s children are special to Him and I am with Him in agreement that you are special.

To those who do not know the Lord. I pray for you also that you will search for Him. Read what He says in His Holy Bible and know that God loves you. I pray that He will grant you wisdom and understanding. Most of all, know that God will bless you in your life, if only you put your faith and trust in Him.

Love to all my family, my children, my grandchildren, to all my friends I know and do not know personally. I Love you and glorify God in knowing He put you in my life. Thank you.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

God's Presence

 

God’s Presence

In this world there are cancers, diseases, disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, Sunami’s, destructive storms, etc. It makes a person sad and depressed that we live among these things but when we look to God and see what He is doing, it can give us a new outlook. John 16:33 “in this world you will have trouble but take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Deuteronomy 31:6 and Deuteronomy 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. He will never leave you or forsake you.”

God is our sunshine in this world. He is our encouragement knowing that whatever comes to pass that God has our best interest at heart. He will not harm us, but He will cradle us in His arms and protect us. If you are feeling sad or depressed, go outside, soak up the Son, God’s warmth and remember God is as near as the breath we breathe. He is the wind in the trees; He is the song in the bird. He is the hello neighbor and the smile of a loved one. He is ever present in our lives, and He is the praise on our lips. Rejoice in the Lord for He is good. He is our ever-present help in troubles. He is our promise for eternity. God Bless all of God’s children.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

 

Wisdom and Knowledge

 

Wisdom and Knowledge

Proverbs 1 shares the story of Solomon and his request of God. His desire was “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment and equity, to give prudence to the simple. To the young men, knowledge and discretion.” This is not only Solomon’s desire but should be the desire for each of us today.

Our true source of all wisdom come from God’s Word, the Holy Bible. Without wisdom and knowledge, selfishness and pride will take its place. This could lead to a “know-it-all” attitude and can only bring discomfort for us and those around us. We cannot fully teach others if we think we know it all and do not draw our wisdom from God Almighty. Only God can give us wisdom and knowledge. It would be ridiculous to claim more than God has given us. We must strive to be more like Christ every day but we mustn’t claim to know as much as Christ. By far, we are simple in mind compared to Christ’s wisdom and knowledge.

Reading Proverbs is a good way to live wisely and productively. It gives us truths that work as well as it did the day it was written. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs. It can be read as a daily chapter starting with chapter 1 on the first day of the month, reading every day until the 31^st day of the month. Proverbs will help you gain wisdom and knowledge in the way God would lead you.

I pray that you relish this wisdom and will grow from it, not only in maturity but in the knowledge that the good Lord grants you.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

God Has a Positive Answer

 

God has a Positive Answer

Here’s a handy little chart that I found a long time ago that still applies today.

You say, “It’s impossible”…God says, “all things are possible.” Luke 18:27

You say, “I’m too tired”…..God says I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28-30

You say, “Nobody loves me”…..God says I Love you. John 31:6. John 3:34

You say, “I can’t go on”…God says my grace is sufficient. 2 Corinthians 12:9, Psalm 91:15.

You say, “I can’t figure things out”… God says I will direct your steps. Proverbs 3:5-6

You say, “I can’t do it” …God says you can do all things. Philippians 4:13

You say, “I’m not able”… God says I am able. 2 Corinthians 9:8

You say, “It’s not worth it.” …God says it will be worth it. Romans 8:28

You say, “I can’t forgive myself” ..God says I will forgive you. I John 1:9, Rom.8:1

You say, “I can’t manage.”…God says I will supply all your needs. Philip. 4:19

You say, “I’m afraid.”…God says I have not given you a spirit of fear. 2 Tim. 1:7

You say, “I’m always worried and frustrated.” God says cast all your cares on me. I Peter 5:7

You say, “I’m not smart enough” God says I will give you wisdom. I Cor.1:30

You say, “I feel all alone.” God says I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Father, God, bless all my friends in whatever it is that you know they may need this day. And may their lives be full of your peace, prosperity and power as they seek to have a closer relationship with you.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

What Does God Expect from us?

 

What Does God Expect from Us?

What does God expect from us? God expects from us only what we can give. He knows our human weaknesses but has given us Jesus as a model to inspire us to holier and more loving behavior.

Does He forgive us when we fall short? Of Course!

Is He patient? Always!

Will He give up on us? Never!

Will He accept what we do, who we are, no matter if we could have been better?

Absolutely!

We always tell our children that we don’t expect perfection. We just want your best. How beautiful it is that God wants the same from us.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

My Favorite Place

 

My Favorite Place

Everyone has a place to go where they can find peace and solitude. Mine is nowhere in particular but it is forever with me . It is not a nook, nor a cranny. My hide-away is in open places. It is among the stars at night. It is driving alone in the solace of my car, seeing the beauty of God’s handiwork. The pretty colors of springtime. The whiteness of Winter, the many animals that are out and about in the Summer. There is so much to see that God has blessed us with. I think of Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you and  give you peace.” It puts me in a prayerful mood and that is my favorite place. It is in prayer, snuggled in God’s powerful arms, praising His awesomeness and the beautiful things He has blessed and provided for us.

Prayer removes me from all the cares of the world and gives me peace that can’t be found in chocolate or ice cream or in a good book. Nor in any  other material things of this world. It is where God dwells, where I am allowed to talk to Him and to listen for His answers. It provides peace that passes all understanding. It is knowing He hears all my prayers and answers all my prayers. Opening my heart in prayer is my favorite place for my soul. I hope and pray that you also find peace in prayer and can open up your heart and soul to the one who knows you best. Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

Where is God?

 

Where is God?

If I were to ask you where is God, what would your answer be? My neighbor says God is at the campground beside the river where he resides in the summertime. A mountain climber might say He’s at the top of the mountain and in all the beautiful scenery.

A stargazer might say He’s in the stars at night.

Others may say He is in church. Some may say He is everywhere and in everything. Those who are hurting or in pain are asking the question, where is God?

In all reality God is only a breath away. “He will never leave us or forsake us.” Hebrews 13:5. Though we are beaten and left to die, God is there.

Though we be abused physically or mentally. God is there.

Though we have sinned and feel like God wants nothing to do with us, God is there.

Though we turn our back on God, still He is there.

God knows our every thought, our comings and our goings. There is nothing we can say or do that He doesn’t have knowledge of, and He still remains a breath away. He remains close with His arms open wide, ready and waiting for our acknowledgment of Him for our acceptance, for our willingness to enter His arms, thereby allowing Him to enter our very being. Won’t you look to God and let Him enter your heart? God is with you today and always.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

The House of the Lord

 

The House of the Lord

Psalm 122 “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the House of the Lord.” Have you ever heard the statement, “I don’t need to go to church, I know God loves me and I love Him.” I have and during a 15-year period I was one of those that made that statement. Knowing God Loves you and that you love Him does not build a relationship with Jesus. Without church, God’s people, we might as well be standing on a turntable because that knowledge alone will get us nowhere. Church is a place to go where we can give thanks to God. We don’t go for the people; we go for God. It is a place where we as God’s children can go to share our joys and sufferings. To give and receive comfort for each other. It is a place where we can remember God’s sacrifice of His one and only Son. To try to grow as a Christian on our own without the help of other Christians is like spinning our wheels with nowhere to go. There are no lessons to be learned without someone to teach us. There is no understanding without someone to explain what God has written for us. We need each other to admonish, and encourage, and help each other. One way to accomplish this is to go to church, become involved and be a part of a church family. We must continuously learn what God expects of us if we want to build a saving relationship with Jesus. “No man enters the Kingdom of God, except through Jesus.” John 14:6. If it is said, “I don’t go to church because of all the hypocrites that are there.” Then ask which one is closer to heaven, the one on the inside or the one on the outside? We have all sinned and no one should make oneself out to be better than the other. Take your problem to the one that offended you, make amends and get yourself right with God. Time is short, we all need each other. The House of the Lord is a place or prayer, singing, and great fellowship. I encourage you to let God guide you to the place you need to be. There’s a wonderful family waiting to welcome you.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

The Holy Word

 

The Holy Word

Psalm 119:11"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” The Bible, the word of God, so powerful that it can actually keep a person from sinning. Do you have a Bible? When we open our Bible, it can speak to us in many ways. It is our sword to fight against our enemies. It is our comfort to help through our trials. It is our instructions to live daily for the Lord. It is a way to praise God and be thankful for our provisions. It is a path to eternal life. It insulates us against the pressures of temptation. To simply own a Bible is not enough. We must open our Bibles daily and not just read it, but study it, print it on our hearts and live as though you might have written the words yourself.

I Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction for righteousness.”

John 12:48 “He who rejects Me, and does not receive my words, has that which judges him. The word that I have spoken will judge Him in the last day.”

This last scripture reminds me to get busy and find out what God wants me to know in His word. Psalm 19:10 “His word is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.”  I have read God’s word from cover to cover repeatedly, and I learn something new every time. Blessings always flow from the word of God.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Regrets

 

Regrets

2 Corinthians 7:10

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” Have you ever done anything that you regret and may still be holding on to? Why is it people hang on to their regret? For some it is to punish themselves, for others they have not ever experienced the grace of forgiveness, so it becomes a part of their life. Then there are those who feel that if they let go of their regret, they may fall back into the same pit of sin once again. Look at the word, regreT. Do you see the cross at the end of the word? That is where we should leave our regret- at the end of the cross. When we hang on to our regret, we quench the Holy Spirit and do not receive the blessings that God holds in store for us when we truly let go. In Romans 8:1 it says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. So, we repent of our sins, leave our regret at the cross and live according to the Spirit. If Christ does not condemn us, then why should we?

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

Forgiveness

 

Forgiveness

Psalm 109 reads as if the author wants his accuser dead and his family to suffer to the greatest degree. When someone accuses us of something that we didn’t do, our first instinct is to get angry and lash out at the accuser. It is an automatic reaction, like self-defense is if someone who assaults us physically. But the Lord said, “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent. Matthew 29:39 says, “forgive men their trespasses and your heavenly Father will forgive you.” Matthew 5:44 says, “I say to you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Psalm 109 is a perfect example of how people prayed before Christ began His ministry on earth. When Christ came, He set the perfect example of how to treat those who accuse us of wrongdoing. Not once did we read of Christ getting in a fist fight or wrestling match to prove He was right. Nor did He pray that His enemies be wiped off the face of the earth. He always spoke with kindness and even when they arrested Him and brought Him before the courts, He did not fight against them. He spoke the truth and left everything else in God’s hands. Jesus was faced with accusers nearly every day. When someone accuses us of wrongdoing, we must always speak the truth and take the matter to the highest court for mediation and understanding. God grants us both, if we lay the burden down at His feet. Matthew 7:12 say, “Whatever you want me to do to you, do also to them.”

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

What's to Become of Us?

 

What’s to Become of Us?

Revelation 16:18-21 tells us what will become of us in the end times. Have you ever wondered how Moses could change God’s mind on Mount Horeb when God wanted to destroy His people for making a golden calf and worshipping it?

When Joshua was near to dying, he called his people to him and reminded them of all the blessings God had given them and their deliverance from all their enemies. In the end, he said, “if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord…then choose this day whom you will serve, but for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15.

If you are not prepared for the end times, then you must strive to change God’s mind on His timing. Look around you at all the people that make up your life. It is easy to love those  people who are close to you, but what about the person that agitates you? What about Judas who betrayed Christ, Or Peter who denied Christ or even Paul who claimed to be the most treacherous villain on earth. If they were here today and there are many like them, would we be judgmental or would we choose to love them as Christ did? I encourage you to strive to be more loving, forgiving, exceptional person in God’s eyes so that you can change God’s mind toward destruction. The United States is a very generous nation that helps foreign nations when they are in need. But we are not a perfect nation. We need to go forth and spread the Good News. Let everyone you encounter know that God loves them and He is merciful. Let us not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk, showing God’s grace and in so doing helping to save our nation.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

The Israelites and Us

 

The Israelites and Us

Psalm 109 praises God for His forgiveness and steadfastness. Many times, repeatedly, the Israelites stirred up the anger of God, but every time God forgave them and brought them back to His loving arms. Their sins, however, did not go unpunished. He sent plagues, famines and even allowed them to be carried off to Babylon to become slaves.

We are not so different from the Israelites. Romans 3:23 “We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” We, even though we are Christians complain when things don’t go our own way. We try to take matters into our own hands, knowing full well that God is in charge. We wait until things get bad, when we think there is no way out, then we fall on our knees and call out for God’s help. Most of our troubles, if you think about it is brought on by our own doing. Even still, God is always faithful and provides a way out. We praise God for a short time, then we forget what He has done for us and once again, we find ourselves back into either the same sin or a new sin more enticing.

How can we counteract this roller coaster ride? Do we look at it as a way of life, or do we strive to work harder at being more like Jesus? When Christ came to earth, he taught us how to love one another and how to strive toward perfection. We have more than Moses’ law for the Israelites, we have a New Testament full of Christ’s words and examples. We must never forget that God sent His son to die for us so that our sins can be forgiven. We may be sinners, but we are saved by the grace of God. Praise God daily for this and love one another. Forgive as you have been forgiven.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

Who is God?

 

Who Is God?

The Lord God Almighty

The Creator

Omnipotent, Eternal, immutable

Omniscient, Invisible and visible through creation

Unsearchable and searchable through God’s Word

Incomprehensible, Holy

Knowledge, wisdom and power

Merciful, Goodness and Love

Disposer of events

Judge of all, Lawgiver, Redeemer, Defender, Protector

Jealous

Searcher of hearts

Sanctuary and refuge

Savior, Jehovah, Father of Lights

God of heaven and earth

Comforter

Miracle Worker

Teacher, Friend

And much more and everything!

God is Awesome! What astounds me most of all in all this is that He LOVES ME!

“My Savior loves, My Savior lives, My Savior is always there for me. My God He was, My God He is, My God is always gonna be!”

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Overwhelming Battles

 

Overwhelming Battles

This blog is taken from a letter by Dr. Charles Stanley.

Have you ever experienced a battle so overwhelming that it felt as if everything in your life were against you? God tells us that “if you want to win this battle, you fight it on your knees alone with Me.” If you want to overcome any difficulty, the best way is by spending time alone with God. Only He can give you victory. Here are the steps Dr. Stanley advised:

1.     You set time alone with the Father. Psalm 103:19

2.     Listen quietly to the Father and expect Him to speak to you. Ecc. 5:1-2

3.     If the Lord reveals any sinfulness in your life, repent of it immediately. God’s primary goal is to have a relationship with you. Sin will hinder Him from having full access to your life.

4.     Remember there can only be one general in this battle, and that’s the Lord. He is in control and knows the path better than you do.

5.     See everything that happens to you as coming from God. If the Father allows trial or challenge in your life. It is ultimately for your good and His glory. Romans 8:28

When you fight your battles on your knees and faithfully obey Him, you invite God to be your Redeemer, Defender, General and Protector. That’s not only the best way to win, it’s the most wonderful, eternal path to triumph every single time.

Please read the scriptures listed, study them, apply them to your life and grow in the saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.