James 3:18 "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
James is making the point that what we sow in our relationships is what we will reap. And in every relationbship we have, we are either sowing seeds of disorder, seeds of anger, seeds of mistrust, seeds of conflict-or seeds of peace that will result in a harvest of righteousness.
But how do we plant seeds of peace in our relationships? What does it really mean to show true wisdom at home? In the office? At work? At school? Or in our neighborhood? James answers that question in verses 3:17-18.
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness."
I can't share on all these points, so I'll share on one that helps me in my times of difficulty with others ...when I fail...fail to love, fail to sow seeds of peace..... MERCY is what gets me back on tract ...because my flesh is usually telling me...they don't deserve kindness...etc..etc...look what they have done to you.
During these difficult times...I want to say to the LORD...But they don't deserve it because...and usually I can't even finish my prayer... as soon as I start to say that....my heart is cut with the question...and you deserve WHAT??????? oops...The LORD doesn't let me get away with anything...(Thank you Father!)...famous quote: The man/woman who refuses to show mercy destroys the bridge over which he himself must cross.”
Showing mercy is giving people what they need, not what they deserve.
It causes me to stop looking at myself...and look at the person in front of me and say Thank you LORD for Your mercy on me...forgive me for forgetting.....help me to give out that mercy on others....LORD... I need Your wisdom...I need Your impartiality (I'm tempted to give more mercy to myself that to the other person)...what can I do or say they will help turn this situation around so You are glorified and my "friend" is helped.
It all hurts so good....
Standing in Him,
Sharon
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
"Shall We Gather at the River"
Revelation 22
I’ve had a love for rivers, lakes and oceans as long as I can remember. One of the things that I love to see is how bodies of water seem to give life to the places they touch. Fish and plants abound just under the surface. Streams and rivers nourish trees and lush growth all along their path...even when a stream flows through a dry, dusty ground, a patch of greenery is found on both sides. The ground is blessed because ~ where the water flows ~ life appears.
But there is another river – a river more awesome than any other I know. This river is different because it doesn’t depend on rain or melting snow to fill it. The water that this river carries is no ordinary water. The Scriptures call it the Water of Life and it flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb – Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22.1-2 "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."
I love God’s river. It brings life! Lush growth springs up along the path where God’s river flows. Life to our souls that were once dry, dusty and dead because of our sin. John 7:38 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
One day, God is planning a reunion at the river in Heaven. You and I will be gathered with the saints of all time. Those who have gone ahead – our loved ones – will be there, the Prophets and Apostles we've been reading about will be there. What a reunion – we will gather at the river in Heaven – the river that then will flow from the throne of God and the Lamb. "No longer will there be any curse. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.
Blessings to you,
Sharon
I’ve had a love for rivers, lakes and oceans as long as I can remember. One of the things that I love to see is how bodies of water seem to give life to the places they touch. Fish and plants abound just under the surface. Streams and rivers nourish trees and lush growth all along their path...even when a stream flows through a dry, dusty ground, a patch of greenery is found on both sides. The ground is blessed because ~ where the water flows ~ life appears.
But there is another river – a river more awesome than any other I know. This river is different because it doesn’t depend on rain or melting snow to fill it. The water that this river carries is no ordinary water. The Scriptures call it the Water of Life and it flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb – Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22.1-2 "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."
I love God’s river. It brings life! Lush growth springs up along the path where God’s river flows. Life to our souls that were once dry, dusty and dead because of our sin. John 7:38 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
One day, God is planning a reunion at the river in Heaven. You and I will be gathered with the saints of all time. Those who have gone ahead – our loved ones – will be there, the Prophets and Apostles we've been reading about will be there. What a reunion – we will gather at the river in Heaven – the river that then will flow from the throne of God and the Lamb. "No longer will there be any curse. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.
Blessings to you,
Sharon
Monday, July 26, 2010
"What Does Jesus Look Like?"
Revelation 10:1-2 "Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. And in his hand was a small scroll, which he had unrolled. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land."
Mighty angel Clothed with a cloud
Crowned with a rainbow Countenance like the sun
Who is this "mighty angel"? Is it just an angel, or is it referring to Jesus? That's the puzzling question here in Revelation 10. Theologians have been discussing the "who" of these verses for centuries....and they don't agree. Pastor Jon Courson
says...Not Jesus, Warren Wiersbe says....It's Jesus. Pastor Chuck Smith...says it's Jesus too, but Pastor Vernon McGee says no...it's only a "mighty angel". Whichever position you take you'll be in good company.
When I read what each of these pastors said about "why" they think it's Jesus....I nod my head and say, yes...it looks like Jesus. And then I turn to those who say, "no, it's not Jesus" and this is why...I say to myself....ahhhhh...your right...it can't be Jesus.
Well, all I can say at this point is...I'm not sure who this "mighty angel" is here in Revelation 10....I'm going to have to do a lot more studying and meditation on my own, with lot's of prayer before I can be convinced either way.
But, I don't want you to think that it's been a waste of time because I didn't discover who our angel is. Through the process of trying to understand this passage and determine if this was Jesus or not....an important question came to my heart...."What Does Jesus Look Like?"...So, for a week all I did was studied the face of Jesus.
I love how King David said that his desire was to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in his temple. Or as the Message states it: I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. As I poured over the Scriptures that speak about Jesus and who He is....meditating on what Jesus looked like (not physically, but His character).....my understanding of who He is began to grow and my relationship with Him deepened and became more intimate.
Now, I still don't know who the angel is in Revelation chapter 10...but I do know Jesus better today and I love Him more...and want to be more like Him....it's been a fruitful study.
Blessings on your week,
Sharon
Mighty angel Clothed with a cloud
Crowned with a rainbow Countenance like the sun
Who is this "mighty angel"? Is it just an angel, or is it referring to Jesus? That's the puzzling question here in Revelation 10. Theologians have been discussing the "who" of these verses for centuries....and they don't agree. Pastor Jon Courson
says...Not Jesus, Warren Wiersbe says....It's Jesus. Pastor Chuck Smith...says it's Jesus too, but Pastor Vernon McGee says no...it's only a "mighty angel". Whichever position you take you'll be in good company.
When I read what each of these pastors said about "why" they think it's Jesus....I nod my head and say, yes...it looks like Jesus. And then I turn to those who say, "no, it's not Jesus" and this is why...I say to myself....ahhhhh...your right...it can't be Jesus.
Well, all I can say at this point is...I'm not sure who this "mighty angel" is here in Revelation 10....I'm going to have to do a lot more studying and meditation on my own, with lot's of prayer before I can be convinced either way.
But, I don't want you to think that it's been a waste of time because I didn't discover who our angel is. Through the process of trying to understand this passage and determine if this was Jesus or not....an important question came to my heart...."What Does Jesus Look Like?"...So, for a week all I did was studied the face of Jesus.
I love how King David said that his desire was to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in his temple. Or as the Message states it: I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. As I poured over the Scriptures that speak about Jesus and who He is....meditating on what Jesus looked like (not physically, but His character).....my understanding of who He is began to grow and my relationship with Him deepened and became more intimate.
Now, I still don't know who the angel is in Revelation chapter 10...but I do know Jesus better today and I love Him more...and want to be more like Him....it's been a fruitful study.
Blessings on your week,
Sharon
"Sowing Seeds of Hope"
I Peter 3:15 "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it."
The word "hope" here in 1 Peter is the Greek word "elpis" which means: joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation.
"Jesus . . . wants us to see that we walk among people who are without hope. They are busy filling their lives with substitutes to attempt to make some sense of this life. The neighbor next door or the people sitting next to us on a plane or in a classroom are not interruptions to our schedule. They are there by divine appointment. Jesus wants us to see their needs, their loneliness, their longings, and He wants to give us the courage to reach out to them" and "Sow Seeds of Hope."
Sure, there are people out there that need the hope we have...and not all will accept what we have to say (make sure it's not because of how we said it that they reject the hope we have)....Instead of being afraid or worrying about what they will think or do...."Sow Seeds of Hope" regardless..."Do what Jesus did and wants us to do."
Father, I can't remember a time when hope was so needed...everywhere I go, people are in the middle of a crises. People are wanting something to hang on to, some glimmer of hope that things will get better, or that there is a hope for a better life, if not here, then in eternity. Help me to get busy "Sowing Seeds of Hope" in this hopeless world around me. In Jesus name, Amen.
"He is an Anchor for our Soul and is steadfast" Heb 6:19
Blessings to you,
Sharon
The word "hope" here in 1 Peter is the Greek word "elpis" which means: joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation.
"Jesus . . . wants us to see that we walk among people who are without hope. They are busy filling their lives with substitutes to attempt to make some sense of this life. The neighbor next door or the people sitting next to us on a plane or in a classroom are not interruptions to our schedule. They are there by divine appointment. Jesus wants us to see their needs, their loneliness, their longings, and He wants to give us the courage to reach out to them" and "Sow Seeds of Hope."
Sure, there are people out there that need the hope we have...and not all will accept what we have to say (make sure it's not because of how we said it that they reject the hope we have)....Instead of being afraid or worrying about what they will think or do...."Sow Seeds of Hope" regardless..."Do what Jesus did and wants us to do."
Father, I can't remember a time when hope was so needed...everywhere I go, people are in the middle of a crises. People are wanting something to hang on to, some glimmer of hope that things will get better, or that there is a hope for a better life, if not here, then in eternity. Help me to get busy "Sowing Seeds of Hope" in this hopeless world around me. In Jesus name, Amen.
"He is an Anchor for our Soul and is steadfast" Heb 6:19
Blessings to you,
Sharon
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