"Who Stands Guard Over You?"

Daniel 12:1a  "And at that time Michael, the archangel, who stands guard over your nation, 

will arise...."

Six years ago Rick and I went to Israel.  Before the trip I was doing a study and this is when I first discovered that God had placed Michael, the archangel to stand guard over that nation.  

It was exciting to consider that we actually knew where Michael, the archangel was and that we would soon be in his territory.  I had lots of questions...like, why did God want us to know that He had place Michael there.  And I wondered if we would sense his presence or if we would feel the spiritual battle that was taking place.  

It also made me consider all the ways that God protects His children...wherever we might be.  And I was reminded me of Elisha in 2 Kings....

The King of Syria had dispatched his army to Dothan...to destroy the people of God.  When Elisha's helper got up and got dressed he looked all around and was terrified.  He cried out to Elisha that the surrounding countryside was filled with many armies and the instruments of war .  Elisha smiled and placed his arm around his young helper and assured him, “Don’t be afraid, our army is bigger than theirs.” 

You see, Elisha could see God’s great army of angels already in place, ready to protect both him and his helper.  Elisha then prayed that God would open the eyes of his young helper, that he also might 

be able to see the hosts of protective angels there to protect hem. God answered the prayer of Elisha! The young man’s eyes were opened and as he looked around he “could see horses and chariots 

of fire everywhere on the hills surrounding the city.”  

Isaiah 55:12  ".....for the Lord will go before you 

and the God of Israel will be your rear guard."

Just as God sent His angels to protect Elisha...and God sent Michael, the archangel, to guard Israel...Today, the LORD Stands Guard over us too....For He is our Front Guard and 

our Rear Guard too.....

Standing in Him,

Sharon

2 Peter 1 "Divine Design"

I love the descriptive words found in this first chapter of Second Peter

Words like:  precious faith

 divine power

true knowledge

  glory and excellance

                 precious & magnificent promises

divine nature

I see these words as a list of ingredients that God 

has poured into our hearts...providing all that is necessary 

to live a godly life...

Another list of words STANDS out to me and builds on the first:   

Words like:  moral excellence

 knowledge (wisdom)

 self-control

 perseverance

 godliness

 brotherly kindness

 unselfish love

We must cooperate with God, "apply all diligence", 

submitting and yielding to the divine provisions 

granted to us...and we will see growth in these 

areas of our life.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, 

they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive 

in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.   2 Peter 1:8

So the important question for me/us to ask is this: 

Are all these qualities growing and evident in my life? 

God bless your day,

Sharon

This pot is so French chic ..

 

Laurie from

Heaven's Walk 

created it.... 

I'll let her show you how to make these

fabulous transfers!

Her entire blog is fabulous!

"Vintage Flair"

Vintage Flair ~ You'll find one of my favorite antique shops in Riverside just around the corner and down an alley.   A Charming, lovely, magical place to shop and find those treasures at a great price.  And visiting with my friend and owner Lucy...is like the frosting on the cake!   Address:  3778 Elizabeth St. Riverside, CA

"Challenged by the Chariots"

Joshua 17:16  "They said, "...the Canaanites in the lowlands around Beth-shan and the valley of Jezreel have iron chariots--they are too strong for us."

God told his people that they would prevail over all their enemies in the land. Joshua 1:5  "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life.  Just as I was with Moses,  so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you." Victory is assured because God has promised to be with them.  Yet, they were quick to find an excuse why they could not.  

In times like these, when we feel weak and are challenged by the chariots we see, we need to ask the LORD to renew our faith in his promises, especially those that require us to persevere.  

Blessings on your day!

Sharon

"The Battles of Life"

1 Samuel 13:2  "Saul selected three thousand special troops from 

the 

 

army 

 of Israel and sent the rest of the men home."

It's in the difficult times, in the battles of life, where we are able to see who or what it is we really trust in....it's were the true measure of our faith is revealed...often times, to our surprise.

You've heard it said, "when times are tough, the tough get going"....well that described Saul.  But the problem with that--he wasn't all that tough... NO ONE IS!  The truly tough, stand in the strength of the LORD.

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,"  

 

says the Lord of hosts" Zechariah 4:6a

Might focuses on collective strength..like an army.  Power focuses on individual strength.  God says, "not by the resources of many or one, but by My Spirit."  When we trust in our own resources - we aren't trusting in God.  It was revealed of Saul, that he was trusting in the power of his army and his own abilities when he should have been trusting in God.  

You've heard me say this before, but I love to look at Daniel's life as our example of how to survive difficult times and make godly choices.  When faced with persecution and even the threat of death....Daniel remained strong and unyielding because of his faith in God.  “...And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”  Daniel 6:23b

This trust, this great faith that Daniel had in God came about by spending time with God.  It's too late in the moment of crises to cultivate a relationship.  The kind of faith needed for a crises must be cultivated and developed over time as we sit under the teaching of God's Word, spending time with God in prayer....and walking in obedience.  

Throughout the Scriptures we learn that the battles of life...temptations and trials... are to be responded to, not by trying to meet them in the power of our own abilities.  Nor by the might of our armies or other resources.  And not by running from them or trying to avoid them either.  We face the battles of life by  by drawing near to God daily in faith.  So when (not if) we face our trial we will be able to stand and will be found to be Men/Women after God's own heart.

Blessings!

Sharon

"Hey, How Long are You Going to Wait?"

Joshua 18:3  "Then Joshua asked them, "How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?"

As the children of Israel finally begin to take possession of their inheritance, we find that there are seven tribes that for some reason, have failed to come forward to receive theirs.  So, Joshua goes to them and asked them, "How long are you going to wait?"  And he gives them "a little hand holding, a little push start."

I wonder what they were waiting for?  Where they lazy or fearful, surely it wasn't because they didn't know they had land to claim.   I think it was because they would rather remain comfortable right were they were.  It was easier to sit back and settle for less...than stand up and fight for something.  Besides, who wants to go into battle...someone might get hurt.

I'm like that at times, even worse, instead of standing and fighting, or even sitting and staying put, I turn and run.  Whatever their reason, Joshua isn't taking no for an answer...he tells them to select three men from each of their tribes and sends them out to survey the unconquered territory.

Sometimes we need people like that in our life...who will give us a little time and then they come and say, "Hey, how long are you going to wait?  Get up and get moving...

This makes me think of those the LORD brought into our life...early in our walk with the LORD, who were just like Joshua.   They loved us enough to come and say..."How long?"  God has so much more for you and took us by the hand, gave us some instruction and showed us how to live from Victory.

Father, thank you for the "Joshua's" that You sent into our lives to challenge us by asking...why are you living the way you are living...there's a better way.  May we be like Joshua and go to those who are settling for less and challenge them, help them to get on their feet and move forward to claim their inheritance...You've already promised the Victory.

Blessings,
Sharon

"Give Me a Further Blessing"

Joshua 15:19a  "Achsah said, Give me a further blessing."  

When I was a new believer, and learning to pray, I would go to the LORD and ask for others, but I didn't know it was "OK" to ask Him for something for myself.  I can still remember the day (almost 30 years ago) when I was talking to my sister about a problem at work and she said, "have you prayed about it?"  And I replied, "Oh no, I never ask anything for myself, that would be selfish!"  It was then, that my sister taught me further about prayer.  That God is blessed when we come to Him with our request, even for ourselves, it's not selfishness-it shows that we trust Him to take care of our every need.  Psalm 84:11b "no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

Of course, it wasn't some name it claim it, or blab it and grab sort of thing.   We go to our Heavenly Father in the same way that Achsah went to her father Caleb. She remembered the kindness her father had already shown her...and went to him humbly, eagerly and with gratitude.  What a wonderful example of prayer for us to follow as we go to our Father in heaven with a request.

Joshua 15:19b,c  "

You have been kind enough 

to give me land in the Negev; 

please give me 

springs 

as well.  

So Caleb gave her 

the upper and lower springs."

In verse 18 we read that Achsah only wanted one additional field.  But Caleb gave Achsah what she asked for, and more, for he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs, two fields.  What an example Caleb is of our Father in Heaven.  "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us"  Ephesians 3:20

Father, Just as Caleb's daughter trusted in her father's kindness, I come to You for every need.  I know that every good thing in my life has come from Your hand...You have withheld no good thing. Today I ask for "deeper springs of water"... spiritual and heavenly blessings for both myself and my husband.  Deeper water for our souls and our ministry.  I praise You and thank you for all that You've already given...and I thank you for Your goodness to me.  In Jesus name, amen. 

Blessings,

Sharon