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As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, I felt as though I was the only person on the beach... that I was on another planet. It seemed as though I was a visitor -- exploring a new adventure in a new place in my spirit.
Does it ever feel as if you simply do not belong in this world? As if you are longing for something beyond what exists here? You are not imagining things, and you are certainly not alone.
Hebrews 11: 13, 16 explains that faithful people throughout the ages have "agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth.... they were looking forward to a better home in heaven".
You see, when you believe in God, He awakens the desire for eternity in you. Each time you sense that you are out of place here, it is because He's further along in the process of transforming you to live in heaven forever.
Whenever you feel like your heart is somewhere else -- that is okay. Just remember, friend, you are not home yet.
Psalm i48:8 -- As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it forever.
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, a jellyfish had been beached beyond the water and was slowly dying. I gently moved him back into the water and after a few moments, watched him swim away back into a place of life and joy! I felt excited for the little creature, as God showed me how He works in life!
I know in our own lives, there seem to be times we are beached on life's shore, out of the living water. We sit there wondering if God has forgotten His promises to us. But He never does. Months or years may pass, but regardless of the length of time, always remember the plans He has for you.
God does not operate according to anyone's schedule. Joseph spent years in Egyptian exile before He realized what the Lord wanted to do in his life. The time he spent in prison was not wasted, God was preparing him for an even greater purpose and only time would reveal what this was. His responsibility was to wait obediently for the Lord to work.
This same principle applies to us. The next time you are tempted to become anxious or impatient, remember God always blesses those who are committed to waiting for and trusting Him. He will be there to gently move you into the waters of His plan for your life... just as I did for the jellyfish. He is coming for you.
Psalm 98:3 -- He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, my heart was full of excitement remember the wonderful Easter Celebration I recently spent with my church family. The message "God's Not Dead" rang in my ears as I shouted thank you across the waves along the shoreline this early morning!
What an awesome realization to know that even though Christ died on the cross for us to have eternal life, He never ceased to exist! We are the same today -- we may die in our earthly bodies, but our spirits will never die because we have the promise of life forever with our Lord and Savior! Awesome thought to meditate on isn't it?
There is nothing that brings darkness to the heart like a lack of vision for the future. Looking forward to tomorrow and seeing nothing certain would be unsettling!
Yet you follow Jesus, who not only guides your path but is also the light of your path. He knows ahead what is coming and how to prepare you for it! He also promises to be your unwavering hope and joy in it!
Although you have no knowledge of what is ahead, you can have faith in the One who has gone before you and be confident He has already made a way for you to live in this world as an overcomer!
My friend, today let's be fearless warriors, walking free of fear -- no matter what tomorrow brings. Jesus is your light and no darkness will ever separate you from Him and the life He died to give to you! Rejoice and be exceedingly glad today! He lives!!!!!!
John 8:12 -- I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life!
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, again I am reminded of our Father who has blessed us with all things pertaining to life on earth and in heaven. What a joy to know we have all things to enjoy daily, as I gaze into the beauty of His ocean!
Yet we are constantly bombarded with the message that you should want more, buy more, have more. Doing so will bring you happiness, so you are told. Potential acquisitions are depicted not only as desirable but essential. You are encouraged to acquire a bigger house and a finer car. You are urged to use your credit cards as you fill those houses to the brim with purchases you often neither really want nor need.
Ultimately "things" can never really satisfy you. As soon as you have acquired a certain possession, the novelty begins to wear off, and you begin to yearn for something else. Start today to live a life in which God is the center. His love is the wealth you truly want, and only in Him will you find true peace and satisfaction.
Psalm 52:7 -- See the one who would not take refuge in God, but trusted in abundant riches, and sought refuge in wealth!
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked along the seaside with Jesus today, I walked with two friends that are always seeking the Lord. We talked of Him as we walked and felt His pleasure in us as we shared our Father's goodness along the shore. As we walked, I could feel Him saying, "keep seeking me, keep seeking me."
Whenever we read something more than once in Scripture, it is because it is important -- God is wanting us to hear what He is saying. This is the case with Psalm 53, which is strikingly similar to Psalm 14.
Its message is certainly worthy of reception -- God peers down from His throne in heaven, watching for people who are looking for Him. He wants to answer the searching heart and show His love to any who call upon Him.
Are you seeking God? Do you long to experience His presence in a deep, meaningful way? Then realize that this desire within you is one He answers with a resounding "Yes!" He is gazing at you, my friend, and He is delighted that you want to know Him. Surely He will reveal Himself to you in a powerful way!
Psalm 53:2 -- God looked down from heaven on all people to see if anyone was wise, if anyone was looking to God for help.
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, I looked around at the creation before me and wondered what more anyone would want in their life. He has given us all things to enjoy in this life... isn't that amazing?
The good life is what everyone wants today. But in reality the life that truly satisfies exists only when we stop wanting a better one than what God has given us, in Him. The good life is the condition of savoring "what is" rather than longing for "what might be." The itch for things, the lust for more -- so brilliantly injected by those who peddle them -- is a virus draining our souls of happy contentment and peace. Have you noticed? A man never earns enough. A woman is never beautiful enough. Clothes are never fashionable enough. Cars are never nice enough. Gadjets are never modern enough. Houses are never furnished enough. Food is never fancy enough. Relationships are never romantic enough. Life is never full enough.
My friend, true, deep contentment and real satisfaction comes when we step off the escalator of desire and say, "This is enough. What I have will do. What I make of it is up to me and my vital union with the living Lord." That my precious friend, is when you find it is truly enough -- when you are filled with Him, and He alone meets every desire of your heart. You can never have more than Him!!
Proverbs 4:7 -- The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring get understanding.
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, a little crab ran for cover as the sand piper chased him into his tiny hole in the sand. He had to hide quickly because of the fear of being captured!
What a great feeling to know we have nothing to fear! Even in the psalms, David is writing about a reverent fear that honors God... not one of being afraid of Him. It has nothing to do with being so frightened that you turn and run away from Him as the tiny crab had done today.
Adam and Eve hid because they had disobeyed God. They were afraid He was going to punish them, because sin always demands a payment for the wrong that has been done.
Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for your sin and mine at the cross. You and I do not have to hide from Him or anxiously wait for Him to punish you. When you seek Him, He faithfully forgives and restores you.
God never wants you to dread His presence; rather, He wants the respect that grows from love. Therefore, fear Him -- in the good way. Because that is the fear that leads to salvation. Just be free today, knowing you are free to be loved by Him, and have nothing to fear!
Psalm 76:7 -- You alone must be feared!
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, the beach was quiet and silent, except for the sound of the waves on the sand. No one else was around as I walked, listening intently to hear the voice of my Father today, but He seemed to be silent.
No one likes to be kept waiting. The hold button on telephones ought to be outlawed, you might sometimes think. The line at a popular restaurant, the crowded waiting room of a doctor's office, the plumber who is late, a lunch date who keeps you waiting -- these are all time wasters.
But waiting on God is a different matter. You may go through periods during which you feel He isn't listening to your prayers, as I did this morning on the beach. Though you ardently beseech Him, heaven is silent. During those times, it is important to understand that the "wait" is part of the answer God gives to you. Waiting is part of the mystery of His plan and the degrees by which it will be unfolded to you. God answers you in His time, not yours or mine. That is when we grow as we learn to listen for His time, His answer, His time. But He is there, hearing your prayers.
Psalm 130: 5-6 -- I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope.
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, the air was quiet and still and you could almost feel the dew dropping in the air along the shoreline. It was as though the Holy Spirit was refreshing me along the walk today with His dew from heaven. It was an amazing experience.
Did you know that dew will never appear while there is either heat or wind. The temperature must fall, the wind cease, and the air come to a point of coolness and rest -- absolute rest -- before the invisible particles of moisture will become dew to dampen any plant or flower. And the grace of God does not come forth to bring rest and renewal to our soul until we completely reach the point of stillness before Him.
Today my friend, He is calling us to stop and be still and let His grace refresh us to be more immersed in His presence. Be still and feel His "dew" in your spirit... be still and be refreshed.
Hosea 14:5 -- I will be like the dew to Israel.
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, my mind was filled with so many things... so many things that seemed to crowd out the soft whisper of my Father. I suddenly heard Him say, "Let your mind be still and think on Me and worship Me only." Suddenly I felt His presence consume me in my walk and my peace returned.
What a revelation it was, that we easily become so encumbered with our thoughts that it keeps us from being able to worship Him. That is the way we become discouraged and defeated, by allowing all of our responsibilities, obligations, busyness and needless fears take over our thoughts. We need to just sit down and say to the enemy, "I refuse to think on anything that distracts me from worshipping my Lord and Savior." He is above all of our cares!
We can trust Him with every concern and anxiety because He cares for us. He says, "Worship me only." Whatever occupies your mind the most becomes your god. Worries, if indulged, develop into idols. Anxiety gains a life of its own, parasitically infesting your mind. Break free from this bondage by affirming your trust in God and refreshing yourself in His presence. What goes on in your mind is invisible, undetectable to other people. But He reads our thoughts continually, searching for evidence of trust in Him. He rejoices when our minds turn toward Him. Guard your thoughts diligently; good thought-choices will keep you close to your Heavenly Father... which is exactly where He wants us to be always.
Psalm 112:7 -- He will have no fear of bad news, his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, there were noises along the beach that seemed to drown out the voice of the Holy Spirit that I needed so much to bring peace to my heart. I shut out all the other noises and leaned my heart into the chest of my heavenly Father to hear His gentle voice. Then peace came.
God says we have to "pursue peace," even in the busyness of our lives. It doesn't just come, even though we have the promise that "His peace he has left with us." We become so distracted by the world. If He has promised we can have peace, why do so many today seem to not have peace in their lives.
I truly believe it is because we do not take the time to be still and get with God. He is able to give us peace, even in the midst of all our activities that fill our lives every day, if we take the time to seek Him and to listen for His leading. Without that our lives become chaotic and unpeaceful... we get into strife, which is the exact opposite of peace. Then we become ineffective for the Kingdom of God because we are in strife!
People who walk in peace in order to honor God cannot lose in life. If you look at Abraham, he decided to let Lot have the best of the land while he took the leftovers, and God still blessed him in greater ways. (Genesis 13:8) because he chose not to walk in strife with his brother.
Today, my friend, chose to make it your ambition to walk in peace. Pursue it with all your heart. He says, "You will find it if you seek it." This will enable you to walk in the anointing and power of God, just as He planned.
Romans 12:16, 17, -- Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive:, but readily adjust yourself to people, things) and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceit. Repay no one for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble in the sight of everyone.
Key Verse: Romans 12:18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Blessings and peace,
Sherron
As I walked the seaside with Jesus today, a fog followed behind me as I pressed toward the sunny side of the beach. I was determined to stay focused on the sunshine and not look back at the fog with its spirit of gloominess. I was heading straight for the bright rays to hit my face as I finished my walk.
God says in His Word to forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead. I meditated on this verse as I walked today... thinking about the new year that has begun. We have the direction set for our lives -- don't look back, but stay focused on what is about to happen in your life in 2014.
I know we all have had challenges in 2013... sickness, job loss, broken relationships, financial challenges, spiritual battles. There are so many obstacles thrown at us every day in today's world, yet we have a promise for a better life in Christ. He promises that in the end, we will win if we stay focused on Him and not look back at the problems. They have a way of swallowing us up into self pity, sadness, depression... so many ways to defeat us and keep us from being effective for the Kingdom. Yet He promises that we are more than conquerors. No weapon formed against us will prosper!
As you walk into 2014, let's commit together to stand on His Word and keep our eyes focused on Him. Let's look forward to what God has planned for us in 2014... and press toward the goal to receive all He has for us in Him. Then we will be guaranteed a successful year because we will be drawing closer to our Lord and Savior! That my friend is our true victory as we trust Him in 2014. Happy New Year!
Philippians 3:13-14 -- "...but I focus on this one thing -- forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God through Christ Jesus is calling us!"
Blessings and peace,
Sherron