KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS

KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS

As I sit here at my computer, I look out at smoked filled skies, due to fires in neighboring counties, and I wonder about all those involved, fire fighters and those facing having to leave their homes and go to shelters.  My mind goes over the past weekend attending a lovely wedding by the river, and Sunday services and the opportunity to stand in the “pulpit” sharing God’s Word, as I focused on the love of Jesus, and the call to be ready to meet Him, as we never know what a day will hold.  And we need to put aside our burdens and just look up, His redemption draws near. So much goes on in our lives sometimes that we need to just stop and refocus. 

It is a time to reflect on where we are on our walk with the Lord, to take a moment to quietly praise Him for the blessings He bestows upon us, and take some time to just be still and let His peace overflow us.  We may be in the midst of walking through the “fire” in our lives, and the wind may be blowing “smoke” in our eyes so we can’t see the “Son.”  So many people are going through great trials right now, but our God is in the midst of every storm, Oh Praise the Lord! 

As I shared on Sunday, His love is like the mighty ocean, rolling and rolling over us.  He is over us, under us, and all around us.  And I want to share today that it is all because of the Cross.  The Cross of Christ stands in the midst of history.  Its mighty arm points back to the promises in the Old Testament of a coming Redeemer, the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world, and the other arm is extended into eternity, bringing life and salvation.  In our walk with the Lord everything is obtained through the Cross of Christ, our Salvation, our healing, His great love, and the great redemption of our souls, promising eternity in heaven with Him.

 And then, as believers and walking with the Lord we must keep near the Cross, and let our focus and our very walk with Jesus be there.  I desire to stay near the Cross, and encourage all believers out there to also be near the Cross, as we kneel in prayer, spend our quiet times with Him, stay in His Word and reach out to a dying and hurting world.

NEAR THE CROSS

“Jesus keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain free to all a healing stream flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever; till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me; there the Bright and Morning Star sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me; help me walk from day to day, with its shadows o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait, hoping, trusting ever, till I reach the golden strand, just beyond the river.  (Fanny Crosby)

That healing stream is flowing from Calvary’s Mountain, to you my sister, to you my brother.  The blood of Jesus is still flowing, as a great fountain. As the old song says “Millions have come, there is still room for one, there is room at the Cross for you,” can you fathom that love, that He would give His very life, shed His blood so man’s sin could be atoned.  Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin (Hebrews 9:22).

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” Romans 5:6-9.

I remember so well the night, at nine years of age, realizing the price Jesus had paid for my sins, I made my way to the altar, and there His love and His mercy found me.  It is near the Cross where His mercy and grace flows out to each one who kneels there.  And I pray that you, too, will kneel there, and let His presence surround you as He gathers you into His arms.

And as we walk this pathway of life with Jesus, He calls us to ever keep the Cross before us, ever mindful of the sacrifice He made, the suffering He went through for you, for me.  Again, such love as Jesus has for the world our minds cannot comprehend such love.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, what whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.

We are called to be watching and waiting, staying near the Cross daily, as we continue our journey upward and ever onward toward our eternal home.  We walk with hope in our hearts, fixing our eyes on Jesus as He leads us home.  Yes, the storms will come and rock our ship, the winds will blow, and just as today our skies may be filled with smoke and we can’t see the “Son” but He is there surrounding us, covering us with His love, and holding us in His everlasting arms.  He is the Prince of Peace, the One who walks on the water and calms the storm. 

So my friends, keep moving on with Jesus, keeping your eyes on the Cross, as heaven is just around the next bend, and such joy awaits each of His children.  I pray that if you haven’t knelt at the Cross, you will do so now, make your peace there with Jesus, He is waiting for you with his ever flowing love, waiting to gather you into His arms for all eternity.

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

HIDING IN JESUS!

HIDING IN JESUS!

Today I finished a milestone on my journey along the road with Jesus.  As I look back from where I have been, I see His guiding hand all the way.  I see how along the way He worked some miracles for me, and gave me His strength to go on.  There have been some rough days and nights.  There have been days of discouragement and tears, but Praise His Holy Name, He hides me in the “cleft of the rock” as the storms roll on around me.

Last weekend I was so very tired and my husband and I were in a particular store looking at items, and I actually didn’t think I could go on.  I have had those moments before when the Lord will suddenly drop a song in my heart, and my spirit begins to sing.  It happened, as I shared, when I was in the hospital.  It happened during a time of cancer several years ago.  I might have shared in the past the song “Until Then.”  I was checking in a local store as a cashier, and I was so sick and was actually beginning to experience fear of the future, when all of a sudden that song was dropped into my spirit and I began to sing with joy.  It wasn’t out loud, of course, but deep within me.  I knew at that moment I would “go on singing and with joy would carry on.”

Last Saturday afternoon I began to hear the words of the song: “He Hideth My Soul.”  And my spirit sang for joy as the Lord gave me strength to go on, put one step in front of another.  Let me tell you about that wonderful old hymn.

As a blind person, Fanny Crosby faced daily insecurity, which is why she found so much comfort in the book of Psalms and why so many of her hymns point to the security we have in the Lord.

This gospel song was one of her favorites.  Like David in the desert, she sometimes felt alone and vulnerable.  In the words of Scripture, she prayed, “Hide me,” and she delighted in Psalm 32:7, which says, “You are my hiding place.”

But the verse that inspired this song is from Exodus.  Seeking to know God was with the Israelites in the wilderness, Moses asked the Lord to show him His presence.  God acquiesced to Moses’ request and assured him, “I will put you in the cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand” (Exodus 33:22, NIV).

In the New Testament we find that Jesus is the cornerstone who was rejected for us, and thus we who are Christians are hidden in the cleft of the Rock.  When we consider how the hand of God covers us and shields us from harm, we, too, can joint praise to God: “O glory to God/For such a Redeemer as mine! (HYMNS-William J. Peterson)

HE HIDETH MY SOUL

“A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, a wonderful Savior to me; He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, where rivers of pleasure I see.

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depths of His love, and covers me there with His hand, and covers me there with His hand.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, He taketh my burden away; He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved, He giveth me strength as my day.

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns, and, filled with His fullness divine, I sing in my rapture, “O Glory to God for such a Redeemer as mine!”

When clothed in His brightness transported I rise, to meet Him in clouds of the sky, His perfect salvation, His wonderful love, I’ll shout with the millions on high!”  (Fanny Crosby)

I want to encourage you in the Lord this day, my friends out there.  In all our storms of life, and in those relief times when you have passed a milestone in your walk with the Lord, you can look back and see the rivers of pleasure that He brings to you in those mountain top experiences.  And truly when He drops His joy into your spirit, it truly is a “river of pleasure.”  He brings joy that truly flows like a river, flowing over you.

Sometimes we go through dry places, and we feel like our “well has run dry.”  The land around us is barren.  I am remembering the children of Israel as they wondered through the barren wilderness and there was no water.  But above them was a rock shadowing that dry land.  And when Moses struck the rock, streams and rivers of waters flowed down from it. In I Corinthians 10:4, Paul tells us that the rock was Christ Jesus.  So when we are in that dry place, right above us, overlooking the dry road we are traveling is the “Rock” Christ Jesus, and we hide in Him, He covers us, and feeds us with living water.

He holds us up and takes away the burden we are carrying and covers us with His love!  Oh, what a Wonderful Savior we serve!

“For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters whey shall not come near him.  You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance” Psalm 32:6-7.

And when you feel like you are flooded by a river of trouble, sorrow and grief my bring pain to your heart, He is your hiding place from all our troubles.  And there is the promise:  He will actually surround His people with songs of deliverance, O Praise the Lord!

“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love.  He will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17.

The Lord is in the midst of His people, and He will save us as we pass through this journey and its struggles.  He brings quietness to the raging storm with His great love.  And I love this verse as it tells that He sings over His people!  He rejoices over us with songs of deliverance.  I hope this Word will bring great joy to your soul this day.

And then we have that great hope, whether we rise to meet Him in the sky, shouting with the millions all meeting Him there, or we go home to meet Him before that, we will rejoice and shout for joy when we see Him face to face.  All our struggles and trials will be over as we bask in His presence forever.

So take heart, let Him bring quietness to your soul this day, and fill your spirit with hymns of joy!

In His Blessed Name,

Pastor Sharon

A CROWN WE SHALL WIN!

A CROWN WE SHALL WIN!

As I sit here on this warm summer afternoon, I look out at the beautiful blue skies, and begin to think of all the summer activities, the races, ballgames, the games children play.  And many are competing for a prize.  And as we walk with the Lord, we too, are competing for a heavenly prize.  We continue to run in this race with Jesus. 

And sometimes we tire and want to give up in the race, but He calls us on.  And someday the battles of this life will be over and we will be rewarded by our Lord for the service to Him.  I am looking forward to that day, that great day of joy!  And I think of those who recently have won their heavenly rewards. 

I am thinking of a former pastor, who was instrumental to me in my teen years.  I think of his many years of service for his Savior and Lord, and now he has finished the race and gained the heavenly prize.

AND WHEN THE BATTLE’S OVER

“And when the battle’s over we shall wear a crown!  Yes, we shall wear a crown!  Yes, we shall wear a crown!  And when the battle’s over we shall wear a crown in the new Jerusalem.

Wear a crown, wear a crown, wear a bright and shining crown; and when the battle’s over we shall wear a crown in the new Jerusalem.” (Isaac Watts)

The Bible lists five crowns which will be given to believers.  Are you looking forward to your glorious crowns of victory?

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” I Corinthians 9:24-25.

In all the games we play, all the races we run, all may run but only one receives the prize.  In Paul’s day the winner of the games won a crown of flowers or such as that.  But we are running in our race an Incorruptible Crown, a crown that never will fade away.  This is also called the Imperishable Crown, this is a crown for eternity.  Oh, Praise the Lord!  But this crown calls for sacrifice, to lay aside our earthly desires and give our all for Jesus, and to complete the call and mission God has called us to do.  Yes, it will take much sacrifice and laying down our own fleshly desires to walk with the Master.

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?  For you are our glory and joy” I Thessalonians 2:19-20.

This crown is called the soul winner’s crown. Paul calls it a Crown of Rejoicing!  This crown is given to those who faithfully witness to others about Jesus, and lead people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Oh, what joy to lead a soul to Jesus!  I am looking forward to this crown.  I have seen the joy in faces as Jesus comes into a life, and He calls all of us to be witnesses for Him.  He calls each one of us to be in prayer for a lost and dying world and to desire a burden for souls, and then go out and do the work, led by the Holy Spirit.  I have seen wonderful doors open to witness and lead others to Christ. And truly the angels in heaven rejoice when one soul invites Jesus into their life.

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” James 1:12 (Revelation 2:8-11).

This crown is for those believers who endure trials, tribulations, and severe suffering, even unto death.  This crown is also called the Martyr’s Crown.  Jesus says that He will give this crown to those who undergo severe hardship, testing, tribulation/or physical death on His behalf.  Being willing to die for your faith in God would be the ultimate sacrifice.  We think of those down through the years who have given their lives for the cause of Christ.  And many, many in our world today are laying down their lives for the cause of Christ.  The Lord would remind us to be in constant prayer for the persecuted Church around the world.

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” 2 Timothy 4:8.

Are you looking for the coming of Jesus?  Are you anxiously awaiting His appearing?  This is the Crown of Righteousness. This crown is given to those who are walking daily in Christ’s righteousness.  If you are a believer you have been made righteous before God the Father as a result of Jesus dying on the cross for all of your sins.  This means that the righteousness of Jesus has now been imputed to you.  So we watch the skies, anxious for that day when He comes back to gather His children home. 

“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over whose entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” I Peter 5:1-4.

This is the Crown of Glory, or also known as the Pastor’s Crown.  This crown will be given to all our pastors who have been faithful in service to their flock.  I am thinking of the former pastor I mentioned earlier and that he has been faithful to receive the Pastor’s Crown.  It would also be applied to preachers and other ministers who feed the flock of God.  Even faithful Sunday School teachers who have been faithful to their calling will receive this crown.  It will go to all those faithful in teaching the Word of God.

There is one other “Crown of Glory” that I would like to mention to all my senior friends out there: “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness” Proverbs 16:31.

Yes, the Lord sees your lovely hair as it were a crown to Him.  You have walked the way of righteousness over the years, and He smiles upon you, looks upon your “crown” as beautiful.  And someday, the battles will be over, the victories won, and all who are faithful will receive their beautiful crowns.  Oh, what a day that will be!

In Jesus’ Name

Pastor Sharon

WHEN WE ALL GET HOME

WHEN WE ALL GET HOME!

This past week has been a week of laughter and tears.  There has also been pain this week and discouragement, and sometimes the road gets narrow, rocks along our path and stormy days, but in the midst of days and weeks such as this God brings such joy!  And in the midst of that joy He brings a taste of heavenly joy to come.

“But now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” I Corinthians 13:12.

Yes, when we think of heaven and seeing our Lord face to face, it is like a dim mirror, just a glimmer of the hope that awaits us just around the bend.  But someday, the Word promises we will know our loved over there and they will know us, and oh, the reunions that are going to take place!  Our minds can only try to imagine what that day will be like.  And for many of us that could be soon or down the road.  This day could be the day when we meet Him in the skies.  We are so looking and longing for that day

WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE

“There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come, no more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye; all is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore, what a day glorious day that will be.

CHORUS:  What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, and I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace; when He takes me by the hand, and leads me through the Promised Land, what a day, glorious day that will be.

There’ll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear, no more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there; and forever I will be with the One who died for me, what a day glorious day that will be.” (James Hill)

When I think of “no more parting over there” I think of the reunion my husband and I attended this past week.  We were invited to see a dear friend and her husband who were visiting here.  I met this precious friend almost 39 years ago, and we have been though many trials, joys and heartaches together.  Our children grew up together.  And also gathered there at that lovely home were other friends from that time period.  We were all young then, raising our children, worshipping together, retreats together, sharing our joys and sorrows together.  Now we have all gone our separate ways.  We have all entered our senior years, with grandchildren and all that goes with these years.  And there are some we knew of that group who have gone on to be with Jesus.  And the group, as it was this past week, will never be together again as it was on this side of heaven.

But as we were all gathered together, laughing and sharing and sometimes we didn’t even recognize each other, but oh the joy of memories!  We have all walked through our trials down the years.  Our eyes have been dimmed by tears, clouds have covered our sky, but someday we will be able to sit down and fellowship together forever.  There won’t be any time limits, any appointments to hurry and take care of.  I think of my dear friend and the trials and the pain she has been through and the victories she has won and am reminded of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Sometimes in the midst of pain, we feel like we are losing heart.  And sometimes that pain can be just a minor pain, a pain that is nagging.  And the Lord is interested in those pains and in all our struggles, even the smallest ones.  But oh, this old body may be perishing and getting older, but by the Holy Spirit it is being renewed each and every day.  These are just light afflictions compared to the glory that is just ahead.

“Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” I John 2-3.

We all have this hope within us, that someday when we finally see Him face to face, we will be like Him, and we will see our precious Lord just as He is.  Oh, Praise the Lord!

Do you have this hope within you?  Are you looking forward to that “great reunion” in our heavenly Jerusalem?  Reunions are usually prevalent in the summer months.  We have a family reunion with our children coming in August.  But again, reunions are just a shadow of what is ahead for God’s children, when all our loved ones in Jesus will be there, and old friends will gather, enjoying the angels and all the glories of heaven.  But most of all being with Jesus will be the grandest of all we could ever hope to imagine.  And, being with old friends again, never to part will be a joy that I can’t begin to describe.  I hope to see you there on that day, and that day could be just around the corner, over the next hill, or we will all meet together up there in that beautiful blue sky when that trumpet sounds, never to part again.

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

OH, HIS SWEET LOVE!

OH, HIS SWEET LOVE

As I sit here today, on this first day of summer, I am thinking about our upcoming vacation and sitting by the sea side once again and watching the ocean roll and the waves crashing onto the shore, and I am reminded of God’s love, God’s mighty creation.  I am thinking of how much He loves me and loves you.  His love is unfathomable, like the mighty ocean, rolling, rolling, never ceasing.

“Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band: when I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; when I said: this far you may come, and no farther, and here your proud waves stop.” Job 38:8-11.

God in His love created the mighty oceans and gave them a boundary they could not cross over.  God in His love sent our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to give His life that we may have eternal life, and His love is indeed like the mighty, rolling ocean.  How can you fathom that kind of love?  How can you fathom a God of love who would create this mighty earth with all its beauty, the skies with the stars and those lovely clouds in the blue sky?  How can we ever know the mighty depths of His love?

O THE DEEP, DEEP LOVE OF JESUS

“O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!  Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me, underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love; leading onward, leading homeward to my glorious rest above.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore! How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore; how He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own; how for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er from His throne.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of ever love the best; ‘Tis an ocean vast of blessing, ‘tis a haven sweet of rest, o the deep, deep love of Jesus, ‘tis a heav’n of heav’ns to me; and it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee.”  (Samuel Trevor Francis)

Oh, the sweet love of Jesus when a person has had “one of those days!”  Nothing goes right, and you feel totally alone, then you realize that Jesus has you wrapped in His arms, His presence all around you.  And you can face the road ahead knowing that His love is leading you onward and upward despite the circumstances around you. And holding you in His arms He will someday bring you His perfect rest in His house above.  Oh, Praise the Lord!

“The eternal God is your refuge.  And underneath are the everlasting arms” Deuteronomy 33:27.

And like a mighty ocean wave, His praises go from shore to shore.  His Church is Mighty throughout the world, as every nationality and every color praise His Holy Name, despite much persecution in many places.  God’s church is alive and well.

And aren’t you glad that our God never changes, and our God never slumbers or sleeps but watches over His loved ones day and night.

‘Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to god through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” Hebrews 7:25.

And in His deep, deep love for me and for you is His intercession from the Throne.  He is praying to the Father for you, for me.  He knows all the cries of our hearts and all our discouragements we go through each day.  He sees those tears and feels your pain.  He carried all our griefs and our sorrows to the cross of Calvary.  He gave His life for you for me that we might have an abundant life walking with Him here on earth, forgives our sins and is preparing a place for each one of His children.  Again, how can we describe that love that rolls on and on for His children?

And His blessings are like a mighty rolling ocean.  Each wave that rolls He brings His peace and joy, and has promised to supply all our needs.  And He answers even the smallest prayer.  I have seen in past days Him answer prayer in most unusual ways.  It is a matter of talking to Him all day in every little detail of our life.  He loves to surprise us with those answers.

And like the mighty ocean, who can understand the depth of His love?  He has loved us with that everlasting love from the beginning.  God had a plan to bring forth His Son and to redeem mankind.  God had a lamb from the beginning of time, and Christ was that perfect lamb, who gave Himself willingly that we could have forgiveness of sins, walk with Him here, serve Him here, tell others about Him, and then when our journey is over, His Mighty love will carry us on to the other shore.  And what a day that will be when we see Jesus at last!  All the struggles will be over, and we can live in peace and absolute joy with Him forever.

So next time you are at the seashore or see an ocean scene, think of Jesus and His mighty love, His eternal love as it rolls and rolls and rolls on into eternity.  Oh, Praise the Lord!

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Pastor Sharon

FOLLOW, I WILL FOLLOW HIM

FOLLOW, I WILL FOLLOW HIM

As I was thinking about what to write to my friends out there today, I want to ask the question: “Who are you following today?”  As I look at the world around me and see the faces of people in the crowds, or in their cars, I wonder who they are following.  The world seems to be crumbling around us.  There are wars and rumors of wars, and so many people in deep struggles. 

But we have an anchor in Jesus, our Lord.  Since we are going into the summer season, I am reminded again of the many years at summer camp, high in the Sierras of California.  I went every summer to our church camp starting when I was nine years old.  And oh, the memories of those times at camp!  I remember especially those special evening times around the campfire. 

Those were times of dedication of my life to the Lord, and especially at the final service when we were all handed a pinecone, which represented our lives and service to the Lord.  And as we made our commitments to the Lord, we would toss those pinecones into the fire.  Those memories are priceless to me.  And I remember one particular chorus that we sang at that time as we made our commitment to follow Him always.  I remember the tears and the determination that I would follow Him all the way.

And that dedication has followed me down through the years and into my senior years now as I became a Pastor and have led a life, to the best of my ability in Jesus, to be of service to my Lord and Savior.  Oh, the road has not been easy at time.  In this season of my life I have faced health issues this past year and have had to curtail some of my activities.  But I have made a fresh commitment to follow Him the rest of my days.

FOLLOW, I WILL FOLLOW THEE

“Jesus calls me, I must follow, follow Him today; when His tender voice is pleading how can I delay? 

Chorus:  Follow, I will follow Thee, my Lord, follow ev’ry passing day.  My tomorrows are all known to Thee, Thou wilt lead me all the way.

Jesus calls me, I must follow, follow ev’ry hour, know the blessing of His presence, fullness of His pow’r.

Jesus calls me, I must follow, follow Him always; when my Saviour goes before me I can never stray.  (Howard L. Brown)

He is calling, calling you to follow Him today.  He is calling you to look on His Wonderful Face and to give your life to Him.  Time is so short, my friends.  There is not time to delay as you do not know what tomorrow may bring.  Even today as I write this blog there is a big storm brewing in the Midwest, and I wonder how many will be swept into eternity without Jesus.

He is calling to look up into His Wonderful Face.  He is calling to focus on Him and take our eyes off the trials and struggles of this life.  Just a glimpse of Him, and all our tomorrows will belong to Him.  When you know the blessing of His Presence, you are looking into the face of our Wonderful Counselor, The Prince of Peace, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father.  He is our Saviour, Redeemer and Friend.  He is the Great Shepherd of the Sheep who goes ahead of His sheep and they follow Him.  He is the Great I AM, the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

And this walk with Jesus is an every hour walk with Him.  It is feeling His Presence in all the circumstances of our lives.  He leads and guides us through the valleys and onto the mountain tops.  He leads us when the wind blows in our lives, and our ship is being rocked.  He leads us when the sun is shining down on our lives.  He walks us through grief and great sorrow.  That is when we learn to know the blessing of His Presence, and the fullness of power in our lives.

And He gives us that power by the Holy Spirit to walk with Him, talk with Him, and tell others about Him.  Do you know Jesus today?  Are you following Him closely down that path that leads to life eternal?  When we keep our eyes on His Wonderful face, we can never stray.  It is when we take our eyes off Him and start looking at the storms around us, then we lose our focus on Him and lose our way.

I urge you to make a commitment to follow Him today.  No matter what is happening in your life or in the world around you, Jesus is calling, calling you.  It is the greatest commitment you will ever make.  It is a commitment for all time and eternity. 

As I have shared in the past, there are many choices in this life, but eternity has only two, heaven or hell.  What will be your choice today?  Will you follow Jesus down the narrow road to life eternal, or take the broad way which leads to destruction? (Matthew 7:13-14).

I pray that you will make a decision to follow Jesus today, and feel the blessing of His Presence for now and always, and someday will end your journey with Jesus in your heavenly home.

In the Wonderful Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

GOD LEADS US ALONG

AS HE LEADS US ALONG

Recently my husband has been shopping for items in the grocery store or other places for items we need.  I have waited in the car.  And as I wait I watch people coming and going.  I look at their faces, watch them load items in their cars and I wonder about their lives, the burdens they carry and the lives they lead.  Some faces show signs of despair, some of laughter.  And I wonder if they know Jesus, and that He can carry their burdens.

The world out there needs Jesus and to know how much He loves them.  Many of those people I see don’t know the One who came to die for them and I pray that the day will come when they will surrender their lives to Jesus.  We in America are so blessed with the Gospel and the Word freely available to all.  But people have become bitter and angry and have rejected the God who loves them so much.

But if you know Jesus as your personal Savior, you are locked in His warm embrace.  And He leads us along life’s pathway secure in His love.  So no matter where you are today in your walk with Jesus, He is our Caring Shepherd who leads us along no matter what the path may hold.  And it seems that some go through great trials that never seem to end, but oh the joy and comfort that He brings no matter what the circumstance. 

GOD LEADS US ALONG

“In shady green pastures so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along; where the water’s cool flow baths the weary one’s feet, God leads His lead children along.

Chorus:  Some thro’ the waters, some thro’ the flood, some thro’ the fire, but all thro’ the blood; some thro’ great sorrow, but God gives a song; in the night season and all the day long.

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads His dear children along; sometimes in the valley in the darkest of night, God leads His dear children along.

Tho’ sorrow befall us, and Satan oppose, God leads His dear children along; through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes, God leads His dear children along.

Away from the mire and away from the clay, God leads His dear children along; away up in glory, eternity’s day, God leads His dear children along.” (George A. Young)

The author of this hymn, George Young, was a carpenter and a pastor.  He didn’t make much money in either profession.  Most of his life was spent in small farming communities.  Finally, however, he and his wife were able to build their own home, and they moved in.  Shortly afterwards, while the Youngs were holding meetings in another small town, someone set fire to their house, and it was reduced to ashes.

It was probably out of that experience that George Young wrote this hymn and ended the chorus with these words: “Some thru great sorrow but God gives a song/in the night season and all the day long.”

Are your feet weary today?  You have traveled far and the road has been strewn with rocks and hard places to walk but Jesus is there leading you along.  Remember He is your Great Shepherd and we are reminded in Psalm 23:2:  “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 

I was reminded of this as I saw along the highway a pasture of sheep, and there was a pond there, and the sheep were lying down beside it, and the waters were so still it reminded me of glass. The song reminds us that He leads us in “Shady green pastures.”  That reminds me that He is our shade at our right hand (Psalm 121:5) Around those still waters, are many trees that bring shade from the heat of the sun.

And that is like our Shepherd, covering us from the heat of the trials that we go through.  And then our Shepherd encourages  you to lie down and let Him wipe your weary feet in cool waters so you can face the journey ahead.  Oh, Praise the Lord, for our Gentle Shepherd!

And then there are the “mountain top” experiences where the sun is shining brightly, and trials seem to be gone for a season.  Oh, such joy in those moments!  There on the mountain top feeling the presence of our Wonderful Lord.  I am reminded of a person who accepts Jesus as their Savior and then has a “mountain top experience.”  I remember one elderly lady in the nursing home who accepted Jesus as her Savior and was so excited she was laughing and crying as she sat in her wheelchair.  Actually, we were both laughing and crying together.  She became at that moment one of His dear children and He gave her absolute joy as she began her walk with Jesus.

Then there are those experiences when it seems the night of sorrow is so dark that you can’t see the Lord leading you there ahead.  I have been there and I know many of you have been there. I have shared previously of being in the hospital after major surgery and the night of pain was so dark, but He gave me songs in the night and I sang His praises all through that night. 

And finally after the battles are over, our foes have been defeated, He leads us on up into glory, into eternity with Him forever.

“Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.  Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” Psalm 73:23-24.

So we are continually with Him, as He leads us, His dear children along life’s pathway.  He leads us into rest when we are weary, and gives us those wonderful experiences of His presence, and then finally, after our trials are over, He safely leads us home to be with Him forever.

Whenever the way gets dreary, just remember He is just ahead leading you onward and upward.  And if you don’t know Jesus as your own personal Savior, He is waiting for you, and wants you to know how much He loves you.  Just ask Him into your heart today and He will become your Shepherd and your Guide forever.

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon