HOW CAN IT BE? POST-EASTER SHEILA'S SHARING SHEET..

SHEILA’S SHARING SHEET   TO YOU, FROM ME, BECAUSE OF HIM    Week of 3-28-16

Now that Easter Day, 2016 has passed by, let’s look at JOHN 10:11-15,17-18, a passage I don’t think I’ve ever heard presented at Easter time. “¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.¹² He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep…  ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”                            As I re-read it, I realized the EASTER message..                                                     NOBODY TOOK HIS LIFE FROM JESUS! HE LAID IT DOWN WILLINGLY!                                        Yes, He still had authority to save his physical life, but at what cost? Our text lets us know WHY He yielded to death on the cross! He needed, and desired to, protect us. For, as His sheep, we are very vulnerable to the THIEF, who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy us eternally! He knew of the ‘JOY set before Him’, as the PERFECT SHEPHERD who was making permanent provision for our care possible! We can all delight in JESUS’ final words, “IT IS FINISHED!” He knew He’d rise again.. breaking the power of sin and death for all who will receive Him through His gracious, merciful, sacrificial act, resulting in our reconciliation with, and to, HOLY GOD ALMIGHTY! For, you see, HE was THE LAST SACRIFICE required by (acceptable to) the LORD for this restoration of relationship to HIM. Prior to JESUS’ death, the blood of animals was what it took in order for people to atone for their sins..

A beloved hymn, AMAZING LOVE, asks a couple of key questions which can help focus us here..The first one is, “And can it be that I should gain and interest in the Savior’s blood?.” Then, the chorus begins with,                                                                  ‘AMAZING LOVE, HOW CAN IT BE THAT THOU MY GOD SHOULDST DIE FOR ME?’

The HOW, is that HE KNEW HE’D be completing the necessary sacrifice so we, as humans could then answer the most important question of our lives..

Will we decide whether to REJECT, RESIST, and REFUSE HIM,                                         or to RECEIVE HIM in ALL HIS GLORIOUS, GRACIOUS, MERCIFUL, WONDROUS, and COMPASSIONATE ways and character?        

   Simply acknowledging, “The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want..” is a great way to anticipate an abundant life for, as His sheep, we can GROW, GLOW, AND GO forth each day, knowing we are fully cared FOR, .. not simply, cared ABOUT!      

My  ‘LIFE’ verse is JOHN 10:10.. I have included it in its parts on this sheet, but here it is in full. “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come so you may have abundant LIFE!” (I am amazed at HIS ways!)                                                                                                       

CONSIDERING HOLY, or PASSION WEEK

SHEILA’S SHARING SHEET     TO YOU, FROM ME, BECAUSE OF HIM           Week of 3-23-16

Most of you who read these sheets are aware of this being what some call PASSION or, HOLY WEEK, though it is very ‘early’ this year. In spite of the fact of EASTER never being the same Sunday two years in a row, EASTER is still EASTER!

                                                                                                              

Before we get to EASTER Sunday, some will observe Maundy Thursday (the day before the crucifixion on which Christ led his disciples in ‘The LAST SUPPER,’ while observing the PASSOVER with them). We read, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:22-26) You see, JESUS knew HE was the LAST SACRIFICIAL LAMB necessary for God’s judgement to ‘pass over’ us. His blood would be the full atonement made for all who would gratefully receive His life’s blood to cleanse us all from results of our sin which separate us from HIM.  As His hours of agony approached, “He knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  (Luke 22: 40-43)                                                                                                                               Good Friday, the day we remember the sacrificial death our Lord Jesus upon that cross, is this Friday.. I really appreciate Hebrews 12:2 as it inspires us by telling just WHAT kept JESUS on that cross! “…who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” In His agony, He was able to focus on the JOY of knowing He was about to restore man’s personal access to His Father forever!! He victoriously proclaimed, ‘IT IS FINISHED!’ (John 19:30)    

As JESUS left his grave clothes behind, HE KNEW we could read and receive, these following truths!          

‘You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Psalm 16:11         

Delight yourself in the Lord, and hH will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. – Psalm 37:4-7                                       

May our LORD bless all who read this as HE alone can do! May you each desire to GO, GROW, and GLOW as you respond to His love!..shown so well through MERCY and GRACE! 

Consider praying, "LORD, I am grateful for Your intention for me to KNOW You! Thank you for making it possible for me to be welcome in Your presence through the blood of you Son, JESUS CHRIST! Help me to listen to YOU and to welcome Your transforming Power within, as I grow more Christ-like from now on!.. Praise you JESUS!"                  

IT'S ABOUT TIME! FINALLY...

Hello to all new readers, and welcome back to some of my past ones!(PLEASE NOTE! I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO MAKE THIS LOOK GOOD  when it POSTS! I get it to look nice on my draft, but then the PREVIEW shows me it's 'all messed  up!..So, I am sending as it is.. No time to figure out what I need to know! Sorry!) Since I produce 2-3 ministry documents each week, I've not been posting on this blog! ARG! But wait! There's HOPE!! I will now begin formatting my SHEILA'S SHARING SHEETS which I distribute in the facilities I minister in, as well as in my workplace and other locations I function in. Today, I am posting the one I gave out surrounding Valentine's Day this year. As you read this, you will be joining around 50 others who have hopefully been refreshed by this content already! May JESUS bless you all IMMENSELY!                                      SHEILA’S SHARING SHEET      TO YOU, FROM ME, BECAUSE OF HIM!                                              Have  you ever thought about the possibly our-dated term, ‘GOING STEADY?’ FOR many of us, this may evoke images of an infatuated young lady anxiously awaiting a certain young man’s proposal to ‘go steady’ with her. The dreamed of class ring could then dangle noticeably and enviably on a chain around her neck! Soon all would know she’d been ‘spoken for!’ Today’s message is about how much we all need to KNOW we are indeed desired  by, and ‘spoken for,’ by the ONLY one who cannot disappoint us! I am blessed to KNOW, and to be able to share, how our Lord created us in His image so we’d desire intimate companionship and levels of communication with HIM which thrill us! In fact, I heard it said recently that God desires to speak directly to us. As a good Father, he longs to engage with us in continual conversation. So great was his longing for communication that he's given the gift of the Holy Spirit. We can now have access to the heart of God through the Spirit. We can know His will, hear His voice, and live with the knowledge of His love.

John 16:13 says, "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come." If you are a Christian, the Spirit of truth has come. He dwells within you. He longs to tell you how God feels about you. He longs to guide you to the Father's perfect, hopeful, and pleasing plans (Jeremiah 29:11). His voice is perfect, full of love, and always truthful. He will never guide you into something that isn't best for you. He will never speak hate or condemnation to you.                                                                                                                                        The following poem, ENGAGED (delivered to/through me in 2007?) states most of what our LORD JESUS, and I, hope to share as we consider this Valentine’s week…(and EVERY DAY, WEEK, MONTH, and YEAR, in fact!)     

ENGAGED

                 Why would You, the LORD God, creator of the universe in all its glory,

take time and make the effort to engage me in Your story?

My words and perceptions of your answer to my question

can only fall short so I’d like to have You, my Father, speak as to why You would seemingly ‘bother.’

 “My dear child and friend, Calvary’s cross was only the Beginning, not, the End!

You have the privilege, and pleasure,                                                                                                              of access to Me personally- a relationship without measure!

My intention for you to know Me as God of compassion, grace, patience, faithfulness and perfect love, led Me to reach out to you, My blessed friend!

My soul’s desire is for all mankind to respond to My offer of commitment to care for, and meet, all their needs.

When I’m welcome to be LORD and Master of one’s life,

as the Bridegroom, I’ll not fail my earthbound wife!

My promises to love, honor and cherish will never fall short because they cannot!

Living in a deepening friendship with Me,

is how I intend for your true life to be-

So, dear one, (My bride for life!), rejoice in your engagement to  Me-                                                               Be filled with more wonder than you’d have ever thought!” 

 I PRAY BLESSINGS BEYOND MEASURE UPON ALL WHO RESPOND TO HIS PHENOMENAL LOVE AS YOUR BRIDEGROOM, for, as you do, you will experience true vitality Recently, I was blessed by the following statement,                                                   "GOD'S GLORY IS SEEN IN ONE WHO'S FULLY ALIVE!"

PERCEIVE, BELIEVE, then RECEIVE

Hello to all... Just a very quick post to let you all know how I've realized this sequence.. I always emphasize the RECEIVE component, but before we can even BELIEVE, we must PERCEIVE our Need!!  Admitting we are needy can be trying at times, but what a relief when we finally do so!! So, PERCEIVING our need is critical!! Go ahead, and let the HOLY SPIRIT help you do so... Then, when you do on a daily, or even a moment-to-moment basis, wonderful GROWTH WILL HAPPEN!!   BTW... I've also put 2 other words together recently.. INTERNAL and ETERNAL.. For, when JESUS is welcome within us, we are INTERNALLY CHANGED  and ETERNALLY SECURE! We are changed forever.. In fact, I sometimes share how I often 'feel' as if I'm in Heaven on Earth!! True PEACE, HOPE, and JOY are quite 'heavenly,' for lack of a better term!! ROMANS 15:13 is a great verse  as it offers.. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

IN PLAIN SIGHT, or NOT?

Welcome to any new readers coming 'on board' as a result of our cruise to Europe recently! After 'sampling' Ireland, France, and Belgium, we landed in England where John and I stayed for 5 nights. On our first full day in LONDON, the first 'tourist attraction,' we noticed was WESTMINISTER CATHEDRAL ..NOT far from the very populated VICTORIA UNDERGROUND and TRAIN STATION! Over the entry doors, this Cathedral, (NOT WESTMINISTER ABBEY), has a Latin phrase which we partially translated then, and I finished today with the help of this computer..Domine Jesu Rex et redemptor per sanguinem tuum salva nos translates to,  O Lord, do Thou save us through the blood of Jesus, the King and Redeemer.  Just think of the millions of eyes passing by there yearly, yet not really 'seeing'  or perceiving what rich truth this conveys..!  

Now, as a STARK CONTRAST, while we were still in LONDON last week, a 70 YEARS OLD, UNEXPLODED GERMAN BOMB was discovered buried near Wembley Stadium where multitudes are due to assemble very soon!  Of course, this demanded immediate evacuation and other measures to assure safety.. Do we treat  Satan's  potentially, and intentionally, harmful threats with such attention? Remember, He is the deceiver, delightfully rejoicing as his work is almost always  OPEN OUR EYES and truly process all we 'take in.'  'GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!' to use a phrase from the beloved  A? CHRISTMAS CAROL, by Charles Dickens!  

The "WOW' Factor!

I don't know about any of you reading this, but I delight in hearing frequent testimonies of our Lord's goodness, grace, mercy, and the WONDER of HIM! Just today, I was reunited with 2 ladies I've not seen for awhile. Both of them were joining me in sharing accounts of answered prayers, and of the general THRILL it is being HIS children!!  A current song by CASTING CROWNS declares how 'We were made for so much more than ordinary lives.. We were made to THRIVE!' My encounter with these 2 gals, as well as several other recent conversations with brothers and sisters in Jesus, certainly found us all THRIVING as we have been almost 'giddy' with glee! That song, THRIVE, ends with a wonderful repetition of JOY UNSPEAKABLE! FAITH UNSINKABLE! LOVE UNSTOPPABLE! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! This is the link to THRIVE.. Enjoy and THRIVE!!  Count your blessings!!                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ71RWJhS_M

AAA or, TRIPLE A!

For weeks now, I've been tossing the term, 'ACCEPT THE ACCESS' around in my mind... Well, the 'A' which now precedes that phrase is, ASSESS!! So, my 'catchy' title would've, could've, should've beenASSESS, ACCEPT ACCESS! So, just WHAT do I mean? Since I live in the world of education, the term 'assess' is prevalent, as it is in medicine, engineering, finances,and so many more fields.. Basically, we are taught to 'think it out' before we act! After taking a close look, a decision is made in light of the FACTS discovered.. Well, ... I'm painfully aware of how many people don't do this with the Gospel!! What could be any more wonderful than being told we don't ever need to be 'good enough' to earn God's favor, and eternal security! In JOHN 14:16-18, we learn how, as believers in Jesus, we know JESUS said, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever- The Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day, you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me, and I am in you."  How many blessings can we count?

It's too bad that people's pride keeps them from admitting they are simply 'wretches' apart from His grace and mercy! Thus, they don't accept access to the LORD ALMIGHTY HIMSELF.. who, by the way, calls us 'FRIEND!!' I've been gathering LOTS of 'materials' for this message, but I will leave it very basic since I intend to post it very soon... Will we, or won't we ASSESS, THEN ACCEPT the ACCESS!? Most of us who read this have already done so, but just in case this meets with the eyes/soul of one who is not HIS yet, I urge you to welcome Him as personal Lord and Savior... Your FOREVER FRIEND!                                            BTW.. I am grateful to have been present last Saturday when a lady finished her assessment, then accepted the access!!