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Author: Sharon Ricks

Putting Our Cares on God

Putting Our Cares on God

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I once saw this preacher give a demonstration using a heavy backpack to illustrate how we walk around weighted down by all of our burdens when Jesus is walking right beside us trying to “lift” those burdens from our shoulders.

It made me think about how we get so used to trying to handle things ourselves, that we don’t know how to really rest in God. And that doesn’t mean that we will never be anxious, or nervous, or afraid. It means that when we do begin to feel those things we can “cast our cares” on Him, and allow Him to carry our burdens. But, I think a lot of us feel that we are not being good stewards when we do that though, right? Surely we must not be managing our lives well, because we shouldn’t still have so many burdens. And besides that…it’s just rude to put your problems on someone else…even God.

But, that doesn’t make sense. God tells us to put our cares on Him. That’s what we’re supposed to do. We can’t go through this life alone, and we shouldn’t feel we have to. That’s a trick of the enemy. Sometimes, as Christians, we make these man-made rules that we can’t even maintain, and that causes us to have a pharisee mindset. Pharisees in the Bible were strict about following the letter of the law, but even they couldn’t keep up with it. Our problem is that we keep trying to relegate God to the same category that we place man. We believe that putting all our cares on God is like “copping out,” or getting God to do the things that we should actually be doing ourselves. But God expects us to bring our burdens to Him. He knows that we need Him, and He loves us enough to wait for us to figure it out.

In Psalm 34:19 it says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” If that is so, then why are we struggling through trying to do something we were never made to do when we can just let God be God in our lives. Then trust Him with all of our “stuff.” 

Remember that He who holds the plan…holds our hand.

Until next time…

Be blessed

A New Place

A New Place

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I have always been a worrier…although I like the word cautious better. I try to plan out everything, because I don’t like leaving things to chance. That’s just not who I am…or at least not who I used to be. Thankfully, I have allowed myself to be changed. When you give your life to God, He really does change you. 

A good friend once told me that I needed to be more spontaneous, but I tried to even plan that.

This year I made a promise to myself that I will not feel guilty for making a mistake. I would not hold myself hostage to the things I said I would do by the time I was 18, 21, 40, or for not following through on my own plans. I am just giving myself permission to rest in who God has made me to be. Even the Bible says, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3). It says so right in the scripture. God made us, and He knows the plan…not us. Our job is to follow Him.

I know that it won’t be easy, but I trust in the promises of God, and I want to be so close to Him that He trips over me every time He turns around. I want to enjoy every day…even the ones that cause me to say scriptures out loud…lol.

I love the Lord, and I know that everything He does is good—whether I think so at the time or not. I know that God hears my prayers, and that He has put in me everything that I need to be the woman of God that He has called me to be. I know that I have the power of the Lord within me, and that gives me strength for the journey. I trust Him in a way I never have before. He is opening up new ways for me, and little by little, I am beginning to see the vision.

I know that everything I went through over the last couple of years has brought me to a new place in Him. He is my Comforter, my Hero, my Friend…and although His teaching is sometimes hard, I know that it is necessary, and I know He always works it out for my good.

Lord, I pray for the person who is reading this message today. I pray that you reveal to them a new way of seeing…that they begin to see with their hearts—and not their eyes. I pray that they will see the manifestation of whatever dream you have given to them. I pray that they will hold on to Your promises, and that whenever they feel weak, they will remember that they have an Advocate who is standing by waiting…

Until next time…

Be blessed!

By Faith

By Faith

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“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”  –Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)

The scripture above says, “By faith” Abraham believed.  He didn’t know where God was sending him, but He went anyway. That is what faith is all about. It believes without seeing. How many of us would do the same? 

I believe that I am heading in the right direction…but, I am definitely not there yet. My prayer is that my faith is growing to the place where I no longer question the things God is leading me to do. Of course, I usually only question Him when what He is calling me to do is something I don’t want to do, something I have never done, or something that takes me so far out of my comfort zone that it frightens me a little. But how do we get that kind of faith? 

I believe that we get that kind of faith from trusting what we know about Him. Remembering what He has done in the past. And believing what He will do in the future. But before we can do any of that, we have to first believe that He is. Once we believe that God is who He says He is…we have to then believe that He will do what He says He will do. That only comes through strengthening our relationship with Him. And that only comes through reading His word.

Because of God’s word,  my relationship with Him is so much stronger than it has ever been. I have learned how to really let Him have control of my life. He had to show me…sometimes over and over again that I was valuable to Him, and to the Kingdom of God. He had to show me that he made me on purpose…for His purpose. He let me know that my presence on the earth was not only relevant—but necessary. His love for me helped strengthen my faith in Him.

Sometimes we may have to trust Him on shaky faith, but the word says that we only have to have faith the size of a mustard seed. He is an all-knowing, all-powerful God, and because He loves us so much, He will never call us to do something that He has not prepared us for. By faith…believe, and watch Him work.

Until next time…

Be blessed!

Workers in the Vineyard

Workers in the Vineyard

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“What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson is the perfect quote, because it says nothing is impossible—especially for those who believe…

It confirms my belief that our mistakes of the past or even those in the future only serve to grow us into the people God has made us to be. The Bible says in 1 John 4:4 that, “Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world.” I believe that. And if God is in us…what lies within us is powerful.

Today, I celebrate those who work in ministry. The calling to proclaim the word of God is an awesome privilege. It is an honor to serve; to look forward to where God is leading. And we don’t need a collar in order to minister. We are all called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. The great thing is that we don’t have to worry about what to say, because God prepares us for the job He needs us to do. I love how God uses our individual gifts to be a blessing to one another. If we allow Him to, God will strengthen us and empower us to do great and mighty things for Him. 

It’s amazing how we can find ourselves many times heading in the same direction, on the same road, but heading down our own paths. I think God does that so that we will always have someone to encourage us when we feel like the road may be getting a little too rough. 

So, I would like to publicly thank all the workers in the vineyard. The ones who have accepted the call. The ones who understand how important it is that others hear about the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that God blesses and keeps you as you go forward in His name. That the blessings of the Lord will overflow in your lives, and that He protects and keeps you all the days of your life. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray. Amen!

Until next time…

Be blessed

Things Eternal

Things Eternal

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“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”  –2 Corinthians 5:1

I read the scripture above at one of my niece’s funerals. It simply says that no matter what is going on with our physical bodies; it is only temporary…because where we’re going that old body won’t be needed anymore.

We spend a lot of time and money on getting these earthly temples in shape. And it seems like we are never satisfied. If we are tall, we want to be just a little shorter. If we are big, we want to be just a little smaller. And even though we might be blessed to still have our own teeth, we would love for them to be just a little whiter. 

The enemy’s number one job is to destroy us, and I think we give him a lot to work with when we can’t be content–with anything. And let me tell you…it doesn’t matter how old or how young we are. Discontent is an equal opportunity destroyer. So, our job is to learn to be like Paul when he says, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” 

Our goal then is to fight the desire to re-do what God has already done. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be the best versions of ourselves. We absolutely should. But what I’m saying is that in the big scheme of things, our earthly house (bodies) doesn’t really matter. The real work is in making sure our spiritual bodies are the main focus. Because when we get that part right, not only will our spirit feel good, but our body will also feel good. 

All of this is temporary. As the old hymn goes…build your hope on things eternal. Stay focused on the part of life that can’t be built or built up by man. Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Until next time…

Be blessed!

Pentecost Sunday

Pentecost Sunday

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Today is Pentecost Sunday. A day of celebration, and high worship. It is the day Christians celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit. It is actually 50 days or seven Sundays after the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ (Acts 2). It not only marks the beginning of the Christian church, but it also marks the beginning of a whole new way of thinking, a whole new way of praying, and a whole new way of believing.

This day may not mean much to some people, but to many Christians it signifies receiving the power of the Holy Spirit. That power enables us to do ALL that God has created us to do. We have the power to live righteous, and faithful lives based on the truth of God’s word. It means that we are not alone–ever. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is our Helper. He leads us, guides us, teaches us, comforts us, and even goes to God for us when we pray. And if all of that were not enough–He gives us gifts (Read 1 Corinthians 12:4–11). How amazing is that? 

The other awesome thing is that God has designed it so that no one’s gift is more important than anyone else’s. We all have something to offer, and it is up to us to love Him enough to want to use what we have been given to serve the Kingdom of God. It should be our privilege to serve one another, because by doing that–we ultimately end up serving Him. 

I am so grateful that God loved us so much…and still loves us so much that His plan didn’t leave out the fact that we would need help every now and then. And no matter how bad or how blessed our lives appear to be…He will always show up for us. We can count on that.

God has provided for us everything we will ever need to live an abundant life in Him. All we have to do is receive it. 

Until next time…

Be blessed

Let God Lead

Let God Lead

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What a great and awesome God we serve. He never leaves us…not for a moment. He is constantly there to help lead us to our most highest selves. His love is so massive…that we can’t even begin to comprehend the depth of it. He is so much more than our words have a right to describe. His name is above every name. The word says that demons tremble at the sound of His name. It also says that when we submit to God, resist the devil, he has to flee (James 4:7). He has no choice. THAT is how big our God is. 

So why is it that we still get upset when people disappoint us…when they hurt us…when they act human….

We expect others to treat us the way we want to be treated. We keep looking to them and not to God. And every time we do that, we are going to be disappointed. In John 15:17 it simply says,” This is my command: Love each other.” It doesn’t say because we treat each other right, or because we deserve it….not even because we want to do it…but, because God commanded it. Period.

The thing is to give others the same grace that God gives us. To love each other the way God loves us…unconditionally. I know that is easier said than done, but God knew that we wouldn’t be able to do it on our own. So He left us some help.

First, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to save us.

Then Jesus left us a helper…The Holy Spirit.

And finally, the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us through all of those times when our “flesh” wants to be in control.

So, this week, let God lead. Open your heart to Him, and allow Him to do a good work in you. Put Him in the middle of every relationship–and then watch Him work.

Until next time…

Be blessed

On Mother’s Day, Let Love Lead

On Mother’s Day, Let Love Lead

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Mother’s Day. This day is usually not so easy for me. My mother passed away many years ago…although some days it seems just like yesterday. God healed the pain of that loss, but every year I am still challenged with the response of others. It’s hard to maneuver sometimes. Either people are incredibly insensitive when they tell you how “lucky” you are not to have children or they try to “give” you theirs. And although I know they are not trying to be mean, I still try to just steer clear. 

This year, the pandemic has taken care of many of our typical social gatherings. The odd thing is that now I miss it…lol. I have gotten so used to having to prepare myself that when I didn’t have to, I almost didn’t know what to do. Go figure. I guess that falls under the “be careful what you wish for” category. It just gives us the opportunity to be more creative with our celebrations.

I also wanted to love on my mom a little today. She was one of those mothers who would fight to the death for her children. But she never co-signed our foolishness. If we were wrong, she let us know that we would definitely pay the penalty for it. And she would lose her natural mind if we ever disrespected any grown up. I loved her honesty, her faithfulness, and her caring heart. She loved with a purity that I pray has passed down to me. I miss her so much.

So, cherish your moms. And if your mom has transitioned to her heavenly home, find some way to cherish her memory today. I know some of us may not have the best relationships with our mothers. Just remember…we all make mistakes. Let love lead. Forgive her. That’s one of the best gifts we could ever give to ourselves.

Until next time…

Be blessed

No Matter What

No Matter What

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This month, about seven years ago, my oldest sister passed away.  Although I miss her like crazy, she left a legacy of good works that will live on in the hearts of all the people she touched for years and years to come. What I really wanted to share with you was the strength and dignity in which my family came together…it was amazing.

When my sister first became ill it was devastating to watch her lie there so helpless, but for five months there was someone at her bedside every day. My family pulled together to make sure my sister would be taken care of properly. Her sons made sure that the hospice she was moved to not only knew they would be there, but that they were not going to settle for less than the best for their mother. To say I was proud of them is an understatement. They did everything possible to give my sister a fighting chance, and I will always love them for that.

The thing that really impressed me was that my entire family worked together…and was on one accord through the whole process. That may not sound like much to most people, but my family has some very strong and opinionated people, and they have no problem letting you know how they feel about any and everything, not this time. When she took her last breath, it was like she just drifted off to sleep…it was so peaceful. We may not have been there when she took her first breath, but God allowed us all to be present for her last…and it was so sweet. I will never forget it. I am overwhelmed, overjoyed, and overcome with gratitude and love for God for allowing us that moment, and for my family for the love and grace they displayed during one of the most difficult moments we have ever faced.

My prayer is that no matter what,…

We will continue to become even stronger,

We will be even more determined to keep our family close,

We will love each other hard,

We will always be there for one another,

…no matter what.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Good Old Days

Good Old Days

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Not too long ago, my friends got together to celebrate the birthdays of one of the parents from our old neighborhood. I was so excited. I had this expectation of what the event was going to be like even before I got there. And every time a new person came into the room, we celebrated like it was the first time. Most of my friends have children of their own now, and it was amazing to see how much they all resemble their parents. The funny thing was, they didn’t want to be around us any more than we wanted to be around our parents back in the day. We thought we would be so different when we had children, and here we were…being our parents. Hilarious.

In our old neighborhood, our families were always close. There were probably five families in our circle, and when I think back as far as my mind will allow, they were there. Our parents went through some tough times together, and when we were young, they all looked out for us. That’s how it was back then. Many of us grew up and left the area, but there are still a handful of people left in the old neighborhood. So, it was great to get together and just reminisce about old times. 

And here’s the thing, I never thought I would look back and be glad about those days. I always thought my mother had lost her mind most of the time. Actually, she probably had, because my siblings and I probably took her to a whole new level I’m sure. But, today I am so grateful for parents who cared. They raised us to love the Lord, respect our elders, and help one another. Our parents knew what it was like to struggle, and yet they still found time to call on a neighbor in need. I remember our parents speaking encouragement to one another, going over to each other’s homes when there was a tragedy, or watching out for me and my friends while sitting on their porches in the cool of a long summer night. 

I miss that feeling of community. That feeling of family. Those are the same things that God wants from us today. To be there for one another. To love one another. I think it’s good to look back every now and then, and remember the “good old days.” It just helps us appreciate the journey.

Until next time…

Be blessed!