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Author: Sharon Ricks

Your Issue Has An Expiration Date

Your Issue Has An Expiration Date

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Yesterday, one of my friends had a conference, and I was blessed to be one of the speakers. There were six speakers all together, and we spoke on six women from the Bible. I was assigned to speak about the woman with the issue of blood.

[Just in case you have forgotten the story, or haven’t read it in a while…her story is in the Books of Matthew 9:20–22, Mark 5:25–34, Luke 8:43–48.]

When you have time, go back and read her story from all three Books. It’s the same story, but with different perspectives.There was so much in that story that I didn’t have time to really dig into. Let me tell you…this story is transforming. When you read between the lines, you see that her faith was strong in spite of her circumstances. 

This woman bled continuously for 12 years. That’s right…12 years straight. When I studied that text for my message, I realized how impossible it would be to live like that without the help of the Lord. She didn’t know if or when she would ever stop bleeding, and yet…she never gave up.The thing is…we all have that same kind of faith living inside of us. We are just too afraid to believe it.

What I learned is that our issues have an expiration date.

God has a way of working everything out for our good. He knows exactly what we need when we need it. He has ordered our steps and everything that happens to us is getting us to where He needs us to be. I don’t know why this woman had to endure what she did for as long as she did. I don’t know why any of us have to endure the things we have to endure. But this is what I know…God has a reason, and He has the answer.

Maybe it was so that we would learn that He is the God of the hills and the valleys.            Maybe it was so that we would learn that we can endure anything as long as we lean into Him. Maybe it was so that we would learn to love one another no matter what state we are in.

He is with us through the good and the bad times. His promise is that He would always be with us. That even when we turn our back on Him, He will never turn His back on us. He loves us, and sent His Only Son to the cross to prove it. 

This woman went to all the doctors she could find, spent all of the money she had, and nothing worked…until Jesus showed up. And with one touch…He. Changed. Her. Whole. Life. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” What that says to me is that…no matter what anyone says, I will put my trust in Him, because He will never give up on me.

In the end, she was no longer the woman who had an issue…she was the woman who was healed.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Making The Most of The Day

Making The Most of The Day

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There is a song that says, When I think about Jesus and what He’s done for me, when I think about Jesus and how He set me free, I can dance, dance, dance all night. I love that song, because it says exactly what I feel inside when I think about Him. Even when things may not go as planned, praising God seems to always work for me.

Sometimes, life can get heavy and it’s hard to maintain a good attitude when your problems are weighing you down. But, there is always a new day just around the bend!

When I focus my thoughts on Jesus…it does something to my spirit. I can’t keep feeling bad, or sad, or angry. For me, it’s impossible to praise and pout at the same time. When I start singing and praying God’s word back to Him, it changes not only me, but it also changes the atmosphere around me, and that affects everyone that comes in contact with me.

We are not living in this world alone, and sometimes dealing with people can be difficult on our best days. But that’s what makes life so interesting…and unpredictable. I like not knowing how things will go. It just gives us another reason to lean on God. We never know what a day will bring, but we do know who brings the day. God is always in control…even when it doesn’t look like it.

Life holds a lot of surprises for us. It’s not about getting through, or getting by. It’s about making the most of every day. To really embrace it all, knowing that tomorrow always comes. We may not choose what happens to us, but we do get to choose how it is going to affect us.

Until next time…

Be blessed `

He Did It Just For Me

He Did It Just For Me

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In John 3:16 it says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The thought of that is so overwhelming at times. Just knowing that God loved us so much that He not only wrapped Himself in flesh to come down to earth for us…He also gave up the life of His only Son to prove it.

Just for me…

What Jesus did on that cross said that He loved us more than He loved His own life. He sacrificed His life so that we could have eternal life with Him. Nobody else would have done that. 

Just for me….

The really awesome thing is that because we believe the shed blood of Jesus Christ saved us, and we have confessed it with our mouths…all of our sins have been erased. We have been forgiven. In the eyes of God, it is like we have never sinned. We get a complete do-over. 

Just for me….

Once we understand that even if I (we have to make it personal) were the only person on the face of the earth, God still would have sent Jesus Christ to save me…it changes us. God’s love for us is transformational. You can’t believe that and still feel the same. To believe that and still live the same. To believe that and still be the same. Amen.

To know that the Father loved us so much that even before we were born, He already had a plan in place to save us. Amazing!

Until next time…

Be blessed

When Jesus Is In The Room

When Jesus Is In The Room

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Sundays are my favorite day of the week. I love going to church. I know we can praise and worship anytime we want, but there is something about praising and worshiping with a group of people who love the Lord like you do. Today, was one of those days. The Spirit of the Lord took over…and that’s exactly what should happen. 

We can’t be so tied to tradition that every service is just like every other service, and we shouldn’t want that either. We have to praise like there is nobody but Jesus in the room…

We shouldn’t hold anything back from God because He hasn’t held anything back from us. When it comes down to it…He is the only one we need to please, and the only reason that we do anything anyway. He has done so much, and given so much for us…that praise is the least we can do. 

And how about this…our praise is not going to look like anyone else’s and that’s a good thing…it is as unique as we are. God made us all different for a reason.

This week, just open your heart to Him without reservation. He deserves our undivided attention. Our time here on earth is so limited, don’t waste it on things that don’t matter. The way we praise and worship is not as important as acknowledging when Jesus is in the room. Do whatever the Lord leads you to do…and don’t worry about who may be watching.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Having A Steadfast Faith

Having A Steadfast Faith

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Everything is not as it seems. I just believe that God is about to blow the minds of Believers everywhere. And when He does…there won’t be any doubt that it was Him.

This is not the time to shrink back or to give in. We have to stand up for what we believe, and know why we believe it. The Bible says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15). As Christians we have to know that what we believe may be different than a lot of folks. But if we stand on the word of God, the word will do the work. 

This season has been a tough one for a lot of us, but we have been through tough seasons before, and will most likely go through them again. Many of us have been through more rough times than we care to remember. But knowing that God loves us, cares for us, and covers us actually strengthens us.

God has a plan to prosper His children, and that gives me hope. I know that if I keep trusting in Him, if I remain steadfast…He is going to honor that faith. In James 1:12 it says, “Blessed is the man who stays steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” 

Don’t ever doubt that. Our God is faithful to His word. If He promised it, He has to do it. 

“I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not unto my own understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge Him and He will direct my path” (Prov. 3:5-6).

Until next time…

Be blessed

God’s Restorative Love

God’s Restorative Love

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Restorative love is the kind of love that doesn’t see wrongs. It’s the kind of love that allows for “growing pains.” It’s the kind of love that understands our weaknesses, faults, short-comings, and loves anyway. And it’s the kind of love that says…try again.

I like being able to start over. I like the fact that God built in a do-over for us. He knew we were going to need it, because according to the Apostle Paul…we want to do right, but it’s just not in us. Romans 7:15 says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

And because God has a specific purpose for each one of us…along came grace. God’s grace is sufficient for us (1 Corinthians 12:9). His grace covers all the wrongs we do, and even the ones we haven’t done yet. That’s because His grace is new every. single. morning. God’s grace says I understand what you are going through, and I will cover you until you get it together.

In the midst of all of life’s little ups and downs is God’s perfect grace…just waiting for the opportunity to show up. His grace molds us and shapes us and transforms us. We can no longer do the things we used to do. Guess what? We don’t even want to. Giving our lives to Christ transformed us. We have been changed…renewed…delivered…set free…there is no going back for us. 

And because we have been given that kind of restorative love, it’s our obligation to pass it along to others.

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Until next time…

Be blessed

Let Your Faith Do The Work

Let Your Faith Do The Work

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I believe in the power of God to provide whatever we need. We don’t serve a God that cannot heal and deliver. He is mighty and He is powerful and nothing in or out of this world can do anything about that. He hung the sun and the moon and the stars and He is keeping them all in place. I know I’ve said that before, but every time I think about that it still amazes me. How awesome is our God?

And here’s another amazing thing…when we give our lives to Christ, we are given the same power and authority that Jesus has. 

We can speak to the mountains in our lives, and the Word says that they have to move. That’s the kind of power we possess. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” That power works based on the faith that is down on the inside of us. Faith that says anything is possible because God says so.  

That means that if we don’t believe He can do it…if we don’t believe in what we are praying for, then God will have a hard time convincing us. 

But here’s the thing…God will not force faith on us. He left us documented proof of WHO He is, and what He can do. If that is not enough, I’m not sure what is. Now, that doesn’t mean that He won’t keep trying to reach us. God will never give up on us. 

We just have to believe that even if God doesn’t do it, we know He could, and if He hasn’t done it yet…doesn’t mean that He won’t. 

Our challenge is to trust Him no matter what we see in the natural (With our eyes). Because what we see is not all there is. God has so much more for us. More than our minds can comprehend. 

Not because we’re not smart enough, but because sometimes we’re not going to be able to rely on our intellect. Sometimes, we are going to have to rely on our faith.

Until next time…

Be blessed

He put it in Writing

He put it in Writing

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What happens when the plan you had doesn’t work out? Who do you turn to when your dream goes up in smoke? 

You turn to the One who always has your back…whether it feels like it or not. 

Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Our Father knows best. We just have to listen. Sometimes that means that our plans won’t line up with His plan. When that happens, we have to know that it really wasn’t meant for us. I know that sounds easier said than done, but we can actually confirm it through God’s word. In Psalm 84:11 it says in part, “…No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

I love that God had the plan for our lives put in writing so that we could go back to it as much as we need to. 

I think one of the best things we can do for ourselves involves listening more…to one another, but especially to God. He has the master plan. So, if what we have been thinking about does not involve checking in with Him first…don’t even bother. Because the Bible says that “only what we do for God will last” (2 Cor. 5:9-10). 

I can only speak for myself, but I don’t want anything that God doesn’t want for me. If He is not in it…I don’t want any part of it. I always want to make God smile. I pray that He knows that my only goal is for my life to be pleasing to Him. The word says that “if we seek His kingdom first, all the other things will be added unto us” (Luke 12:31).

We can have all the material things in the world, and still be miserable…and that is not the kind of life we want.

Here’s the thing…submitting our plans to God also falls under listening. When we keep our ear to His lips, we can be assured that we are making the right decisions. Try reading Psalm 23 out loud, and when you read it really listen to what it says. This Psalm is like a love letter to us.

It is so comforting to know that God continually pursues us, watches over us and looks for ways to bless us. If He took the time to send us a word…the least we can do is listen.

Until next time…

Be blessed

What We Don’t Have…We Don’t Need

What We Don’t Have…We Don’t Need

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I’m not sure if you guys go through the same thing or not, but I sometimes compare my life to others. You know…wanting to have nicer things, be more studious, more something…

OK, I may be the only one, but I’m thinking there are a few of us out there who have done, or are doing the same thing. No matter how many people tell us not to do it, we seem to find ourselves doing it anyway. 

I think it is human nature to want to be better, have better, want better. Even when we feel like we are “blessed and highly favored.”  There is still that little something that says, “I wish….” 

Well, today I want to try to lay that to rest. 

What we don’t have…we don’t need. The Bible says that it is a sin to covet that which belongs to your neighbor. For one thing, we have no idea what it took to have it. The Bible also says in James 1:4, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” That means that when we live in Christ, we are whole and complete with nothing missing. 

Comparing ourselves to others is like a slap in the face of God. We are uniquely made, and He needs us to be the way He made us. And if part of the plan for our lives included us having a mansion, fancy cars, or whatever…we would have it. And who knows…maybe He still will.

But the real thing I wanted us to get is that God needs us to walk in who we are…just as we are. He will not let us miss anything He has planned for our lives. Think about it this way…the Bible says that we are all one body with many parts (1 Corinthians 12). So if we are all looking the same, living the same…then something somewhere else is going to be missing…lacking. And that is not the way God works. 

God will never forget the promise He made over our lives. We can be free of comparison today, because what we don’t have…we really don’t need. 

Until next time…

Be blessed

Even When We Stand Alone

Even When We Stand Alone

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Last week, I blogged about me following someone else. And for some reason, God is still dealing with me about that one. What that says to me is that there is someone else out there who is dealing with…or about to deal with the same thing. 

What really happened boiled down to people-pleasing, and that’s a form of fear. The fear of being rejected, of standing alone, of looking like a failure. That standing for what was right would cause them not to like me, or maybe not want me to be around. If I didn’t do what everyone else was doing…I would be different. 

Ummm…news flash, I am different, and I’m supposed to be…

The Bible says that when we give our lives to Christ, we are set apart. God’s word says so. In Deuteronomy 14:2 it says, “You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” We won’t blend in, because we’re not supposed to. 

And here’s the thing…whenever we want to do the right thing, and stand for God, He will give us all the strength we need every single time. He will never allow us to be put in a situation without giving us a way of escape.

What I realized is that it’s ok to stand for righteousness, and to do what thus saith the Lord. Sometimes, we will be the only one, and it won’t feel good standing alone. But even when it feels like we are standing alone…God is there. His word says He will never leave us. 

There is power in following, and living by His word, and believe it or not…people will actually respect you more when you do.

Until next time,

Be blessed