When My Days Are Short

When My  Days Are Short

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Ps. 90:12 (NIV)
 

Last week our family laid one of its own to rest.  We gathered to remember, to offer encouragement, to mourn...and yes, to consider the uncertainty of our own lives.  Who would be next?  Am I ready, if it is me?  Are my family members assured of their own eternal destination?

But then, the thoughts generalize to the less morbid.  Is my life counting for anything?  When they gather to say goodbye to me, will there be a void?  Will I have a legacy that I leave behind?  Believing children, grandchildren, friends?

"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." Ps. 90:12 (NLT)

Life is short -whether we are granted 70 years on this earth, or 100.  In view of eternity, our days here are but a mist, a vapor.  So fleeting are they.  So why then do we spend our short time on so many things that do not matter?  Worries that are meaningless? Pursuits that are only fulfilling in the moment?  Does making the extra $30,000 a year translate into anything of lasting value?  Is all of our recreation really that essential to our quality of life? 

A life that is lived to serve, lived to love, lived to impact others for heaven, is the only kind that will be rewarded when we stand before our Maker.  When our lives, our actions, our motives, our moments, are weighed upon the scales of eternity, will they be of value?  To anyone but me?

A life lived in the proper perspective of time, with an eye toward eternity, is a life wisely spent.  Not wasted.  What can I do today that will matter to someone else?  Am I fulfilling God's purpose for me?  The thing I was formed in my mother's womb to accomplish?  Or instead, and am I frittering away the precious commodity we call time?

Today, O God, teach me  to number my days aright. Teach me to live in the moment, with an eye to eternity.  Show me who to encourage, who to reach, who to bless.  Help me to not waste precious time worrying about an uncertain future, being angry or petty.  Help me  to be sober about the time I have.  And thankful.  Thankful that you gave it to me to steward.  In Jesus' Name.

If you know you are not ready to meet the Lord should your days be fulfilled today, would you pray this prayer with me?

Dear Lord, I am a sinner.  I know that I  cannot do enough  good to be saved.  I need a Savior.  Lord, I believe that you are the Son of God and  that you died for my sins, and carried the penalty for my wrongdoing.  I confess my wrongs to you and I ask you to forgive me.  Wash me.  Cleanse me.  Make me a part of the family of God.  I  ask you into my heart and take you as Lord of my life.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

If you  prayed  this prayer with me, meaning it in your heart, you are a new creation!  You are born again!  Your future in  heaven is sure!  The Bible tells us:  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  (I John  1:9) 

If you received the Lord, I would love to hear from you so that I can pray for you as you begin your new life in Christ!  

You may comment here.  If you do not want it published, say so, and I will not publish it!

© Sherri Evans Ministries 2015. All rights reserved. Used by permission. For booking schedule and information: sherrievans@sherrievansministries.com

When the Walls Close In

Trapped.  Hemmed in.  Without options.  Without hope.  I believe that is one of the bare bones definitions of a trial.  We look for a door out, but we find none- whether it be because we were placed there by God,  or because it is inescapable in other ways.   We cry out to God for an answer but the situations persist.  What is a Christian to do when the walls of life are crushing in?

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."  I Cor. 10:13 (NIV)

I believe the first thing that we have to do, is recognize God's faithfulness.  People will disappoint us.  Good fortune will fail us.  But God will remain faithful.  He cannot do  otherwise.  Faithfulness is part of His nature. When He does not answer as we had hoped, or in the time frame that we desire, we must cling to the truth that God loves us and will be faithful to us.  Always.  Without fail.  Through time without end.  He is committed  to us.  And He does not break His covenant.

The second thing we must realize is that He is sovereign and has the absolute right to say, "Enough!  It is finished!"  He will not let us remain in a situation beyond His ability to see us through.  When we are going through it, He is there.  And He strengthens us and provides us a way out  or a way of escape.  Even when life feels out of control, it is never out of His  control.  He limits the tests.  The heat of the fire.  The persecution.  He limits it to what He has given us grace to endure. 

Finally, we must confess the Truth of the Word of God instead of the facts of our circumstances.  The power of life and death are in the tongue.  We must choose to speak life and hope into our situations.  We have to dare to believe His Word is true and align our thoughts and words with His.

"He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me."  Psalm 18:19 (NIV)

When the ceiling seems to be dropping, when the walls are suffocating and pressing in, cry out to the One who can set you in a spacious place.  Believe that He is your way out.  He is your portion.  He is your defense.  Faithful, faithful is He.

Dear Lord, I lift up my situations before you and ask you to help me to look above the walls and ceilings of my trials, and instead, look to you, the author and perfecter of my faith.  I see you as my deliverance.  I see your staying hand that prevents me from being consumed in the fire.  I cry out to you!  Rescue me!  Strengthen me.  Open my eyes  to see Your hand.  You are my desire and my defense.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Even Better Than I Knew

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Ps. 34:8 (NIV)

Recently after a season of praying and seeking the Lord for direction, I had a nudge in my spirit to plan a retreat.  It was not a mandate from God.  Or at least I don't think so.  More, it was a divine "want to."

As I prayed about it, many questions of how to proceed plagued my mind.   Where would the finances come from?  How could I afford to advertise?  Where should I have it? How could I afford a meeting room?  (Many were upwards of $400 a day.)  I had no budget.  Just a "want to."

As I stepped out in faith (over my head really!) I was both excited and terrified.  I met challenges.  Frustrations.  Roadblocks and uncertainty.  The location was difficult to find.  The attendees were slow in committing. The t-shirts were way undersized, there was a question if my worship leader would be able to attend all sessions, etc., etc...

When the day arrived, I looked about,  in wordless wonder.  It had all come together!  The room turned out beautiful.  There were nice (free) giveaways for the ladies.  My worship leader had a green light to attend.  My room was packed full of beautiful ladies.   God even went so far as to ordain an artist to show up at the last second to put up the frivolous tulle that I had my heart set on using!

As the room filled, and the giggling and game playing commenced, all I wanted to do was stand and weep.  He was so much better than I even knew.  As the weekend went on, He showed up with ever-increasing glory and sweet presence.  My mind and heart were stunned.  He was so much better than I even knew.  I have loved Him, my whole life.  I have known of His goodness, provision, and love.  But in that moment- and even now, in the afterglow of it all- I realize...after trying  Him...  trusting Him... stretching me... I can  attest with all conviction.  He is better than I even knew.  To Him be the glory!

Lord, I have tasted and seen that you are good.  Even more so than I  can fathom.  But it has only whetted my appetite to taste more.  Thank you.  "My soul does magnify the Lord!"

I pray for the readers today  to be encouraged by this first-hand testimony of Your awesome faithfulness!  Let them discover their own testimony, even today!  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 © Sherri Evans 2015.  All rights reserved.  "When God Whispers Over Your Life."

Hi, readers!  I am hosting a Women's retreat in Panama City Beach, FL, January 22-24, 2014.  It is community wide.  We are expecting a move of God and would love to have you join us!  For more information, visit the 2015 retreat tab at my website:

www.sherrievansministries.com

Thanks!

Ascend...The Mountain of God Women's Retreat January 22, 2015 at Panama City Beach, FL

Hi, readers!  I am hosting a Women's retreat in Panama City Beach, FL, January 22-24, 2014.  It is community wide.  We are expecting a move of God and would love to have you join us!


 For more information, visit the 2015 retreat tab at my website:

www.sherrievansministries.com


Thanks!

The Constant

Change.  It is such a normal part of life.  Why then, do I fight against each stage of it?  I so enjoyed a beautiful Christmas with my family this year. But my heart could not help but remember with nostalgia, when I was younger and all of my grandparents were alive, and so much a part of the family.  Then I recalled when the kids were little. Safely nestled at home.  Now one is married, and the other is 18.  Things have definitely changed.  Sad changes.  Good changes.  Endings.  New beginnings.  It is all a part of His plan.

Through all of the up's and down's of the years, one thing is constant.   God's loving care.  His provision.  His presence.  He is my Constant. 

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8).

Because He is my faithful companion.  My rock.  There is always just enough stability in my life to keep my feet under me.  Because of His constancy,  I am not shaken.  I am  not moved! 

Looking ahead to 2015, I am comforted to know that He is already there.  He has gone before me.  He has plans too big and wonderful for me to perceive.   Instead, I must trust.  I must lean.  I must rely.  I do not have to figure out tomorrow.  I do not have to fret my end-of-the-year work.  I do not have to dread the job audit that is to come.  I do not have to figure out ministry steps.  Instead, I walk joyfully forward.  Smiling. Trusting.  Believing.  He is there.  He does not change.  He is  my grace and peace when all else moves.

Dear Lord, as Christmas ends, and my focus shifts to the end of one more holiday season, one more year, help me to look forward and not backward.  Help me look up to you- and never down.  Help me to rest in the season you have appointed for me.  Help me trust with ever increasing glory this year. May I rest safely in your care as a sleeping infant does upon  his mother or father's shoulder. In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

I Have Prayed for You Today

  

Today's passage:  John 17:13-26

Jesus was, and IS, our high priest. He is the One who stands in the gap between us and the Father. Cleansing and perfecting us that we might be holy in His sight and not consumed  with judgment because of our sinful ways.  In today's passage, Jesus is fulfilling His call, in the most glorious, poignant way possible.  As He prepares to die for the world, He prays for His disciples.  His precious, chosen ones.  Then He prays for those who will believe because of them.  That is you and me!!!  Jesus prayed for us, while we were yet unborn.  And He continues to make intercession for us today, at the right hand of Father God.

13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

Jesus was aware that His death was near.  He would bear the weight of the world's sins upon His shoulders.    But because He was leaving, He chose to offer this prayer in their hearing, that they would have a full measure of joy within them.  In His hour of great distress, your joy was His concern.

14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

Jesus knew.  Oh, how He knew!  That as His children, we would not fit in.  We would not be at home in this world.  He knew that the world would oppose us,  reject us, and try to destroy us.  Because we are His.  Because we are not of this world.  His prayer was not that you would fit in, but that while you remain, you will be protected. Protected from the evil one. Satan himself.  Protected from the spirit of Antichrist that is rampant in this world.   For this, He prayed for you.

 17 Sanctifyb them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus prayed that you would be cleansed, made righteous and set apart by the truth of His word.  He prayed that you would come to perfection in Him.  Jesus acknowledged that He is sending you forth, into the world, with His gospel message.  For you He sanctified himself, that you may be sanctified.  Without Him, you had no hope of  holiness.  But in Him, "...you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus."

20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Jesus' desire for us, the body of Christ ,for you as a member individually, is to be one in the Lord.  To be one in the body of Christ.  He offers you the same unique relationship that He shares  with the Father.  Oneness.  Oneness in heart, in  purpose, in calling, in  love.  His glory is manifest in you, child of God, as you dwell in unity with fellow believers.

Jesus prayed that you would be with Him.  Where He is.  He longs to have to you restored to Him in heaven, once your mission is complete.  But until then, you have a work to do.  A work that brings Him glory.

Recently, a wonderful friend of mine, felt the need to introduce me to a special friend  of hers.  She felt that God had a purpose in our meeting.  She knew  her. She knew me.  And somehow, she knew that we needed to know each other.  In the same way, Jesus knows the Father.  So intimately.  He also knows you.  Every complexity of your personality and character.  And in that knowing, He wants you to know the Father.  I was received by my friend's friend because of the relationship that they walked in.  I was received in the name of  my friend.  Received.  You are received in the Name of Jesus.  The Name that is above every Name.

Today, O Lord, my prayer is for every reader.  Help them to be keenly aware of your desire for them.  Help them to sense a connection to the Father, through You.  Help them to fulfill the purpose You have left for them and appointed them to do.  Grant them a unified heart with Your will, Your purpose and Your holiness.  Help them to forgive their grievances within the body of Christ.  Just as they are forgiven by You.  Glorify Yourself in them today.  Fill them with truth, glory and might, that they may perceive and walk in all that You have purchased for them. In Jesus' Name.  Amen.