A friend of mine has voiced her state of mind in the journey she has been on with cancer. Following are words for encouragement for all of those going through a tough journey.

I have undergone 7 treatments now; with the 8th & Final scheduled for
Friday, August 3rd @ 10:00am. Did I hear someone yell, PARTY?

I have perservered this far because of each of you encouraging me. Did
you
know that the Apostle Paul had a traveling companion on many of his
missionary journeys, named Barnabas? Barnabas means, ENCOURAGER. Our
God
is so awesome in that He knew there would be times on our journey
through
life that we would need encouragment to get through the daily
distresses
that sometimes afront us. So, God sends an Encourager to give you that

extra PUSH to summit the mountain. There are countless opportunities
for
each of us to encourage others - take a look...

Thank you for being my Barnabas!

"The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we
can
comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have received from
God." 2
Corinthians 1:4
.

"LET US...APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE WITH CONFIDENCE SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP US IN OUR TIME OF NEED." HEBREWS 4:16

Dear God: I am stepping out in faith. I am believing that You hear my prayer and are giving me confidence to believe. Pour Your grace over me, let it cover me, and fill me. I need YOU TODAY LORD, more than ever before. I've been walking around in frustration and in false confidence based on my ability. I have found myself falling into unbelief and doubt.

Breathe Your mercy into my soul. Rebuild my life according to Your plan. Only then can I return to You with confidence to ask for help, ask for your grace, ask to be whole. Thank you Father.

In Jesus' Name, Amen

PAIN IS UNFAIR


How many times have we said “PAIN IS NOT FAIR”? The other day I was thinking: “Sharon, haven’t you learned by now!” Then I thought about so many of God’s chosen leaders who have gone through much pain in life and came out of it victoriously. There was David, Joseph, Abraham, Elijah, Moses and Jesus Christ Himself. These men of God were affected in Body, Soul and Spirit, along with experiencing losses in life.
PAIN WILL CHANGE YOUR CONDITION, have you noticed that? If we will allow it to, PAIN will glorify Christ, and help us to become Christ like. Nothing is a coincidence in life. In my younger years, I thought everything had to be perfect if we were living a righteous life. Then I began to realize, it is those PAINFUL circumstances that mold us into God’s perfect plan. PAIN will draw us to God or away from Him! The choice is ours! PAIN has a way of getting us to the right position. Will you allow PAIN to lead you to HIS PURPOSE? If you’re like me, I have to keep reminding myself of God’s way.
Our human side tends to follow a different direction:
1. Whine and complain.
2. Pray and ask God to make it good for our sake.
3. Lose heart with God, allowing doubt and fear to set in.
4. Keep our minds focused on our painful condition.

Our spiritual side needs to follow God’s plan:

1. Focus on God not on our painful situation.
2. Pray and seek God’s perfect will, then accepting it.
3. Think on things that are good, uplifting and wholesome.
4. Keep our minds focused on God, allowing Him to lead, direct and guide.


“FOR IT IS COMMENDABLE IF A MAN BEARS UP UNDER THE PAIN OF UNJUST SUFFERING BECAUSE HE IS CONSCIOUS OF GOD.” I PETER 2:10

LOOKING BEYOND YOURSELF

The other day I was presenting a request to Jesus who is my Intercessor. A thought crossed my mind that stopped me in my tracks. First of all I was trying to word my request without “begging” or out of selfish gain. I tried to pray “May Your Will Be Done.” Then doubt clouded my brow with a statement in my mind: “I don’t see how this prayer can be answered.”
My lack of faith started bringing confusion. What I was asking for was a need, not a desire. I couldn’t remember anything in scripture that would suggest that this was out of God’s will. I just didn’t know what God’s will was at this time in my life.
As I continued in this vein of thinking, I realized I was limiting God by my own human capabilities.

John 4:10 & 11 explains how we as humans limit God. The Message Bible says it this way: “JESUS ANSWERED THE SAMARATAN WOMAN AT THE WELL, ‘ IF YOU KNOW THE GENEROSITY OF GOD AND WHO I AM, YOU WOULD BE ASKING ME FOR A DRINK AND I WOULD GIVE YOU, FRESH, LIVING WATER.’ THE WOMAN SAID, ‘SIR, YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE A BUCKET TO DRAW WITH, THE WELL IS DEEP.’”
I love this story because Jesus doesn’t need a bucket as we would and it matters not how deep the well or how large our request. What is it that you are requesting:
A JOB?
MONEY TO PAY BILLS?
HEALING IN YOUR BODY?
PEACE AND JOY?
A SPIRITUAL RENEWAL?
POWER OVER ADDICTIONS?
DEPRESSION?
A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP?

DON’T TALK YOURSELF OUT OF ANSWERS FROM GOD BECAUSE OF YOUR LIMITATIONS!