
3 items found for ""
- RUN
January 2025 What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the word “RUN.” There is a plethora of things that come to mind but in this blog, I want to focus on the aspect of running a race. More specifically, a “spiritual race” where we must run for our lives each and every day. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV) it reads, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, myself will not be disqualified for the prize. The key here is to focus on our “self-discipline” to run this race so we can be ready when He calls our name. We want to finish strong and in order to do that, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 – NIV) You see, in running a natural race, you get tired, winded and thirsty. It’s important to be prepared as much as possible when running a natural race. Now, to be totally transparent, I have never run a race. Walking, yes, but not running. However, my daughter-in-loves have participated in races and the work to prepare to run is no small task. Eating the proper food, getting plenty of rest, exercising, stretching and determination will make you a winner every time. In our spiritual walk, we run a race each day. How? By reading your Bible, Praying, Mediating on G-d’s Word and treating your family and neighbors with love. With very busy lives, sometimes we can miss the mark by not keeping up with our regimen to make sure our spiritual walk is secure. Let me encourage you. Take the time to take inventory on how you are running for Jesus in your life. Blessings! “We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back.” (Hebrews 12:1 NCV) ***
- First Blog
October 9, 2024 Welcome to “I See You, and I Know” Blog. We invite you to come along as we journey through scriptures and just everyday life. Prayerfully, these posts will be a source of encouragement and an inspiration for you. Let’s begin. “TIME” - seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, decades. What does it all mean? “TIME” – It means G-d made time for us. Time is precious. The older I get, I realize the time that is given to us is so valuable. We make choices every day and whatever choices we make, TIME will be involved. Think about it. Right now, as you read this post, the clock is ticking. We read in Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven” ( I encourage you to read verses 1-8 when you have time) . TIME takes on different meanings all through our lives. Time for school. Time for work. Time for church. Time for family. Time for vacation. Time for rest. Then there are times when we have to say goodbye to a loved one or a friend. Recently, I developed a cold that turned into an upper respiratory virus. My daughter pleaded with me to go to the doctor early on so the medicine could get rid of cold. I had sinus medicine and just used what I had. For that week, time seemed to slow down and every minute felt like it was stretching the minutes into hours. I was miserable! Night time was the worst. The pain in my face felt like it magnified to a level where I was crying, pacing back and forth from room to room. My husband is loving and caring and did all he could to console me but when you are in desperation mode, nothing seems to soothe. I had to get a grip! When we have trouble, circumstances that we cannot turn around, situations that have no answers, sickness and pain that won’t go away – there is only one person that will hear us and rescue us. That name is Jesus! “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 I got myself together and called on the name of Jesus and asked Him to please take the pain away. For me, time stopped in that moment as I was praying. It was as if a shadow of sleep feel upon me and before I knew it, I was fast asleep. “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24 How much time lapse between those few minutes – not much, but it felt like an hour! The time that we have and whatever we face, we don’t have to face it alone. G-d is there at our beacon call. The time spent using medicine that I used before did not work. After a few days, my husband made the doctor appointment. Meds were changed and after a few hours of consuming, I started feeling a little relief. At that point, I began to count all the time that I missed from working and doing the things I love to do only to be put on hold. In my prayer time, I ask G-d was this time to slow me down? What was the lesson I had to learn? G-d sees us when we become overwhelmed under our own hands. We place overdue burdens on ourselves and don’t consult our time, our family or even G-d. We can be doing a good service but if it crowds out beyond our time to get important things done, we can harm ourselves from rest, sleep and not taking the time to reflect. Yes, G-d sees and knows and when you have no choice and forced to rest, you have time to think and readjust your life. One thing I know, G-d loves for us to come away and spend time with Him. He doesn’t like to share us with the things of the world (i.e., television, shopping, video games, online shopping) just to name a few. I love this scripture in Lamentations 3:22-24 – “Through the L-RD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The L-RD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” G-d is faithful in that he gives us “new mercies” every morning. Grace for us to start anew, afresh. We have the chance and opportunity to get it right again. More TIME. Two more scriptures come to mind as an encouragement for you. · “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5b) · “When I awake, I am still with You.” (Psalm 139:18b) Let me encourage you - If you haven’t been treasuring your time or managing your time, it’s not too late! You can start today by being intentional about the time you have each day. Keeping a list handy will help you manage and will keep you organize as you seek to accomplish the things G-d has carved out for you. Each day is a “blessing” and “gift” for us to start all over again to continue or finish tasks that was started the day, week, month or year before. There are many scripture verses in both the Old and New Testaments that speak about time. Here are a few for your journal. · Ecclesiastes 3:11 Proverbs 16:9 Mark 13:32-33 · Psalm 31:15 ` Proverbs 21:5 John 9:4 · Psalm 90:12 Proverbs 27:1 2 Corinthians 6:2 Remember, G-d Sees and Knows how we use our TIME. Let’s use it wisely. Be encouraged and start today! Blessings always – Sheila
- SMILE
December 2024 There is a song that I learned in Sunday School as a young child by the Late Rev. James Cleveland. G-d has, smiled on me, He has set me free. G-d has, smiled on me, He’s been good to me. As I reflect on this song, I think about how good G-d has been to me. He allowed me to work for many years and now He has enabled me to retire. Not retire from working altogether, but just from my corporate job. It has been my prayer for a long time to retire and work alongside my husband, and to spend quality time with family and friends. That makes me smile . Proverbs 15:13 – “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” Three years ago this month, our beloved Dad passed. It doesn’t seem that long ago but as I reflect on the years and memories of my Dad, I am very grateful and thankful for the time we had with him. Memories of my Dad makes me smile. Today, so many people are without hope BUT there is hope (in G-d). G-d sees and knows everything about us, where we live, what we do and why we do not SMILE . You see, you can have a bad day and still smile. Things may not be going your way (but you can still smile). Okay, well what about when you receive a bad report? Yes, stressful and not knowing the outcome can place you in a depressed state. Knowing G-d and placing your trust in Him can place a smile on your face. As the second hand on a clock keeps ticking into minutes, minutes into hours and hours into days, there will be ups and downs, changes and new journeys that can change your smile into a frown. Life happens – here is a scripture for you to ponder on. Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 – “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to laugh.” Let me encourage you. The L-RD Jesus wants to comfort you and can comfort you in every season of your life. That’s worth a smile . The L-RD Jesus said in His Word – Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to Me , all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me , for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (emphasis mine) We can come to Jesus with our burdens, situations and life itself. Knowing this should bring a smile on your face. In closing, here is a scripture to encourage you. Proverbs 31:25 (NASB) – “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.”
