Hiking in Pearls

Tag: faith

  • I No Longer Chase The Presence of God

    I No Longer Chase The Presence of God

    A few months ago, I found myself in a critical place needing to hear God’s voice.

    So, I did the most reasonable thing I could think of and I packed my bags and booked a last-minute Airbnb five hours away.

    The expectations for my weekend alone with the Lord gained strength with each passing mile.

    Soon, my imagination began to unfold with images of the off the wall restaurant I would find to eat at. I could see me sitting at a table. Alone, yet not alone. I heard the clatter of silverware against the plates…I considered what treasures I might find as I poured over the scriptures locked away with my Saviour over the next few days.

    When I finally made it, I first noticed the gentle waves that brought life to the lake that lay directly in front of the guest house. The fading sunlight tiptoed a ballet on top of the ripples while a deer watched from the woods that ran alongside the lake.

    As the weekend progressed invisible darts hit every balloon of anticipation I had created. In tears I ended the trip holding hands with Sorrow and Self-Pity. I never heard His voice. I never received the answers I so desperately sought.

    Not eager to get home I made various stops along the way. Pausing to take pictures from the side of the road, but the miles could only be stretched so far before I found myself pulling into the driveway.

    I was home.

    My hands were in my pockets, and I was standing behind the car looking over my property when I heard Him. His still small voice beckoning me to walk with Him. So, I meandered towards the backlot and all the answers I had driven hours away for poured in like a flood.

    They had been here all along.

    His presence is with me. Right here. Right now. I don’t have to hunt for Him. He has made His home with me.

    He is, where I am.

    Just as Moses found Him in the burning bush in the desert where he kept his flock (Exodus 3) and Elijah in the cave (1 Kings 19). God was found exactly where they were.

    God is with us. All around us. Living inside of us.

    What freedom there is that He has made Himself available right where we are. How wonderful it is that we don’t have to chase Him.

    I want to encourage you reader, He’s right here.

    Find your rest.

    In grace and peace,

    Sharon Rose

  • Three Word Story Challenge – Part 7

    Three Word Story Challenge – Part 7

    Faith – Love – Storage

    Words are so much more than a mark on paper or a part of speech to me. Each one is alive and is cloaked with an image. A picture I see in my mind. When they are strung together as a sentence a private film begins to play in my psyche.  

    It was no different when he prayed for me.

    I bowed my head as he talked to our Heavenly Father on my behalf. “Lord, I just ask that you would increase her faith.”

    Yes, faith is good. In the perception of my mind, I held out my open hand and received the package containing faith. I had a fly-fishing creel hanging on my shoulder, and I placed the box into the rectangular basket that rested at my side. It easily fell into the cavity.

    “Give her courage,” he continued.

    Yes! I need courage. With my hand extended a parchment that had been rolled up with a gold ribbon around it was placed on my palm. My fingers circled around it, and I put it in the bag. Even with these items it looked empty. There was vast storage for more.

    “And help her to understand Your love.”

    Love. A moment went by and my empty hand still hadn’t been filled so I looked up. That’s when I saw the back of a dump truck. With the gate open it began to lift, and love poured out slowly and then completely. I couldn’t contain it all! A mountain of love was formed around me. Covering me on all sides!

    I haven’t left that spot since. I am still surrounded by the love of my Heavenly Father.

    Reader, my prayer for you today is Ephesians 3:17-19 KJV. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith: that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with the fulness of God.

    In grace and peace,

    Sharon Rose

  • Three Word Story Challenge – Part 6

    Three Word Story Challenge – Part 6

    Wacky – Interesting – Spiritual

    First a contribution from my oldest child. Pen name, Balonga:

    “There was a wacky person that was very spiritual, and he had extremely interesting ideas.”

    Here is mine:

    The slabs of wood that made the crate had silvered. A proud display to their age and strength. It was flipped upside down a painfully, ordinary looking man stood upon it. He held a leather book. The cover fell like drooping wings over his hand and bent towards the earth.

    A commotion of people had circled around him.  I was curious if what he had to say was interesting.

    People began to mock and they pointed a finger to the side of their head before making circles. “This guy is wacky!” They said as they walked away.

    Only a few of us remained, and we stepped in closer.

    What he spoke was spiritual. It was life and truth. The book he held was the Living Word of God. The Bible.

    His deep voice spoke eternal truth. Words that had been penned before the earth was formed. (Revelation 13:8)

    “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. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved!” (John 3:16-17 KJV)

    The message he spoke was one of love.

    It has always been for love…

    ~To begin a life with Jesus, all you need to do is admit that you are a sinner. Believe that Jesus was the sinless Son of God, and that He died in your place on the cross, and that He rose again three days later. Last confess to someone that you put your trust in Jesus as your Saviour. Then watch His gentle transforming work begin in your life.

    In grace and peace,

    Sharon Rose

  • Three Word Story Challenge – Part 4

    Three Word Story Challenge – Part 4

    Thankful – Stillness – Finished

    Blooms on the mimosa tree filled the air with a soft, sweet fragrance. The wispy, white, and pink puffs were radiant against the green fern shaped leaves. Like opening a gift, the scent brought my grandmother to mind and the smell of the delicate powder she once wore.

    I sat under the tree and drank the memory in while the sun lowered in the sky. The heat of the day was forced to concede. Giving way to the cool night air that was sent to refresh man and beast.

    Dusk lured the fireflies out for their evening dance. A sprinkling of fluorescent green dots peppered the air just above the lawn. They invited me to rest in the stillness that had begun to settle over the day.

    I accepted the offer and lifted a steaming cup of coffee to my lips. The warmth of the liquid left an easy trail to follow. Crashing over my tongue it gathered at the back of my mouth. Next, it took a slow and easy descent down my throat and towards my stomach.

    Muscles in my chest tightened as my lungs filled with air. This is why I drink coffee.

    To remember.

    For comfort that comes from relationship. Bonds that were strengthened over conversations shared while enjoying the juice of the java bean.

    The voices of my parents’ echo through my thoughts as an old reel begins to play. I can hear their laughter. The dogs barking as one of my siblings comes through the door. This was home.

    Coffee is home.

    I swirl the last sip in the mug before drinking it down.

    Staring at the bottom of the cup I wasn’t ready for it to be finished.

    I wasn’t ready to let them go.

    Averting my eyes to the sky the stars speak of the promises of God. I am thankful that I belong to a much bigger family now.

    I only have yet to meet them all.

  • Three Word Story Challenge – Part 3

    Three Word Story Challenge – Part 3

    Kerfuffle – Run – Love

    Things like this can happen when you’re passionate. When each of us run toward our own victory. Even if it is absurdly in the wrong direction.

    We both saw the storm building. On the horizon and in the other’s eyes. The clouds continued to drape themselves with darkness until the day resembled night. Neither of us willing to buckle until a clear champion could be declared. That’s what brought us to this moment. Standing in the rain, in the middle of a kerfuffle.

    What was it that could draw out the depths of our soul to expose ourselves in such a way?

    Why, love of course.

    Over the ink and pad I can hear your sigh as I read the question in your mind.

    Isn’t love supposed to look different?

    Yes, but this reader is what love looks like when it is not in balance.

    Authentic love poured out is the clearest picture of splendor and beauty. It brings life, joy, and peace.

    However, love heaped upon oneself out of measure is putrid and rots. Quickly becoming a thick decay that devours everything it comes in contact with.

    Equally damaging is love not shared in balance between two. This will leave hearts wrung out. Like a dishcloth made void of water until there is nothing left to give. Dry threads begin to break form the continual twisting. A heart left rendered in two.

    In writing this, I hope that it may remind us to be diligent, and to remember that:

    Love does not strive to win; for it already has.

    Love can walk away from vain arguments.

    Love is secure and can listen intently.

    In the words of Paul,

    Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

    May we find ourselves working to avoid the kerfuffle’s and running towards the true love that flows from a pure heart.

    In grace and peace,

    Sharon Rose.

  • What if …

    What if …

    What if…

    We turned our umbrella upside-down and began to catch the rain? Rather than hiding from it.

    What if…

    We emptied our hands and held them out to The Creator? Allowing Him to fill them with the things He desires for our life.

    What if…

    All this time we have fought to shield ourselves from the storms, has only robbed us from the blessings? The riches that only come from the trial.

    What if…

    On the dreary days, we rejoiced? Since the sun is still shining behind the clouds.

    What if…

    We truly believed Romans 8:28? That says, “All things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.”

    All things…

    That’s the mountain tops and the valleys.

    It takes them both.

    It takes both the rain and the sun to make the earth yield its fruit. For plants to grow…both BIG and small.

    What if…

    We rejoiced in the good and bad? Knowing that our light affliction, which is but for a moment. Is working for us an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17.

    What if…

    We kept our eyes on the horizon? On the prize? Christ, Himself. Our Rainbow. Our Covenant Promise.

    What

    if…

    In grace and peace,

    Sharon Rose