Sherry Sharp

“Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16, NIV

Something about getting older motivates me to learn more about my family “tree” and those who are no longer with us. After reading a book about the Johnstown flood of 1889, I reached out to a cousin who has researched our family’s history over many years to find out if any of our ancestors were involved in the flood. My dad grew up in Johnstown in the early 1900s, as did most of his relatives, so I thought we must have a connection in some way. In fact, I learned the names and stories of several family members who both survived and died in the devastating flood.

Cousin Carolyn also gave me a rundown on other interesting facts about current members of our family who are musicians, writers, artists, and quilt makers; I wonder how many of our ancestors enjoyed all of the same crafts? Carolyn told me we had at least two preachers in our family ancestry, which prompted a pondering thought for me. When we take the time to think about and notice the talents and gifts within our family, it does not take long to find a pattern, that leads one to believe our heritage plays a big part in who we are and what we become in this world. DNA is strong! My dad was a self-taught amazing musician; he could play almost any instrument simply by trying to figure it out. I love to quilt and, of course, to write as do others in my family. I’m certain these traits were the product of a rich heritage.

One of the most intriguing pieces of ancestry I discovered is having preachers in the family because most of my relatives today are strong believers in Jesus Christ. What strikes me is unlike talents that can be passed along in our bloodline, being “Christian” cannot be inherited. Growing up in our large family, I remember so well visiting my great-grandparents who lived into their nineties and who loved Jesus; they did not pound a Bible to make this known, rather they loved and prayed faithfully with and for all of us and shared the Scriptures of promise. Friend, if you are a Christian, then it is very likely someone in your family, perhaps a hundred years ago prayed for you before you were born. What you inherited is not your faith, rather the prayers of the faithful who knew the importance of salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ. Take the time to research your heritage. You just might be surprised with what you discover.

“Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.” (Job 41:11, NIV)

The phone rang this morning; when I answered, my niece spoke sweetly from the other end, “Did I wake you up, Aunt Sherry?” Actually, she had not, although I confessed to still being in bed petting one of my (as she calls them) “fur babies.” We talked about her upcoming visit this weekend and how we were looking forward to our time together. You see, my sister, her mother, Dianne, passed away only a few weeks ago unexpectedly from the Coronavirus that is plaguing our world currently and this will be our first time together since her death.

We discussed the trials our family has endured with other members who have also been very sick, thanking God for their recent healing. My niece, whose name is also Dianne shared her struggle of letting God know that another loss of life so soon would be too hard to accept. I think she was surprised when I told her that I had had the exact same conversation with God. Because I am older and a little more “seasoned” in my Christian faith-walk, perhaps, than the younger generation, the perception is often that I am somehow less prone to the human weakness of doubt that accompanies waiting on God. One of my favorite books is by C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. When the young character, Lucy, meets the Lion, Aslan, the representation of Jesus, she asks, “Is He safe?” The person to whom she asks the question responds, “No. He is not safe, but He is good!”

We live in a world with a broken environment filled with broken occupants; these two things are not exclusively independent of one another, which is why believing one can fix the other is foolishness. As many of you know, my husband Richard died almost seven years ago from a form of Alzheimer’s disease at the age of only sixty-seven-years-old. During his years of illness, I prayed for healing that obviously did not come in the way I had hoped. However, there is no question that God walked this very difficult road with us in profound ways. In the Scripture above, when Job had lost everything in his world, unarguably he felt physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. We might expect for God to answer Job’s self-pity with expressions of sympathy, but He did not. Instead, God questions Job by asking him rhetorically, who are you to question Me when everything, including you belongs to Me? (Job 41:11, paraphrased and emphasized by me).

Friend, just because we ask God for what we want in prayer does not make Him bound to our wants and expectations. He loves when we bring our concerns and “wants” to Him, but He adores even more when we trust Him beyond what our eyes are able to see and our hearts are able to fully comprehend. Is God safe? No, He is not safe, but He is always, always good!

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10, NIV)

This past week I was looking through the Bible and the verse in 2 Corinthians caught my eye. What is “Godly sorrow,” I thought to myself, versus “worldly sorrow?” One thing I have learned over the years of studying the Scriptures is never take Bible passages out of context simply to make it fit a desired point. So, I read all of chapter seven to understand why the apostle Paul separated the two sorrows into different categories.

Most of the New Testament in the Bible contains letters written to the Christian churches in the known world after the death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven of Jesus Christ. The Christian communities were newly founded on the teachings of Jesus and some of those in leadership roles were at times misrepresenting Jesus. They had only the Torah, the Jewish scrolls in a written text and were being guided and taught often from afar by the apostles. Hence, the letters were written, such as Second Corinthians. In both the first and second letters to the church in Corinth, Paul teaches and admonishes the believers on how to live as representatives of Jesus. Paul also reminds the church that as followers of Jesus Christ they will endure hardship, just as he has endured. Understanding and experiencing the “growing pains” associated with being a Christ follower caused sorrow. But Paul explains that “godly sorrow brings repentance [change in behavior and attitude] that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…” On the other hand, “worldly sorrow brings death.”

Every person has room in our lives for improvement. Change is often hard! Sorrow can be a motivator and when it springs up out of a desire to bring glory to God, the outcome leads to goodness and growth. “Worldly sorrow” brings condemnation that results in death of hope and loss of joy. As Christians, when we are willing to learn, our journey on the road to salvation will “leave[s] no regret.”

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12, NIV

Have you ever been to a carnival? Or, maybe sometime when you were on vacation you visited a “Fun House?” One attraction you might find in such a place is a set of mirrors that are designed in such a way as to distort the image being reflected. Depending on which way the mirror is bent, an image might look very tall and stick-like; another mirror might make the image look short and round. Such mirrors can be a lot of fun and make us laugh.

While carnival mirrors are silly and laughable, you and I as we exist on the earth in this realm of reality live with a distorted view both behind and before us. The smartest, most talented, and wisest among us lack one hundred percent spiritual clarity. God gave us His Word to help us navigate the way He wants us to live in this world, still we oftentimes venture off in a different direction enticed by the deceiving “gods” of this world, wealth, power, notoriety, sex, and the list goes on and on.

If we could clearly see what lies on the other side of heaven, I believe we would stay the course and never fall victim to the distractions that threaten to slow us down while we are here. Voices loom loudly all around us. Some of the voices yell messages meant not only to distract us but also to frighten us about the present and future world conditions. The Bible has never misrepresented our experience on earth. God created a beautiful environment that remains beautiful even now, but it is not designed or equipped to last for eternity. Jesus came to show us the Way that does lead to life eternal. During His earthly visit, Jesus asked all who are willing, “Follow me.” Then, just in case we do get distracted, He tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Will you commit to follow Jesus?

I would like to dedicate this writing in loving memory of my precious sister, Dianne Sweeny, who went to her heavenly home on January 6, 2021. Dianne loved Jesus and was always a bright shining light that led many to know and receive Christ as Savior. Her work here is complete, but I will love and miss her always until we meet again in heaven. From my heart to yours…Sherry

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:1-2, NIV

Coming out of the year 2020, do you feel like you are emerging from “the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire…”? Maybe you do not feel as though you are emerging at all. Little do I need to list the numerous challenges most human beings have endured over the last twelve months therefore, I will spare you. But, as I read this Scripture passage, I cannot help but think that this is exactly how I feel. Actually, being honest I must tell you that as I write these words, I am in quarantine for about the third time since the whole virus debacle began. No, I do not socialize much, and never do I go out into the public without a mask and following every CDC precaution. My family members who have contracted the virus have done so after being in a medical facility. Let that sink in for a moment!

You and I are “in danger” every time we get out of bed, and for some, being in bed is risky. Recently, I heard a pastor say, referring to the six feet social distancing rule, “We want to believe that, this six feet will save us from (then pointing to the floor) this six feet!” Human beings are vulnerable to fearing death, yet, death comes to all of us at some point. I have read that the death rate from Covid-19 is less than one percent. Friend, the long-range mortality rate for humans is 100%. No one gets out alive! This is a reality and fact; it is a hard one and most of us do not dwell on it, but in Jesus Christ, leaving this world we can close our eyes here and open them in heaven; this reality should give us courage not fear.

Please go back to the Scripture verse leading into this writing. If you wear glasses as I do, put them on and look closely. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. Friend, we do not know when or even, if this pandemic will end before we leave this world, but God knows what we are going through and he hears us in the midst of it all. Look now and see what else the passage of Scripture tells us. He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. The “rock” and “firm place” is Jesus Christ! Jesus is our hope and our salvation; He will rescue us from every storm.

As you wait for the pandemic vaccine to arrive, consider also receiving the only inoculation available for the “epidemic of sin.” Jesus!!

“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10, NIV)

One thing I think every human being craves is having a time of rest and relaxation; we even have a well-known term for it called “R & R.” The funny thing is, when we are commanded to enjoy a time of rest, we do not like it! Think about it for a moment. Ever since Covid-19 invaded our lives, the “powers that be” have created the scenario where we have no choice but to “social distance” and in most cases, stay home. No, this is not a writing to pontificate politically; there is not enough space here, nor is this the right platform for such a message. The point I hope to address is how we have been given an opportunity to discover new ways to “Be still.”

I have probably shared with you in past writings that I am an introvert by God’s design. I say by His design because I do not know how this would happen, otherwise. Being alone does not make me lonely; it energizes me. Perhaps this is easy for me, because I have people in my life who love me and who I know would welcome me when I emerge from my quiet place. As an introvert, being in God’s presence is a reality every day, not just an activity I need to make happen. This may not be the case for everyone, I understand. So, my encouragement for you is that while we are told to remain more isolated from one another during the Covid-19 crisis, do not think of yourself as a victim of the wider government “shutdown.” Think of this time as a gift from God to rest, be still, and invite Him into your place of “isolation.”

As we continue our time of Advent, let us focus our thoughts on the Savior, Jesus, who longs to fill our spaces of loneliness, isolation, frustration, and uncertainty with His loving presence. We are never really alone; we only need to acknowledge the One who offers His peace no matter what is happening in our world. After all, He is the “Prince of Peace!”

Let me suggest you think of someone you have not seen in a while and write them a note, actually using pen and paper (smiling!). Encourage them by letting them know you are thinking of them and praying for them. In return, I pray you will receive the same encouragement from someone who loves you.