Banner of Love

“His banner over me is love.” Song of Solomon 2:4

Beloved, let today serve as a reminder that you are alive and breathing for a reason.

There is yet purpose in this life for you.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

You were created by God for God to display His glory and love upon this earth.

He loves you immeasurably.

There is not a second that goes by that He is not aware of you.

He loves you with an everlasting love.

His love is a love that is unconditional.

He loved you this much: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

His Son died, so that you may live.

There is no other love that will ever compare to the love of God.

His Word is filled with assurances of His love for you.

Take some time to read, meditate and hold on to what He says to you.

“The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end; I will keep forever my promise of peace. So says the Lord who loves you.” Isaiah 54:10

“The Lord your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The Lord will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you.” Zephaniah 3:1

 “For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

“See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God’s children—and so, in fact, we are.” 1 John 3:1

Here is my prayer for you today,

“I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, so that you, together with all God’s people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ’s love. Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

Amen.

© Sharon Pankey 2023

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Happy New Year!

This year, hold on to the unchanging hand of God.

Stand upon His Word.

Believe and receive all the promises He has written in His Word just for you!

“I am going to do something new. It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it? I will clear a way in the desert. I will make rivers on dry land.” Isaiah 43:19

“I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

“The Lord will bless you and watch over you. The Lord will smile on you and be kind to you. The Lord will look on you with favor and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

May God crown your 2023 with His goodness and may His richness overflow into every part of your life. (Psalm 65:11)

God Bless!

Sharon

© Sharon Pankey 2023

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It Is Not What It Seems

The other day, I received an email that appeared to be junk mail.

The subject line had a word omitted and the spacing was slightly off.

It had all the markings of what junk mail typically looks like.

I immediately moved it to my spam folder.

However, I felt this nudge to double check and sure enough it was NOT spam.

It was a legitimate email from a company that I do business with.

What looked like junk mail was indeed very real.

Beloved, what you may be going through is indeed hard and hurtful, but I encourage you to take a second look at the trial and you will find the markings of your God on it.

You will see His fingerprints.

It is not junk.

Your faith is being strengthened and His glory is upon you.

So, do not despair.

Do not lose hope.

Because what you thought would kill you, is renewing you.

What no longer serves a purpose in your life, He will cause to die, and the new things He has purposed will come to life.

“Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak, and you’re about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert; Waters will flow where there had been none.” Isaiah 43:19 (VOICE)

What you have been blindly putting your hope into, God is now reminding you that He is your hope.

No matter where you find yourself today, remember WHO you are and WHOSE you are.

No matter what trial you find yourself in, remember God promises that you are never alone.

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

No matter how broken your heart is, remember He is near to the broken hearted and He is full of compassion for you.

No matter what it looks like now, He has promised good to you.

For He will fulfill His purpose over your life.

Be encouraged, for it is not what it seems.

© Sharon Pankey 2022

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He Can!

“One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

“So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.

 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.

He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”

Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.” Mark 9:17-26 (emphasis mine)

Sometimes you just need a reminder that our God CAN DO ANYTHING.

Sometimes you need fuel for your hope.

Sometimes you need a light in your dark night.

Sometimes you need to know with your mind, body and soul that we serve the Great I Am.

He knows all.

He sees all.

He is in control.

He has a plan.

Nothing takes Him by surprise.

“Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The eternal God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t grow tired or become weary. His understanding is beyond reach.” Isaiah 40:28 (emphasis mine)

He can heal.

He can deliver.

He can set free.

He can provide.

He can do the unthinkable.

He can do the impossible.

Hear God’s word to you and me today,

“I am the LORD God of all humanity. Nothing is too hard for me.” Jeremiah 32:27

Beloved, choose to believe that He can.

© Sharon Pankey 2022

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You’ve Already Won

“It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me.” Philippians 3:12 GW (emphasis mine)

When a runner competes in a race, the finish line is their goal.

What they see ahead is what their eyes are fixed upon.

It may not be a smooth race.

But there is a destination ahead.

Distractions will come.

There is crowd noise.

There are other runners.

The weather may not be conducive to the race.

Yet, they endure.

Perseverance then becomes the wind that propels them forward.

Even if they stumble, there is no going back to the starting line.

They get back up and begin running again.

Beloved, hear God’s Word to you,

“Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36

No matter what season of life you are in, keep running.

You may be tired, keep running.

You may even hear the voice of the enemy discouraging you, keep running.

You may have lost focus, keep running.

Your body may ache, keep running.

You may not be able to see the finish line, keep running!

You have ALL that you need to run the race that God specifically designed for you.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

“You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” Psalm 139:5

“For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 52:1

Keep Running!

© Sharon Pankey 2022

The video below is inspiring. I pray it inspires you to finish your race well.

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His Plan. His Way. His Timing

“There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for
every delight and event or purpose under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Beloved, God holds all time in His hands.

For every activity He has purposed for your life, He also knows the “when”.

The Bible tells us, “For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand] ..” Romans 8:29

Before He laid the foundation of this world, God loved us and chose us.

That is beyond my comprehension, and I imagine yours too!

King David asked of God in Psalm 25:4, “Let me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.”

You can ask the same thing of your Father in heaven.

What are His ways?

What is His path?

Remember, He foreknew, loved, and chose you.

There is a perfectly designed way and path just for you.

That way and that path has a time attached to it.

That time is not your timing.

And that Beloved, is where the frustration of the heart and mind sets in.

God sees what you do not see.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8,9

He sees the intricate threads of your life and the lives of others and how they connect.

He knows that your purpose is not about you but for His glory and the edification of others connected to you.

He knows the relationships, career choices, even where you live require His perfect design and not yours.

He knows that what you are praying for and hoping for is on the horizon.

He also knows if you are spiritually, emotionally, and physically ready for it.

In the wait, you are learning to endure with grace, hope, patience and to pray with expectation.

“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’
says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for
disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Trust in the gentleness of the Father’s hand upon your life.

He takes care of His children with such great compassion.

He is purposeful in every second of your life.

He loves you so much.

Rest in His timing.

Obey Him in the things you know to do.

And await with the expectation that He indeed makes everything beautiful in its time.

© Sharon Pankey 2022

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In the Shadow of the Almighty

The writer of this psalm tells us that in ALL seasons of life, God is our safe place. Even in the darkest valleys, He is there to guide and protect. God does not promise a life without trials however He does promise to protect us as we walk THROUGH them.

Hear God’s Word,

“Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

He is the one who will rescue you from hunters’ traps and from deadly plagues.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor.

You do not need to fear terrors of the night, arrows that fly during the day,

plagues that roam the dark, epidemics that strike at noon.

They will not come near you, even though a thousand may fall dead beside you or ten thousand at your right side.

You only have to look with your eyes to see the punishment of wicked people.

You, O LORD, are my refuge! You have made the Most High your home.

No harm will come to you. No sickness will come near your house.

He will put his angels in charge of you to protect you in all your ways.

They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.

You will step on lions and cobras. You will trample young lions and snakes.

Because you love me, I will rescue you. I will protect you because you know my name.

When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will save you and honor you.

I will satisfy you with a long life. I will show you how I will save you.“

Psalm 91

© Sharon Pankey 2022

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Move Forward

On January 1, 2022, I wrote my first journal entry of the new year.

It read: “January 1, 2021, Happy New Year!”

And every day over the course of that week, my journal entries read 2021.

I knew it was a new year of course, but out of habit, I was still writing 2021.

No harm done. I simply crossed out the 2021 and replaced it with 2022.

Listen to God’s Word: “Here I am, doing a new thing; Now it is springing up—do you not know about it? I will surely make a way in the desert, rivers in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

The old IS gone and the new HAS arrived.

Beloved, what is it in your life that has become a habit to you but is old to God?

What has He asked you to let go of so that He can open your eyes to the new that He has already ushered into your life?

Are you unknowingly making what was meant to be temporary into something permanent?

What causes us to not recognize the shift that God is asking us to make?

Is it fear?

Is it disobedience?

Is it procrastination?

Or is it simply the feeling of comfort?

God says, “I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. ” Jeremiah 29:11

Beloved, do not fear what the future holds, trust the One who holds your future.

When He changes seasons in your life, you can rest knowing that what He will bring forth will be for your good.

Do not stay in a place or season that God says, “It’s time to move.”

Do not linger simply for the sake of comfort.

Comfort is not always a healthy way of living.

God is full of surprises and what He has planned for your life is beautiful and good.

Get into alignment with what He is actively doing.

Stay close to Him through the reading of His Word and prayer.

As He leads, follow.

Even if you are trembling as you follow, that is okay because He promises to you, “The Lord is the one who is going ahead of you. He will be with you. He won’t abandon you or leave you. So don’t be afraid or terrified.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Remember, you can trust the One whom sent His Son to die so that we may have life.

He holds that very life in His loving hands.

© Sharon Pankey 2022

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Happy New Year

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding. Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5,6

“May He give you the desire of your heart, and make all your plans go well.” Psalm 20:4

In His Love, Sharon Pankey

© Sharon Pankey 2022

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