12/31/04

12/31/04

Dearest Sharon,

12/14/04

12/13/04

Dear Sharon,
I don't know how many subscriber's you have to your 'Heart and Home', but I do know how much you bless everyone! I know you will be rewarded by our precious Heavenly Father, while on earth and definitely in Heaven!
I am thankful for your love and faithfulness to Him and to your subscribers. May God richly bless you in 'His ways', now and always.

In Christ,
Beth

PS. Jake's MRI from Wednesday showed that the brain tumor has remained the same, which is good news, considering the alternative of it growing or showing 'bad' changes. We are praying for the Lord to take it away altogether, but I know that will be in God's timing! Praise the Lord!

We go to UCSF to the neurosurgeon tomorrow to go over the MRI and discuss the seizures that he has had. Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for Jake. I know God is waiting for Jake and our family to surrender more to Him. We are blessed and so very grateful!!

11/08/04

Hi Sharon,

I want to thank you for your devotionals, so often they minister to my heart, this morning the Lord spoke to me about what my priorities were, what was more important my family traditions or Him, my interests or His, my riches or His, my personal well-being or Him, this brought up some tough stuff for me, as family traditions are very important for me, and hard to change, today the Lord had something better for me, and I felt I needed to go with tradition to please the family, so that I would not feel the guilt of not doing what I felt was expected of me, turns out I went with the Lord's plan and I had a better day than I could have thought or asked for, and the expectations were more put upon myself than what I felt was put upon me by others, how freeing that was.

I gave myself to God in a new way this morning as I realized I was holding back some things, then going with His plan and reading your devotional this morning I know He has a plan and it is better than mine, how foolish can I be? Don't answer that I know very very foolish, how could my ways be better than His, who am I?-- Yes, we clean up on the outside, make it all just right and pleasing to the eye, so that others will approve of us, but what about the inside, sometimes it is pretty ugly, and needs some intense housecleaning, what does it matter what man thinks of us, what are we doing to be more like Jesus on the inside. Sorry I didn't mean to go on and on, I just feel excited about what happened today and that I need to make some changes and am so thankful that the Lord is opening my eyes to what is more important, the inside, and what we are allowing God to do there.

God bless you, I am praying for you and your family, I appreciate the time you take to minister to us.

Joanne Toop

10/21/04

Awesome word, I am definitely forwarding this to all my friends! I'm am praying for your back. I have been going to the Chiropractor lately, I am back on the road to straightness and have actually been able to walk for the last couple of days. I really do need to get into more excersize!!!! I have gotten so out of shape I'm out of breath just playing the piano. Whew!!! hehe, no I played the keyboard and sang at the county fair. I did 3 songs 2 differents sets and both times I stepped of the trailer they had set up with sweat pouring off. It was very hot and humid.

Get better soon

Karen

Dear Sharon,

Thank you so much for your daily devotions. I look forward to reading them every morning. Today's was especially helpful and I hope you don't mind that I printed it out to read over and over again because I really do need to die daily. Your ministry is so wonderful and helpful. I can't thank you enough!

I am praying for you that your back feels better and that the sinusitis is going away. Please take care of yourself. Is your electricity back on yet? I hope I can meet you in person one day. If not, I know I will see you in heaven.

Love in Jesus our Lord,
Kathryn Wedin

9/9/04

Have a Blessed Day!
Debra Billingsley

8/17/04

Sharon,

In today's message, you were more eloquent than I've ever seen you. Your words today packed a real whallop and were wonderfully chosen, which leads me to believe the Holy Spirit used you in a mighty way for His purpose and that is to get His Word to us in a manner that will hit us between our eyes. Good job, sister. I enjoyed so much talking with you yesterday. You sound good and are the strong Cheistian you always were. Bless you.

Jerry

8/11/04

Thank you Sharon..that was such a neat verse..I loved it..and I also prayed this for you...and then again for my husband. It's so neat to be able to pray for others and know it is being heard by our Father! What a privilege!

We all are traveling the same road..upward and to one day see our Fathers Face and embrace Him..it's not an easy road..but he will guide us, prompt us, work gently one day and more powerfully the next day..we're happy one day and so in the depths of agony the next..but He is always there..carrying us when he needs to and always loving us. We need to encourage each other and one day we'll all see Jesus and each other and know it was all worth the perseverance and struggles..What A Day That Will Be!!!!

Take Care Sharon..thanks for your encouragement in my life, Have a good day! :)

Love, Donnell

8/11/04

Sharon, before I read your devotional this morning the Lord put this on my heart to meditate on and to pray over my husband:

I want you see him on the other side of your situation, As a better than ever husband, as well as a stronger than ever before, As a blood bought, bible believing, child of the Most High God!!! See him triuphant over his enemies, project what you want to see in your prayers as well as your thoughts.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

I had been letting my situation with my husband not going to church really get me down. And it was effecting how I felt about going to church. Praise God, I can sense that through those negative thoughts I was hindering what God wants to do in the heavenlies on our behalf.

When I read your devotional, it was another kick in the seat of the pants for me. Thanks!!!

Karen

8/11/04

Thank you Sharon..that was such a neat verse..I loved it..and I also prayed this for you...and then again for my husband. It's so neat to be able to pray for others and know it is being heard by our Father! What a privilege!

We all are traveling the same road..upward and to one day see our Fathers Face and embrace Him..it's not an easy road..but he will guide us, prompt us, work gently one day and more powerfully the next day..we're happy one day and so in the depths of agony the next..but He is always there..carrying us when he needs to and always loving us. We need to encourage each other and one day we'll all see Jesus and each other and know it was all worth the perseverance and struggles..What A Day That Will Be!!!!

Take Care Sharon..thanks for your encouragement in my life, Have a good day! :) Love, Donnell

8/11/04

Sharon, before I read your devotional this morning the Lord put this on my heart to meditate on and to pray over my husband:

"I want you see him on the other side of your situation, As a better than ever husband, as well as stronger than ever before, As a blood bought, bible believing, child of the Most High God!!! See him triumphant over his enemies, project what you want to see in your prayers as well as your thoughts."

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

I had been letting my situation with my husband not going to church really get me down. And it was effecting how I felt about going to church. Praise God, I can sense that through those negative thoughts I was hindering what God wants to do in the heavenlies on our behalf.

When I read your devotional, it was another kick in the seat of the pants for me. Thanks!!!

Karen

8/11/04

Have a Blessed Day!
Debra Billingsley

Sharon,

Thank you for your sweet concern. I appreciate the unity of spirit I can feel with another believer because of our Savior. I have just been rereading some of your devotionals (which are all very good ), and a more recent one concerning the "Jerichos" in our life.

There are times, when I have so longed for someone to just ask a little bit more, when I have started to open up a bit. There are times, when I wonder what happened to our family.

I looked at a photo of when the boys were young, and started to cry. I guess it just hit me that life has been so different from what I thought it would be, yet I do see beauty in this world and in my life. I sometimes feel so weary. I sometimes deal with feeling the condemnation by a close relative.

She often talks about training your children as if that is a magic pill. I do believe training, instructing, and reading God's Word, as well as praying and living it out in the home are important, but there are no guarantees. So sometimes, I can feel discouraged, and even more when faced with those attitudes. I still feel like I am putting the pieces back on the table, so that God can make me whole again.

Thank you for your encouragement and concern.

Diane

Hello, Sharon!

I just wanted to thank you again for the work you do in sending out these devotionals...I can identify so strongly with your topics !

I wish you and your family a marvelous Fourth of July celebration. This is my favorite holiday next to Easter - why not...for both holidays celebrate freedom, huh?!

Take care,
Laura

5/27/04

HI Sharon,
Thankyou so much for your timely devotionals. God continues to use you and your devtionals to be an encouragment to where I am at. I have been in the cleft of the rock, protected there and sheilded by the Lord, and now He is urging me to come out, slowly, but part of me wants to stay with Him, and the other part knows it's time to venture out. God is good and His timing is perfect, so I will follow His leading, thankyou again for your obedience to Christ in sharing encouraging words in this way.
Joanne

4/6/04

Sharon,

I just had to drop you a line to say thank you for the daily devotions you send out! Thank you for caring enough to see that we are spiritually fed each day!

I thank God for you & your ministry daily, asking Him to strengthen you & keep you & your family surrounded by His hedge of protection & that each moment in the day He fills you with His love & joy!

I think of the days that my body is so wracked with pain that I can't even think straight, can't even hold my head up let alone sit at my computer! Then I think about You!! How you have the same "challenges" with chronic pain/illnesses that we have yet & still you continue to "bear your fruit"!

It's been way too long since I've said, "Thank You"! Thank you because the devotions mean so much to me, sometimes they speak to the very heart of what I'm feeling...what I'm going through and I look forward to receiving them everyday!! Especially today! I know what my spiritual gifts are but too often I allow pain & suffering to change my focus & direction off of God, thanks to todays devotion, I'll be back on track!

So... Sharon....thank you for caring about us...for blessing us!

You're always in my prayers.......
Yours In Christ,
Misha

12/1/03
Hi Sharon,
Mary Rahal sent me this devotional and I really was blessed by it. Please add my address to your e-mail list to receive your articles.
I know all about the faithfulness of God to meet all our needs. It does take circumstances to learn to really trust Him in that area but what fun once we do.
Mary is my son-in-love (law) sister and what a beautiful Woman of God she is. Looking forward to hearing about your ministry. I'm an intercessor and encourager, so feel free to send me prayer requests/praise reports too. May you be blessed and enriched in every way.
Praying always because of Jesus,
Sally

1/23/03

Hello Sharon and Roger,

6/4/02

Dear Sharon, I appreciate your devotionals. I do not know how I got on your emailing list, but am grateful. I have suffered with depression all my life. I know first hand how it begins and how it alienates you from family and friends. I am 40 now, and have gotten pretty good at detecting it and have found personal ways to handle it. I do know the power of praising Him. That's all I can do when it hits me badly.
I eventually come out of it though. Please continue to affirm the unfailing love and devotion and committment that God has for and to us. Especially those who suffer from depression. Especially those of us who are saved.
For years I would try to go for "good counsel" from "church authorities. I left feeling worse and more abandoned, thinking that I didn't have enough faith to believe God to deliver me. Or very early on in my journey, I was told to rebuke the devil and bind him up. I wore myself out doing so. Now, I do know for a fact that the devil is indeed and oportunist. He also knows how to take advantage of those who are depressed. A depressed person doesn't see himself like others do. They seem them to themselves to be lost in public, crashing self esteem, demolishing hope to go on.
Sleepless nights and tossings. Uncontrollable thoughts that feel like a plague. But I will say to you Sharon, that through it all, God has taught me how to fight the good fight of faith while in it.
That poor little girl took her own life. She didn't see herself the way we would've seen her. Bright, imaginative, sensitive, kind.....all those things that that letter revealed between the lines of sorrow upon sorrow and despair. Today, I will praise the Lord. Faith has no feelings.
Thank you for taking the time to hear Him and share with us.
Grace and peace are yours and mine in Christ Jesus our Saviour and Lord.

Joan Gennaro

3/15/02

1/10/02
I have only been receiving your devotionals a short time, but they have already blessed me. I find myself sharing them more and more with my friends and family. This particular devotional hit home. I have really been burdened with the lack of quality and quantity of time I have spent with Jesus in the past year. My daughter also had a baby - 10 months ago. She has been ill and so has my grandson. Add a brother with 2 types of cancer, a mother who was hospitalized in critical condition for 2 months, a full time job, so many church responsibilities I hesitate to name them for I know you wouldn't believe me and though I am doing good and honorable things - well, as you pointed out, I tend to put God down further on my list of priorities than I should or want to. It just happens - perhaps because we assume He will understand and our human priorities won't. It helps to know that others are struggling with this problem. I will pray! for you and ask that you pray for me that it will not take a crisis to draw us to His side. Hang in there and thanks for your efforts with the devotionals!

Margaret

12/11/01

Thank you so much for sharing your site with me. It'sGREAT!! Today's devotional really hit home.....I missed Bible Study last night craving the more sleep syndrome.....would you believe fell asleep doing my study!?and have been guilty a few times of missing Sunday Service for the same reason! I have lupus and fybromalagia and at times just get to tired to move and fall asleep when I rest but I need to reschedule those rest periods so they don't interfear with the most important part of my life God, before I end up in the shed! Keep up the wonderful works.
God Bless
Diane F.

11/13/01

YOU KEEP ON TELLING IT THIS WAY. FOR I BELIEVE AND KNOW YOU ARE TELLING IT RIGHT .
YOURS IN CHRIST
CAROLINE

10/26/01

Sharon, isn't it amazing how the Lord works in our lives and our thoughts. Your devotion was so timely for me. Monday morning on my way to work I was praying, as I always do, and I was feeling really low. I prayed, as I've prayed many times before, "God please take this pain away! I hurt so bad, why do I have to keep waiting?" I know that you have a plan for me but I can't see it and I'm so tired of hurting. Father, I'm your child please help me."
Then He spoke to my heart in His tender loving way. "Child, I know you hurt. There are times when the pain is necessary to fulfill my plan for you. Remember when my Son cried out to me in the garden long ago? He asked that if I could to "remove this cup from me". His pain was so intense that drops of blood poured from His brow. But I couldn't remove His pain, not right then. Then another time, while hanging on the cross, He cried out again, 'Father, why have you forsaken me?' and I had to turn my back to His pain. He was my only begotten Son yet I had to allow Him to endure the pain so that my plan could be fulfilled....so that my plans for YOU could be fulfilled. I am working in your life, the pain may be hard right now but "resurrection morning" will come for you. "For I know the plans I have for you..plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".
I know that I need to praise Him for the pain. Please pray for me as I seek His blessed will for my life. Thank you for your many seeds of kindness.

Ann

10/17/01

thanks so much for the devotional it was so fitting for me.i have stayed away from church because of many hurts but as of last sunday i returned,i felt like i was home my arms as moses were very tired and i needed and still need others to help me hold them up; your sister in christ

7/12/01

Dear Sharon,
Thank you for the devotional for today as my sister and I were talking about this. I am going to send her a copy. I just love you and your devotions. I look forward to read them as I have some tough days too and satan keeps at me a lot of times and I have to fight really fight him off. My husband has Alzheimers [first stage] and some days are so hard. I take one day at a time. I know God is there always because if he wasn't I couldn't do it. I go to support groups which helps alot.
God's Blessing to You,

Barb T

I find the devotionals very enjoyable and am presently using them to minister to someone here. Don't think that because I don't comment, that I don't read them. These are very good - some of the best - and I certainly enjoy them very much.
Michael
Pietermaritzburg,
Kwazulu-Natal
South Africa

Readers '05