Sharon JaynesEnough, God's love, Identity in Christ, Living Fully 63 Comments

The Name You Call Yourself

I held Harper’s hand as we walked into the restaurant to place our name on the waiting list. Actually, I walked; my 7-year-old grandniece skipped.

I gave the hostess the number in our party, expressed the desire for an outside table, and told her yes, crayons, please. Then the hostess asked my name. I replied, “Sharon.”

Harper quickly corrected me: “No.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesFriendship, God's love, Power of Words, Prayer 226 Comments

Tearing Up the Scorecards

She was at it again. Mrs. Barnett was getting out the scorecards and tallying up the points.

I sat with an older woman as she began enumerating her family’s shortcomings. “Callie never comes to see me,” she began to complain about her granddaughter. “And she never calls me either. I saw her sitting on the other side of the church last week and she didn’t even come over and give me a hug.”

“Benjamin is just as bad,” she continued,  Read more…

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Enough, God's love, Identity in Christ, Knowing God, Living Free, Living Fully, Perspective, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For 278 Comments

You’ve Been Pre-Approved!

I’ve got something really special to give away at the end of this devotion! But for now, here’s today’s encouragement!

I walked to the mailbox and then to the recycler. Don’t need this one, or this one, or this one I whispered as I dropped the shiny flyers in the red box.

I don’t know about you,  Read more…

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, God's love, God's Promises, Living Fully, Prayer, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For 137 Comments

Don’t Stop Too Soon

Can I make a confession? Sometimes I quit too soon. I’ve quit when what I really needed to do was press on and press through. Sometimes I’ve gotten tired of trying. Sometimes I’ve gotten tired of the struggle. And you know what? I’ve missed many blessings because I got tired of the battle. I don’t want to do that any longer.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesDealing with Your Past, Enough, God's love, Identity in Christ, Knowing God, Listening to God, Living Free, Never Less Than 31 Comments

Woman, You Are Free from Your Suffering!

When my brother was a teenager, my mother used to threaten him when he hunched over at the dinner table. “If you don’t sit up,” she would say, “I’m going to buy you a back brace from Sears.” I don’t even know if Sears made back braces then, but it sounded like a pretty good threat to me.

Then I had a son who seemingly grew to six feet overnight.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesDealing with Your Past, God's love, God's Promises, Living Free, Living Fully, Prayer/Spiritual Warfare, When You Don't Like Your Story 128 Comments

What If Your Worst “What If” Does Happen?

Some people just seem happy and positive all the time. They appear to never worry and fret. These people act like they eat rainbows for breakfast and ride a unicorn to work. But life isn’t all lucky charms. Sometimes it is just plain hard.

We should anticipate trials. Jesus promised trouble. “In this world you will have trouble,” He warned (John 16:33).  Read more…