Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Dealing with Your Past, Expectant Living, Forgiveness, Identity in Christ, Living Free, Living Fully, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For, Uncategorized 78 Comments

How Taking Hold Makes All the Difference

I was alone, or at least I felt that way. Women huddled in happy clusters chatting about first one thing and then another. Some propped babies on their hips. Others clutched Bibles in their hands.

Most wore smiles on their faces. I wore one too. But it wasn’t a reflection of what was in my heart. The upturned lips were simply the camouflage I wore to blend in—to avoid being found out.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Expectant Living, Listening to God, Living Fully, Prayer/Spiritual Warfare, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For, Uncategorized 8 Comments

Whose Voice Will You Listen To?

Last night was the end of March Madness when the UNC Tar Heels lost to the Villanova Wildcats by two points in the NCAA men’s basketball championship game. (If I were you, I might stop reading right now, but don’t. Keep going.)

I’m not much of a sports fan, even though I attended the University of Chapel Hill.    Read more…

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Dealing with Your Past, Dreams of a Woman, Expectant Living, Listening to God, Living Fully, Renewing your mind with the Truth, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For, Trusting God 52 Comments

Rest in the Here-ness and Near-ness of God

Have you ever been in a situation when you felt God calling your name to a particular task, and at the same time you felt that He had the wrong person for the job?

That’ exactly how Moses felt when God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. He cried out,  Read more…

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Dreams of a Woman, Expectant Living, General Inspiration, Living Fully, Women in the Bible 2 Comments

What About Mary? What About You?

The story of Mary always touches me at the core of my being. What an amazing encounter for a girl so young. God’s plan of redemption was held by the thread of a teenage girl from Nazareth. Who knew it would be so strong?

We don’t know exactly how old Mary was at the time of Gabriel’s proclamation.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Dealing with Your Past, Expectant Living, Living Free, Living Fully 20 Comments

Let Go and Take Hold

Have you ever watched a performer on a flying trapeze under the massive circus tent? A short horizontal bar suspended by ropes or metal straps dangles high above the crowd. The aerialist grabs the trapeze bar, jumps off of a high platform, and swings through the air.

She swings out once, swings back in above the platform, and swings out again.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesA Sudden Glory, Confidence in Christ, Dreams of a Woman, Expectant Living, Listening to God, Living Fully, Renewing your mind with the Truth, Trusting God 71 Comments

Who Do You Think You Are?

 

I’m getting ready to get on a plane and head to Kentucky to speak at a women’s event. And a memory slid it’s way into my mind. Remember who you are and whose you are. You are not doing this on your own.

See, it was my first large speaking engagement about eighteen years ago.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Dealing with Your Past, Forgiveness, Living Free, Renewing your mind with the Truth 88 Comments

When You Feel You’ve Ceased to Matter

 

For over a decade we were joined at the hip. Not a day went by when we didn’t talk on the phone…at least once.

But sometimes friendships come unhinged.

People change. Perspectives change. Purposes change. Passions change.

While nothing went terribly wrong, and no hurtful words were exchanged, the void was vast beyond bridging.  Read more…