Sharon JaynesEnough, Identity in Christ, Knowing God, Living Free, Perspective 59 Comments

Seeing Yourself as God Sees You

Let me tell you about a girl named Margaret. For almost forty years, she lived with word-inflicted wounds that nearly destroyed her life. From the first day she attended her one room schoolhouse, she and her teacher, Ms. Garner, didn’t get along. Ms. Garner was harsh, bitter, and cruel, and could not tolerate Margaret’s childish idiosyncrasies.

Margaret was nine years old when she frantically raced into class,  Read more…

Sharon JaynesA Sudden Glory, Gratitude, Living Free, Living Fully 19 Comments

God’s Articulate Presence

I love Post-It Notes! Yellow,  fuchsia, turquoise, buttercup, and magenta. From full-page mega notes to tiny little strips, sticky notes have saved me from embarrassment, kept me organized, and helped me memorize. Mostly, they have served as visual reminders of information, events, and appointments not to forget.

But visual reminders of things not to forget didn’t begin with Post-It Notes.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesForgiveness, Identity in Christ, Listening to God, Living Free 18 Comments

A Loose Screw

It was the incompetent and the inexperienced being led by the inept, the day our Sunday School Class worked on the habitat for humanity house for an unsuspecting, extremely grateful family. Among the crew were two dentists, an investment banker, a lawyer, an engineer, two pastors, a receptionist, several homemakers, and a marriage counselor. It’s always good to have a marriage counselor on hand when a home improvement project is taking place.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesIdentity in Christ, Living Free, Living Fully, Prayer, Praying Wives Club 21 Comments

When God’s Answer Isn’t What You Expected

When I was eight years old, my prized possession was a collie dog named, what else, Lassie. Lassie was my shadow. She ran alongside me as I pedaled around the neighborhood on my pink-glittered banana bike. She slept outside the door of my one-room playhouse when my best friend, Wanda, and I “camped out.”  She protected me from dangerous strangers,  Read more…

Sharon JaynesIdentity in Christ, Knowing God, Living Free, Living Fully, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For, Trusting God 106 Comments

When It’s Time to Stop Moping

Have you ever been so discouraged that you just wanted to stay in bed and pull the covers up over your head? Maybe that’s where you are right now.

I’ve hidden under the covers a time or two myself. OK, well maybe more than two. I felt that way this past Christmas when my son and his wife couldn’t make it from Chicago to North Carolina because of the snow storm.  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…

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Expectant Living, Living Free, Living Fully, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For, Trusting God 44 Comments

When You Feel Discouraged

Have you ever felt the sting of rejection? That’s a silly question. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t.

When I first started writing, I sent off sample chapters to various publishers. Shortly after, rejection letters came creeping into my mailbox.

“Thanks, but no thanks. “Nobody knows you.” “Your manuscript does not meet our needs at this time.” “Blah,  Read more…