Sharon JaynesA Sudden Glory, Trusting God 55 Comments

Gratitude Changes Everything

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and so I’ve been thinking about gratitude a lot lately. What is it? When should we show it? What does God say about it?

Just last week I learned that the Hebrew word for gratitude means “to recognize the good.” I love that! don’t you?

Paul wrote the Thessalonians,  Read more…

Sharon JaynesIdentity in Christ, Knowing God, Listening to God, Trusting God, When You Don't Like Your Story 32 Comments

When Pain Makes You Comfort-Able

When we’re in pain, we want God to comfort us! Right now! But what if He’s in the process of making us comfort-able first. That’s what this little boy teaches us. Keep reading.

A storeowner was tacking a sign in his store window, which read PUPPIES FOR SALE, when a little boy appeared.

“How much are you selling the puppies for?” he asked.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesA Sudden Glory, Trusting God 49 Comments

Hanging on to Jesus

Have you ever felt like you were walking a tightrope through life…just trying to balance everything and not fall into a pit? I have. Let’s think about this story…don’t give up…read to the end!

“Blondin” was the stage name for Frenchman Jean-Francois Gravelet. He was a fair-skinned, blue-eyed, and blonde-haired young man who migrated to the United States with a troupe of acrobats employed by Master Showman P.T.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesFriendship, Power of Words 101 Comments

The Dancing Church…It’s Not What You Think

I don’t know about you, but a few of my greatest lessons on how to love other people haven’t come from church folks. For example:

Nestled 50 feet off Highway 17 in Pawley’s Island, S.C., used to rest C.J.’s Beach Club. For years, Steve and I eyed the clapboard building tucked in the grove of myrtle trees, but it wasn’t the sort of place we would tend to visit.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Identity in Christ, When You Don't Like Your Story 22 Comments

Disqualified? Says Who?

My son, Steven, was in the ninth grade when I turned in the manuscript for my book, Being a Great Mom, Raising Great Kids. I should have waited until he was in the tenth grade.

That fateful morning, I placed my neatly printed pages in a padded enveloped, prayed a blessing over the bundle, and then dropped a year of hard work in the mail slot at the post office.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesFriendship, Power of Words 33 Comments

When You Feel Empty

A sign was posted on a telephone pole by the grocery store: “LOST DOG with three legs, blind in left eye, missing right ear, tail broken, and recently castrated. Answers to the name of Lucky!”

Perhaps you feel just about as “lucky” as that lost dog. Hobbling along. Impaired vision. Broken tail. Well, you get the picture. There was a woman in the Bible who also felt like she was out of luck and had nothing to give.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesFriendship, Power of Words 58 Comments

Knocked Down by Words

Have you ever felt like someone just knocked you over with words…not caring how it made you feel? I know I have. One day my Golden Retriever showed me just how it’s done.

Shortly after we had planted a maple tree in our backyard, we went on vacation. It was the first time we had left Ginger home alone.  Read more…

Sharon JaynesPrayer, Trusting God, When You Don't Like Your Story 108 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…