Shannon's Page
My name is Shannon.........welcome to my page :O) EMAIL Me? hopeministries.shannon@gmail.com
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=689682
This is really laying it out there on the line so to speak but by the grace of God.....if one person can be touched by my life then it is all worth it right? I will be persecuted, ridiculed, judged, and labled with all sorts of things but.....to God be the Glory! Great things He has done! May I be all that He has intended for me to be......May I never loose focus on the most important thing in the universe.....May I be a good example to others and may I learn to serve wholeheartedly as unto the Lord.....In all things. (boy am I lacking)
A "little" about me.......well I am 35 years old, wife and mother of 5 children. My oldest daughter is married and I am also a grandma of "1" at this time. Another will be born any day now.... I started having kids early in life. Too early actually. I had my first child at age 14 years of age. I was pregnant with her when I accepted the Lord. I got married at age 16. I was pregnant at the time with another guys baby. I only share this with you because......I was not perfect then, nor am I perfect now. Living a life for God is not easy when you simply have no idea "how" to do it. I had no examples in my life of Godly or Christ like / Christian living or lifestyle. I really had no direction. It was very tough as a young girl to actually survive and be "planted" firmly in Christ. However, When Jesus came into my life, reached down and saved my soul from hell, HE began changing and guiding me through His word.HE made a new person out of me. If He can do it for me....He can do it for anyone. God cleans you up from the inside out. This site is being designed to help people find hope in God and then help those in need of "direction". Beating your head against the wall is no fun.......so many things are "live and learn" and we really just want to share some things we have learned so that maybe you can have fewer problems in your life struggles. :O)
I am the type of person that you either love or hate......I have a strong personality and tend to speak my mind even if it is sometimes offensive to others. I believe that the Word of God is True ~ EVERY word! Not just the parts that we "want" to hear. I believe in Absolutes! If the bible says it is wrong........then it ABSOLUTELY is wrong! If it is right......then it is ABSOLUTELY right! The bible is a large book and in order to get the full concept or "big picture" you must read it ALL! People say "the bible counterdicts itself" well.......study more! You didn't get the whole picture. There is a big picture......it starts with "believing" when you believe in the only begotten son of God and become saved, you will begin to grow in love, grace, knowledge......one day at a time. No-one knows it all.....baby steps at first.......then you will go through growth spurts. Life as a Christian is an adventure! Nothing is more meaningful or rewarding then knowing our creator.
Which Bible version is best?
I personally like to use the King James Version. I believe this is the best and most accurate translation of the bible. I know, many will disagree but that doesn't make my choice any less correct. :O)
Thoughts to ponder:
While our life focus as a christian is to convert the sinner to be "saved" I have been feeling a bit like God is wanting us to "Save the Christians" of today? I guess what I am really trying to say is......many christians are living in a lukewarm state. The bible clearly warns us about being in this state. "Once saved always saved" is a great concept too. However......were you ever really saved? The bible says that we will know them by their fruits. If a tree is not bringing forth good fruit, it will be hewn down and cast into the fire. So to look around and see christians with one foot in the world and one hand on God is frightening to me. They are simply "stunted" they seem to never really grow. Simply......they get "saved" and grow a little bit for a week or two, then it's over. So here is the thing........either they were never truly saved to begin with, or they are just the seed that was not able to take root and grow? However.....they still seem to call themselves christians. Believing that they are "born again" but never have to "grow" in the Lord. Funny thing I have noticed though. A person that gets saved from their sin.....really saved......REALLY is thankful. REALLY loves the Lord, REALLY never wants to go back to that state before being saved. That person REALLY begins to grow! That person REALLY desires to grow. REALLY desires the Lord. You will know them by their fruits! However, if you are a christian that is growing in the Lord, how are you to know what God has planned for your life, stand, and growth to affect a lukewarm christian near by? Be willing to share what God has given you! Your very life.....it is a powerful tool. Be real....as imperfect as we are.....He who is in us IS perfect! Let your light shine! People can deal with imperfection. They can seldom deal with a hypocrite. BE REAL!!! :O) Another note: I find that often God brings me a couple of people here and there....they seem to be very bland, I tend to get impatient (shame on me) then after years (yes years) of befriending, loving, helping them with practical things....they grow and change. :O) Yes.....even those stunted seeds take strong root. They almost get "fertilized" by the roots that God has grown in me and they live off of my strength....although it does get exhausting on our homefront it is well worth it in the end to see that God really was using you for His purpose. :O)
To Love God:
When a person loves God.....he begins to Love the things of God, and Hate the things that God hates. Soooo.......ask yourself: Do you love God? Do you love the things that God loves? Do you hate the things that God hates? Do you love sin? Or do you hate sin? The bible tells us of the things of God. The bible tells us what is sin. We don't have to like Gods word, but it is His word just the same. Gods children love His word. Be sure to read your bible faithfully so that you will know your heart is aligned with our Lord.
"Brutally Honest"
Heard the term? Know what it means? I think some have gotten so passive over time that when someone speaks the truth from scripture, it is hard for them to swallow. No-one wants to say anything that will "offend" anyone. Personally.....I do not wish to offend people either BUT sometimes the truth must be told with a pure heart. Not so that others can run and cry in pain but so that others might wake up to reality. Sometimes God chastens us......not because He likes us to suffer but because He wants us to grow. He wants the best for us and sometimes the truth hurts. I am not here to condemn you but rather to say: "Hey!!!! Wake up, the time is at hand!!! Time is short! This is serious!"
I want to light a fire under you! I want you to LIVE IN THE PRESENT for the future! For eternity.....live for eternity. I feel that too many of us are sleeping....we need to wake up and stand for what is right.
July 31st 2009:
Ahhhhh............I have been thinking again about how I have been feeling over the last few years. I am not the only one who has been feeling this deep almost forboding blah that evvil is everywhere and God must be coming soon because of all the evil in the world. I have felt defeated, helpless, small......almost incapable? I have recently realized that this is the enemy! How dumb right? Well the pressure or the "weight of the world" so to speak has been heavy on my soul for a long time now. However.......I have felt like there is NOTHING "I" can do to change it! Guess what? The enemy has been defeating me in my mind! I have been defeated when I wake.....defeated when I walk through the day......defeated when I go to bed at night. I have been wandering around with no real purpose. After all.......the "end" is near and I can feel it! Right?? WRONG!!!!! It is a LIE!!!! "I" can make a difference through Christ who strengthens me!!! The bible says is 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Boy does this land need some healing!!!! So?? I'd better get to it eh?? Anyone else wish to join me? God bless and keep you........ :O)
Below are some absolute truths......I have recently been told that I should be sure to keep studying the scriptures with Gods grace in view and with that, I would likely rethink some of my opinions .... likely frequently.
I feel that ..... wow I am not even sure why the comment was made or what part of my page the person was refering to.
All I can say is: I often rethink my opinions......as I learn and grow, God changes me on a regular basis. Although He often changes my approach and some of the processes that spin around in my heart and soul....His word still stands true. Unwavering, steady and strong. Unchangeable.....
Grace....grace, grace....we live and breath by the sheer grace of God.
Gods grace is sufficient for me, for you, for everyone.
Romans 5:1-2 says: Therefore being justified by faith , we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:8 Says: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
The point I am trying to make is that we are all sinners, we all fall short, we all fail......However when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and get saved by the Blood of Jesus, we are accepting His free gift of salvation. We are then saved by His grace THROUGH faith. If you are not saved, the offer is still on the table. He died so that we might live. He died while we were all sinners. He died for all of us. Before any of us alive today were even born. It is by faith that we receive the gift.... so even though the offer is still on the table, only those who by faith accept the offer will receive the gift. Those who do not, still live in their sins and need a savior to cleanse their soul. Without a savior, our destination is hell.
Grace? Yes, grace comes from God. I only speak to you as a person....not a perfect person, not a person that judges you falsely.....a person that hopes that you will find the same hope through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that I have found. Many of us walk through life not realizing what is right or wrong......I am not going from door to door telling you your faults. I simply wish to expose to you some common issues in society today. Remember, balance is the key. God is not one sided. He is perfectly balanced. He is neither left nor right......He is completely righteous. Get to know Him today? :O)
Before going any further.....please understand that if you are a person who nis not saved, You can be forgiven of your sins. There is nothing you have done that God doesn't know about. He knows your deepest and darkest secrets. He has sent His only son to die on the cross so that His blood would be an atonement for your sin....and mine as well. God is not a respecter of persons. God loves us all and wishes that we would all choose Him. However.....it is our own choice. He will not force us. Won't you accept His free gift of salvation today? Simply confess to Him that you know you are a sinner, ask Him to forgive you for all of your sins and invite Him to be Lord of your life. He knows what is best for you.....He created you. God Bless and keep you......
Just for the record here are some Absolute truths:
1) Homosexuality = ABSOLUTELY WRONG!!!
2) Abortion = ABSOLUTELY WRONG!!!
3) Murder (of the innocent this is not the same as war) = ABSOLUTELY WRONG!!!
4) Divorce = Wrong! God did give certain situations but again......there is a big picture. Marriage is for life! Choose wisely!
I will be adding to this list as God puts new things on my heart.
Homosexuality.......Choice or "born that way"? Ask yourself this question: If God HATES sin, and if God considers homosexuality to be sin......(Start with Romans Chapter 1) why would God create a homosexual? This is not rocket science. To say that homosexuality is not a "choice" is like saying that molesting a child is not a choice. BOTH are serious sinful hangups and neither is more "sinful" then the other HOWEVER......God does not take too kindly to harming children. He states that it is better for that person to tie a mill stone around his neck and cast himself into the deepest part of the ocean then to offend one of the little ones. God.....to know God is to Love God. To know God is to RESPECT Him, honour Him, reverence Him, worship Him. To fear the Lord is the begining of wisdom. Why fear? Fear generates respect. A healthy fear is a good thing. To know that we are not in control of our own life......like who can decide if they are to wake up in the morning? God decides. Litterally, He brought us into this world......He certainly can take us out! To fear and respect the virtual power of our living God is a very wise thing. To love Him is a precious thing........To realize His love for us and the sacrifice He made for us......is a heart wrenching and glorious thing. To know Him......to really know him is to love Him. Again, back to homosexuality.........It is a choice! No doubt about it. A choice to live in sin. There is deliverance in the blood of Jesus for that sin also! He CAN and WILL deliver the sinner that comes to repentance. You can be set free......you CAN be free. It is your choice. God is not going to force you to change He will however reward you according to your actions. Yes, you will indeed reap what you sow. God is not a liar.
A man recently read this post and emailed me saying that God created homosexuals. If this is true.....why does God condemn the act? The fact is: GOD created Adam and Eve. He created male and female. Both in humans and in the animal kingdom. This man also tried to defend his stance by stating that animals also exibit homosexual practices. He must be meaning female dogs trying to mount other female dogs ect. By this interpretation of the act, he must also think that since some males dogs are leg mounters, beastiality is also acceptable. Since animals will mate with their offspring......by this mans understanding, incest must be acceptable? Even though this practice has proven to be harmful for the offspring genetically. Homosexuality has also been proven to be harmful to those who practice it. That is the way sin is......
This is not about hate...... Christians should not hate homosexuals. Christians should be honest about the truth concerning homosexuality. However, Christians should still show Gods love to the homosexual. Homosexuality is no different then other sin such as lying, stealing, people that are having sex out of marriage, people that watch pornography......and the list goes on. The point is, God says it is sin. So we can either believe God and be set free or believe the world and keep pretending it is okay. This only covers the problem and it will never be fixed. God is the only one who can deliver them. God was the only one who could save ME from my sins. God would rather that all would come to repentance and be saved. However, He will not force anyone to choose Him. He will however reward each of us for our choices on judgement day and He will decide where we will spend eternity.