Sharon Baptist Church

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

Inspirations

He is Present and Faithful
by Brenda Kis

Deuteronomy 31:8

“The LORD himself is who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged.”
Excited about their future, the family was traveling to visit relatives.

Mother was driving, the three young children were strapped into their seats, and Dad was lying down in the back of the van because his back trouble did not allow him to sit. They had just sold their house and located a lovely old place on a lake in a faraway state where Dad would be working.

Suddenly, a truck rammed into the back of their vehicle, exploding both their peaceful journey and their dreams. Though everyone else was safe, in one tragic instant, Dad became a paraplegic.

Did God forget to go before them? Did He fail and forsake them?

No.

He who endured the death of His own Son on the cross was there with this family — my family. Because of sin, we live in a broken world. Because of Christ’s death, we have hope that someday we will live in a perfect heaven.

I know God will take this tragedy in my family and do something immeasurably greater than what we now perceive.

The God who is with us when things are going well is also with us in crisis. His purposes are full of love and grace toward us and this despairing world. Whatever you are facing, know this: God is there to guide you to the next step.

Reflection

What provides encouragement for me in troubling situations?

Prayer

Dear Lord, I need Your guidance and encouragement. Please help me recognize Your presence and faithfulness in all my circumstances. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

06/17/2026

Inspirations

When the War is Over
by Ami Hendrickson

1 John 5:14

This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.
On April 9, 1865, the American Civil War officially ended.

For four years the war had raged, pitting brother against brother on opposite sides of a conflict which claimed approximately 750,000 lives.

War was never part of God’s original plan. God is a God of love. Of peace. Of goodwill to all humanity. But God can use even the most horrific circumstances to reach out to His children.

During the course of the American Civil War, several revivals swept the country. On occasion, preaching, hymn singing, and prayer would continue non-stop for a full day or more, with meetings full to overflowing. Some estimate that nearly 350,000 soldiers were converted.

As war ravaged the country, destroying property and fragmenting families, supporters of both sides prayed to the same God. They asked for their loved ones’ safety and pled for God to bless their cause.

Did God hear their prayers? Of course He did — even when the outcome was different than they hoped.

While it’s certainly true that prayer can change the course of history, it can do something even more amazing: it can change hearts and lives for eternity.

Someday every war on Earth will be over. But we have the promise that as Children of God, we will have the privilege of boldly living with Him forever.

Reflection

What am I boldly asking of God in my prayers? Do I trust Him to listen?

Prayer

Loving Lord, May the words I speak, the thoughts I think, and the prayers I utter please You now and forever. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

06/16/2026

Inspirations

Hiding in Jesus
by Darla Noble

Psalm 119:114, 116

You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word. Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Someone once told me they thought Christians were people trying to hide their heads in the sand instead of facing the realities of life.

I replied: I’m not hiding from life. I’m hiding from danger, harm, death, and destruction. And I’m not ashamed to admit it!

When you hide in Jesus, you are hiding from sin. You are putting yourself out of your enemy’s reach and into the loving arms of your Savior.

When you hide in Jesus, you rest in the arms of the One who comforts, directs, protects, and provides abundance.

It is so wonderful to have Jesus as your hiding place and as your shield from the cares and concerns of the world.

Jesus is The Word of God (John 1:1-4). The Word is life and the Word is your hope. He upholds you firmly, according to His word. In His care, you live a safe and abundant life that is unimaginable without Him.

When Jesus is your shelter, you share Him with everyone you meet because you love them and you want them to have the same wonderful blessings you enjoy yourself.

Reflection

If Jesus is my hiding place and shield, and He is also the Word of God, what does that say about the importance of reading and studying my Bible?

Prayer

Dear God, Thank You for being my hiding place and shield in an insecure, hopeless world. Help me to do everything possible so my loved ones also find their hope in You. In the wonderful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

06/15/2026

Inspirations

Making Good Works Good
by Heather Tietz

Romans 11:5-6

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Six hundred and thirteen.

That’s how many rules the Israelites were obligated to follow. It was, perhaps, a purposefully impossible list. It seems God wanted His people to see that perfection was not humanly attainable. They needed His grace.

One common Jewish prayer began, “Master of the Universe. It is not on the basis of our righteousness that we lay our requests before Your presence, but because of Your great mercies.” God’s people back then, God’s people today, can’t make themselves perfect. We can’t keep ourselves sinless; we need God’s grace.

Christians aren’t fenced in by 613 rules, but the one principle we strive for — following Jesus — is just as impossible without God’s grace. In spite of all the good we do, all the times we share our faith, all our giving, all the children we foster, the homeless we feed, the charities we support, the gospel messages we share, all those great works that reflect our loving heart can’t make us any more Godlike than those 613 Old Testament rules.

If doing good made us righteous, then our motives would be selfish. We would be using others’ impoverished states to glorify ourselves. Our good works wouldn’t be good!

God’s grace must come first. Then, empowered by God, off we go lovingly into the world to spread His goodness.

Reflection

What “good works” am I invested in? How do my works stem from God’s grace?

Prayer

Dear God, I’m a sinful person in need of Your grace. Please empower me to do good for You and this world You love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.