Category: Woman to Woman

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38

Today we are discussing how we dam up the flow of living water in our lives and the truths that break the dam and set us free.

So, join in the conversation as we break loose the flow of living water. 

“Each on will receive his own reward according to his own labor” 1 Cor. 3:8.

In 1 Corinthians chapter three, Paul tells us that we will all receive rewards according to our own labor. This chapter goes on to warn us to take heed how we build on the foundation of Christ for in that Day when we stand before Jesus face to face, our work will be tried by fire.

Today we are breaking down the general rewards mentioned in scripture.

So join in the conversation as we discuss the promises of general rewards

“Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him” James 1:12

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon continue their conversation about the five crowns mentioned in scripture. These crowns are known to be rewards that some will receive when they stand before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ where all believers will receive praise from the Lord.

Romans 2:14: “The day will surely come when at God”s command Jesus Christ will judge the secret lives of everyone, their inmost thoughts and motives, this is all part of God’s great plan which I proclaim.”

God in His mercy has made provisions for us to escape His perfect justice through Jesus Christ paying our penalty and anyone who accepts His perfect plan  will never know condemnation.

“And I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment that you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” Phil. 1:9-11.

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon continue to discuss the controversial topic of judging. Philippians 1:9-11 describes why judgment is important in our daily lives and how it brings glory to God. When we understand the right definition of judgment and practice judgment according to scripture, we will know better why we are commanded to judge.

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men” 1 Thessalonians 5:14.

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie Ratzlaff and Sharon Hoskins discuss the scriptures which give instructions that require discernment. If we continue to read in 1 Thessalonians 5:15-23, we discover many more discerning instructions such as; follow that which is good, don’t render evil for evil, rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything, do not despise prophesying, do not quench the Spirit, and prove all things. These commands describe a lifestyle of discernment that will benefit our whole spirit, soul, and body to be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many times in life we are making decisions before we are filtering it through God’s word. Other times we let our emotions get the best of us and we speak before we think. Join in this conversation that challenges our spiritual growth and apply the practical ways we can begin to live a lifestyle of discernment.

“For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32.

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon discuss the demand we hear from the world, not to judge; however, we find scriptures that command us to judge. So, how are we misappropriating the truth of scripture and misusing the term judge? Join the discussion to discover the different definitions of the word judge, ways to distinguish it in context, and the command we are given to judge unto righteousness.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure of mete, it shall be measured to you again” Matthew 7:1-2.

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon discuss the scriptural definition of the word judge. Matthew 7:1-2 tells us not to judge; however, Philippians 1:9 says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.”
It seems that some places of scripture tell us not to judge while other scripture commands us to judge. This is not a contradiction of scripture as some may think. Today we will dive into what is being overlooked in these verses.
So join in the conversation to uncover the answer to the perplexing question; To Judge or Not to Judge!

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

God has not left us in ignorance as to the consequences that await us for having live our way and not His.  Ours may offer earthly pleasures for a season but the dangers are horrifying beyond our understanding.

Let’s enter the courtroom of our final appearance before the Judge, Jesus Christ, and ask the Spirit to open our eyes to His Word revealing a life separated from God and His Son, Jesus Christ, The Pathway to Hell.

“The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” 1 Timothy 13-14

In every letter Paul wrote in the New Testament, he begins with a salutation of grace and peace to you. He was given the ministry of the gospel of grace to the gentiles; that grace is extended to all; God shows no personal favoritism to any man woman boy or girl.
The scriptures say that it is by grace we are saved through faith and that not of yourself, it is a gift of God. This gift of grace seems to be a mystery that most Christians struggle with understanding or even having perspective of today.
So join in the conversation as we explore the abundant blessing that comes with grasping God’s grace.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God” John 1:1

This one statement, John let us know who wrote the greatest book ever written. The
Word was in the beginning, the Word was with God and the Word was God. This leaves
no question for our minds to wonder who is responsible for the Word of God, the Bible,
written for our eyes to read.
In this information age, it is becoming more difficult to discern what Truth is as opposed
to what is just a truth, depending on your point of view.
See how GRACE gives us all that we need for our travels here in this life. We are called
to know the Truth and that is by knowing the AUTHOR of the Truth.
Travel with us back in time to see how knowing the Person known as TRUTH
establishes a life of purpose from the Gospel of Grace.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2 Cor. 5:17

Learning to walk as new creatures in Christ is a process; the old things have truly passed away. But, out of habit, we can grab up those old things and wear them as a robe even though they are really not our true identity.

So we invite you to join in the conversations as we uncover practical ways to put off the old and put on the new.  

“For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age” Hebrews 5:13-14

These verses make a clear comparison of how we feed spiritually in much the same way we do physically. Babies can’t digest solid food and babes in Christ struggle spiritually to digest the more advanced teachings from scripture.

Today we discuss how we should desire the pure milk of the word, yes; but we should also desire to move on from the elementary things to more solid foods so that we can grow into maturity.

So join in the conversation as we examine ways to Promote Spiritual Growth.

“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” Titus 2:13-14.

Easter is a time that the world celebrates spring with egg-laying bunnies as mascots. But, for the Christian, this is a time that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, so many have re-named it Resurrection Sunday.
Today we are discussing how the blessed hope of eternal life was given to us by the finished work of the Cross; where Jesus died and rose again, can be passed to every generation.
So, join in the conversation as we discuss the foundation of Mentoring the Next Generation.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul” Psalm 23:1-3.

The little shepherd boy, David, wrote this Psalm and he grew to be a man after God’s own heart. The many quiet nights alone gazing up at the stars and the many days, walking through the pastures tending to the sheep, were spent talking to the Lord and listening to what He said. David’s relationship with the Lord was built in the shepherd’s field.
The same is true for us; our relationship with the Father is built in the quiet alone time with Him. That is when He prepares us for the lions, bears, and giants we will face throughout our day and life.
So join in the conversation as we discuss the many benefits of spending time in the shepherd’s field.

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” Psalm 23:1-3.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes, He leads, He restores, prepares, and anoints! Here, in Psalm 23, David makes a comparison of the Lord’s care for him, to the way that he himself cares for his father’s sheep.

This time of quiet aloneness in the shepherd’s field prepares David for the future he doesn’t know is coming. He will face a giant and run for his life among many other obstacles that David encounters as king.

We too can be prepared for the unknowns that we will face, if we will find a quiet Shepherd’s field to be alone with God; a place where we can listen and be still, waiting for His voice.

So, we invite you to join in the conversation, as we examine how Jesus, the Great Shepherd, cares for us in Psalm 23.

“O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water” Psalm 63:1

The hustle and bustle of everyday living can rob us of the best that God has to offer His children. We like to multi-task everything, trying to accomplish the most of our day. So, we add our time with God as a chore on our “to-do” list.

But throughout scripture, we are told to be still before the Lord and wait patiently on Him alone. Jesus even said in Matthew 6:6, when you pray, go into your room, shut the door, and pray in secret to Your Father.

Today we are looking at some examples of people who found strength in quiet aloneness.

So join in the conversation as we discover the greatness of being Alone with God.

“Teach us to number our days so that we may grow in wisdom” Psalms 90:12

We want to get organized so our days will run smoothly, so we don’t forget we
write everything down and then find ourselves with a list that takes a week to
complete, and we need to get it done in a day. It is called busyness.

Now the Bible talks of not being idle and using our time wisely. When we ignore
these instructions, we get trapped in the blunders of busyness and miss the
blessings waiting for us. The problem with busyness is that it robs us of the
goodness of God as He waits to get on our schedule.

Ephesians 5:15-17 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be
foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is”

Today, we discuss how our character reflects the attitudes of a pressured person
and prevents quality time in helping others as well as ourselves. People always on
the run seldom have beneficial fun. Pursue Freedom from Busyness

“The thief comes not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly” John 10:10.

Sharon and Janie continue their discussion on busyness and how to unplug. There are times in our life when unplugging is absolutely not possible. Janie shares some great tips on what we can do in those situations. The discussion covers how we can evaluate the busyness in our life to determine the source. What power source do we have our busyness plugged into and how can we reconnect to peace and rest?

“But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise” Matthew 22:5.

Sharon and Janie tackle the topic of busyness. None of us are excluded from busyness, most everyone is affected by “too much to do and not enough time to get it done.” Busyness is often the result of taking responsibility for what is meant for God. The culture in which we live screams GET BUSY! Our children are encouraged to be involved in every activity at school, we are encouraged to be involved in every activity at church, and with career moms today, it seems that everyone is pulling at us from all directions. There are many times when we desire to slow down and get unplugged, but it ends up being more complicated than simply pulling a plug because everything is entangled, and shutting down seems impossible. There are some warnings in scripture that we need to be aware of and evaluate where we are in the busyness of our own lives.

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” Philippians 4:4

Joy is very often associated with adversity in scripture as the result of accepting the hard times of life.  We don’t wait for the hard times to come before we learn the art of living in joy and developing the mindset our Lord shows us throughout the Word.  Adversity can promote the progress of the Gospel in many different ways.  We must not make it our goal to get out of difficult situations as these may be a part of the calling of God in working out His eternal plan and purpose for getting the Good News to all.  Resting in His wisdom for each of our lives will keep us from discouragement and wanting to throw in the towel when we think we have heard His voice and then plans don’t go according to our best intent, agenda, and desire.

Adversity will have unknowns and complexities, but the foundation that will hold us fast is: looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, renewing our mind in the word, bringing every thought into captivity in a commitment of total surrender, acknowledging our fears and dread of the unknown.  Claiming JOY is all circumstances and learning how to apply, and finally waiting on the renewed mercies to live one day and maybe each hour in trust, obedience; made possible through love and led by the Holy Spirit as Grace Covers All.

“And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” Philippians 1:14

One of the best descriptions of Joy is:

“Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart, for the  King is in residence.”

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” “Rejoice in the Lord, with a whole heart, and be glad”.  The Lord is our foundation and source of true joy, with the Holy Spirit guiding us on the path to knowing Him as our life.

Joy is a gift for the hard times of life. It is a source of encouragement to all that can possess it and see it flowing between each other.  Jesus first, Others next, and You last will spell JOY.

True Joy expresses a right relationship with a desire to be of the same mind and of one accord in the spirit of servanthood and humility.  If we have that spirit within us, there can never be disunity. Even with differences of opinion, we can and must have the same disposition.

Let’s explore the Joy of Unity of being one “IN CHRIST” and a part of His family.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these” Mark 12:30-31

Attitudes are the foundation on which our actions are built.

This sentence gives us a picture of the important role attitudes play in our lives. Our attitude must start from scripture. Putting Jesus first, Others second, and You last will produce real JOY, but living out JOY cannot be done in our own strength. The scriptures are what gives life to joy in our lives. Joy is experienced through a leading of the Holy Spirit. Paul gives us an example of joy in his letter to the Philippians; which was written while he was chained in prison, yet joy flowed from his heart.

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in Your presences is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” Psalm 16:11

The new year is here and we are wishing people a Happy New Year.  We want people to enjoy the new year putting old memories behind and look to a bright future.  Some people are very sincere when they give this salutation, and some say it is a matter of tradition. But is happiness as good as it gets?

The Lord offered a better word in place of happiness.  It is joy.  Happy is connected with happenings and some are good and some not so good.  When we depend on our circumstances to determine how our emotions and thinking relate to our happiness, happiness falls short of what is being offered by the Lord. His joy comes from delighting to do the will of His Father and praying that His disciples may have this joy fulfilled in themselves.  John 17.22

Discover with us the surprises that await when we choose to see His example, understand the joy He offers, and follow the path that leads to true joy regardless of our outward condition.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father , but is of the world” 1 John 2:15-16.

(“I Will Choose Christ” by Kathy Troccolli can be found at Kathy’s Website)

Today on Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon discuss the benefits that a storm brings. Avoiding a storm may seem comfortable and safe, but we are missing out on the benefits that come in the end. Friendships formed, relationships healed, and character built. Even the forgotten dark clouds that hang over our heads with sudden lightning strikes can cause a jolt of nutrients right to the heart.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me” Philippians 4:13.

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon conclude Philippians Chapter 4 where Paul shares peace from prison with the saint in Philippi.

Peace is not a commodity that we can buy and sell, peace is a person. So what Paul is saying is that he has learned to be content because he knows in whom he has entrusted his life. Many different circumstances have proven that Jesus Christ has always been sufficient. When we develop a solid relationship with God then peace can rule in our hearts. So forming a habit of spending time with God will help us find that close relationship and in that we will know Him, trust Him, and peace is the result.

“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” Philippians 4:1

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon continue their discussion in Philippians Chapter 4 where Paul shares peace from prison with the saints in Philippi.

Division can cause us to be separated from all that peace has to offer. Paul teaches us how to bring back unity among the brethren.

They take a trip to Revelation Chapter 3 to look at what Jesus said in His letters to the churches. We can get so busy and wrapped up in all that life throws our way that we too can lose our first love.