Category: Woman to Woman

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak be patient with all.” I Thessalonians 5:14

There are different ways of encouragement, some offering warmth and comfort.
Other opportunities may stretch our soul and emotions, however, it is necessary if
we are to have healthy growth in our walk with the Lord.
Today, come explore with us some different aspects of being an encourager!

“The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1

Many times, when challenging circumstances are put in our path we immediately
seek some pain killers, change directions and try to escape. We are not ready to
learn a life lesson.
The Great Shepherd knows exactly what we need and how to provide the
solutions that bring relief to us and glory to His loving and faithful care. Life is not
all about us, but Psalms 23 greatly reveals to all the steadfast and everlasting love
the Father has for those sheep that are His. Can you identify with Him as your
Protector?

“His divine power has given us ALL things that pertain to life” 2 Peter 1: 3-7 – the
goal is love.

What the world needs now is love sweet love so goes a song. Looking around and listening to news sources, social media comments and each other’s conversation, I think we all could agree. The problem appears to be we have established our own interpretation of love and our report cards, in most cases, reflect poor grades. Why, oh Why??
Examine the outline in verses 4-7 of 2 Peter chapter 1 and see what class you may need to enroll in to live life in love.

“Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?” Luke 24:38

As followers of the Lord Jesus and trusting Him, we find our faith can be tested
and even perplexed at times with uncertainly. The Lord knows these times will
occur and gave us an example of His caring for two of his learners after
experiencing the death and burial of their King. What had gone wrong?
Walk with us today as we talk the wonders of how God is always willing and
wanting us to see the larger picture of His master plan. It is not always plain and
simple from our viewpoint. A true account of knowing why the resurrected life of
Jesus Christ is essential in our living here and now.

“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with HIM” and likewise, you also, reckon
yourselves to be dead indeed to sin.” Romans 6: 6-11

There is a marvelous guide in knowing how to walk step by step in Romans 6. We will peel back the principles of our position that can show us how to walk in victory. It is easy to know, but hard to “grow.” Self will keep on sinning if we keep on offending. Don’t waste your sorrows!

“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their SENSES exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14

We are given natural senses at birth and they can be the gates where we allow
the world to invade our inner person. What we see, hear, feel, touch, and smell
influence who we are. Likewise, we are also given spiritual senses that are used
properly to affect our ability to discern and walk by faith.
Learn how people who walked by sight discovered how to discern the difference
between facts and feelings forming lives that are governed by faith.

“Thomas, believe because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Is what is really real only what you can see and feel? If we are told to walk by
faith, how do we have our eyes open to “see” the unseen as real as the seen? Can
my head knowledge be enough or does seeing include the heart?
These questions lead to an interesting conversation on what is entailed in our
lives to encourage us to learn the “faith walk.

“Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6

There are a lot of opinions of what real faith is and how it works. Hebrews 11:1 states, “that faith is the substance of things hope for the evidence of things not seen.”
With our advance visual devices and media exposure, we want to see everything and if we look for the unseen, the goal is usually not to explore deepening our faith.
Join our discussion today to gain understanding, God’s way, to “see the unseen.”

“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7

Hearing, knowing, and applying what the Word says regarding our blessings and protection as new creatures in Christ will prevent us from falling into the same trap as Eve did in the Garden of Eden.When she listened to the voice of smooth deception, she set herself up for reaping what she chose. The results of her wanting more for herself proved the heart was deceitfully wicked and who can know it? Only as we listen to the voice of the Lord Jesus expressed in the Bible can we stay clear of the AGONY of deception. Listen as we discuss the Truth in being a new creature in Christ and avoid the pitfalls of bad choices.

“For the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword dividing between soul and
spirit.” Hebrews 4: 12

When the disciples wanted to know HOW TO PRAY they had to retrain the brain in how they understood the words of Jesus. Knowing what He said and why He said them required a heart adjustment. Today, we look to the Words of Jesus for deeper insights into a guiding light that defines HOW TO PRAY.

“For the thing I greatly feared has come up me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” Job 3:25

Do you pray according to the mind of God? Job certainly thought he did. Then, trauma and tragedy hit suddenly with intensity, and he worshiped. In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. That was only the beginning of sorrows. How did Job pray when fear and dread lingered and friends became  the enemy. How was his heart tested?

Delayed answers to prayer can expose hidden weakness not revealed except under intense testing. Job praying in anguish cries out from the heart about his loss.

Let’s go back in time and hear Job’s questions and the way God chose to answer.  Was his final outcome worth the trial?

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.”  Colossians 3:2

As we put on the full armor of God according to Ephesians 6 our prayers are answered as we pray boldly. Boldly praying includes being earnest in knowing what is needed, making sure we are vigilant in request with thanksgiving, and never forgetting that the heart must be in tune with all issues requiring praying with boldness. 

 One goal in boldly praying is that doors will be kept open as pressures mount from within and conflicts surround us. Today we discuss the command to know how to pray and the necessary diligence needed to continue in prayer, boldly by faith, for the harvest is ripe, but the workers are few. 

“I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercession and giving of thanks be made for all men” I Timothy 2:1

This exhortation was made by Paul to Timothy for encouraging him to have the flock pray in public worship.  That is very hard for some people but there was a need for knowing and bearing the burdens of others, listening to heart needs that may be difficult to discuss but easier for others to hear our hearts on their behalf. With a desire to open your heart to blessing others it gives confidence that they are being remembered before God when maybe they “just can’t pray right now, too overwhelmed.  When  Jesus talked to His Father in prayer He made a specific requests submitting all to the Father’s perfect will.  Let us not grow weary in well-doing and do not allow lies to place fears in us to hinder the flow of heavenly answers for earthly problems.

“So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.” Hebrews 4:16

To have the freedom to come boldly before the Throne does require being prepared to enter into that room or area. Remember Esther of the Old Testament, where she spent months preparing to go before her king, who was also her lawful husband. We likewise want to make sure our hearts are right so that our prayer, petitions, intercessions may be answered.

Prayer can be super simple in a very young child offering up prayers and petitions only knowing it as “talking to Jesus and God.” Whether we want to believe it or not, nothing happens from the heart and mind of God unless it begins with someone in prayer.

Explore with us the wonderful privilege and responsibility of being able to “talk with God.”

“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35

We don’t learn love through a textbook, evaluating how the bones are growing longer and stronger, or how we are getting smarter, but the process is happening all the time.  The Father says He has given us His love through His Son. He is love, not just that He has love. 

His love in us cannot fail, but we can fail when we use our intellect to learn His love. As we grow through our failures His sufficiency holds and teaches. Let’s unravel what we need for a life in love that never fails. 

“They angered God also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses on account of them: Because they provoked God’s Spirit, so that Moses spoke rashly with his lips.” Psalms 106: 32-34

How many of us have experience:

The Blame Game, “its your fault”, “You made me so mad”

”You hurt my feelings or you don’t meet my needs”

Have these thoughts ever cross your mind and you used the silent treatment to make someone feel guilty?” How about lashing out in a verbal frenzy assuring the other person they are wrong.  Sounds crazy but many do this?

As we accuse one another do those same pitiful arguments go back to our God for His “mistreatment” of us?

Living lies is the surest way to the door of misery, anger, anxiety and blinding us to the Truth.

Is it a lie that we must earn God’s love? Is it ok to get impatient with God’s timing on how He is working in other lives?”

Come investigate how we accept lies to avoid pain and suffering. Learn how we are bombarded daily with lies to keep us under the control of the enemy. Don’t let lies believed as truth affect you as if they were true, even though they are LIES.”

“love does not brag or parade itself, is not puffed up.” I Corinthians 13: 4

The root meaning of brag or parade itself is WIND BAG – a lot of hot air. Ouch, then how to you build up someone else or speak of the wonderful works in ones life that do not come across as bragging? Pride can easily puff us up. Telling the Truth with one another becomes imperative as we live in days on confusion, isolation, and just no knowing what is real truth and what is “truth”, based on someone’s opinion or agenda.

Be ready to open your door to inner attitudes of violating God’s expression of True Love and how to build up one another and not puff up ego, when many are needing encouragement in these difficult days.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.” I Corinthians 13: 4

We tackle what real love looks like as we see the lack of love  exhibited in envy, arrogant bragging – being a hot windbag, and  , being puffed up.

“We all stumble in many things” James 3:2. Stumbling should not become a habit or lifestyle. We “bear, believe, hope and endure” all things when one falters, showing longsuffering and kindness. God’s love is the only love that can change people’s lives forever.

Let’s explore the Word together as we discuss how true love will mold, melt, fill and use  us as lights in reflecting His love.

Psalms 32:5  “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up in iniquity. I said: “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Forgiveness is not an easy subject to discuss, but if we ever want to live in freedom there must be forgiveness. Forgiveness from the Father was necessary to pay for and remove our guilt. This allows us to then forgive one another. But freedom was not free – there was a price to be paid. Father God and Jesus

Christ with the Spirit secured that freedom, once for all on the Cross.

Now, we are commanded to follow through in living in that forgiveness, forgiving others. This is not a feeling choice, but a heart willful decision.

Then why is it so hard to forgive? In a word, PRIDE. We want to bring about justice in our way.

We share today the consequences of failing to forgive and how to move forward with total forgiveness.

Philippians 4:6-7: ”Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Emotions are a great gift from God, but we often give them a negative review. They originate within our thinking and most of the time we recognize them from our misuse rather than responding to them favorably. A vocalist belts out:

 Emotions, you get me upset
 Why make me remember what I want to forget
 You worry my days and torture my nights
 Emotions, give me a break
 Let me forget that I made a mistake

And on goes the trail of tears that lead us down the path of emotions ruling our lives and we don’t even realize they are our final authority in how we interact with others and the choices that influence our hearts.
If you are wanting a fresh start with some happiness loaded with joy and topped off with tranquil peace, listen to the discussion about understanding Expectations in Relationships.

Ephesians 2:12 “Now may the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Expectations begin at birth and grow and change as we grow and mature. We are not aware that we have these mental and emotions desires, wants, and needs. HOPE longs for peace and happiness to find fulfillment at an early age.
It isn’t long before our moods and disappointments result in anger and are loudly expressed when we don’t get what we want. Some expectations are valid and some are a display of our ego and selfishness.
If we are not taught to recognized what is good and bad as we grow, we will react selfishly and repeated actions will form habits that spiral down into deeper problems.
This study illustrates what can happen as we sit on the throne of our lives yielding to the symptoms of wounds and worry causing anger and anxiety. If left unattended, an unwanted visitor called depression may come to stay. Let’s look at the solution to see how to keep HOPE alive.

“Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God. The purpose of my instructions is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.” 1 Timothy 4-5

In 1 Timothy 1:4-5 Paul tells Timothy to not give attention to teachings that cause disputes rather godly edification which is of  The Faith. The goal of this commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.  We need the assurance of our faith and how it operates to check our fears.

Wrong teaching will bring fears to the thinking and emotions, paralyzing our ability to contend for the faith.

We are not left helpless because we have the Holy Spirit living within guiding us. His love will flow through us as we choose to keep a good conscience from a pure heart.

If we refuse to listen to the counsel given, our minds become the battleground for the conscience becoming dull and not able to discern. The Word of God keeps the conscience sharp.

Join in our conversation as we look into some of the traits of the defiled, evil, and seared conscience.

1 Timothy 1:5 “But the goal of our instructions is love from a pure heart and a good conscience  and a sincere faith.”

As we look at the qualities of a good conscience, we find some definite character traits that we want to build into our thinking as we are conformed to His image.

“In keeping us on course, it will lead us to a  victorious walk” 1 Timothy 1:18-19

“We will commit ourselves to knowing that we have a good conscience, and we will desire to live honestly and honorably” Hebrews 13:18

“For we are God’s workmanship created for good works.” Ephesians 2:10.

We can say the same that we were created to have a good conscience. A good conscience will exhibit kindness with graciousness in an agreeable and pleasant manner.

Join in our discussion of sowing and reaping the benefits of a GOOD CONSCIENCE.

 “Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul would have soon lived in silence” Psalms 94: 17

We talk with one another to enjoy encouragement and enjoyment, we hear information that guides us in daily activities, we share warnings for protection and we express our affection and love in caring for one another.

Today, if our conversations involve lots of dramatic changes foreign to our way of life,  negative thinking and emotion are the results. As our world blares out the battles that rage, our conversations can stay very superficial to avoid “feeling” bad and overwhelmed. We hear “That is enough, I’m not listening anymore” and we shut down the gift of communicating because the brain struggles with what to retain, and brain fatigue sets in. . We fail to realize in shutting down our conversations, in any depth,  we also close our hearts to real needs.

Our conscience is a tool the Holy Spirit works with to give us operative freedom to choose the content of our conversations. We can avoid idle chatter. So,  listen in and loosen up as we discover the workings of the Conscience to maintain meaningful conversations.

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139:23-24

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon discuss matters of the heart. As we read the words David prayed to the Lord, we to can ask God to search our hearts and thoughts to expose the things that we are unaware of.

“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth” 2 Peter 1:12.

This week on Sharin Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon discuss the importance of remembering.

“Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent” Revelation 3:3

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon discuss the topic of remembering.

Isaiah 30:18 “ Therefore the Lord will wait that He may be gracious to you: and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.”

In the times we live it is much harder to wait and be still than to work and be busy. If there is uncertainty, WAIT. Always, if you have doubt WAIT.  Do not force yourself into action. If you have restraint in your spirit, wait until all is clear.

Waiting for God is not laziness, going to sleep, or abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, activity under command, readiness for a new command that may come or the ability to do nothing until the command is given. To wait is to live a life of desire toward God, delight in Him, dependence on Him, and devotedness to Him. He is the reason we are willing to wait in life that we may know Him in a deep abiding relationship and be prepared to worship, work, and wonder at the grace that is ours throughout eternity.

On the other hand, the world wants us to be getting instead of giving, organizing rather than agonizing, playing instead of praying, selfish in place of service, worrying and not worshipping, anxious rather than patience, loathing replacing loving, working preferably to weeping, whining instead of waiting on God.

Follow the path that is prepared for us in waiting on God by being still before Him. Jeremiah 6:16

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie Ratzlaff and Sharon Hoskins explore attributes needed in our lives as examples for living the Exchange Life God calls us to. What would that life look like?

Traits to admire and trust include: keep our words timely, our walk, and talk consistently. When under attack from others we respond by being quick to hear and slow to speak.

In difficult situations, involving more than one person will seek to support the weak and strong in finding balance, keeping unity and harmony to avoid unnecessary conflicts, so the goal may be reached.

Character, revealed by words and actions, will assure the observer there will be no sarcasm, double-tongued speech passed to others. Mature leaders lead through serving.

An Exchanged Life always encourages praise and gratitude and knows how to build up without tearing down; requesting accountability and loyalty with a sincere heart of LOVE.

So join in the conversation as we examine how Blessed Are Those Who Examine Their Heart.

Hebrews 2:1 warns and advises, “We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest  we drift away.”

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie Ratzlaff and Sharon Hoskins offer hope from the voice of Jesus Christ in the Bible on staying and standing strong under testing and attacks. Now, we need to recognize when we are under attack; sometimes from direct fiery darts, but many times in ways so subtle that we don’t sense the danger until we are wounded and wanting to cover up our wrongs; or worse yet, no longer care and believe we have need of nothing.

The Lord has provided understanding that our battleground is the mind. Scripture teaches prayerful ways to stay alert to the dangers that defeat us. Funny, because too much time on our hands can be as threatening as too little time, because of excessive busyness. Desiring our own agenda for relaxation and enjoyment has a high risk if not under the guidance of the Spirit. Our own agenda needs to be His agenda we have wholeheartedly sought.

As you listen today, examine your heart and ask yourself, what are my priorities that can lead to the blessings of repentance and reconciliation?

I Corinthians 15:57 and 58 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my Beloved, be STEADFAST, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not vain in the Lord.” 

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon discuss a steadfast heart. The heart has many descriptions of how it functions for healthy living in our bodies. It must be constant in its labor of faithfully pumping lifeblood through our arterial system. Likewise, our inner being also needs a steadfast function. There are special qualities that are evidenced in character when we understand the attributes of steadfastness. 

We will examine several lives that show us living examples of steadfastness and how steadfastness is developed, how it is defined as, firm, fixed in place, constancy, resolute, not fickle, or wavering. Has the ability to resist. It is the firmness of mind or purpose. 

To lack in this attribute is to weaken your ability to fight battles of life, whether in the mind or encountering the landmines of life.

Come join us in the conversation as we prepare to build this quality character so your labor will have a purpose in life.

John 13:1 tells us the love from Jesus’ heart endures and abides with those He loves until the End.

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon review the promise of Matthew 24:13 where Jesus declares that, “He who endures to the end shall be saved.”

If we lack understanding of the LOVE of GOD in these uncertain days, we will find ourselves developing bad attitudes of passivity and indifference in our minds and hearts to our world around us and those living with us.

God’s love is ETERNAL and how do we choose to apply that love in daily living? God loves us with the SAME LOVE as He loves His Son. How we perceive and live in HIS love can decide our Destination as well as our Destiny.

So join in the conversation to see how we have been grafted into His Everlasting Love that never fails.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon take a look at the heart of King David; who was a man after God’s own heart.

“Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. Selah. But You, O Lord, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill. Selah” Psalm 3:1-4.

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon discuss how we can overcome fear with faith. When fear overtakes us, then all our decisions, actions, words, and behavior comes from an emotional place that can paralyze our hearts and minds.

“Blessed is every one that fears the Lord; that walks in His ways” Psalm 128:1.

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie and Sharon discuss how to overcome the emotional fears that many Believers are facing today.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1.

This week on Sharin’ Hearts Woman to Woman, Janie Ratzlaff and Sharon Hoskins give encouragement in knowing that God is in control of all things.