As Mothers of Nations we represent Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God everywhere we go and in everything we say. Most certainly we should consider and value the character quality of integrity in our daily lifestyle as well as in ministry. Over the next four weeks, let’s dig into this topic of “integrity” and consider both the challenges and blessings, especially as it relates to the world we live in today.

What is integrity? The dictionary indicates three facets of integrity. First, it is the quality or state of being complete, unbroken, whole, and entire. Secondly, it is the quality or state of being unimpaired, in perfect condition and soundness. The final definition offered is the quality or state of being of sound moral principle, uprightness, honesty and sincerity. It is this third definition that we will focus on these next several weeks.

How is this character quality of integrity developed? Character is formed by both the world and by the Word. The Word shows us what Godly ch...

Psalm 103: 1-5 (NLT)

1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy Name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

1 Thessalonians 5: 18 (NLT)

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

This coming week here in the United States we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. In today’s entry let’s take some time to think about the topic of thankfulness and gratitude. Mothers of Nations, we have MUCH to thank the Lord for as we count our blessings.

Briefly looking at the history of the founding of our nation, we know that because of disagreements between the English Separatists and the Dutch, they left their homes for a new land, a place to take the Gospel and star...

Today we will finish our discussion of the wounded spirit.  I have asked the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and minister healing to any “wounded residue” He finds as we complete our study. 

I think we all know what happens with a wound that is never allowed to heal. Over time it goes deeper and deeper into our heart of hearts until it can actually affect the health of our physical heart or other organs. We have all heard of people who experience sickness, disease, and other life torments as a result of the poison spread through the wounding process. Jesus said that He came to bring life and life more abundantly. He came to heal our wounds and help us overcome pain in our life’s journey.

Jesus said in Luke 4: 18 that He came to heal the brokenhearted. Psalm 34: 18 says that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 147: 3 tells us that God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Maybe you have developed a wounded spirit. Y...

Several years ago I heard a man share about the loss of his teenage son due to a drunken driver. As he spoke I could sense that his wound was still there in his spirit. Counseling classes had encouraged him, advocates had assisted him, and organizations helped him cope to some degree. But the wound to his spirit was still evident and will remain until he allows Jesus to completely heal it. Jesus is the healing balm that covers and heals the deep, deep pain of a wounded spirit. 

So many things can create wounds to our spirit. Unforgiveness, false accusations, divorce, wrong words spoken at a time of crisis, abuse, loss of vocation, guilt, sorrow, and false prophecies are just a few. Divorce alone wounds the couple, the family, the friends, the children, the church, and only God knows how many others. I believe that is one of the reasons that the Word says that God hates divorce. Divorce wounds everyone it touches. It does not matter how we do it, word it, cover it or try to fix it, div...

As we continue our study of the wounded spirit, let’s acknowledge the effect of sexual promiscuity on our hearts and lives.  In truth, sexual promiscuity will wound our spirits. Using our bodies in ungodly ways, rape, incest, molestation, and personal violations can wound as well as deeply damage us. There are so many people today that are victims of sexual abuse. It is truly an epidemic of evil inflicted on the innocent.

This sexual misconduct creates a barrier to emotional growth in an individual’s life. A person can literally get “stuck” emotionally at the age the offense occurs. This results in forty-year-old women with eleven-year-old emotional growth. The little girl is still inside that adult body waiting for healing from those traumatic moments in her earlier life.

Rejection is another major contributor to wounded spirits.  Rejection from family, friends, parents, leaders, ministers, or anyone causes wounds. Can you imagine growing up in a home where you heard words spoken to...

As we continue with this study of the wounded spirit, let me share two relatable examples from my own life.

My younger brother got polio when he was just a small toddler. Because of this he had to wear a leg brace and use crutches during his grade school years. The children in school would call him “Captain Peg Leg.”  That cruel name not only wounded him emotionally, but it also really bothered me as his older sister and brought hurt to my heart as well.

I still vividly remember when he joined the basketball team at a later age. They would let him play in the games once in a while. There he was running with a crippled leg, trying to bounce the ball and shoot a basket. It was extremely hard work for him as he tried to participate. It was also extremely painful for me to watch, yet I admired his courage and his willingness to try to overcome his physical disabilities.

After I married and had children, we went through a time when my daughter was a victim of gossip during her high schoo...

As I began to learn more about how the Lord could heal wounded hearts, I was brought back in my memories to an incident that occurred at a relative’s home when I was around seven or eight years old. Somehow during a ten-day visit with family, I had come down with pneumonia and my parents had to take me to the doctor. I vividly remember that the medicine prescribed for me cost eight dollars which was rather expensive at that time so many years ago.

When we returned to the relative’s house my mother started to express her concern about the price of the doctor’s visit and the medicine. As she entered the kitchen she turned around and yelled at me, “You should have worn a sweatshirt like I told you. Then this would never have happened. You would not have gotten sick if you had dressed warmly.”

Being sick, scared, tired, and now embarrassed and shamed, I looked at her in shock. Something internally happened to me that day. I began to think that when someone was scolded, it had to be MY fa...

Proverbs 18: 14 (NKJV) says, “The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit (a wounded spirit)?”  Our natural spirit can withstand much pressure and stress, but when our heart/spirit gets wounded, crushed, shattered or bruised, we have a difficult time recovering and moving forward. 

Our spirit is hurt when it is wounded. It is like trying to walk when our leg is broken. We are trying to live and overcome challenges, but part of our being is injured or festering with hurt.

Psalm 38: 1-22 (NKJV) really exemplifies this whole situation well.

• O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!
• For Your arrows pierce me deeply, and Your hand presses me down.
• There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin.
• For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
• My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness.
• I am troub
...

Many years ago I found myself sitting in a women’s Bible study listening to ladies share their hearts regarding hurtful situations. Just as the time of sharing was closing, one of the women said to me, “Sharon, why don’t you lead worship at our next meeting?”  I was absolutely stunned and then proceeded to tell her all the reasons why I could never do that – because I could not sing! After I finished my tirade of excuses she simply responded to me, “You CAN sing. I’ve heard you.”

I tried to reinforce my statements about my singing inabilities but she just kept countering every argument with, “Yes, yes you can!”  Finally she said, “Who told you that you couldn’t sing?” 

I then explained to her about a time long ago when I was asked to prepare a singing lesson for an elementary education class I was taking in college. The requirements for the course included getting up in front of our class and leading all the students in a song. When my turn came, I mustered up all the strength and co...

As women leaders and Mothers of Nations, for this coming year of 2022 let’s remember that God has chosen us and equipped us for this specific time in history. We are His contemporary Esthers! Ladies, be bold and go before the people and pave the way for the new ideas God has prepared for this year. Be innovative and creative, operating in faith and love.

John the Baptist knew where he came from and what his assignment on earth was in his day. Do we know our assignments?

First of all, we live to honor God in all we do and say. Secondly, we were born to be a vessel for the Master’s use. Thirdly, as a woman we are to yield to God’s will every step of the way. We are a witness of His love and are destined to make a difference in our community and all our relationships. Finally, we are God’s messengers of hope to our confused and lost world. 

Remember that John the Baptist lived in obscurity until his time came. And now WE are entering OUR time in 2022! Let’s take our territory for the K...