Sharon Jaynes has been encouraging and equipping women through ministry for over 25 years. Through the years, she has taught various Bible Studies, served as a counselor at Charlotte Pregnancy Care, and mentored women from all walks of life. For 10 years Sharon served as Vice President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and co-host for their daily radio feature. She is the author of 16 books. She has also written numerous magazine articles and devotions. Sharon is a frequent guest on radio and television programs. Sharon is the co-founder of Girlfriends in God, Inc., a non-denominational ministry that crosses generational and racial boundaries to bring the Body of Christ together as believers. She, along with her ministry partners, Mary Southerland and Gwen Smith, provide daily on-line devotions read by approximately 300,000 subscribers and turn-key conferences packages.
"Could you please be quiet and leave me alone!” I commanded the squawking bird. “You are completely ruining my quiet time with God!” As soon as I sat down on my patio to do my morning Devotion, a little finch darted from a flower basket that had become its summer home. He perched on a tree in front of me angrily squawking in my direction. After several minutes of constant badgering, I decided to give that bird a piece of my mind.
“Look, buddy,” I said, “who planted those flower baskets in the first place? I did! Who hung and fertilized them? I did! And who waters them daily? I do! Don’t you come out here complaining to me because I chose to sit here and enjoy what I’ve planted. They’re mine in the first place, and I’m just letting you live there. And you should be thankful for that. Beside, you’re making a terrible mess!”
He continued hurling insults my way, and after a while I realized his angry complaints had a familiar ring to them. In fact, they sounded a lot like my own. Oh, how I complain when situations don’t go my way, when someone messes up my plans, or when someone invades my space. My, my, my.
Then God spoke to my heart. Who made this earth in the first place? Who planted and watered all you have before you? This whole earth and all it contains is Mine. I’m just letting you live here. And besides, sometimes you make a terrible mess. Stop your squawking and start chirping the song I’ve put in your heart.
It was a not-so-quiet time, but God’s message came through loud and clear.
Sharon Jaynes his an inspirational speaker and Bible teacher for women's conferences and events. She is also the author of several books, including Becoming the Woman of His Dreams, Your Scars Are Beautiful to God, and The Power of a Woman's Words. www.sharonjaynes.com Send comments to Sharon
“And dear God,” my little boy whispered, “I pray that you give Mommy and Daddy another Jaynes baby.”
After four years of praying for God to bless us with a second child, we realized that might not be His plan for our family. However, every night my little boy, Steven, prayed for another “Jaynes baby.” But how do you tell someone to stop praying a prayer?
As I pondered this dilemma, God took care of it for me. Just before his fifth birthday, Steven and I were sitting at his child-sized table eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He looked up at me, and with all the wisdom of the prophets asked, “Mommy, have you ever thought that God might want you to have only one Jaynes baby?”
“Yes, son, I have,” I said. “And if that’s the case, I’m glad He gave me everything I ever wanted in one package when He gave me you.”
“Well, what I think we ought to do is pray until you’re too old to have one. Then we’ll know that was His answer.”
Steven had no idea how old “too old” was. He knew Sarah in the Bible was 90 when she delivered Isaac. But whatever the outcome, Steven wasn’t having a problem with God saying no. My son knew I said no to him many times, and no didn’t mean “I don’t love you.” Rather it meant “I’m your parent, and I know what’s best for you.”
God taught me a great lesson that day. Through Steven’s childlike faith, God gave me an example of the attitude of trust I should have toward my heavenly Father who loves me and knows what’s best for me . . . and sometimes that means accepting when His answer is no.
