A Good Thing

Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

When the Bible says something is a "good thing" then I want to know what it is!  Goodness knows we have enough to fight and deal with on a normal day, so if there is something good to be had, I want it!  Don't you?

Well, the Bible says it is a good thing if our hearts are established with grace.  I studied this verse out a little and found that the writer of Hebrews was talking to the Jews about the observation of unclean and clean meats instead of realizing Jesus had been our sacrifice and now their duty was towards Him and accepting His gift of grace and mercy. 

You and I may not be swayed by the thoughts of the Old Testament Law, but we can be swayed by today's wrong teaching if we aren't careful.  God wants our hearts.  He wants them established in what He has done for us and if we are stable, then we won't be in turmoil about how to live and act.

I have lived long enough now to see that many times my heart has absolutely not been established by grace.  I have clung to rules, traditions and performance much tighter at times than I ever have just God and God alone.  Honestly, I have struggled in this area because I have an independent spirit that wants to "do" something with my life and yet, I have a very tender heart when it comes to preaching and I want to go to the altar and change something every time I listen to a good sermon.  There is nothing wrong with being tender, but there is something wrong if I am not stable in the decisions I have already made concerning God having my heart!

Just so we are clear, I am not talking about standards like dress or music etc.  I will leave that to your own family and husband's leadership.  I am talking about your heart and what rules it.  This is really important if we are going to get to know God better. 

I wake up in the morning and the first thought I have about God is that I want to please Him with my life that day.  Yes, I get up and let the dogs out, make coffee, say hello to my kitchen mouse, but then I am thinking about my Bible, God, my sin, aggravation with my flesh and how to make today better than yesterday spiritually speaking.  I believe that is the right path to being established in grace in my heart.  But what knocks me off of that path is when I look at facebook and some other missionary family who seems to have it all together and their ministry appears to be thriving more than ours.  Or, I read a book and think, wow, this person has already written and published a book and they are my age, what have I done for the Lord?  I will read another blog and wonder if I even know anything about God at all because this other lady sure knows how to explain Scripture better than I do.  And pretty soon, I am no longer wrapped in the comfortable embrace of the grace of God in my life, but I am all tangled up in the lust of my flesh for more, the pride in my life for more, and lusting to read more about others to prove to God how lame I really am through self abasing.  Grace?  What grace?  My heart begins to weaken and another day is on its way to being lost.

In thinking about Hebrews 13:9, I have come to the realization that God wants me to have a stable heart.  He thinks it is a good thing for me as His child.  So, the question is, how to stabilize my heart?  I am to think about God and God alone.  Not what the world says, not what a book says, not what religion says, but how God has revealed Himself to me in HIS Word.

1. He said I should lay aside sin that easily besets me. - Okay, so I could list here: anger, insecurity, pride, jealously, anger, cheesecake :) and oh yes, anger! lol  (Hey, you have your besetting sins....I have mine...don't make me angry about it! ha ha)  Let's be honest and set those things aside.  Tell God you want Him to have your heart today and you don't want it ruled by all the other junk.

2.  He said I should look to Jesus who is the beginning and end of my faith. - Okay, so that means I set my goal today to look upward.  Not at the fact someone was rude to me, not at the fact someone was mean to one of my kids, not at the fact that someone criticized my prayer letter, (oops, anger is creeping into my post!) I am to look towards Jesus.  And you know what I see?  A tender, loving, compassionate God that accepts me with my flaws and wants to help me right them!  (warm gooshy feeling begins overriding the anger or discontent immediately)

3. He says I should not run every which way after every doctrine and new fangled sermon, but claim my spot in His grace.  Where is my spot?  In Lages.  I am Mark's wife, first and foremost.  That's my job.  I meet his needs.  Then I am Katie, Wyatt, Amelia and Sam's mom.  I am to mother them in the right way.  I am Terry and Sharon's daughter, I am to honor them.  I am a missionary and there I serve as a mouthpiece for the Lord.  Not how someone else is a wife, mom, daughter or missionary, but how God has led me, taught me and nurtured me in His Word. 

Are you grasping at pleasing and performing today instead of being stable in His grace?  Stop.  Come back to the foundation of salvation.....grace.  Jesus has taken care of everything for you to be God's child, now it is your part in history to let Him have your heart.  He promises not to leave it, not to forsake it and to work a work in you that HE wants.  Don't go looking for something more perfect than Jesus because such a thing doesn't exist. 

Remember, just offer God your heart.  He will keep you in the way you should go during the day and that is a GOOD THING!

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21

Until next time, Lord willing!
Sheri

Weekend Getaway # 15

Psalm 119: Getting Started!

Ps 119:1-8 ¶ ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. ¶ Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. ¶ I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”

As stated in Wednesday’s blog, I do not want to be known as someone who takes God’s Word lightly. Matter of fact, I want to be remembered while alive and after death to life, as one who took God’s Word seriously as the very Words from His lips….not words of man. Also, I need to reiterate that our God does not need me or anyone He has created to play magic or havoc with His Word. HE IS GOD! His Words are perfect and does not need Word Perfect or spell check!!!

I have to admit that I have fun listening to God and hearing Him teach me. I am not in your brain and thank goodness you are not in mine. I have shared this little plan with other women and have watched them use it while making it fit for them, certainly not for me.  When a student in our school is caught stealing or lying, we give them the Word of God along with whatever punishment is necessary because we desire to see the Word make a permanent mark of importance and change in their heart. If that child is born-again, the Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance the portion of scripture that was memorized thus keeping them or at least helping them to NOT make the same mistake.

God promises in Psalm 119:1 to bless the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. So why would we not take these words literally right at the beginning!  This acrostic poem of Psalm 119 is powerful, energetic, exciting and challenging. Several different words are used for “God’s Word.” There are twenty-two letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Don’t worry, you don’t have to memorize them but you should read them to become familiar with the sound as we take this little journey together.  There are 22 stanzas, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  This Psalm is the longest chapter of the Bible with 176 verses.

I took the 22 stanzas and divided them up into 22 days. I chose the days to fit my schedule. A woman’s cycle varies and could be more or less of those days but for lack of explanation, think of those days as needing to walk through this plan.  On the week-ends I took a break from Psalm 119 but not from the Word of God. During the week with Psalm 119 I read other chapters but my main focus for a period of “a long time” was this Psalm. Several things happened in my life because of this decision. I will share some with you, but again, this is not about me, but about a Living, True, Real God who is ready to make Himself known to you that only He can do, not me. Don’t forget that. I will disappoint you. Men will disappoint you. Your husband and children may at times disappoint you, therefore, always keep your eyes on God and your ears open to Him, and His Word.

Choose a verse in Aleph, the first stanza, and memorize it. Look for it; rehearse it in your brain while you read the eight verses, talking to God out loud if possible.

For example:   Verse 1:  “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, (I am blessed of thee, Oh God and will keep myself from being defiled today) who walk in the law of the Lord.” (Show me Father how to walk in your law today. Keep my feet close to you. I need you, Father. Thank you for blessing me. I don’t feel very blessed today. I feel rotten, but I know your Word is true and right now, I accept that truth.)

Verse 2:   “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. (Lord, I am going to memorize this verse today. Help me to say it out loud when I want to scream or my patience runs thin with the children. I can’t do this alone, Father. I need you. I need you. Sometimes, Lord, I feel like I’m losing my mind but your Word is telling me to seek you anyway. Therefore, Father, here is my whole heart. I place my heart, my guts, Lord, out before you. I feel worthless, useless and cannot cope right now, but Father I need your blessings and I WILL say this verse several times today believing you will not only deliver me, but bless me. Thank you Father for helping me to do this.)

Verse 3:  “They also do no iniquity:  they walk in his ways.” (Lord, I don’t have to sin. I don’t have to get mad, sling things around, throw stuff, and say hateful words to those around me. That is sin and I know I have you right beside me walking with me. Help me God to not fall down, fall off the wagon, and go backwards. I feel like running again. Keep my feet stable, walking in your steps. Make your steps deep as clay….take my hand and pull me forward….I promise to slip my foot in the print just ahead. Move in front of me Lord. I am scared to death. I can’t do this alone. I just CAN’T!)

Friend, buy a journal just for this journey. Write your thoughts out even if you cry while writing. Just do it! Copy the verse to be memorized and start memorizing, saying it several times a day. I will continue this blog next week. If you don’t need this, PRAISE GOD, be thankful and know that your day may be tomorrow!

Until next time, Lord willing,

Sharon

Don't rot in the fruit bowl!

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Recently I did a small study on the words I found in my Bible reading that started with "re".  There were some great little truths to be found as I dug around and dwelled on the thoughts shared for us by our God in His Word.  Words like, Rejoice, Relied, Refuseth, Removed, Receive, Respect and the word for today, "renew". 

I am so looking forward to you being able to read Mom's next few posts from Psalms 119.  God knows where we are all at and what we all need.  I had this passage on my heart last week and didn't realize it would be something very useful in my own life.  It is good to go back and "RE" member all that we have read and sometimes taken for granted isn't it?

One verse in my study which is very often quoted and preached on is Isaiah 40:31.  As I looked at the familiar verse and the word "renew", I saw that the Hebrew word used there was different from the other verses in the O.T. that used renew.  It brings the idea of restoring something that is decayed.  This made me stop and pause for a moment to think of all the times I have felt parts of my spiritual life have decayed.  Maybe because of sin, lack of caring for a specific area or defeat from a trial.  Have you ever felt that way?  Decayed?

The word decayed makes me think of my fruit bowl when some kiwis or apples have gone bad.  It starts stinking, and the flies start having a party around it.  When the fruit is all nasty, it is time to throw it out and wash the bowl, so clean fruit can replace it and a good smell restored.  It is no different for you and me.  When our attitude has soured, our prayers begin to stink, our lives begin to rot and we need a thorough washing of our hearts.  Not salvation again, but restoration back to cleanliness.

Let me share this thought with you, we ALL feel broken from time to time.  We ALL have bad days.  We ALL fail miserably in our pursuit of knowing God better.  The key is not to sit and wallow (or waller if you are from the South) in it.  You can be restored from that decay.  You just have to look at your position the way God sees it and then do what He commands you to do, by faith that He will take care of the "renewing" part.

If you feel broken today, may I suggest that you take the time to get alone with God and explain yourself?  Don't let it be a one sided conversation, be honest with Him and then let Him speak to you.  I doubt He will send a plane by that writes in the sky a detailed list of instructions, but He will use the Holy Spirit residing in you to lead you to the right Scripture, or the right person that will point you to the right Scripture.  All of that rottenness you feel in your spirit can be remedied today, if you step out on faith and ask God to restore you.  I promise, God will keep His promises!

Enjoy this week in the Lord, don't live it feeling broken and rotten.

Until next time, Lord willing,
Sheri

Life Changing Thoughts for the Woman in the Change of Life

Ps 119:1 ¶ ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

I did not know when I wrote this blog that Sheri had chosen Psalm 119 for the Week-end Get Away last week and for that I am convinced God is leading us day by day to write what He tells us to write. It is very important to have God's ear while He has your ear at the same time. He will walk with you and talk with you as the song says, AND He WILL tell you that YOU are His OWN!

In my early forties it was not uncommon for me to get home at midnight after driving a van full of athletes from a late night of coaching basketball, volleyball or softball. It just depended on the season. Because I am an early riser, I adjusted my time, jumped up only to begin the process all over again the next day. My schedule became more and more intense. I loved the screaming energetic girls and the excitement after a difficult challenge especially when the score was in our favor. I knew my day of coaching would end eventually but I have to admit I loved it! I was beginning to see some signs that my body was tiring, wearing down if you please and I was not sleeping very well. Even now, I don’t sleep like most women do. My doctor says, “It’s just you. Your body has accustomed itself to less sleep.” I was surviving but not thriving.  I had all the warning signs of a train wreck in slow motion and then one day, it happened. I had my first mini stroke. 

For a few minutes in my life for which I shall never forget, I lost my memory (oxymoron) but I did remember the extension number to the main office of the school where Stephanie, my daughter, was working. I didn't understand it, but my body was shutting down quickly. I thought I was going to die.

If you are reading this and you have had an experience where you didn’t know where you were and who you were, it can be pretty terrifying. I have more respect for women who have gone through similar episodes. My body was preparing me for the change in my life and I wasn’t ready to move on and I actually rebelled against it.  After spending the night in the hospital and going through some extensive testing, I knew more adjustments in the circle of my life were about to happen. I was prescribed hormone replacement and to that I really rebelled. I tossed those in time desiring to go the natural route. One doctor appointment after another and one test after another all pointed to that dreadful word, “menopause” or as Grandma would call it, the change of life! Doom had arrived. Thank you, Eve!

Ok, I’m getting older. I get that. Check! I need something to balance my emotions. I get that. Check! My next question was, “How long does it take for a woman’s hormones to get in balance?” Isn’t there an overnight fix or something? When a tire is out of balance it just takes a little moving around of the threads. Right?  I’ve heard of women actually taking a shot of whiskey each night just to relax, but I was a Christian and wasn’t inviting Jack Daniels for a sleep over!

The urge to take off running....anywhere.... came. The urge to kill (scary) crossed my mind. The urge to scream happened more than once. Been there? The urges were more and longer in duration. I was actually doing ok, as long as I was close to an escape route to get outside……anywhere away from people. I’m just being honest with you, friend, because I want you to know what God did for me when I cried out to Him for help. The hot flashes were bad but not as overpowering as I have heard some women experience. Actually, hot flashes can come with a lot of energy if you can think while they make their attack on your body. 

Husbands try to understand, but husbands do NOT understand! God bless us each and every one!!

Before I give you a plan to consider while going through the change of life or menopause, please do not misunderstand my intentions. God’s Word is not a magical wand for which we can pick up, wave and say a few hail Marys’! No! Ten thousand times…..NO! My desire is to share with you what worked for me and not only worked for me at that time of my life, but has continued to be the stepping stone of other solutions to a variety of problems women face today in this crazy, wacky world! And you know what? It is free! Doesn't that just flip your wig?

My plan includes the Word and Words of God, Himself, whispered in a time of urgent need. Do you remember the first time your husband kissed you? Now, go ahead and try to remember and don’t be so self -righteous and skirt around this question because I want you to get a picture of comfort. Do you remember when he would call you on the phone? In my day the phone was smack dab in the living room for EVERYONE to hear the conversation. There was nothing like those first conversations of getting to know each other. Remember? May I add that there is nothing as comforting as a few words from someone you love and who loves you.  Now, let’s see if we can hear God’s Word speaking to you, dear lady, as you may need Him desperately, right now. If you don't need Him right now, you will. Trust me.

The study of Psalm 119 saved my life! I couldn’t breathe back then. Been there? I couldn’t read a lot of scripture in one sitting during this time of my life, but I could read a portion of Psalm 119. Been there as well? Psalm 119 became alive to me because the Words became my prescription for the day! Each day God gave me His prescription. It isn’t magic. It isn’t a new way of approaching God’s Word. It isn’t a new translation or version of the scriptures. It isn’t a fix or hormone adjustment and certainly not a new revelation from God. No, it is much more than man can ever think of, invent or prescribe.

It, He, became as real to me during those months and following years as the very breath in my body. The next blog I would like to share step by step a simple plan that just may save your life or someone else's life. I am not a writer. I am a sharer….is that a word? I make mistakes. I talk funny but I am real and I can tell you one thing, “God is able to deliver the one who thinks there is no hope or who thinks she cannot be delivered! He can and will meet every stinking need you have, dear friend because He LOVES you more than life!"When was the last time you quoted John 3:16? That's how much He loves YOU.

Until next time, Lord willing

Sharon

Consider and Provoke

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Christians are infamous for quoting this verse and not obeying it.  We, (especially Independent Fundamental Baptists) like to see ourselves as having attained some plain of higher spiritual existence whereby we gaze down on all the poor souls beneath us who have not known Christ like we have.  Surely someone who didn't attend the same Bible college or listen to the same preachers could never know the spiritual pleasures of walking with the Almighty that we have known....at least I know I have felt looked down upon from such high and lofty people, haven't you?  And I reckon I am just as guilty of peering down my nose on occasion as well.  I can sum this all up in one word:  Flesh.

Our flesh wars against what the Spirit tells us to do.  The Spirit of God leads us to pray, humbly, yet boldly.  Our flesh says, "Perform, put on an act, pretend that you pray."  The Spirit of God tells us to serve, love and provoke one another unto love and good works.  Our rotten nasty old flesh says, "What is good for the goose is good for the gander, let your fellow brother suffer!  He brought it on himself.  Had he been a good little Christian like you are, he never would be facing these consequences.  Let him writhe in his pain." 

We consider our fellow brother and sister just long enough to judge them and criticize them, but never in a desire to provoke them to love and unto good works.

We are truly an awful lot of believers.  We turn our face from those with difficult problems that take longer than the 15 minutes we have to "befriend" them.  I put that word in quotes because a real friend is there as long as one needs them.  We get tired of counseling someone who won't listen to Truth, so we shrug our shoulders when we see them paying the price.  But what if we decided to really pray for people?  I wonder what lives would begin seeing a change.

My dad has taught me more about prayer than any biography I have ever read about George Mueller or John R. Rice.  Yes, they were great men, but I have seen my dad pray.  When someone is sick, heart broken, dying, in despair, has wayward children, lost loved ones, etc.  and they ask my dad to pray, he prays.  Not just one time, not in general, but he gets specific about it and goes to the throne of God until something happens.  Dad is a perfect example of Hebrews 10:24.  He listens to people.  He considers them.  He gives them godly advice and then he goes the second mile and prays as if the problem were his own.  To me, that is provoking unto love.  When I have a problem and Dad says he will pray, my heart is lightened and I feel a love towards him and towards Christ.  He provokes me to want to do the same for others.

What are you provoking people to today?  Are you constantly looking for ways to reinterpret what they have said to you until you find fault?  Are you so jealous of your sister that you can't see that they love the Lord and are just trying their best to serve Him?  Are you so filled with pride that you can't ever see past your own selfish ways to really concern yourself with people that need a friend?  Am I hitting any nerves?  I want to provoke myself to more love and good works and in turn be able to provoke others to love more. 

I leave you with a quote from a book called, "The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached" by Pastor Tom Brennan.  This quote provokes me to pray.  I hope it does you as well.

" God likes to be asked.  Roll that thought around in your mind for a while before your eyes hasten along the page.  He is not annoyed by our requests.  He does not view us as bothersome little creatures rightfully beneath His notice, taking up too much of His valuable time.  He enjoys when we come to Him to meet our needs instead of turning elsewhere.  It warms His heart toward us."

Friends, if God sees us like that, why can't we see our sisters that way as well?  Let's not be annoyed by them, but let's be thankful they are at least searching for help.  Let's open our hearts and point people towards this loving God who NEVER turns His back on us. 

If you want to be part of a prayer group and not just give requests, but really commit to praying, message me on facebook or by way of email.  If we will gather together, HE will be in our midst!  Let's see some things happen for the cause of Christ.  Time is short.

Until next time, Lord willing,
Sheri

Belly of the Whale, Part II

Na 1:1 ¶ The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
Na 1:2 ¶ God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.  

The story of Nineveh is intriguing, I can’t help but to think of our Unites States.  We have become a great nation, whose leadership has turned the hearts of the people from our God. Nineveh didn’t know God for the first round, therefore, God sends Jonah to go and warn them of their destruction if they were not willing to turn to Him, the Living God. What can we learn about God in this true event recorded in the book of Jonah and then in the book of Nahum.

God loves us! He wants the world to know about Him and He calls us as weak and powerless as we think we are, to go and spread the news of the Messiah. It blows my mind to think that God can use me to do anything for Him. How are you doing? Do you feel that sometimes you just can’t do what God has put upon your heart to do, or what you think He may WANT you to do, or what someone else expects of you? Do you find yourself measuring yourself against another woman? Shame on you! You are you. You are special, unique and one of a kind. Welcome, friend! You are just the one He can use because you first have to understand, "It is not you, anyway. It is God in you." We are nothing. God is everything. Remember, Jonah was not in the belly of the fish alone. God was there in the midst of the cesspool with him as he swam around trying to figure how to get out.

Poor Jonah didn’t trust God enough, until he was in the monster mash and his whole thinking process was literally turned upside down. You and I can be stuck in a fish or stuck somewhere else but God AIN’T STUCK NOWHERE! He knows right where He is, and more importantly, He knows right where you are. Don’t wait too long to get started with that new ministry or get back into the one you “used to” work. Time is running out and Nineveh will be destroyed.

Where is your Nineveh? Who is your Nineveh?

As my husband and I face the three score and ten, we have begun to understand why the senior side of our church is tempted to kick back and lay low. No wonder they just smile and let the younger crowd plow right through. It is burdensome to keep the old paths and stay within the old landmarks. Hey, the old songs still work, though! The King James still gets a handkerchief shaken at it every once and awhile, and the old altar still calls for the sinner to come home, softly and tenderly, friend. God has not changed! The Gospel is the same. Jesus and Jesus alone, still saves. There is no other way, friend. All we need to do is get busy doing what the Word of God says. Easy, peezey, right?

NOPE! It is not easy! It takes a lot of work which is something many of our younger crowd lack. We have to encourage them and not be critical. They need to see us work harder, stay up longer, get to work earlier, and stay ‘till the job is done. I call it “pushing through” and it is difficult for this generation to do. They want more vacations, more money; less work, bigger houses but wait……didn’t our own parents say the same about us? We are a most selfish people, aren’t we? Jonah was no different! He was selfish and wanted his way. He didn’t want to go to these God forsaken people on their way to Hell! In his mind, they deserved Hell. We all deserve it and no one is above sin. NO ONE!

And now, over a hundred years later, Nineveh is right back serving other gods, lazy, full of whoredoms, drunkenness and liars. These wicked men were acting like women according to Nahum 3:13. The famous beloved Matthew Henry describes these men as and I quote from his commentary, 

“they have no wisdom, no courage; they shall be fickle, feeble, and faint-hearted, as women commonly are in such times of danger and distress; they shall be at their wits' end, adding to their griefs and fears by the power of their own imagination, and utterly unable to do any thing for themselves; the valiant men shall become cowards.”

Whoa……COWARDS…..Sound familiar today?

Don’t back up, back in, give in, quit or run! Keep on going. Find your niche. Get started before Nineveh hears from Nahum and it is TOO LATE, people.

Na 3:5-7 Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.  And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?

It was too late for Nineveh, now. Just too late…….God said that enough was enough. Their truth of Him flourished at the beginning, but then that light became darkness.

Mt 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

As we learn more and more about Him, our Great God, may we never forget He gives us light to share and multiply.  If we walk away from the light, darkness WILL take over and oh my, how dark life can be. Don’t allow your own darkness to cause you to stumble and be of no use to Him. Live today as if Nineveh depended upon it.

Until next time, Lord willing

Sharon