Mentoring Matters

“First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matthew 13:30 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/MM_2026_10_17_Wheat-and-Tares.mp3 Jesus uses the example of wheat and tares to show that believers and unbelievers will be rooted side by side, serving, singing, and even teaching. Often, we are spiritually unaware of the invasion going on around us. We get comfortable with the programs, traditions, activities, and routines of Christianity. Today we are encouraging believers to examine their hearts, evaluate their surroundings, and pray for discernment to confidently grow among the tares.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”  Psalm 139:23-24. https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/MM_2026_10_10_How-Great-is-God.mp3 David doesn’t see God as a historical figure or a distant entity; he knows Him as his creator who formed him in his mother’s womb. There’s nowhere he can go where God isn't, and no thought he can think that God doesn't know. In Psalm 139, David asks God to expose anything in his heart that he can’t see...

“For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ (which ascends) to God, (discernible both) among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to the latter one an aroma from death to death (a fatal, offensive odor), but to the other an aroma from life to life (a vital) fragrance, living and fresh” 2 Corinthians 15-16 – Amplified Bible https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/MM_2026_10_03_Garbage-Removal.mp3 A sweet, pure smell can awaken your senses, draw you to another person, or to aromatic surroundings. A sweet smell with just one pollutant can be a real “turn-off” to wanting to be near th...

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Cor. 3:16. https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MM_2026_09_26_Identifying-the-Root-Problem.mp3 Do we know that we are the temple of God, as 1 Cor. 3:16 so rightly asks? It seems that there’s a lot of wishy-washy living in the Christian society today. What causes our wishy-washy living? Matthew 7:24 says that a wise man, who hears God’s word and does what His word says, is like a man who builds his house on a rock. But a foolish man hears God’s word but does not...

"The older women admonish the young women to love, be discreet, to be chaste, good, obedient homemakers, that the word of God may not be blasphemed" Titus 2. https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MM_2026_09_19_The-Old-to-Young.mp3 There’s a trend in the culture to do away with the old, do away with history, do away with the old-fashioned ways of living. So, if we get rid of anything that makes us “feel” bad, we can “feel” good, and the world will be a better place, which is a total lie. Rewriting history doesn't change history; it only makes us repeat the same mista...

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you…be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph. 4:31-32 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MM_2026_09_12_The-Root-of-Anger.mp3 Everyone has basic needs, but when they are not met, anger and hurt often ensue. Over the course of time, unmet needs are stored in a part of the brain that remembers the negativity in life that triggers anger. Along with needs, people are entitled to basic rights, but when those rights are violated, then hurt and anger are the emotio...

“A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.” Proverbs 14:30 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MM_2026_09_05_The-Dangers-of-Anger.mp3 Anger is one of the most basic emotions that traps our hearts and adds more negative emotions to our problems, starting a roller coaster ride that takes us up and down through one or all of the following. Confusion in our beliefs Suspicions regarding others Assumed conclusions without having all the facts Relying on partial truths Believing lies as true To get off this roller coaster ride, the book of Proverbs in the Bible offers very pract...

“Do not associate with a man given to anger, or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself.” Proverbs 22:24-25 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/MM_2026_08_29_Anger-to-Apathy.mp3 Anger begins with an EXPECTATION of what we want, think we need, shocked at something or someone that causes pain to us. We all battle anger at some point. Telling a person to control their anger is like trying to pet a porcupine – porcupines are best left alone, and so are those who are chronically angry. Some people who are angry blow up, and so...

“Be angry, and do not sin. Mediate within your heart on your bed, and be still.” Psalms 4:4 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/MM_2026_08_22_Anger-without-Sin.mp3 So many physical functions occur in the body during sleep. Going to bed with a hot temper, or maybe just frustrated, irritated, or annoyed, will keep the body from resting and restoring a person to meet the challenges of a new day. We go against the very design given by our Creator. Now is a great time to evaluate and examine how to recognize the little signs and symptoms that cause us to choose to handl...

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/MM_2026_08_15_From-Anxiety-to-Peace.mp3 We hear people quote this verse and then turn around and refuse to apply these very words in their lives. The Bible is God-breathed; they are His words in the original text, but don’t use words of wisdom on me when I am bitter from circumstances that make me anxious, angry, and unforgiving. To replace bitterness with peace, we ought to listen to His Words; they do matter.  It is impor...

“Be Anxious for Nothing but in Everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your request be made known” Philippians 4:6 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/MM_2026_08_08_Fear-and-Anxiety.mp3 In these changing times, problems are commonplace, and anxieties can overwhelm. These words, “Be Anxious for Nothing,” address a situation within the church at Philippi between 2 women. The resolve was to be anxious for nothing and go to God for everything. Whether then or now, the Word of God remains timeless for the solutions to live in peace and be a guard for our hearts and minds. Let’s relieve the stress and tensio...

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MM_2026_08_01_Anxious-for-Nothing.mp3 We quote this verse a lot and probably think we are applying the Scripture in our circumstances the way the Apostle Paul described. However, we need to take a closer look at the details. Paul uses absolute words, such as NOTHING, not just a little bit sometimes. He further declares ALWAYS – there is to be a consistency in our thoughts originating in PRAYER; expressed through supplication and thanksgiving. Then, we are rea...

“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When you said, “Seek My Face,” My heart said to You, “Your Face, Lord, I will seek.” Psalms 27:7-8 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MM_2026_07_25_Steps-to-Maturity.mp3 When we are drawn by the mercies of God and our salvation is secure and complete, we are just beginning the progression of growing in grace and knowledge as we apply the Scriptures to our daily lives. There are essentials for establishing our Father’s will in fulfilling our maturity that is well pleasing to Him, and it is ea...

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” Eph. 3:17-19 This week on Sharin’ Hearts Mentoring Matters, Janie and Sharon discuss the gift of being complete in Christ, with all godliness and love. Recognizing our position in Christ, being students of the Word, and committing quiet, still, alone time with Father God are vital...

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” Revelation 1:3 This verse is an encouragement to read Revelation and to hear the words of its prophecy; it doesn’t say to read and understand fully all that is told. Many believers say that they are too afraid to read this book because they don’t understand it. Revelation is the revealing of Jesus Christ Himself. He is referred to as the Lamb 28 times in the book. It is evident that God wants us...

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MM_2026_07_04_The-Alpha-and-Omega.mp3 From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is made known. He is the subject of the entire Bible. He is the object of our faith. For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, Romans 11:36. Jesus was in the beginning with God, all things were made through Him, and nothing was made without Him, John 1:2,3. He is the chief cornerstone, and there is no other name unde...

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy 3:14-15 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MM_2026_06_27_Growing-Up-in-Christ.mp3 You MUST, Paul says, continue. This is a command to grow up in a Person, that is, Jesus Christ. Knowing about Him is just information, but when we grow up in Him, that is a precious relationship. Growing up takes effort because it c...

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” 2 Timothy 3:1-4 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MM_2026_06_20_Authority-and-Responsibility.mp3 These are the days we are living in right now. We can see that the world around us looks exactly like the description Paul gives in this passage to Timothy. However, when the church begins to resemble the same passage, we...

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MM_2026_06_13_Created-on-Purpose.mp3 To truly understand our beginning and purpose in life, we must return to the CREATOR of all life: GOD. He is the source of our genealogy. He wrote a single volume, called the Bible, that covers every issue, every trial, and every circumstance with the perfect solution and guidance for every man, woman, boy, and girl. We have the privilege of passing on the value of our existence to the...

“The sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MM_2026_06_06_The-Shepherds-Voice.mp3 When we hear the Shepherd’s Voice, it brings assurance and security as He speaks. There are times in our walk with the Lord when certain unknowns produce uncertain emotions that confuse our hearing. Fear will slip in and replace the sheep’s ability to listen to the Shepherd. Fear has many entanglements, and we get caught up in them, never realizing fear has replaced faith. Today, there is a way to keep this from happening...

“The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever” Psalm 37:18 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MM_2026_05_30_God-Our-Inheritance-1.mp3 As we conclude our study on the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find David has full assurance of his continued union with his great Shepherd for all of eternity. Today, we are focused on the character of God found in verse 6, where David declares, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” Psalm 23:6. We can rest in that as well as...

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot” Psalm 16:5 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MM_2026_05_23_God-Our-Portion.mp3 As we continue our study on the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find that David was confident that his Shepherd was all he needed. There was nothing that he lacked in his life. While alone in the shepherd’s field, David was never without; everything he needed was supplied by the Great Shepherd until his “cup runneth over.” Today, we are focused on the character of God found in verse 5c, where David declares...

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18. https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MM_2026_05_16_God-Our-Sanctification.mp3 This command to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord is impossible without knowing Him. Having a relationship with Him is the first step to growth. As we grow closer to Him in our relationship, we grow in knowledge of who He is and gain wisdom of His character that is saturated in grace. In our continuing study of the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find...

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies” Psalm 18:1-3 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MM_2025_04_05_God-Our-Victory.mp3 As we continue our study on the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find that David gained great confidence that his Shepherd would go before him in every situation. We h...

“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name” Psalm 33:20-21 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MM_2026_05_02_God-Our-Help.mp3 Many scriptures describe God as our help, and His help is described in multiple ways. Psalm 46:1 says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 121 says, My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved, will not let you slumber. The Lord is your keeper, your shade...

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MM_2026_04_25_God-Our-Companion.mp3 In each of the six verses in Psalm 23, David describes God’s character, which directly correlates with the names of God. As a shepherd himself, David understands the depth of love and care that is required to tend to the sheep. David then takes those insights in beautiful expression to describe how the Great Shepherd, God Almi...

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MM_2026_04_18_God-Our-Righteousness.mp3 Each verse of Psalm 23 gives names of God that describe His character traits. We can imagine David, a shepherd, knowing the depth of love and care that is required to tend to sheep. David takes his insights and expresses them beautifully about the Great Shepherd, God Almighty, tending to David as a sheep. Today, we are focused on the character of God in verses 3b and digging into supporting scriptures that affirm God our Righteous...

“He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” Psalm 23:3 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MM_2026_04_11_God-Our-Healer.mp3 In each verse of Psalm 23, we are given names of God that describe His character traits. We can imagine David, a shepherd himself, knowing the depth of love and care that is required to tend to sheep. He takes his insights and expresses them beautifully about the Great Shepherd, God Almighty, tending to David, a sheep himself. Today, we are focused on the character of God in verses 3a and digging into supporting scriptures that a...

“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” Psalm 23:1-2 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MM_2026_04_04_God-Our-Shepherd-Provider-and-Peace.mp3 Each verse of Psalm 23 gives the names of God that describe His character traits. We can imagine David, a shepherd himself, knowing the depth of love and care that is required to tend to sheep. He takes his insights and expresses them beautifully about the Great Shepherd, God Almighty, tending to David, a sheep himself. Today, we are focused on the character of God in vers...

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” Hebrews 13:20-21 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MM_2026_03_28_The-Way-of-the-Sheep.mp3 The comparison of sheep tendencies and the tendencies of us, God’s Sheep, is revealed in how we interact with each other as we grow in grace and knowledge. The great...

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” Psalm 23:1 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MM_2026_03_21_The-Way-of-the-Shepherd.mp3 David is the author of this particular Psalm and probably wrote it while tending the flock. As a shepherd himself, he understood the responsibility, hard work, insights, and abilities necessary to keep the sheep safe and healthy. Beyond the physical needs, David also understood the depth of care, attention to detail, and sacrifice it required on a personal level. Being a shepherd, David could relate his love for the sheep to the way the Lord loved him. Placing himself as a sheep unde...

“If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the Truth is in Jesus.” Ephesians 4:21 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MM_2025_03_14_Trading-the-Old-for-New.mp3 How we live is determined by what we believe. If Truth is in Jesus, then why do we have such corruption in our lives? Why do the daily struggles far outweigh the confident victories that are said to be ours?” There is a saying, “There must be a cross before there can be a crown.” The cross we need to embrace includes giving up our plans for the greater plans of the Savior, bringing our op...

“Believe in your heart that God has raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MM_2025_03_07_Beliefs-Revealed.mp3 Beliefs are vital to a person in establishing who they are, and this passage deals with the belief of WHO God is. We have blended our beliefs with the cultural and secular world, mixing percepts and concepts that will never work together. It is like oil and water. Oil is lighter and floats to the top. Likewise, we enjoy the light, easy ways of blended thinking, rather than searching out what is truly necessary...

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” Proverbs 20:5 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MM_2025_02_28_Purpose-of-Heart.mp3 We know that out of the heart proceed all the issues of life, but how does that relate to a heart's purpose? Does the heart plan on good or evil? What influences the heart in revealing what the priority is on which the heart thinks? In the physical world, a heart not working properly brings trouble to the whole body, and an out-of-balance heart also troubles our mind, will, and emotions. Take time out tod...

“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits.” Proverbs 16:2 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MM_2025_02_21_Tearing-Down-Defenses.mp3 We think we have our lives under control from our perspective and need no other help. A few bumps here and there, coping but never soaring, and often wanting to hibernate to escape living with everyday life. Whether it is in a relationship where we are being ignored, hassled, or if we are living with the results of our own poor choices, we find a way to survive. We keep everything on the surface...

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,  as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MM_2025_02_14_Recognizing-Defenses.mp3 When you meet someone, there is usually an introduction of your name and then something about what you do. It takes a name to make what you do important. Telling someone what you do without a name is incomplete to our identity. Likewise, part of our identity as members of God’s family is to be ambassadors, showing people what the family of God should look...

“The spirit of a man will be his support and sustain him when he is ill, but a broken and crushed spirit, who can bear.” Proverbs 18:14 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MM_2025_02_07_Self-Defense-Mechanisms.mp3 How do you handle and react to frustration and troubling conflicts? Some explode. Some turn their backs and ignore the hurt and pain. Others carry it inside and have unusual defense mechanisms that are hard to recognize. When we want to be strong in spirit, we must be pure in heart. Learning to observe what sounds good may be a cover for a heart that is coping...

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with the endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MM_2025_01_31_Repression.mp3 The important point laid out here is that we need to see how those who have gone before lived and overcame the snares of self. If we go against the patterns of freedom provided by our Savior, we can hold onto strongholds and repress reality. Eventually, we will explode, makin...

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be healthy to your flesh, and strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7-8 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MM_2025_01_17_Denial-and-Rationalization.mp3 Denial and Rationalization are two defenses we run to when we believe our own wisdom is the best choice for making decisions. This may not be a deliberate choice, but a place to run to in times of need, when survival is the priority and change is not desired. Surviving sometimes takes precedence over working through difficult disciplines for ultimate change.  When scripture is lac...

“The wisdom of the prudent (sensible) is to understand his way, but the folly (foolishness) of fools is deceit.” Proverbs 14:8 https://sharinhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MM_2025_01_10_Christian-Psychology.mp3 Christianity has cracked the door open to ways of the world becoming acceptable in the life of the Church, and we don’t even recognize the tangled web that has been woven into our thinking. Rather than accepting the fact that we are called to lay down our lives for others in service and caring from a heart of sacrificial love, we protect ourselves from having to bear one another’s pain. We don’t...