Dear Friends of Sharp Devotionals, (This is a little long, but I think it will be worth it!)
Finally after weeks of waiting, Ashes to Fire, Vol.2 of the Uncommon Devotions series is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, I-Tunes, or can be ordered in any bookstore! It follows Advent to Ashes, Vol.1. (Advent to Ashes, Vol.1 makes a perfect early Christmas gift of encouragement and also gives much insight into the significance and impact God taking on human flesh in the birth of Christ without getting lost in the swirl of the season.)
If you would like a signed copy(ies) of either book send me your mailing address and the name (s) you would like inscribed in the book (s). I’ll send you the cost which will include shipping. You can pay by check (Dan Sharp) or Zelle using my email dansharp9@gmail.com or phone 858-357-1686. Our new address: 1304 Staghorne Way, Bloomington, IL 61705.
A further word about understanding the purpose and format of these devotionals. I’ve written these books to help us know Jesus and the Bible better: what is the deeper context of this passage, what does it tell us about Christ, how might I think about my day-to-day living now and how can this passage impact my life eternally. I want us to develop a pattern of encountering Jesus each day in his Word. I want us to experience a wide variety of excellent music in expressing worship from around the world and through the centuries. Finally, I want us to learn to pray with the words of the saints of old and the saints of the present.
Here’s a further word about the books and those yet to come. (I’m a third of the way through Vol.3 (Pentecost to the Transfiguration). The books are to be re-read every year beginning with Advent. The reason is fourfold: the world situation is very different each year, personal circumstances are changing every year bringing new insights to the passages (marriages, graduations, deaths, job change, retirement, health issues), the Scripture is living, not a history book, as the Scripture speaks anew. Hopefully we’re growing and maturing as Christians and will read and pray with a deepening understanding. Finally, may these books be helpful to one who is seeking to better understand what Christianity is and what it means to surrender one’s life and follow Jesus.
One final word about the varying dates of Advent, Ash Wednesday, Easter (March 22-April 25), and Pentecost. It is not as complicated as it might seem! I’ve written the books to accommodate the variable dates of the seasons from the earliest possible dates to the very latest. For example: Advent begins on November 29 this year (November 27-December 3). This is the date you should begin reading Advent to Ashes. For this year, it means you will skip reading the Fourth Thursday in Advent and the Fourth Friday in Advent and go straight to the Christmas Eve reading. You’ll then read every day until February 9th because Ash Wednesday in 2027 is on February 10th (Indices in the back of each book will tell you when the differing seasons begin.) So, on February 10th you’ll begin with Ashes to Fire, Vol.2. and you’ll read until May 15th, Pentecost 2027. As a result, this year you’ll skip reading Feb. 10th to March 9th in Advent to Ashes. The reason for doing it this way is the varying seasons of the Christian year are geared and shaped by the life and ministry of Jesus. The idea for doing the readings this way is we are desiring to shape our daily lives around the life of Jesus rather than trying to fit Jesus into our daily routines. We hope to create a greater awareness and closeness to the living Jesus in our normal living.
I hope to finish Fire to Glory, Vol.3 this coming year and then on to Glory to Advent, Vol.4 to complete this project. People can still sign up (free) for the sharpdevotional.com email to have updates on the project and occasional additional emails. Have them go to: sharpdevotional.com and click signup by putting in their name and email address. You all are the main source of promotion: perhaps give your pastor a copy? I will greatly appreciate whatever you can do make this spiritual resource available to those who might benefit from it. Until next time…
Blessings as always,
Dan