Posted in Christian Service, Christmas, Evangelism, Uncategorized

A Better Use of a Hashtag

chick starbucks

After ordering a drink at Starbucks, Josh Feuerstein, an internet evangelist with quite the personality, became upset with Starbucks because their plain red cups weren’t decorated for Christmas as they have been in previous years and Starbucks employees were forbidden to say Merry Christmas. So upset that he took to social media to start a movement asking people to tell Starbucks their name is Merry Christmas so that when they write the “name” on their cups they now have Christ name on their cup whether they like it or not.

Okay, I have to confess that I think it’s a pretty cute technique of marketing Jesus. But still… Starbucks frustration leads to grins and giggles at the bank.  Just sayin’. I don’t figure this is “teaching anyone a lesson.” Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a coffee fanatic! But I’m not going to Starbucks, I think their coffee tastes like gasoline (not that I’ve drank gasoline) but really… quadrupling the strength of coffee and calling it gourmet is akin to sucking a lemon and calling it gourmet lemonade. It’s just nasty!

Now if you really wanted to get back at Starbucks for not allowing Christ in the Holiday that celebrates His Holy Name, here’s my suggestion. Go to Duncan Donuts, (My personal fave!) and get a cup of coffee in their cup. Drive to Starbucks and sit in their coffee shop sipping your Duncan Donuts Coffee and have a Bible Study. Or if you like Starbucks… buy their coffee and have a Bible Study in their shop. Or… don’t waste three dollars on a cup of coffee! Have it at the house and save that money to give to a poor family at Christmas who could use a can of Maxwell house, along with beans and potatoes for their kids.

Really people. Starbucks is the least of America’s problems. While it speaks volumes on the degradation of political correctness and the ignorance of those who deny God, our time can be better spent. Rather than trying to make a national scene why don’t we try to make a local scene. The nearest Starbucks in our area is over an hour away, but I have family and friends who need Jesus right in my hometown. If we spent our day talking about the goodness of Jesus, rather than the badness of Starbucks to our family it would make a greater difference for the cause of Heaven.

Even I have now contributed to the Starbucks hype with my #MerryChristmasStarbucks blog. But how about #JesusDied4U #SatanLies #JeremiahOneFive

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

That Starbucks employee forced to write the name of Christ on a cup may not know Who He is, and likely won’t have the desire to know Him after being forced to write the name. But if you bought a cup of Starbucks, tipped that barista with a buck for themselves and shared the gospel with them, just maybe, when we gather for coffee in Heaven around the Lord’s kitchen table, that barista may be there with you.

#HashtagThatSatan #TheJesusChick

Posted in Life Inspiration, Uncategorized

Question of the day – “Where Art Thou?”

chick connect

Genesis 3:9

And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Last night after getting home from church, catching up on messages, having supper with the hubs and settling in for the evening I began looking for my cell phone.

And Shari called unto cellphone, and said unto it, where art thou?

Again and again I called it, I called myself; but to no avail. It wasn’t in my house, it wasn’t in my car or in between! I’m tired and ready to hit the hay and the last thing I want to be doing is hunting for something… but this something is important to me. It’s expensive, it’s my life line if I need help, it’s my livelihood should folks need to reach me. But it is gone, gone gone like the old song says.

Well, I’m spoiled, so I have an iPad too and I happen to remember that on that iPad and my iPhone is an app called appropriately enough, “Find your Phone.” Glory!!!! So I type in my password and hit the find button. And there she is. In all her splendor… somewhere between here and the town of Grantsville on a 6 mile stretch of map. But don’t panic. Even though somewhere doesn’t have a name, I know it is Holy Holler, the place where my favorite church in the world is and it’s likely under the hymnal or laying out in plain view, I just didn’t have my brain engaged as I was leaving services last night to remember it. So this morning I drove to Holy Holler and retrieved my phone, laying under the hymnal just as I had figured.

It caused me to ponder the question myself this morning of the Lord. “Where art thou Shari?” I just came off a whirlwind two city tour (and I’m being funny) of speaking this weekend where my goal is to help women find out where they are spiritually. As I prepare it causes me to dig in the word, be in prayer and study to show myself approved; but the conferences are over and it’s back to dirty dishes, mile high laundry and a side of bluegrass. So now that I’ve a little time to myself, I need to find Shari again.

The Shari of day to day purpose. The one who’s not in front of women and having encouraging words thrown at her, handed gifts and loved on like she’s all that and a bag of chips. Today, I’m just plain ol’ Shari. Dishwasher’s running, coffee in hand, hair a mess, Izidora the Chihuahua by my side, the real Shari… pondering those words, “Where art thou?”

I’m here Lord!!!!

He already knows. He didn’t leave me sitting in the church seat under a hymnal. He paid too much for me. I’m expensive, costing Him His only Son Jesus. How about you? Do you understand your value this morning? He did that very same thing for you. Don’t’ forget your value.

One of the reasons I panic over the lost cell phone (other than its value) is that I know it’s also a life line to many of the people that I love who may stand in need of me. So if I’m not near my phone, I may miss their call. Well that’s not how it works with God. He’s my lifeline, 24/7, no dropped calls, no voicemail, no declined calls. How awesome is it to know that the Creator of all is but a whisper away when I stand in need. “Where art Thou, Lord?” … “I’m here. Always here.” Glory!!!  Don’t forget you’ve got a lifeline!

The last reason my cellphone being gone is an issue is the fact that it could cost me. People who are looking for The Jesus Chick for conferences and such have my cell phone number as the contact number. Although God is but a whisper away from me, I’m sometimes miles away from Him. Being away from God can cost you. It can cost you the peace of God, which is priceless.

Philippians 4:6-7 says Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Being out of communication with God, could cost you the peace of God which will keep your heart and mind in check through Christ Jesus. Don’t forget to connect with God every day!

What a great life lesson, all because I’m an inept cellphone owner!

Child of God, don’t forget!­­

  1. Your value
  2. Your Lifeline
  3. Your connection
Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration

Digging for the Truth

chick pondering

Oh the irony! Or should I say iron. (See Job 28) I had just spoken at a retreat on getting past the hurts of the ministry and then WHAM! Somebody hurt me. What? That ain’t right!… well I should have been wearing a helmet, because that’s life.

So Friday morning, I got up and prayed and prayed and ask God to get me through this. My second conference of the week was in one more day and I didn’t want to go in with this baggage on my shoulder for fear I’d drop it on the platform and hurt someone myself. So God parked me in Job. That’ll fix ya! Talk about a man that experienced hurt and kept going.

Will Grahahm & The Jesus Chick! 🙂 His sermon title… “Open Your Big Stinkin’ Mouth!” I think I can do that 😀

Well here I am on the other side of those two conferences. Both blessed events. The first event was the Southern Baptist Pastor’s Conference where I spoke to the wives. At the same conference with Billy Graham’s grandson, Will Graham. How awesome was that! (see the goofy looking selfie) On the weekend of Billy Graham’s 97th birthday. I’d venture a guess in his 97 years Billy has experienced more than a few hurts in the ministry.

The second conference was in Franklin Furnace, Ohio and to say that Heaven came down and touched my soul wouldn’t begin to describe the weekend. Woman after woman came and told me words of encouragement of how I’d touched them. No one is ever as shocked as I am when God uses me in such a way.

Storms and hurts come. But Glory to God! they are not forever. And I know this because of digging in God’s Precious Word, for His Precious Promises and truth.

Job 28:20

Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

Reading through this chapter caused me smile. Great big. God’s wisdom always amazes me because mine is so limited. And yet I have but to ask and He provides. But it doesn’t stop there. Just as Job said, wisdom is buried like riches in ground, and if you want it, you’re going to have to work for it.

God doesn’t throw precious jewels above ground for us to stumble upon and gain wealth. If you want those riches you’re going to have to dig for them. Well… the same holds true for the riches of the wisdom of God. While it’s wonderful hear from God through preaching and teaching, God wants us to spend time in His word so that he can direct our paths.

Sunday morning’s the launching point! I’m ready to be in my own church with my own people and hear my own preacher. But I am so glad that this morning I have my own God! The Creator of Heaven and earth who put precious jewels in the Word of God that guide me to the answers that I need. Hurts come and go, troubles and trials come and go, but God is our Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Healer of the broken spirit.

Job 28

Read it  for yourself!