Month: December 2020

Posted in Christian Service, Christmas, Eternity, Evangelism, Life Inspiration

Varying Degrees of Light

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Varying Degrees of Light

Midweek services were last night which is my clothesline propping up point for the week. As I drove down the country roads to the church last night I was excited to see several houses lit up in celebration of Christmas. It’s where the title of today’s blog came from. “Varying Degrees of Light.” There were houses that were lit enough for planes to see them from the sky. There were others with just a few candles in the window and everything in between. They may or may not have been representative of what was going on inside. But the lights inside the children of God are far more telling than that.  

2 Peter 1:19 KJVS

[19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

A Dark Place

Calhoun County, West Virginia, my earthly home til Heaven has few claims to fame. It’s population of a little more than 7000, its 281 square miles of land and it’s poor economic conditions make it a dark place for more than one reason. But on Route 16 south of Grantsville lies the Calhoun County Park that attracts people from all across the United States for the simple fact that it’s a dark place. Stargazers love the fact that they can gather on it’s high point, where the lights do not shine, and stare at the sky with an unencumbered view of the stars. 

The number of lights on the homes last night didn’t matter when it came to attracting my attention. There are no street lights on our rural highways, so even the smallest of light shone brightly in the darkness. Even the smallest of bulb was important to the Christmas spirit. And regardless of your geographic location, your light is important in this dark world. You are there for a reason. 

Jesus Christ is the only light that regardless of the time of day, or the conditions in life, His light never fails to shine. But we can hide it from the world by pulling the shades down on the windows of our souls and refusing to let Him do what He does best. SHINE!!!

Our Praise Shines

1 Peter 2:9 KJVS

[9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

My life verse! I chose it because of one word, “peculiar”. The best description anyone ever gave of me. Praising Christians are getting fewer and fewer. The sentiment is not appreciated by the world and so most Christians have allowed the world to dim their light for Christ by not sharing His goodness. Make it a point today to share something that God has done in your life recently. Someone needs to hear about it. Someone needs to see Jesus shine in you!

Our Gifts Shine

James 1:17 KJVS

[17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

A recurring theme in much of my writing will be on the gifts of God. It’s because I’m always shocked that He gave me any. I’m so unworthy. He didn’t just give me one gift, he gave me multiple. And though I never use them to their full potential, I try to use them in a manner that brings glory to His Holy name. I’m a failure. He is perfect in all His ways. 

I encourage you today to use the gifts (and I’m sure they are many) within you to shine for Christ. Are you artsy? Create something for Him! Are you musically inclined. Sing for Him! Are you an encourager? Oh how the world needs you to encourage people for Him! What about being a person of honor? Oh how that glorifies our Father when they see a child of God living in such a way. Keep on shining with everything in you! 

Our Hope Shines

2 Timothy 1:10 KJVS

[10] But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

As this world gets darker and more evil, we see less light shining in the world. Satan is turning off the light of the church, it’s people and it’s leadership one at time. Churches are closed, giving is down, outreach isn’t always what it should be and our world is hurting. They need to the light of Christ and the hope that come from Him. We can do that by sharing His word in every form possible. 

I can’t help but think of my friend Doyle Ballengee who has going on to glory. Your seldom every met him that he didn’t pull a hand scribed index card out of his shirt pocket where he’d written down a scripture he wanted to share with everyone he met. Doyle was so little in stature, but his light shine brighter than anyone I know for the cause of Christ. 

We are blessed with multiple ways of sharing Christ. Our media forms are almost endless. Use it for Christ. Tweet the Savior! Shine the face of Jesus on Facebook. Be instant in season and out of season on Instagram. Oh the places we can go with Jesus today! 

Don’t let Satan have an inch of ground within the temple of Christ called You!

1 John 1:5 KJVS

[5] This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Posted in Church Unity, Faith, Life Inspiration

The World Smells Fear

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion 1 Comment on The World Smells Fear

I struggle with sleep nightly. But it’s not something that I mind. I hate the feeling of exhaustion the next day, but when I awake in the middle of the night, I do one of two things, scroll social media (which I don’t recommend) or I begin praying; usually going through the seats of our church in my mind. The congregation is heavy on my heart in these days of lunacy. I wanted to give a good word this morning, one of encouragement. I needed it as much for myself as I want it for those who read this blog, because the world is filled with evil words.

There was a time that Peter was filled with evil words. The night of his Lord’s arrest; when they accused him of being among those in Jesus’ group of disciples. He needed to convince the world otherwise and so he quickly cussed like a sailor and denied his position in Christ, just as Christ said he would. And then it says… he wept bitterly. (Luke 22:62) Those words always break my heart. I’ve been failed the Lord so many times too. I understand. But not this day of reference in 1 Peter Chapter 3:

We are Family

Right now I have the Sister Sledge song in my head… maybe you do too.🎵 “We are family, I got all my sisters with me.🎶 It takes so little to get me off the track! But family should be something that stirs a song in your heart, be it blood family or a church family, especially because you have the common bond of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 3:8

[8] Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

It’s why when I wake up in the middle of the night those folks are on my mind. They’re more than just acquaintances and friends, they’re brothers and sisters. I have concern for them just like I do my biological siblings who I adore. Ask yourself right now, “Who do I have in my life that would literally go to war with me?” If you can’t think of anyone, you need a church family and you need the right church family. One who has compassion and love for each other. Who hurts when you hurt and treats you with kindness. 

When I see church folk gossiping and tearing each other down I don’t have to wonder why the world doesn’t believe the church is the body of Christ. Who wants a nasty, cranky’ ol’ body like that? 

We are What we Speak

[9] Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10] For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: [11] Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  

Luke 6:45 KJV says:

[45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

You don’t have to be in the presence of anyone for very long before you can determine the “treasures of their heart.” Even if they’re trying to pretend they’re someone they’re not, it usually slips out.  Peter advises his friends in verse 9 to watch their mouth. He was speaking from experience. And so am I! I can fall victim to a negative attitude. While I’m not prone to cuss… I won’t say that those words don’t ever enter my mind. As a friend once said, I won’t say them but if someone wrote it down, I’d point to it. That’s not a lie. 

But our tongues will sell us out! And in so doing, our words become words of discouragement and before long we’ve created a conversation that everyone around us is willing to chime in on and tear the world apart piece by piece. It also rips at the very fabric of our spiritual selves until we’re not feeling very happy in the Lord.

We are Children of God

[[12] For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. [13] And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? [14] But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye : and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; [15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

I love the family I was born into. I’m proud to say that I was born a Hardway, that my Mother was born a Spencer. I have a great blood family. But I also have an amazing blood bought family. Not only in my church but all over the world. God has been so good to me! They encourage my spirit and I have seen the hand of God on their lives, and they on mine. We’ve shared testimonies of how God has protected us and brought us through troubling times. And some of us are sure that we’ll know our angels in Heaven because they will be the ones without feathers! (We have no doubt worn them out!) We are a happy people especially when we’re together, and we are a protective people when someone’s in trouble. And just like the pride I have in my only family, I am proud to profess that I am a child of God. I pray that always comes across the second someone meets me. I pray they know, because He is evident in my mouth and in my manners. 

Last night was a night where I scrolled social media. I tuned into the hearings from the voter fraud cases. When Joe Biden said the other day that they had “put together the most extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization,” I’m quite sure that’s something he didn’t mean to confess and was likely an issue of his Alzheimer’s medicine wearing off allowing the truth to be revealed. 

God has ways of revealing truths and protecting His children that the world cannot understand. Often times I don’t understand! But I believe and I know that I am a child of the King, and that title cannot be undone because the price paid for me to have that title was written in the blood of God Himself. As children of God we must speak with confidence, not wavering. The world can not only smell fear, it can see through insecurities of the faith. They’ll know when you’ve not been spending enough time with your Father.