talk2shari – Page 114 – The Jesus Chick

Posted in Life Inspiration

Even Cursed I am Blessed

Written by talk2shari Published March 17, 2014 Discussion 2 Comments

It’s not been the most enjoyable weekend, which ended a not so enjoyable week. I had lost several dear friends in Christ, the last of which was laid to rest yesterday afternoon. Our community and neighboring communities have had a few really tragic accidents that weigh heavy on my heart. I’ve been battling a bug of some sort that’s caused me to cough my head off with intermittent shots of pain through my entire body. I praise God they were intermittent! For the most part I functioned fairly well, but the loss of the sleep and general achiness was not conducive for productiveness and for me that’s a toughy. There were things I wanted to get done, but it’s Monday and some did and some didn’t and that’s okay. I am blessed!

In the wee hours of the morning I rolled over to check my phone for the time and discovered that there was a message from yesterday I hadn’t noticed before; it was from my friend Dewey Moede, “God’s Guy” in New Mexico, calling to share his love and concern for my life events. I laid and listened to the message and my first thought was, “Wow! I am blessed with another God spot!”

The “God Spot” began as a joke but became a very real blessing as my friend Gloria and I shop in a busy city. It seldom ever fails that no sooner than we pull into a large parking lot with space at a premium, a parking spot up close the building opens up for us. I “half joke” and tell Gloria it’s our favor with God, but it happens so frequent, I don’t joke anymore. I praise God! It was this morning that I realized that I have so many “God Spots” in my life and I need to begin my day with more praising for His undeserved favor on my life.

From the day man fell in the garden of Eden there has been a curse on the earth:

Genesis 3:17

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Because of their bad decision and our continued bad decisions, life is full of heartache and tragedy. But among it all is there is blessings to be found.

In the midst of this weekend of creeping crud, I was given the honor of singing at the funeral of Mr. Hardman. I wanted to be a blessing to the family, but my voice resembled that of Kermit the Frog. And so I prayed… God please fix this, if I can’t sing well, at least let it be sweet… Mr. Hardman was a fan of music, even “not so great” music as he would arrive early to listen to my beginner violin class practice at church. But the last thing I wanted was to stand before a room of hurting people and hurt their ears! And then the “God Spot” occurred. Just a short time before the funeral I had tried to rehearse and it was a strain to say the least, but I left on faith that it would be okay. And it was. Not my finest hour, but I belted out God is Real, and My Chains are Gone with no creak or crack. My God is awesome like that!

Time after time God has pulled me out of jam, blessed my socks off through His Word, opened up doors of opportunity and given me gifts to the point that I feel like I not only have His favor, but He makes me feel like I am His favorite. I’m not, we all are. He loves His people. Yes we’ll have heartache, but praise God for the “God Spots” in life that give us the strength to make it through.

Are you going through a rough patch? Start looking for the God Spots…

Posted in Life Inspiration

Conversations with Satan

Written by talk2shari Published March 14, 2014March 14, 2014 Discussion Leave a Comment

I enjoy my long trips to work (provided it’s not on ice) because it allows me to get at least one sermon in as I start my day listening to some of my favorite preacher’s pod casts. But there are occasions that I like to ride in silence. Sometime I pray or converse with God… but before you put me up on some pedestal I’m bound fall off of and break a hip let me tell you what generally happens. I start thinking about life’s circumstances, some good… some bad. And then Satan begin to chime into the conversation.

“So, you thought you nailed that meeting, huh… well you didn’t…. Those same people in your space again, judging you, and you failed… it’s no wonder…you can’t even keep the kitchen clean, and the laundry, what’s up with that? Every other woman can do it, you’re an epic fail…

Okay, whatever Satan. I need to think of something else, he’s got my number on that one… Easter’s coming up. I need a new dress…

Yep, but you don’t need a new size… hahahahah….

Okay bad idea… Teen camp planning. That’s safe. I need to get the curriculum out to the counselors, and get someone to do the activities, gee, I hope Nan will cook….

Let’s discuss last years camp…

And that’s within the first five miles of the trip. Silence is not always golden. Sometimes it’s stainless steel (cold and unbending).

It shouldn’t surprise me that I’m a target, he knows Christ is living in me and nothing brings him greater joy than to mess with Jesus’ house. Although it did not work with Christ when he used the same tactics:

Matthew 4:1-11 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

He waits on those vulnerable moments that are evident. I don’t believe Satan is all knowing, only God has that power, but I believe through he and his crew of fallen angels they can hone in on what they see as breaks in the armor. Be cautious of what you verbalize or make visual, and if there’s a crack in the armor fill it with the Word of God.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Temptations come in all forms and most likely it’s the things we’re looking at. I’m a very expressional person. You can read my feelings on my face including those things I desire. How very easy I make it for Satan to understand what my heart wants that perhaps I should not have; to buy, do or say something that I should not and put my life or my testimony at risk. And the conversation starts… We need to learn to recognize the temptation and speak the word of God over it.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Stuff… I’m all about it. And Satan knows it. He knows if he can convince me it’s a justifiable purchase I’m in like flinn, and then once I’m in… he’s the first to jump on the criticizing band wagon and start railing on me for wasting money. There’s no pleasing the guy! Jesus’ focus was back on glory and the fact that only God fulfills the desires of the heart, not things.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him

Satan finally bugged out of that battle field, but he was far from gone. His focus was no longer on tormenting the Son of God personally but using the only thing he could… us. But the good news is we have the same weapons Jesus used, we just need to remember to pull them out of our arsenal. Before you go into the world today, make sure you’re packin’… the Word!

Posted in Life Inspiration

Hanging on to hope… again

Written by talk2shari Published March 12, 2014March 12, 2014 Discussion Leave a Comment

What feels like forever ago was actually just a few years, when I lead a group of students at our local high school in a drug prevention program. It wasn’t “just” a job; I had long since moved on from that theory after Jesus saved my soul and realizing that nothing just happens. I laid hold of Paul’s words to the Philippians in Philippians 3:14:

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

It was indeed a high calling and an opportunity to minister and to be ministered to. Yea, I know… Jesus is not allowed in public school, right? Whether they like or not Jesus is there when children who know Christ are bold enough to put Him there and adults have enough back bone to support them.

This morning is more of a reflection of gratitude for a life that I was privileged to have a miniscule piece of time in. I learned yesterday that one of the students in that program committed suicide, probably about 20-21 years of age. He had left West Virginia and joined the Air Force and other than an occasional look at his Facebook status I really had no clue as to what he was up to. But he had put a mark on my life that gives me sweet peace this morning.

The bible tells us in Philippians 3:17 ~

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Mark them. Strong’s Concordance defines this as “to take aim at and heed to.” On more than one occasion this young man would come into my office and set for long periods of time and discuss his relationship with Christ before his peers. What a blessing he was! And I don’t say that “just because.” It’s truth. One of those peers posted on Facebook this morning

Today my brother and best friend left this world to be with Jesus. He rekindled my flame with the lord, and through example showed me there is nothing to be ashamed of. Because of (him) I rededicated my life to Christ on January 3, 2014. You will be missed until we meet again.

He took heed to his friend and because of it they both have hope.

Hope in a suicide? Suicide is the most tragic of deaths. Because the victim of a saved person’s suicide is the family and friends left behind to deal with the unanswered questions. It’s unfair. But praise God that they have hope of seeing him again!

How does one get to the point of suicide if they have Jesus residing in their soul? I don’t have that answer, only that it serves as a reminder to us all that the world can consume us if we’re not careful to keep our eyes on Jesus. And the need to keep our eyes on one another who bear the mark of Jesus. Loving each other, looking out for each other.

There’s another “mark” that Paul spoke of in Romans 16:17:

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

There will be those who will take a circumstance such as this and use it to further the nonsense that people who are saved don’t have issues in life. Mark them and avoid them. Don’t let anyone steal your hope in life. And if you are someone who struggles with life, please reach out to a friend in the faith. Don’t let Satan convince you that taking your life is an answer. It causes a host of other problems in your passing and denies God His purpose for your life.

Just a side note. This Jesus Chick loves ya today. And so does Jesus.

Posted in Life Inspiration

Talk is Cheap, or is it?

Written by talk2shari Published March 11, 2014March 11, 2014 Discussion Leave a Comment

Spend a day listening to the world around you and number the conversations that are “of God” and those that are “of the world” and I can pretty much guarantee which will be greater (Unless you live in a bubble or are blessed enough to have a ministry job.) And even then I’m not so sure the numbers wouldn’t run close. When I refer to conversations that are “of God” I’m not talking about deep theological conversations or even shallow ones, but rather conversations that you would have in the presence of Jesus if He still walked among us. Every day I’m shocked at how very little people actually think about what they say. Profanity seems to be at a premium while godly conversations are whispered in a back room for fear of offending someone. My heart sinks for I know God is frustrated.

How do I know?

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 ~ For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

The select few. If you are a child of God you are of a select few, chosen especially for God himself; above all the people on the earth He chose you. You may or may not have a great relationship with your parents who gave birth to you, but your Heavenly Father handpicked you not to be like the world (for there are plenty like that) but to be holy. Matthew 7:13-14 reiterates the same notion when Christ said “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and manythere be which go in thereat:Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

If you are a child of God you are of the few! It’s not that God wouldn’t take them all for He loves the world, but the select are the elect that choose to take Him. And upon choosing to take Him as your Savior you chose to have Him reside within you; so those conversations you are having during your day are not in front of Jesus, they are from Jesus because you are His representative.

How are you representing?

Today you and I are both reminded that our words do not return void. They sow and reap something. We’ve been redeemed, bought with a price. Talk is cheap… salvation was not.

Posted in Life Inspiration

3 Things God Needs You to Know

Written by talk2shari Published March 9, 2014March 9, 2014 Discussion Leave a Comment

Isaiah 43:18-19 ~ Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

What encouraging words this early morning! We know spring is on its way because we’re all likely dragging from the loss of another precious hour of sleep. But in West Virginia this morning it’s a balmy 32 degrees and I’m still feeling the effects of the harshness of winter, and in Isaiah 43 the Israelites were still feeling the effects of the harshness of captivity of Babylon; so God inspired Isaiah to pen these words of encouragement that continue to give hope to the captives of today. Captives of what?

Things.

I love bible word studies because they’re often like an unforeseen journey; a vacation from the typical way of thinking. Isaiah said not to remember the former things and the old things and upon further searching out those words I discovered that the “former things” were ancestor related, and the “old things” were places where they had went before. God didn’t want them dwelling on past mistakes and places that didn’t hold the best of memories, He had “new things.”

This morning as we’re on the edge of springing forth into a new season, we’re ready to don the fresh colors of the spring, short sleeves and flip flops! You’ll likely not find anyone wearing the cumbersome wool overcoats, boots and hats in a few weeks but in the scope of life there are many people who have failed to leave the old seasons of life behind when God gave them a brand new one! They’re stuck in winter grays when God provided a whole new palate of beautiful color. Too metaphoric?

Past mistakes of ourselves and others can haunt our future and prevent us from living the successful lives God intended. Rehashing the places we’ve been will create an epic fail in the new places God wants to take us. I’ve witnessed it and I’ve lived it; when people won’t let go of what someone did and continuously bring them or the event into a conversation of today making it a fresh wound all over again. When God said “No, I’m giving you a fresh new life!” Just as it says in II Corinthians 5:17 ~ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

As spring approaches it would be a good day to bring in some fresh new thoughts… stop allowing Satan to keep you captive in the harsh winters of life. It’s a brand new day!

Perhaps you’re still in captivity. The children of Israel were at the time Isaiah wrote these word of encouragement. They’re to serve as a reminder that as a child of God He has a new plan for you.

God went on to say in verses 20-21 ~ This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

God made you for praise and He desires to give you reason, but if you’ve failed to call upon the name of Jesus for salvation or help you’re still captive. God’s not going to drag you out of captivity until you have taken the first step.

Spring forward child!

Posted in Leadership, Life Inspiration

I know You are I Am, but who am I? Days of Doubt

Written by talk2shari Published March 7, 2014March 7, 2014 Discussion Leave a Comment

Moses. No doubt one of the greatest leaders of all time looking back at him from the 21^st century. But looking at him from a biblical perspective… in his day…we see a man full of guilt, doubt and comparison. Those are the reasons I love his story; because I can relate.

In Exodus 3:4-6 we see Moses standing curiously before the burning bush.

And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

If I may interject my thoughts on this scripture. God called Moses’ name and Moses was quick to answer “Here am I!” That’s how it is when God’s doing miraculous things. Get in the middle of big church service where the Holy Spirit of God is moving and you hear Him call upon you to step out on something and you’re quick to respond, “Here am I, Lord! Use me!” But a couple hours later when you’re alone in your car driving home you’re wondering why in the world you opened your mouth. There Moses stood before that burning bush, on Holy ground and in awe of God and then he remembered who he was and he hid his face.

All the sins of the past came back. He’d killed a man causing him to run into hiding but he was sure he’d moved on past it. He’d married and now was working for his father in law Jethro. His life wasn’t what he thought it would be, but it was good enough. Until he ran into that bush in the dessert. He ran face first into God who begins talking about a new plan. One that’s going to put him out of hiding and in front of the masses and every doubt that Moses had in his life came flooding into his soul. That’s how it is when Satan hears your call. He’s gets busy reminiscing your list of failures and Moses begins to question his ability to convince anyone he is a leader. To which God responds:

Exodus 3:14 ~ And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

But Moses later questions God again about His decision making in Exodus 4:10-12

And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

As if to say “Lord! What are your thinking choosing me?” but the Lord squelches him…

And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

I heard a quote from Steven Furtick yesterday on these scriptures “When you doubt the product, you insult the manufacturer.” I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind. I’m always doubting God’s decision to use me and comparing myself to everyone else. And I’m never enough. Enough what? Insert any number of things in there: I’m never skinny enough, smart enough, eloquent enough, entertaining enough, rich enough…. And the list goes on. Truth be told you have your list too. Insert it here.

I am never _______________ enough.

It may be different today than yesterday, or five minutes ago if the right person walks into the room, because we measure ourselves by someone else’s gift. Thus doubting the Manufacturer of our product… us.

We know Who I AM is. He’s God, but who are we? If we could only get ahold of and maintain the truth which is ~ I am me, with I AM within me. Made in His fashion, for His purpose, and placed on His path, now why do I question it? Because Satan’s good at his job and I lack in mine. My job is to go. God told Moses “I made your mouth, do you know think I can cause it to say what I need it to say? Come on, I’m God!” – that was definitely the Bible according to Shari.

That blank in the statement “I am never ________ enough.” We need to take out two words, Never and _________. Because with God “I am enough.”

Posted in Life Inspiration

The Power of Praise!

Written by talk2shari Published March 6, 2014March 6, 2014 Discussion Leave a Comment

James 1:1-3~ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to “counting it all joy,” I seem to lose my ability to count past 2 or 3 when midst of trials and tribulations. It is then that I am painfully aware of my elementary school fait1h. When it’s gumdrops and goodness I’m in like Flinn! This week I’ve working on a song for the weekend service titled “Praise His Name.” A beautiful Jeff and Sheri Easter song. The lyrics begin by saying “When you’re up against the wall, and your mountains seem so tall, and you realize that life’s not always fair, you can run away and hide, let the old man decide, or you can change your circumstances with a prayer.” Sometimes… my prayers have seemed little more than “God, get me out of this!”

James is speaking to Christians who have been scattered, literally run out of their homes and communities and forced into hiding to share the gospel. It is at this time in history that Christianity explodes! The harder they are pressed the more they burst out of their shells and the braver they become. There is no waving flags of surrender but rather shouts of “Palms of Victory, Crowns of Glory, Palms of Victory, I shall wear!”

If that don’t put a shout on you then your shouter is broken!

James words serve as a reminder to me today that troubles come, and troubles go, but in looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith there is no need to stay in my shell avoiding people, but rather sing the song of Victory. If we’ll allow it, those who rub us the wrong way can polish our shine for Jesus. Every time we’re tried it’s a runner’s test of endurance making us stronger. When we’re tried by fire, we’ll come out as gold. Those are not clichés, those are Bible and the Bible is truth.

I needed to be my own cheerleader this morning… I hope my words encouraged you!

Posted in Christian Service, Humor, Life Inspiration

A Conversation from the Back Seat

Written by talk2shari Published March 2, 2014 Discussion Leave a Comment

A post on my Facebook wall yesterday morning of the A&W Root Beer Stand brought floods of memories of my own times with my parents at the drive in hamburger stand. What a treat to get to eat in the car! Now it’s the story of my life as I travel the roads of West Virginia. My favorite A&W story isn’t mine, it’s the story of Franklin Graham (Billy Graham’s son) from his book “Rebel with a Cause.” As a child he was picking on his sisters in the back seat of the car as and having been warned by his mother (Ruth Graham) that she was going to put him in the trunk if he didn’t stop, he wasn’t really concerned. They were on the freeway in four lanes of traffic (heading to A&W or a like place) so he “knew” she wouldn’t stop there. So he continued until he felt the car swerve out of traffic, across three lanes and on to the berm. She got out, pulled him out, and proceeded to put him in the trunk. He said he loved it. There were all kinds of toys in there. Car jacks and tools and such! When they got to A&W he thought, great, now I can get out. He hears him mom order their food, waits a while, hears the waitress return and then hears the car door open. Ruth Graham opens the trunk, hands Franklin his burger and, and shuts the lid again where he enjoyed his lunch and rode the trip back home. Lesson learned. Don’t doubt your Mom.

I’m not advocating this method of child rearing! The Welfare department would be knocking on your door before the day was out and probably should be; that was dangerous! But it just goes to show how times have changed. We’ve learned some lessons in raising children and we’ve failed in many other respects. In church it’s no different. We’ve learned much over the years but by the same token many of the old paths have long since been forgotten, traded for a newer shinier path that may or may not show you to Jesus. Church discipline is all but a thing of the past because the church no longer has the right to interfere in the lives of the members.

Well, for the record, God’s still calling the church to hold its members accountable. No… I’m not going anywhere with this. I really don’t know why it’s on my heart this morning, I only know it is. And if it only touches one person this morning, giving them the desire to walk the old path, then it’s been worth it. The world is watching… we’re supposed to be different.

We’re the kids in the back seat… not a good idea to run your mouth to the Father.

Posted in Christian Service, Leadership, Life Inspiration

What Could Have Been Done More? ~

Written by talk2shari Published February 28, 2014February 28, 2014 Discussion Leave a Comment

Isaiah 5:1-4 ~ Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

America has been a blessed land. God’s providence has been written across the pages from the beginning of time. It was founded on Christianity and battles have been fought and won time and time again for the continuation of that liberty. But as time goes on we see less and less of a stand for Christ. Even many of His very own churches for which He died for has turned their backs on Him, falling in line with liberal beliefs that you can have salvation without the blood off Jesus, killing children is okay, we are the alternative lifestyle and Christ is “a” way, not “the” way. It does not surprise me when unsaved people defend the right of wrong, but when the church does it they can accept their part in the slap given by the soldiers in Mathew 27:30 ~ “And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.”

This country was planted with the choicest of vine. Look back on the history of our founding fathers and political factions, and although they were not perfect men, their testimony of honor stands strong today. Now look at our political factions of today and scroll forward to the history books of our great, great, grandchildren and tell me if you see a story of American heroes or sour grapes and briars? Who would want to read our story?

There are few men of great moral fiber (actually just the renderings of a diet of much fiber if you get my gist).

Isaiah’s question “What could have been done more?” hit me hard this morning. God gave us His best. There was NOTHING else He could have done. But as for us… what is our excuse as the American Church for doing nothing? For allowing that nonsense in Washington to continue and saying that we have no right to step in. I personally don’t have the answer, but I have the desire. If I seen the right leaders stepping up for the coming elections I certainly would fall in behind them. As well as in my local community. But they have to be Christian leaders, else we’ve done nothing more than the world, which is what has us in this predicament now.

I hope we’re all prayin’ and I hope God will answer with some strong Christian men and women to stand up for the America we read about in History. Not for the one that’s going down in History.

Posted in Life Inspiration

Pruning Sour Grapes for Victorious Living! ~

Written by talk2shari Published February 27, 2014 Discussion Leave a Comment

Isaiah 18:5 ~ For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.

In Chapter 18 God warns the arrogant Assyrian army who are plotting against Israel, that their party is about to end and destruction draweth nigh. I don’t hear God shouting in this verse, nor do I see Him pacing back and forth in Heaven saying “let Me at’em, let Me at’em!” I see God’s calm, all knowing demeanor, standing quietly looking out the window of Heaven as He sees His children suffering, partly because of their own rebellion; but He says in finality, ”I allowed you to serve my purpose in instruction, but now, I’m gonna cut you down where you grow.”

I’m so glad that God is Omniscient; all knowing. Because if I were standing at the window of Heaven when I seen friends and family hurting or suffering at the hands of someone else, my godliness would likely go out the window. Sour grapes are good for nothing, on either side of an argument, somebody got to keep their attitude in check. There are people in our lives that, deed, they look like sour grapes are all they feast on! Do you have any in your life? They get on your last nerve… (draw this out for effect) with their constant tearing down of your emotional state, or negativity and lack of vision for you.

I speak in generality, nothing specific in my own life, but I see so many Christians being beat down by the circumstances of the world and allowing it to stop their own spiritual growth. Oppression is a part of our society; it’s how some climb the ladder of success, it’s how other’s keep their family in control or it’s a means of keeping everything quid pro quo, in a non changing state because change bother’s people.

We cannot move forward in our lives with dying branches on the vine. It stops our growth. God said He would cut down the branches of sour grapes, because sour grapes can do nothing but set your teeth on edge. If something or someone in our lives is keeping us from having victory it’s time to get out the pruning hooks. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they can no longer be a part of your life; it means you prune away parts of it.

Govern the conversation by keeping things on a positive note, talk about gumdrops and bubblegum flavors if you have too but stay away from conflict – snip!
Encourage them in something they’re working on. You’d be amazed how far a little sugar can go – snip!
Don’t spend time in their presence if all they want to do is discourage your dream, sometimes you have to walk away – snip!

God said “before the harvest.” Don’t let negative things take root in your life and bear fruit. – snip, snip!

I hope today finds you enjoying a bountiful harvest of the goodness of God! Got any sour grapes you need to get rid of?