Author: talk2shari

Posted in Uncategorized

Growth is a Journey but Bloom Where You’re Planted

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Growth is a Journey but Bloom Where You’re Planted


Luke 2:49

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

My Father’s business. These words keep ringing in my mind this morning. At twelve years old Jesus knew the plan and began working it. He submitted to His parent’s authority but He continued to work the plan God had placed into motion in that manger in Bethlehem. This morning I’m trying to get into motion my Father’s business plan. I’m working on upcoming speaking engagements, marketing conferences, blogging, networking, praying and learning! Wow. I’m exhausted just telling you what I’m doing. For the longest time I would feel guilty every time I marketed myself as a speaker, singer or any of the other hats I wear. Until I finally decided to roll with the plan God placed in motion on August 11, 1962, my birthday.

All along, what I had been doing by believing Satan’s lies and failing to market myself was being a failure at a business God had destined for success. It is destined for success not because of me, but because of my purpose; which is to glorify God. Satan had convinced me that I was marketing “me”, knowing that in my humbleness of attitude and insecurities I would know that I’m not worthy. What a liar! And what a sap I was for believing him. Gradually over a year long journey I have grown to this place. Where is here? The portal to purpose.

It’s where I stop saying I’m Shari Johnson, and then as a side note say I’m working for the Lord. It’s where I say, I’m a child of the King, Shari Johnson. God is my employer. He sent me to you today to encourage you to be all that you can be for His glory. God has a purpose for my life, and yours. We truly are to bloom where we’re planted. This day I’m planted in West Virginia, this evening my vines are reaching out to a prayer conference in Marietta, Ohio. Tomorrow, who knows where I’ll be, but God has a plan.

Has Satan been feeding you a pack of lies? Has he been telling you to stop dreaming, hope is gone? He’s a liar. God has a plan, step around Satan and move forward!

Post a comment and let me know where you’re at on your journey!

 

Posted in Uncategorized

You have power in His Name. Are you Ready?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on You have power in His Name. Are you Ready?

Acts 3:1-16

I shared with my youth over the weekend how it was for me as a young person when I had to stand before my peers and give an oral report. I would absolutely go into hysterical, uncontrollable laughter until my teacher would see that it was futile, give me a mercy grade for my attempt and allow me to return to my seat. So imagine my surprise when God called me to sing and speak! He has such a sense of humor!

When Peter and John arrived at the gate called Beautiful a lame man sat begging, waiting to receive the mercy of provision. I highly doubt he sat in the arrogance of entitlement that many sit in today; he most likely sat in humility for having to rely on others for his livelihood. So imagine his surprise when Peter said in verse 6 ~ “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” And then he did! He didn’t just walk, he got leapt up! He went into the temple, leaping and shouting Glory Hallelujah!

The Name of Jesus gave him Mobility

Acts 3:16a  ~ “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong.” He on his own went into the temple. He may have never been in the doors of the temple before, but this time he went in shouting the house down! When God laid it on my heart to sing and speak I had to move on it! I began studying the word of God, making it known that God had called me into this field, because just like the beggar, I was so thankful that I no longer had to  but was now in the service of the Lord. If God has called you to do something you have to get mobile! Start moving on it. Sometimes it happens all at once, but other times it’s a slow process, but get moving!

The Name of Jesus gave him Reliability

Acts 3:16b ~ “Whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness.” Soundness can be defined as reliability. They knew what he was, but now they could see what he is. This man no longer had to depend upon them for sustenance and survival but he could now provide for himself, and so can you! If God has called you to it, He will  walk you through it

The Name of Jesus gave him Ability

Acts 3:16c ~ “in the presence of you all.” There he stood on the porch with Peter and John ministering to the people. I love where it says in Verse 11 says  “the lame man which was healed held Peter and John.”  They didn’t hold him, he held them. He was no longer dependent upon someone to hold him up but he could hold up someone else. The people were in awe at the miracle, but Peter and John quickly reminded them, it’s not the miracle, it’s the Master! Don’t be surprised at what you can do when the Lord’s in it. If He can breathe the very life into our bodies, why are we shocked when He can place ability in them?

All Jesus requires is Availability

The beggar was at the gate ready. Are you?

Posted in Uncategorized

The Pressure of the Church

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Pressure of the Church

Spend a short amount of time in the presence of teens and you’ll find out quickly the role peer pressure plays in their lives; the adult world is no different. The pressure may not be any worse than it is with youth but  it’s just as bad. At this stage, jobs, money and position are now at play and the community influence is still great. I have only ever lived in a small community but I have a feeling within large communities there are pockets of influence that lead to greater influence as a whole; all of which add up to one thing… Pressure! The pressure within and without a person can change direction and attitude which will serve to affect the family, church and community.

Why this is on my heart this morning I do not know, but it is and maybe it’s for you! If so let me know.

As a leader in the church I wish I had a pressure gauge tester for our congregation so that I could tell when someone was about ready to blow. Wouldn’t that be handy! At a teen retreat this past weekend the kids were so good; there were however a few ill feelings that quickly smoothed over to forgiveness because someone stayed on top of it by testing the pressure so to speak and releasing a pop off valve by allowing a teen to voice their feelings.

Often the pressure we put on ourselves is the worst. In the church comparing ourselves to someone else can have a lethal result on our spirituality; that’s why when I discovered there was a “dead weight pressure gauge tester” I giggled and wondered if there was such a thing for the congregation of the Lord? People are at all levels of pressure in the church. Some of them, mostly leadership, have so much pressure that it bursts out of them! They’re ready for action and step up to volunteer and help where ever it’s needed. For others it’s consistent pressure, meaning that they are in their place every week, they help when they can but you generally won’t see them on the platform or stepping into leadership role. And then there are those that I wish I had the gauge for…

Dead weight

They sit in the pew, seldom speak, seldom react, arrive at 11 a.m. sharp, leave at 12 noon dull, don’t even consider the Sunday School hour because they’ve obviously arrived and have no need of any further enlightenment on scripture. Am I being judgmental… only slightly. (Insert grin here).

That’s why I want that deadweight tester! Maybe there’s a reason that I know nothing about on their lack of enthusiasm for the things of God. Possibly within them is party of emotions and excitement that just doesn’t show on the outside, but if I had a “deadweight tester” and hooked them up, the gauge would read in the red zone. With me you don’t have to guess. My pressure gauge is my mouth! And it usually is wide open and letting people know if I’m excited about something.

Amos 2:13 reads “Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.”

Sometimes we have so much pressure on us in life that we’re bogged down. Amos said that the pressure on him was like that of a cart loaded down with sheaves to the point it could not move. If the weight of your world is so heavy on you that you’re just sitting, not serving, you need to either dump your load completely or distribute the load between some friends.

I hope today finds your cart rolling merrily along for Jesus!

Please post below if I’ve encouraged you, or if you’d like to share an experience. Posts must be approved before they show, just in case someone hasn’t tested their pressure lately

Posted in Uncategorized

Confident awareness, no panic please :)

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Confident awareness, no panic please :)

These were the words of our weatherman Brandon Butcher from WSAZ this morning regarding a wind storm coming through our area. My first thought was, “That’ll preach! While our nation has gone to the extreme on immorality and depravity (that in many circles has become the norm), this is not the time to panic as Christians. I’ve seen the panic in faces as people describe the direction of America and the lack of control we have. It’s ridiculous I agree, but it’s also self-inflicted. If we’re just going to lie there and take it, the enemy is going to stand there and give it. That’s the law of stupidity.

So what are we as Christians suppose to do? Confident awareness: some call it trust. In Psalm 27, David said “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

I stepped outside this morning as my husband left for work. Sixty-two degrees at 6 a.m. in West Virginia in January. That’s crazy! The wind was already picking up and looked to my left at a large 40 ft. pine tree that towers over my house and thought, a wind like Brandon’s warning could bring that tree down. That’s not panic, that’s awareness. The winds are starting to blow and it’s likely to get worse; but I’m not going to slap a for sale sign on my house and head for the valley, I like ridge dwellin’.

I like ridge dwellin’ in life too! Yes, I’m aware that there is evil all around me, but my God is so much bigger than that. The Lord is my salvation, whom shall I fear? I am confident that regardless of the direction of America, God has me covered. I may to go through some tough times, David was hiding in caves in the mountains for cryin’ out loud! But He is my strength. Confident awareness came to me when I accepted Christ as my Savior in 1996. Do you know Him? Jesus Christ gave His life so that those of us who accept the sacrifice He made could have eternal life and confidence in knowing that He is in full control of the universe, as confirmed by the Holy Spirit who dwells within our hearts.

Confident awareness, no panic please:) Good Advice Brandon! Travel safe today folks. And let me hear from you! It’s lonely out here some times.

Posted in Uncategorized

The Difference in the Church

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Difference in the Church

When I got saved in 1996 I didn’t know enough about the Bible to tell you the difference between the Old Testament and New. I was ignorant of the things of God and the ways of God; so for a time I relied upon the teaching of my new Pastor and little by little I would discover on my own the truths of God as I read and studied His Word. I still make discoveries every time I read it today. For the 16 years I’ve been saved I’ve watched as my Pastor was ridiculed for his stand on the holiness of God and defended him when others mocked him of his strict stance on the holiness of the platform of our church. The Church outside the boundaries of the walls of the actual building have become so much like the world that when the world is brought inside the doors it seems natural. The holiness of God is pushed aside to make way to appease men. Oh, I’m not going to win too many friends here this morning, but it’s on my heart, so I’m going to say it.

As I read Exodus this morning my heart was pierced with this thought beginning in Exodus 24:

1-2 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. And Moses alone shall come near the Lord: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.

God was in church building mode, and from the beginning of it He called them out by name. They were all common people, but their role in the church was anything but common. If they were in His service they talked it and walked it or God smote them dead. I think that means He takes serving on the platform of the church pretty serious. When they began the construction of the tabernacle God was very specific right down to the nuts and bolts of how the church should be built as well as the tapestry and material for the drapes. God’s in the details!

By the same token, ask an unsaved person their opinion of those who serve in the church and they can call out the sinner and the saint in about three seconds. By the way, we’re all sinners, but I’m talking about those who live in habitual un-confessed sin. God set a standard in the Old Testament that hasn’t changed today, there’s a difference, and leadership of the church is going to be held accountable for what’s being allowed to happen in the church of God.

God called Moses and seventy-three others out for a leadership service; He then called Moses forward alone. I’m not a Bible scholar but this is how the Word spoke to me today. Pastor’s are held to the highest of standards, this is why my Pastor holds the platform of the church in such high regard as to be very careful who preaches and sings, because he alone will stand accountable to God for our Church. He wants to know that their testimony stands strong. Are they perfect, of course not, but they should be living in such a way that their reputation is founded in Christ. Church leadership falls right behind the Pastor, and so does their accountability. They will be held to a higher reckoning than those in the congregation for what goes on in the church. So if you’re a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Singer or other leader you have to have an understanding of the holiness and separation of God. Not just anyone or anything can be placed before the congregation of the Lord.

The New Testament reads:

2 Corinthians 6:17 ~  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

There’s a difference or at least there should be. I hope to hear from you today! Blessings in abundance to you and your family.

Posted in Uncategorized

How to Keep Your Life in Tune

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on How to Keep Your Life in Tune

Yesterday as I sat down to play my fiddle, I heard “ping” and then my “A” string went a little sour, I tightened it and tuned it and a few seconds later, “ping”- it was out even more! As I tuned it again, the “D” string decided it was not getting the attention it desired. “Ping!” again. Are you serious? Then I happened to think about the location of my fiddle, it had been sitting close the gas fire place, which because of the cold temperatures had been kicking on more than usual. The warmth had likely caused the wood to contract and expand allowing my tuning pegs to slip. A little TLC on the “D” string and Old Joe Clark sounded as good as it ever did (insert grin here).

This morning as I awoke and began to ponder the day I began thinking about those slipping pegs. I had moved my fiddle to the other side of the room away from the toasty fire; if only my out of tune life would be so easy to get back into shape. It goes out of tune for the same reason, too close the fire. Troubles and trials seem to travel in groups and one after another I find myself sounding a little sour. It doesn’t take long to hear that “Ping” in life that almost has your string unwound from the peg completely. Something so simple, can push you over the edge.

I’m by no means a seasoned fiddle player, but I knew enough to not get in a panic (although my heart fluttered a little) when I heard the string slip. There was no need to jump to the conclusion that my fiddle playing days were over and I should take up another instrument. That would be the Esau theory of life.

If Esau played the fiddle he would have likely thrown the fiddle away, quit playing music all together. In the story of Esau and Jacob, grandsons to the great Abraham, the friend of God, we find a dose of stupidity for which I can relate. I too have often made decisions in the heat of the moment and then later thought, why on earth did I do that? Esau had been out hunting and was tired and cranky and in a split second decision gave away the blessing of God, the position of authority, his inheritance and privilege as the first born that would have set him up for a sweet life.

Genesis 25:29-32 ~ And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

Jacob is referred to as the deceiver, but I don’t think that title came from this occasion. He later deceived his blind father with the help of his mother (Genesis 27), but in this story Esau was not deceived he sold his birthright to Jacob without quarrel. For a momentary pleasure of a bowl of soup he gave away the blessings of God that would have set him up for life.

How many times have I in the “ping” of the moment made a life altering decision? Too many to count. A new found friend of mine in social media, Sandi Krakowski said the other day that she uses the 7-7-7 theory of decision making. What difference will this decision make in 7 hours, 7 days, 7 months? If Esau had ask himself that question, he’d have gotten his own bowl of soup. But instead he started his life on bad decisions. He later grieved his parents by marrying into the family of Ishmael, another bad decision.

Are you in the midst of a decision? Think it through and use Sandi’s 7-7-7 theory. I used it this week, it works and could save you some serious heartache down the road.

Don’t throw the fiddle away, it makes beautiful music in the Master’s hand. My hand? not so much…

Posted in Uncategorized

Shut my mouth!

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Shut my mouth!

Oh, there’s that feeling again! I have my entire life struggled with self confidence and one defense mechanism I’ve used to overcome it is to pretend that I am confident. I figure if I pretend long enough I may actually convince myself. However, one way Satan can destroy my role playing of the confident woman is to send someone into my life that has in the past made me feel less than them. Oh, how I wish I could tell you that I am so close the cross as a child of the King that there is nothing that can penetrate my worthiness; but I cannot. And the second part of that feeling of unworthiness is my tendency to un-forgive people. Possibly my role playing is not limited to a pretender of confidence but I can also add to my portfolio of talents “Pretend Forgiver.” The quote “out of sight, out of mind” may be a more accurate description than forgiveness, I’m just being real; surely I am not alone?

As the Jesus Chick I have put myself in the center of a bulls-eye and made myself target practice for hypocritical knot heads that have made comments to me such as “Well I’m a Christian, but your constant talk of Jesus offends me,” Really? Or those who wait for me to show my imperfect human side and scoff, “Yeah, she’s the Jesus Chick.” Or friends who cut me and walk away as if I were but a loaf of bread. And that’s just this week. It was a full blown attack of the demon of strife. It was ugly! I fancy myself a “soul stirrer” when I speak. I love to stir the hearts up of the people I speak to and create in them a desire to serve God in a bolder way. I listen to encouraging speakers and preachers, and read blogs by encouraging people as a way to keep my mind focused on godly things; and then my godliness goes out the window when a person from my past enters into my mind, or better yet, I sit across from them at a table, and every demon I’ve faced before seems to be lined up behind them staring at me face to face and waiting to get their blow. Oh jeepers, is anyone else out there who knows what I mean?

Satan gets one foot in the door and the next thing you know he’s sitting on your couch telling you how pathetic you are and reminding you of how so and so made you feel and then strife ignites. Proverbs 26:21says “As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” But 2 Timothy 2:24 says ~ And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. Argg… Does that mean I have to keep my mouth shut, because I’m not very good at that? Yes it does.

So rather than getting on Facebook and telling the world how I felt, or calling up my friends and getting them to jump on my band wagon with me, I sat on the couch. Me and Satan, like we were “besties.” And he pummeled me with thoughts of inferiority. And then I said enough:
• That contentious person…forgiven.
• That door… closed.
• That feeling… squelched.

Am I pretending? No. I can’t allow myself to pretend. As a child of God, as a leader in and out of the church I have to follow Timothy’s advice. Be gentle. Teach. Be Patient. Dampen the fires Satan ignites.

Hebrews 11:33-34 ~ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

God has so much goodness in store for us and if we are to obtain His promise there are some battles that we will have to win by refusing to fight.

Posted in Uncategorized

Neanderthal Notions… When man plays God

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion 2 Comments on Neanderthal Notions… When man plays God

I seldom ever watch the news. I figure if anything is noteworthy it will make its way to my ears and I’ll follow up on it through an internet search. You may think that is to be unprepared; I personally think it is to have less aggravation in my life. Take this morning for example. My husband does watch the news (thus he is usually my noteworthy source). But today as he watched I was by mere attendance listening when the ignorance of man showed itself again to be worthy of my un-attendance tomorrow. It was reported that Harvard Medical School geneticist, George Church is attempting to recruit a woman to give birth to Neanderthal baby cloned through extracted fossil DNA. And people wonder why I don’t watch the news, really?

The irony of his name being Church made my stomach roll much like my eyes do at the ludicrous-osity of the scientific community. Yes, that’s a new word. A word no less ridiculous than an idiot who would play God and assume that he can create a life as God does.

Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

I guess as long as we are in this sin fallen world there will be those who attempt to disprove God by making themselves a god. Mr. Church can scrape all the fossil DNA off of a rock (dust) that he wants but he will never become God. God alone is the creator of life. I make no profession of scientific intelligence, I’m the Jesus Chick, not a scientist.  But this is where I am leaps and bounds ahead of Mr. Church in wisdom, I know not to mess with what God has deemed Holy, and that is the sanctity of life. Jeremiah 1:4-5 says “Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 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. God creates life. God sanctifies (approves) life. God designs the breath of life and the direction of life. Man may create something in a petri dish but it will never be life as God created it.

There are times I wonder why God continues to allow this nonsense to go on. Why does He not just call us home? Because there is still God created life and purpose. And perhaps one such purpose is that Mr. Church comes to know the saving grace of Creator. The surname “Church” was likely an occupational surname. Somewhere in the past his family was likely good Christian people. I hope he’ll use that wonderful brain God created in him to discover that his genealogy will take him back to the foot of the Cross.

Posted in Uncategorized

God’s Peeps have their Privileges

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion 2 Comments on God’s Peeps have their Privileges

Exodus 3:2
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

For the first 40 years of Moses’ life he’d lived in the luxury of the Pharaoh’s palace,he’d been educated by the Egyptian people in the finest of methods; the second 40 years of his life were spent in hiding, in the obscurity of the shepherds fields, far from luxury he’d been accustomed to and still not where he belonged. And then a burning bush appears in the middle of no where, with the means of no kindle, and a method of no approach. We serve an unexplainable God.

Why does He allow bad things to happen to good people? Moses in a means for protection was removed from his family and raised as an Egyptian to prevent him for being killed with the other Israeli infants being slaughtered to prevent the nations growth. He was preparing the chosen. Moses was trained in leadership by some of the finest. How handy to have the enemy’s play book.

Why does He allow barren times in our life when it seems that nothing is being accomplished of any greatness for the Kingdom of God? He was protecting the chosen. Once the enemy had discovered Moses’ heart was for the Hebrew they wanted him gone. So Moses fled to the Midianites where he became a shepherd. The leader of an unruly, stubborn and stupid lot. Sometimes the most trivial of tasks prepare us for the twists and turns of leadership. I would venture a guess that herding sheep had a great many resemblances of herding the millions of Israelites through the wilderness.

And last but not least why does He not allow absolute understanding of circumstances? That burning bush caught Moses’ eye and stirred his curiosity and yet when he went to approach it, God said “Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5 That is His Preeminence to the Chosen. Although the elect of God receive grace and favor, the holiness of God does not always permit full understanding of why things are what they are, that is why they call it faith. But the difference between the favored and the ordinary man is His Provision to the Chosen. The last 40 years of Moses’ life were spent leading the Nation of Israel into the promised land.

If you are a child of God, He has you covered…

Posted in Uncategorized

The Thoroughfare of Friendship: The Forsaken, the Faithful and the Forgiven

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Thoroughfare of Friendship: The Forsaken, the Faithful and the Forgiven

image

FRIENDSHIPS ARE RISKY!

2 Timothy 4:10-11 ~ For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry

It was somewhere between 17 and 100 years ago that I started down the pathway of salvation, having heard the gospel of Christ from a man who preached loud and long and his words pierced my soul as none I’d ever heard before. Sound melodramatic? Call it what you like, but it was a life changing event that abruptly changed my direction in life and the people in it. In one day I had acquired a new group of friends that put into question what I had believed friendship to be my entire life, although that revelation did not occur for months, if not years down the road. It’s not that my past friendships were void or unimportant, not so at all! I wanted every friend in my life on this new journey, because I knew that this journey had a promise.

I did not know as a newly converted Christian that this journey not only had promise it had problems, and how I, and my new found friends dealt with the problems of life would be entirely different. That’s why 2 Timothy 4:10-11 caught my eye this morning. Paul writes to Timothy; and you almost hear his plea for encouragement as he tells him in verse 9 “Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:” He needs him to come quickly because his friends in the faith that he’d depended upon had gone. Paul’s friends of the faith were no longer on the journey with him for entirely different reasons, and with each one Paul had lost a source of strength.

He begins with Demas, who had the previous year been a fellow laborer in Christ but had now forsaken Paul for the present world. Possibly the most painful friendships I’ve lost have been those who walked away from the body of Christ as if it had never meant anything to them. Each time it happened (yes, I’ve lost more than one friend this way) it was a realization that I too am one misguided notion away from leaving the best thing in my life, and that I need to strive to keep my eyes not on man, but on Christ who saved me.

Crescens and Titus had both been steadfast friends of the faith but were now called into their own ministries and away from Paul. Although it is certainly not a hurt like that of a friend who has returned to the world, it is still painful when friends move out of our lives, even for the godliest of reasons. When my own sister and her family became missionaries to Canada, she took a piece of my heart with her. Praise God for technology that allows us daily contact if we so desire, but Paul did not have that. At best an occasional letter would be it. He missed them. So do I…

Then Paul mentions Luke and Mark. Luke had stayed with him and he was grateful, but he needed Mark who would be profitable, although Paul had not always thought so (Acts 15:36-41). Mark had at one time refused to work in the ministry, though it is not told why, whether he were lazy or fearful; either way Paul and Barnabas had a serious disagreement over it. But there is no mention of it now; Mark is now profitable. We all let each other down in the ministry. I know for a fact I’ve let people down. Praise God! for forgiveness and restoration. Whoever coined the phrase “No pain, no gain,” knew what they were talking about. Friendships are a risk. They don’t always end well, but they are always worth it!!!!