Bible Journaling – Page 37

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Eternity, Grace, Leadership, Life Inspiration

God Does Not Think You’re Cute

Written by talk2shari Published November 12, 2016 Discussion 2 Comments

What a week! A roller coaster of emotions and I praise God tomorrow is Sunday and I can once again be in the house of the Lord. It’s a treat for me! I love my Pastor and I love our people. I love having the opportunity to share the Word of God with the teen department and receiving the Word of God for myself through the preaching. I need it for weeks like this when the world went chaotic and left me shaking my head as people were proud of their two year old behavior and touted that it was in protest of their rights being violated by my rights being respected. I could not believe my eyes and ears as I watched news reports of people using the election to justify rioting and burning the American flag that represented their freedom to do that and not be shot as they would in another country.

Zephaniah’s Old Testament words had modern day bearing as another of God’s warnings reminded me that God doesn’t think their behavior was any cuter than I do.

Zephaniah 1:12

And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.

It’s Gonna Happen

There will be a reckoning day in Heaven and on earth for what is happening on earth now. The news media, the government and our citizens will answer to God for their mocking of Him and their arrogance. Their attempts to discourage and degrade God’s people and His plan did not go un-noticed. I am encouraged (not by their demise and or penance) but rather encouraged by God’s word which keeps me grounded in the fact that God is very much aware of us. And He will still provide mercy for those who come to Him requesting it.

It’s Gonna Come to Light

Just like the infamous emails, God is going to uncover everything that has been done in the darkness of this election and this lifetime. It won’t matter which side of the fence you’re on: Democrat, Republican, Saved or Heathen… what you’ve done is already known by God. He may allow it to remain covered down here for a while, but there will be a day when all its ugliness will have the blanket pulled back and there it will lay with nothing to say except… Oh God, have mercy on me.

It’s Gonna be Settled

There is a song that says “My account was settled long ago.” Glory to God how awesome that is for the child of God whose sin is covered by the crimson flow of the blood of our Lord Jesus. But there is still an accountability factor for what we’ve done with that salvation. How have we served? The lees settled in this scripture speaks of “wine, quiet and undisturbed. A good outward estate, abounding in wealth and riches and trusting and enjoying therein,” so says the commentary of John Gill. Ignoring the decay around them. I would dare say that is America in a nutshell. We bask in what looks good while there is suffering surrounding us. Those rioters were not concerned about the election or the atrocities of Nation. They were concerned about self. There way was rejected and they were upset.

How must we have looked to God? Did His eyes turn from the child of God that is being martyred for standing up for their faith, and look to the tantrum thrower on the ground in the United States and say “Oh how terrible for you child that you didn’t get your way.” According to the Christian Post *7,000 Christians were killed for their faith between Nov. 1, 2014, and Oct. 31, 2015.

God isn’t mocked by your anti-God rhetoric. Just because God didn’t strike you dead when you shook your fist at Him and dared His action, doesn’t mean He doesn’t exist. It only means you received the gift of mercy one more day.

Now, I don’t believe too many (if any) of the protestors will read this blog. But to the child of God, take heart and keep serving. Keep proclaiming and head to church in the morning to thank God for another day of grace.

*Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/open-doors-world-watch-list-2015-deadliest-year-christians-killed-for-faith-jesus-christ-154875/#pvQxVM8qQ2i2Lljk.99

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Grace, Leadership, Life Inspiration

A Day Out From the Big Lie

Written by talk2shari Published November 10, 2016November 10, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

Yesterday I was somewhat in shock; as was the Clinton campaign. I had gone to bed assuming what the media was informing me of was true, that Clinton was a sure win. Shocker! They didn’t know. It’s why I had stopped watching the television news altogether. Between the lies and the anti-God spin of everything, it kept my stomach in knots. So a day out from the big lie and my mind’s a little clearer, my hearts a little happier and I have a few thoughts on the new President elect.

Humility

2 Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

For certain there have been times when President Elect Donald Trump was less than humble and may be again, it is his personality. But during the latter part of his campaign, he apologized, accepted responsibility, and graciously accepted his win without arrogance. I believe they call that humility and it’s a great start. A humble attitude is one that God can work with. Yesterday I was humbled. I truly felt that God had heard the cry of His people in America. Again and again, (but not nearly enough) I thanked God for the election results. I truly believe it’s a chance for America to return to the right path.

Prayerfully

Now that God has offered the opportunity, it is up to the American people to pray for not only our President and President Elect, but for each other. I began praying for Donald Trump’s protection and that of Vice-President Elect Pence. I don’t think Satan is the least bit happy about Tuesday’s results and he’d love to destroy the work God has begun. He can’t, any more than he controlled Tuesday. But he can wreak havoc with us and will if we don’t stay humbly on our face before God.

Intentionally

Seeking the face of God is an intentional act. You don’t “happen upon Him.” It’s deliberate act in hopes of receiving His attention, mercy, grace, and blessing. Now is not the time to go back to business as usual in our spiritual life. God answered our prayer; now we need to seek His wisdom for ourselves, our leaders and our nation has a whole. We need to turn from the wicked ways of the past and turn to our future hope which is the Lord Jesus Christ. Boldly and unashamedly, glorify our God to a nation that had all but walked away from Him. Including the church He died for. Churches are empty and attitudes are lacks’. God is so far down on the list of priorities that He barely gets an honorable mention. And He play second fiddle to nothing or no one, and our Nation’s path can turn on a dime without warning back on the road to destruction unless we put God back in first place.

God has forgiven a lot. Now is not the time to turn our backs on Him again. Set your heart to serve Him greater! And He can make this nation great again.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Grace, Leadership, Life Inspiration

Will We Be a Nebuchadnezzar Nation?

Written by talk2shari Published November 8, 2016November 8, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

The word of God is such a powerful thing. It has the ability to revive itself in my soul, reminding me again and again of how it was spoken. But I first had to receive it and then I had to respond to it before it could be revived. If I walked out of a service, having received nothing, it was likely not the preacher’s fault. I wasn’t listening. But this blog is from one such message from my own Pastor, Steven Carter, that gives me hope for America, which I, like most everyone else have trouble believing. Especially with the nonsense of today’s election 2016. So today I share with you what my Pastor shared with me, with a little Jesus Chick thrown in, because I for certain cannot remember his sermon verbatim. But it still is stirring my soul with hope! So here it is in a condensed revised version, not to be confused with this splendidly preached version.

ROLLED EYES

Nebuchadnezzar, the King from the story of Daniel, had much in common with American leaders of today. His pride had gotten the best of him. He was his own god, giving himself full credit for the success of himself and his country.

Daniel 4 reads:

²⁸All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

²⁹At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

³⁰The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

That could have been one of last night’s political commercials! Could it not? “I have done this, and I will do that, I am powerful and wonderful and you should look at me because I am awesome!” Or so they said. Even a candidate who gave glory to God made sure everyone knew how great they were too. And I have a feeling God rolled His eyes.

Pride and arrogance ooze out of our land like a volcano getting ready to erupt. But “All this” came upon the King.

³¹While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

³²And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

³³The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

Nebuchadnezzar in all his splendidness found himself eating with the cattle, clawed like an eagle and donning dreadlocks. Oh… my mind wanders in a not so godly way as to whether or not a few of our prideful leaders might look like that someday. But I have my own pride to worry about, so I better shush.

FURROWED BROW

This scripture is not about America, but can you see how America fits right into the mold. Our national leaders, like Nebuchadnezzar, actually believe that they have the power of life and death in their hands and the right to do with it what they please. I don’t think God’s eyes are rolling at this point, I think His brow is furrowed and He just might be clearing His throat to tell His Son to call His children home… or there’s one last hope. The one I won’t give up on until God has done just that.

BREATH OF MERCY

It’s that slow release of air from the lungs in relief that destruction was avoided.

³⁴And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

³⁵And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

³⁶At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

³⁷Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

The king had finally come to himself and realized that God was on the throne, not him. God controls Heaven and earth and all that is in between…

The issue for us is, although God could stop any of the nonsense from happening, He has allowed mankind to have free will. So today’s election is our decision. And who we put in to lead this nation may or may not have a Nebuchadnezzar mind that will eventually come to terms with their own pride. And so we wait… But… take heart my dear friend because I am. The same God that brought the king to his senses, can bring America back to hers. Our hope does not lie in this election result… It is dependent upon God hearing from His people. Pray!!! Pray!!! Pray!!!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Political

Is This The American Church?

Written by talk2shari Published October 31, 2016October 31, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

So this morning as I lie in bed, scrolling through Christian videos on social media regarding the election, there was this urgency in my heart about the coming week and next Tuesday’s election. Oh my stars… the day that will no doubt change the dynamics of our Nation and all I can think of is where’s the church? More cockeyed emails, seriously? And I don’t want to get into the middle of it because I’m one of those center children who hate confrontation. The oldest children are the take charge folks, the babies are my way or the highway folks, and I’m the one that just says can’t we all get along?

And God said “No. Not since the snake in the garden.” And then that image came to me of the head in the sand, which is what I feel best represents the American church of Jesus Christ today. Now, if that’s an actual denomination, it’s not meant as a reference, I speak collectively of those who say they are born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. How on earth have we gotten to this place as a nation where you would actually think voting for an immoral, baby killer approving, American killer, outright liar without apology woman who is worse than Jezebel should have the right to even run as President.

Wow, I guess I just crossed the line with a few people, but my heart needed me to say it so that I could at least not consider myself in line with the cowards who have refused to take a stand on the issues of this election. Let’s face reality. Neither candidate is someone that we would want to be a representative of the church; but God has not been shy on what He thinks about the sins of this nation and the likes of Hillary. And while sin is sin and Donald Trump isn’t perfect by any means, at least he stands for something that I can get behind. Somewhat important things like the defense of our nation, not the distraction and destruction of it through liberal mindsets that would allow Muslim belief to overshadow the Christian foundation and convictions that we desire to live by, partnerships with people who view women as unworthy to live without their permission and yet calling conservatives biased because we don’t want Hillary as President and touting that it’s because she’s a woman. Seriously. Does the church have its head in the sand?

This is not a democrat, republican, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, etc. issue. This is the Word of God issue that you can’t change.

Isaiah 45

Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.

I believe in my heart that God will use who He chooses whether or not they are a child of God. But He will not use anyone who is anti-Christ. I did not say Hillary was the antichrist, please note that… But she is doing everything within her power to destroy the Christianity of our Nation. God can make the crooked straight, He can bring darkness to light. But God’s people have got to be the vocal vessels willing to step out for the cause of Christ and get our country back on the right path.

I have places to go, people to see and things to get done else I’d write more… I may be back tomorrow on this subject.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Church Unity, Grace, Life Inspiration, Uncategorized

The Truth About Cats and Dragons

Written by talk2shari Published October 29, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. ~ Acts 10:34

As a disclaimer I feel that I must confess that I grew up in a 99% white community. Why I feel that I must confess that I really don’t know, other than to provide the reader of this blog an understanding of the culture for which I grew up in. For most of my life (other than a two year stint in the big city of Parkersburg, WV) I’ve lived in rural West Virginia. Very rural! We have no Walmart, we have no red light… we do have a caution light, but I’m pretty sure that’s only to alert visitors that there is an actual town there. In my high school there was one black family. Was there any prejudice? Of course there was! Being rural doesn’t exclude you from stupidity, it just takes longer to get here.

I can only speak for me when I say that I had no prejudice because I wasn’t brought up with it. My parents taught us to love people; they never once suggested that a different color of skin, economic status or belief was a reason to disassociate yourself from the person. I had plenty of other issues, prejudice just wasn’t one. And while I agree that black lives matter, so does white and every other life regardless of color. So this morning as I read in Acts 10 of Peter’s message from God (the very first PowerPoint presentation) I thought to myself, “O God, I wish Your messengers of today could get through to people.” Then again… there’s a few of God’s messengers that haven’t got the message themselves!

The Difference between Cats and Dragons

Halloween brings with it a varied opinion in the Christian community as to whether it’s right or wrong, demonic, worldly, etc.; but for me it’s just a fun day for kids to get to be something they’re not… kind of like many adults in church… Oh… did I got there?

I personally don’t feel a kitty cat and a dragon or even a zombie is going to send some child on a pathway to Hell. Let me say, however, if you’re exposing kids to demonic zombies of the Hollywood (hellywood) variety you’re messing them up. Because you’re putting evil thought into impressionable young minds that shouldn’t be there. But that’s all I’ll say. This isn’t about that. The difference between Cats and Dragons isn’t the costume, it’s the kid on the inside and the inside of the kid.

The costume is man created. The kid is God created! The costume may or may not reflect who the kid is on the inside. A zombie kid may be a timid little guy that is tired of being scared and wants to be the scare-er for a change. Or maybe it has nothing to do with that. The little kitty cat may be a tiger personality but that’s the only costume she has and the same holds true in real life. Our outward appearance does not necessarily reflect our inward design. Sometimes it’s just the only thing we had to wear.

I have to wonder about all the haters out there. Is that their real face… or the face of someone else? Why are you a hater? I’m sure there’s some psychological reason but it boils down to you’re not listening to God. Because loves every one of every color.

Do I think this blog will make this difference in a hater changing to a lover? Umm… not likely. But Peter wasn’t a hater, he was Jew and just doing what Jews were supposed to do. But that PowerPoint presentation by God on the roof changed how he believed about gentiles and gentile’s ways. We’re not talking sin, we’re talking culture. God doesn’t excuse sin, and He doesn’t exclude culture. But some Christian’s do.

You’re not my church, therefore you’re not my people. Cats and Dragons. We should look to understand the inside of the person not the costume or the denomination they wear. Amen? Just a thought…

Posted in Bible Journaling, joy, Life Inspiration

Is the Gate in View?

Written by talk2shari Published October 22, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

I wonder if the man at the gate of Beautiful ever stopped being lovely for the Lord? I hope the excitement that he felt that day never dulled. His lame lifestyle had vanished, and he was living victoriously! But if life did to him what it does to most of us, I’m sure he had days when his step was not high and the gate was far in the distance.

Acts 3:8-10

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Is the gate still in view for you? Do you remember the feeling of fresh salvation? I sometimes have to work to remember and you no doubt do as well if it’s been very long. For me it’s been 20 years, but if I get my mind in that “Beautiful” place my praise is once more restored. Life has a way of causing us to suppress that beautiful memory into the recesses of our mind while the problems, guilt and frustrations of life over shadow how wonderful salvation is. Four things can happen when we the gate is too far in the distance.

We lose our joy

David said in Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation… Life had gotten on him. Sin and the guilt it creates has a way of sucking the joy out of your life quicker than anything else. But it’s not exclusive. Debt, health issues, heartache… oh the list is long that can cause us to lose our joy.

We rely on others to provide our joy

The man at the gate had once relied on people for his life’s provision. But no more! The Lord had now provided a way for him to take care of himself. I was once in a conversation with someone who ask how I kept my soul nourished. They were frustrated because spiritually, life wasn’t going the way they desired and they were depending on one person (the preacher) to nourish their soul. Well, it’s true that that is the preacher’s job; but again not exclusively. If we rely on the preacher to keep our heart happy Monday through Saturday with what he stirs up within us on Sunday, we’re going to be let down. Life is too harsh for that. The same is true when we expect friends and family to keep us encouraged and never let us down… it just won’t happen that way.

People can’t see our joy

When the people saw that the lame man was lame no more, and that he leaped for joy and praised God, they were amazed! Why are our friends not amazed at what Jesus has done… could it be because our praise was left at the gate?

God doesn’t get to joy in us

Psalm 21:1 says The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice.

This broke my heart above all when I realized that God loses joy because I lose mine. Yes He understands… but that still doesn’t justify it. And it especially doesn’t justify it when we get so far from the gate of Beautiful that we might as well be lame again because our joy has been gone for a long time. I know Christians that (if I didn’t really know them) I’d never guess that they had ever been at the gate of salvation. Likely you do too!

So what are we to do?

Revisit the gate
Recall the day of salvation
Rejoice, and again I say Rejoice!

You, your people and your Savior need it.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Church attendance, Leadership, Life Inspiration

Consider Your Ways

Written by talk2shari Published October 21, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

Consider Your Ways

Frankly, I’d rather consider everyone else’s, that way I don’t feel so bad. But the reality of it is that won’t fix anything. So I have to start with examining myself from the foundation up, and that foundation was the day of my salvation. Am I better now than then, and to what degree? I can look at myself and say I am wiser… true story. I am spiritually more mature… true story. I am committed to the cause of Christ… true story. I am where God desires me to me… ummmm, no.

This idea of examination began when I grumbled to God about the church. I know it’s not just my own church, its churches collectively; because I’ve heard the grumbling of others who grow frustrated with the lack of commitment in God’s people. But as I grumbled, God began to shine the light of His word into the recesses of my heart and lo and behold… there was a message for me. I was really hopin’ it was for somebody else.

The book of Haggai the prophet begins by God calling out His own saying “This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord‘s house should be built.”

My theory as a leader is that I need to get God’s people motivated. But what I heard God say was, “You need to get motivated.” So much of my effort is spent trying to prod people into doing something and so much time is lost in the prodding. As leaders we need to get busy building.

So Haggai goes on to show the Lord’s frustration with the people when He replied to their response…

Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

God was frustrated too! The people were more concerned with their homes than His. I guess Wednesday night was grass cutting night in Haggai’s neighborhood too. I guess Sunday evening services were for the people without a life. Yep… I’m in the flesh. But doggone it, why is that still so? Did we learn nothing from scripture? Every time the children of God forgot whose they were, there was a price to pay. And today we’re paying that price in the 2016 election for starters. Why is it a shocker that the moral decay of America would allow a lying, adulterous, murdering family in the White House? Could it be that our church houses have been abandoned and God’s priorities are so far down on our “to do lists” that He doesn’t even rank one day of the week with Him as focus.

Well, God did get their attention. At the conclusion of chapter one it is said that the “Lord stirred up the Spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God.” It sounds like they got their priorities back in check!

Is there hope for us?

Twice in chapter one God said “Consider your ways.” And so I am. What is my direction? What is my personal mission statement? Every church should have one, and every person should have one. The children of God in Haggai’s day had the foundation of the temple to build on. In Chapter 2, verse 18, God again said consider, but this time it was not their ways, but rather the founding ways. The foundation of which the temple had been built in the days of Solomon was solid. They didn’t need to build a new foundation, only to build upon it.

So here’s the beginning of my mission statement… I think it’s a work in progress.

It’s my job to build, it’s God’s job to stir. Work. Let God take care of the drifters.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Life's Failures

Our Heart set Apart

Written by talk2shari Published October 19, 2016 Discussion 2 Comments

My friend Gloria and I have traveled many, many miles together, some in a vehicle and some in the Spirit, growing in the grace of our Lord who we share as Father. Yesterday was one of those days. We spent several hours celebrating Jesus in the form of chatter, laughter, tears and food. Pretty much in that order and of equal importance to our spiritual health.

As we shared what scriptures we’d read and the significance to our day, Gloria shared the Nazarite vow and this morning it’s still fresh on my mind. The Nazarite vow comes from the Hebrew word “nazir” meaning consecrated or separated. It was a vow to abstain from specific things, for example wine, grapes, cutting of hair or to come into contact with a dead body, and much more. It was a set time and at the end of that time a sacrifice was made in great detail. None of the event was taken lightly. It was serious business. Oh, to have a Nazarite heart…

One set apart for the service of God. David said in Psalm 4:3

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

I want to be used by God and I want Him to hear my pleas. But I know I’m not nearly serious enough. I’m not referring to abstaining from wine (which I don’t drink anyway) or grapes or not cutting my hair. For me it’s a heart matter. I need a time of prayer, a time set aside and exclusively His each day.

Life goes on… I realize that. We have dishes to wash and work to do. But there needs to be a consecrated effort when we love on God, spending time one to One, in His presence; if we have any expectation of God doing a mighty work in our lives. And just like it was an outward appearance of the Nazarite that he was set apart, our friends and family should know that we’re setting ourselves apart from the world for a time. It’s not for a show, it’s for them to know that God is so important in my life that I’ve set this time apart for Him away from the things of the world.

For me its mornings, for you perhaps its another time of day. But more than the timeslot, it’s the consecrated effort that God sees we’re desiring Him to know that He is key in our lives.

Yes, the world needs to see Jesus, but Jesus needs to see us. Spend some time in His presence today, He alone is worthy

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Church attendance, Faith, Life Inspiration, Uncategorized

Fig Tree Faith

Written by talk2shari Published October 16, 2016October 16, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

I am so very human so very often, and the times that I am most aware of it is when I get in the flesh over spiritual matters. It seems like an oxymoron but its truth none the less. So this morning as I read the scripture in Mark of Jesus’ frustration with the money changers my mind drifted to empty seats and lackadaisical attitudes toward church attendance and Christian service. I had to wonder why this story was in the middle of the story of the fig tree? I get Jesus’ frustrations with fruitless lives, and I can more than understand His frustrations with thievery in the church house, but what does one have to do with the other? Pew sitters seems a far cry from what the money changers were doing that caused Jesus to throw tables over and drive people out for using God’s house for their own gain rather than the soul saving station and to edify the church. But then I began to think of the cost of an apathetic attitude toward the work of God, and the number of them who attend church, I understood why God could pair those two stories together.

Unfruitful servants of God are like that tree and the money changers in the fact that they rob God of the fruit He so desires. I’d also have to include myself in that category, because I could certainly do more fruit baring. Jesus’ closing words Peter, when asked why the tree died, was “Have faith in God.”

It was a kick in the pants to me, as if to say, “Let God handle everyone else Shari, you worry about your fruit.”

Mark 11:12-22

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Leadership, Life Inspiration

For They Considered Not the Miracle

Written by talk2shari Published October 14, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

miracle

It’s true in my life too. A few days of struggle, a few rough waves to get over and I’ve long since forgotten the countless things that God has done in my life. I pondered the upcoming election this morning as I read the story of the forgotten miracle:

Mark 6:48-52

And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Jesus had fed 5000+ people with 2 loaves of bread and a few fishes, followed by calming the raging sea and scaring the pants off His buddies and they were sore amazed and wondered. They’d already forgotten about that amazing lunch He provided from basically nothing! It was as if the bread and fish were a little miracle by comparison to the angry storm. How much different is it today?

We are so impressed when God does what we deem amazing, when the amazing is being done right before us every day in our lives by the provision and sustainment of life. So why are worrying about the waves of this election?

I’ve seen some really positive, good posts on social media recently about what Jesus can do through this election, but I feel they’re being over looked by those wanting to sensationalize, and refocus us on the stormy waters surrounding the candidates. I will confess that the candidates of choice are not my choice, but I have to look at what I have available. The folks on the ground that day with Jesus had but one choice for dinner, “bread and fish.” The miracle was not in the choice, it was what God did with the choice. I feel the same way about this election. I don’t think either one of these people are living at the foot of the cross, but I know the One Who died on the cross for the salvation of man, and He can work a miracle with the matter. It’s not much… I wouldn’t call those two a happy meal, but… let me preface this by saying I’m voting for Trump. Not because he’s all that and bag of chips, but I feel he is the provision for America and Hillary is the destruction. I won’t get into anything other than that. That alone is enough for me to ponder today when the world would rather I worry. If Christians will pray and vote… in that order, rely on God to take care of us as well as work for Him until He comes, this might be the most amazing four years of American history!