Christian Service – Page 39

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

P.S. ~ He doesn’t call pew sitters

Written by talk2shari Published November 23, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

I can’t seem to make it too far in the book of Judges before I’m under conviction and or in a state of frustration. At the end of Chapter two we read the words of God frustration with Israel:

²⁰And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

²¹I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:

²²That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

²³Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

Israel had again and again turned back to following the false gods of the people dwelling in their land. So in frustration God decided that He would “prove” their loyalty to Him by allowing the troubling parties to stay in their country, thus giving Israel the choice to choose the God of all creation or the created gods. God would send leaders in like, Joshua, Caleb, and Othniel and judges to govern and guide, and yet each time they either ignored or waited until the leader was gone and then went back to following the ways of the world. History would repeat itself again when Israel would cry out, God would deliver, and they’d follow for a while and then fall away. Such has been the case with Israel, America and the church.

I watch in sadness as the American church goes two directions. Those who stand on the ground they’ve been given refusing to look at any other method of worship as even a possibility, and those who take their worship far, far into a worldly perspective and turn godly worship into a worldly celebration without the holiness of God anywhere in the equation. And then there are those of us in the middle, watching and wondering when Jesus will come and take us out of this mess. But all the while there is a need for the gospel to go forth, but those willing to take it are fewer and fewer.

It hit too close home when I read that as soon as Johua, Caleb and and Othniel passed away, Israel went into disarray. Why wasn’t there a strong enough leader in their stead? I can say the same about the church, collectively and personally5sq. I’ve watched as strong leaders pass away or move onto other ministries and those in the balance are not ready and have no desire to be ready.

Was it the previous administrations fault?

Did Joshua, Caleb and Othniel drop the ball in training others to be in their place?

Possibly but I doubt it, and that excuse only flies so far. At some point people see the need and choose to either step up or step back. If everyone steps back, succeeding that is usually the ruination of a body of believers. They begin getting lethargic in their service to the Lord, their personal walk with God goes by the way side and slowly but surely a community is in captivity of Satan because the saints of God failed to step up in the position of leader.

I wish I had the answer. Following last week’s election there should have been people lining the altar on Sunday and proclaiming that they were to ready to step into the places God had opened. I didn’t see it at my church, did you see it at yours?

What’s it going to take for people to realize that God may call us home soon and there’s a world in need of Jesus that we were supposed to tell. Or… He may not call us home for a while and He’ll tire of us as He did Israel and say… you wanted the world… there ya go. Welcome to captivity.

My prayer is that one by one we’ll declare our loyalty to God and our churches and our country will turn back to God. But it has to start with us singly looking at God’s desire for our life.

P.S. ~ He doesn’t call pew sitters. Get busy!

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

Is there a fire in this generation?

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

I’ve been involved in the lives of six generations of people, and although that makes me feel a little more than aged it also brings me great joy when I reminisce on the days of Great Grandma Florence, Mommaw Vada, Aunts, Uncles and my own Mother and Father; and now watch as beneath my generation are two more. I am blessed. The generations have not been without heartache and woe but praise God each have been filled with strong Christian witnesses that I can look to for strength when I struggle in the these days of wickedness and woe. So when I read the following passage in Judges 2 it breaks my heart more than a little.

Judges 2:8-11

And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:

The new generation that God brought into the Promised Land, whom He had told “I will never break my covenant with you,” (Judges 2:1b), that generation waited one generation to break away from Him.

The same held true in America. Leaving their country for a land that would promise religious freedom, it took only a few generations for the decline of American spirituality. A great revival in 1857 in New York brought a new hope to the children of God and spread near and far, but not until a crash of the economy. It’s been about that long again, maybe a little more since America has felt the hand of God heavy in leadership and family. As I read the history of the great New York revival my heart longed for that leadership to be in place again today.

It started with one man hired as a missionary to the inner cities of New York. Jeremiah Lanphier, a 48 year old businessman, who was moved by the spiritual plight of the masses, began to visit homes, passing out literature, praying and encouraging others to do the same. A noon time prayer meeting of a few men turned into thousands and thousands across America. Not for preaching, but for praising and praying for the souls of friends and family.

Oh for that fire to ignite in America now…

It has to start somewhere. A recent happening in our county is a countywide Christian fellowship which stirs my heart with great joy. Because I can see the fringe of a mighty fire if we keep seeking Jesus as a unified body of Christ. Letting our churches be “our” churches but incorporating a time of fellowship between all churches to come together to praise God and pray for our friends and family. November 28^th is the next event at the Brooksville Church.

If we lead believing… I believe there will be followers. And the body of Christ, the brothers and sisters in His name will grow. It gives me great hope, I hope it encourages you too!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Church attendance, joy, Life Inspiration, Praise

How to Lose Your Religion on Sunday

Written by talk2shari Published November 20, 2016November 20, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

A friend of my husband messaged him last night and said that I needed to sing him a song on Facebook because “between the people he had to deal with and the WVU ballgame his religion was at risk.” Needless to say that was a nice compliment and a worthy chuckle. So this morning it put the word “religion” on my heart, why we should lose it, and why Sunday is the perfect day to set out on that mission!

Religion reminds me of those folks who sing “Standing on the Promises” while sitting on the premises with their hands across their chest. Religion causes me to have frown lines and I don’t need any more lines on my brow. It reminds me of a previous me who felt very uncomfortable when the Holy Spirit moved in a service. It felt odd, out of place and very unwelcome. Heaven forbid people should raise their hand or go to an altar with a repentant heart, or a burden of prayer. Let’s just carry those burdens around until we die and in err believe that people buy our pious religious demeanor and mistaken it for spirituality. Wow! Where did that come from? I guess as my ol’ friend D.L. Kerby used to say, “If God laid it on your heart, you must have needed to say it!” Well, sometimes D.L. was right and sometimes not, but perhaps we all need to hear a reminder before church this morning that now is not the time to get complacent in our faith. Religion should have no part of church, you should lose it before you enter the building.

Religion is repetitious

In Christ every day is a new day. We don’t go church “just because it’s Sunday.” We go to church because that’s the day God’s people come together to encourage one another and to hear what God has to say.

Religion is like raisins

Only not nearly as sweet. It’s a shriveled up version of what God intended. Yes, God wants you in church, but not just to sit there for your one hour due diligence. He wants you fresh and lively like the grapes on the vine. Jesus said in John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Raisins are dried up fruit, a very good analogy I think to a religious Christian. Oh… you were good fruit once upon a time, but now, you’re ready for the box.

Religion is rebellion

Yep. I said it. And if you’re religious you’re likely upset. But God did not die on the cross for religion. He died on the cross for a relationship with those He died for. Sitting lifeless and unaffected by a sermon is not having a relationship. It’s like a rebellious child who will sit in your presence and listen to you speak, but your words are doing nothing more than tickling their ears as they go in one and out the other.

When Saul failed to take heed to the word of God and kept some of the “good spoil” for himself and the people in the battle against the Amalekites, Samuel said this to him in 1 Samuel 15:23, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”

We call children rebellious when they won’t listen to their parents… Hello… God is our Father. If we’re not listening to Him, we’re rebelling. It’s that simple.

And I’m as guilty as the next.

I’m not saying every Christian has to be loud and hands in the air, else their not saved. That could be chaos. But if it was done in the Spirit of God, it would not be, even if the whole church was loud and hands in the air! What I’m saying is… When you get to go to church this morning, go in… sit down… and wait for instruction on the edge of your seat. And if you do… something exciting might just happen. And you too can lose your religion on Sunday and God will be well pleased!

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

When Is Nothing Enough?

Written by talk2shari Published November 19, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

To tell you “I struggle with contentment” could quite possibly be the understatement of the year. And while there is a spiritual truth in the fact that we should be constantly growing toward Christ and never content with our spiritual state, there’s also a very humanistic ideal that nothing is enough. What an oxymoron! How could nothing ever be enough?

I’ve heard it again and again that God put the emotion of desire in our hearts, but the first mention of desire in scripture is in Genesis 3:6 where woman saw that the tree was “a tree to be desired to make one wise,” and so she took the fruit. Well… that didn’t end very well for us did it? Obviously there are boundaries for which our desire should or should not be acted upon. The world tells us to “go for the prize,” which I guess that’s okay if it’s the “prize of your high calling which is Christ Jesus” spoken of by Paul to the Philippians, but what about the desires in life of a non-spiritual nature. It’s where guilt enters the picture for me.

I am blessed beyond ridiculousness when it comes to having the desires of my heart met. And yet I have things in life that seem to be out of my reach at all times. Spiritually speaking I feel like I need to “drain the swamp” in my own life and get rid of some things that have me bogged down and fighting to stay afloat. As you can tell, my mind this morning is a battle between the principalities of the air and the Holy Spirit within. God set me on a journey and in this present state of mind I feel like the path is a thick brush that I’m having to hack my way through; I’m so tired from hacking away at it that by the time I get to a clearing I collapse… and the brush has time to grow again. Dramatic? Yeah, I guess so. But that’s life too, always dramatic! So I determined this morning to slow down… not let the monotony of life take the few minutes that I have this morning, and make it mayhem.

Hebrews 13:5-8

Look at what you have

⁵Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Looking around my home this morning I can tell you that there are things I want. I can also tell you that there is nothing I need. That statement can lead a conversation in two directions: covetousness or contentment. One will lead to a feeling of resentment and the other will lead to a feeling of resolve. It’s not hard to see which conversation is healthy, but we know it’s not that simple. It would have been healthy for me this morning to have oats and toast for breakfast, and yet I chose a cherry ®Pop Tart. Healthy isn’t as convenient is it?

Look at Who can help you

⁶So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

My time lately hasn’t been mine. And I’m not speaking of the time I spend serving others… although that is a decent portion of it. But I speak more to the time that I spend trying to figure out life. Oh my stars! It’s insane how much time I waste pondering what to do, what not to do, what I should have done, how I’ve failed, how I’m going to fix my life… Ha! And then I read verse 6 and see “the Lord is my helper.” Boy, have I missed the mark.

Look at who you’re listening to

⁷Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

I spend way too much time listening to Satan and his minions tell me I’m a failure to which I reply, “Yes, yes I am.” Why do I do that? Because it’s convenient. I can go there and it costs me nothing. But in order to hear the positive words of positive people that God has sent into my life I have to put forth an effort. Read the word of God, find a sermon podcast, etc. Church is a no brainer for me. I wouldn’t even consider not going to church, but come Monday… it’s Satan’s playing field.

Look at the Real Reality

⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day3, and for ever.

Back to my first thought, “how can nothing be enough?” The reality is, no “thing” will ever create contentment. Only Christ leads to contentment because He never changes. There’s always an upgrade on the things of life, but it gets no better than Jesus. So this morning as I try to make sense of the chaos I call life I need to look:

Look at what I have – Jesus (all knowing) He understands where I am

Look at Who can help – Jesus (all powerful) He understands what I need

Look at Who I’m listening too (all present) He understands I am weak

Look at Reality – Jesus is all. He Understands

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, 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, 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