Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Life Inspiration

Is it Real Religion?

Written by talk2shari Published November 19, 2015November 19, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

A little reflection is probably good for the soul, but it certainly needs to be balanced. As I wind down 2015, I’m first of all shocked that I’m winding down 2015! Somebody put my life in fast forward mode and I can’t slow down. Do you feel that way too? But as quick as it went, this morning had me thinking about what I did with the past 323 days. Were they productive for the cause of Christ? Some were, some weren’t but for a fact they are both un-re-doable. Should you double hyphenate a word? Life is short… let’s walk on the wild side.

A little food for thought today from the book of James caused me to ponder the question “Has my 323 days been real religion.”

RELIGION MAKES ME NAUSEOUS

You can be “religious” about anything. I was raised in “religion.” A theory of theirs was religiously going to church was “enough.” Saying you are a Christian was “enough.” Don’t overdo church, once a week is “enough.” Well enough already! There is no point in rehashing pre-salvation failures, those are under the blood! Glory to God! Lukewarm Christianity that makes my Lord want to puke and spew us out of His mouth isn’t good. So when I start “going through the motions” of Christianity it concerns me. I want to arrive at church with great expectation of what the Lord is going to do, I want to get up in the morning and say, “Reporting for Duty Sir!” to the Lord… and mean it. I want there to be excitement in my life every day for the opportunities before me. I don’t want to be religious, I want to be as spontaneous as a fire on a windy autumn day, igniting everything around me. Yes I’m getting fired up! How about you?

James 1:22-25

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

My second point is this

RELIGION MAKES ME NERVOUS

And it’s why I’m reflecting today. Not living up to my potential as a child of God can cause eternal damage and a friend to be in that fire that cannot be quenched. If I get lacks on my responsibilities as a Christian, and concern myself more with the affairs of this world and not the cause of Christ, who will I not see in Heaven? I look around at friends and family and I’m nervous for them. Because I don’t see Christ in their life and I have no assurance if they were to die today that they’d be in Heaven. I don’t want to go through the motions of Religion, I want a relationship with Christ which will motivate me to share the gospel. Reflection and reading God’s word blesses and readies my heart for service.

James 1:25

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

RELIGION MAKES ME NEGATIVE

It’s a line I have to try so hard not to cross, and one that I see so many good people crossing. They spend more time setting fires of destruction with their negative attitude and critical spirit than lighting a fire for Christ. They’re constantly (religiously) concerning themselves with what’s happening in another church, rather than concerned about the lost and those in need.

James 1:26-27

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

As I wind down 2015 I want to be wound tight for 2016. I want to be busy in my relationship with Jesus and the people I meet every day. I want to open my “Big Stinkin’ Mouth,” in the words of a recent sermon title I heard. I want people to see the love of Christ, and that I am religious with my relationship with Him so that they’ll know it’s real!

Join me! And if you feel so inclined… share me. Post this blog link on Social media or share it with a friend!

Love ya… mean it!

Posted in Christian Service, Eternity, Evangelism

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours

Written by talk2shari Published November 15, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

If that headline caused you to break out in song or bust a move, you’re either a lover of the oldies, or you’re an oldie. Although I was only 8 years old when Stevie Wonder released that song, it was still quite popular in my teenage years, so as I studied Revelation 7 for my teen class this morning, my ol’ fleshly mind couldn’t help but go back to that song. No, I didn’t bust a move, but in my mind’s eye I did go back to the 70’s when love and I were young. But reality soon kicked me back to 2015 and what caused me to reminisce is now in the forefront of my mind, and that is the fact that I have been signed, sealed and delivered, GLORY TO GOD! for almost 20 years.

Revelation 7:3-4 speaks of the 144,000 of the tribes of the children of Israel, servants of God, sealed in their foreheads and protected from the wrath that’s being poured out on the earth. The last evangelist team on earth. But what about the one before that? You know… us! We don’t have a seal in our forehead, but if we’ve accepted Christ as our Savior but we have one across our heart that declares we are children of the living God. That should cause us to bust a move and do a little holy dance across the floor this morning.

Ephesian 1:13 says ~

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

There it is – Signed, sealed and delivered! The promise of God that we are sealed by the providence of God that regardless of what happens in this world, nothing happens to us without God’s stamp of approval and for His glory.

You better believe in the hour that Revelation 7 is being played out, when all the world is in chaos even greater than now, these 144,000 are going to be feeling the seal that protects them from the enemy that wishes them dead. And this morning I feel that seal as I read the latest on ISIS and their grand scheme of taking over the earth. This wicked lot of men who proudly boast and proclaim victory over the suffering in Paris will one day meet the wrath of God and their arrogant touts will cease as they bow to the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.

But until then remember…

YOU ARE SIGNED

Isaiah 49:16a

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;

On the cross of Calvary Christ bore our names in His hands so that we would have the promise of eternal life.

YOU ARE SEALED

2 Corinthians 1:22

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

The second we accepted Christ’s final work on the cross as payment for our salvation, God sealed His Spirit inside us so that we may know and feel His presence in our heart.

YOU ARE DELIVERED

Luke 1:70-8

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

It’s that time of year again when the Christmas season is upon us. What better time to remember that we are signed, sealed and delivered to serve Him without fear. Preparing the way for our friends and family that they may know the peace and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ before it’s too late.

Go and Tell somebody!!!

Posted in Christian Service, Christmas, Evangelism, Uncategorized

A Better Use of a Hashtag

Written by talk2shari Published November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

After ordering a drink at Starbucks, Josh Feuerstein, an internet evangelist with quite the personality, became upset with Starbucks because their plain red cups weren’t decorated for Christmas as they have been in previous years and Starbucks employees were forbidden to say Merry Christmas. So upset that he took to social media to start a movement asking people to tell Starbucks their name is Merry Christmas so that when they write the “name” on their cups they now have Christ name on their cup whether they like it or not.

Okay, I have to confess that I think it’s a pretty cute technique of marketing Jesus. But still… Starbucks frustration leads to grins and giggles at the bank. Just sayin’. I don’t figure this is “teaching anyone a lesson.” Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a coffee fanatic! But I’m not going to Starbucks, I think their coffee tastes like gasoline (not that I’ve drank gasoline) but really… quadrupling the strength of coffee and calling it gourmet is akin to sucking a lemon and calling it gourmet lemonade. It’s just nasty!

Now if you really wanted to get back at Starbucks for not allowing Christ in the Holiday that celebrates His Holy Name, here’s my suggestion. Go to Duncan Donuts, (My personal fave!) and get a cup of coffee in their cup. Drive to Starbucks and sit in their coffee shop sipping your Duncan Donuts Coffee and have a Bible Study. Or if you like Starbucks… buy their coffee and have a Bible Study in their shop. Or… don’t waste three dollars on a cup of coffee! Have it at the house and save that money to give to a poor family at Christmas who could use a can of Maxwell house, along with beans and potatoes for their kids.

Really people. Starbucks is the least of America’s problems. While it speaks volumes on the degradation of political correctness and the ignorance of those who deny God, our time can be better spent. Rather than trying to make a national scene why don’t we try to make a local scene. The nearest Starbucks in our area is over an hour away, but I have family and friends who need Jesus right in my hometown. If we spent our day talking about the goodness of Jesus, rather than the badness of Starbucks to our family it would make a greater difference for the cause of Heaven.

Even I have now contributed to the Starbucks hype with my #MerryChristmasStarbucks blog. But how about #JesusDied4U #SatanLies #JeremiahOneFive

Jeremiah 1:5

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.

That Starbucks employee forced to write the name of Christ on a cup may not know Who He is, and likely won’t have the desire to know Him after being forced to write the name. But if you bought a cup of Starbucks, tipped that barista with a buck for themselves and shared the gospel with them, just maybe, when we gather for coffee in Heaven around the Lord’s kitchen table, that barista may be there with you.

#HashtagThatSatan #TheJesusChick

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Leadership, Life Inspiration

What to do when we differ

Written by talk2shari Published October 4, 2015October 4, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

Fights in the faith, contention in the church pews, mayhem in the ministry…they make me nauseous. I can count on one hand the times I’ve been involved in confrontation with someone else in the ministry. I do not have enough fingers and toes in the whole family, including cousins (and there are many) to tell you the times I have bitten my tongue off to keep from saying hurtful things, or walked away rather than battle it out. That’s not because I’m all “holy and happy”, but rather the fact that I’ll avoid conflict at every opportunity because I hate it so much. So as I’ve been in a study of Barnabas and Paul, their friendly fallout caught my attention.

Acts 15:39

And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

Here were two friends in the faith who had worked side by side, fought the fight of good faith, ministered to one another and now stood toe to toe in disagreement about the direction of their ministry. Not the color of the carpet, who’s in charge of what committee, or why Susie Seat Saver wasn’t selected for the choir special. This contention was over Barnabas desiring to use Mark in the ministry, and Paul’s determination not to because of Mark’s prior record of failure. It wasn’t a tiff, it was a sharp contention according to scripture that caused them to part company. It’s also an unfished story in the Bible, leaving us to wonder if the fence was ever mended between these two men of God.

That bothered me; even though there’s little I could do about. It did however cause me to re-visit some past “parting of company” of my own which was ironic because Paul and Barnabas’s parting was over their decision to revisit the churches they had planted and encourage those ministries. That trip didn’t happen as planned but other trips did. Paul went on his second missionary journey teamed with Silas and Barnabas and Mark went their way. The unity was still there, but the uniformity had gone. They didn’t do it the way they always had. It doesn’t say in the scripture that anyone else was brought into their argument to take sides, but rather focus’ on the fact that their division was an expansion of the ministry not a separation. I’m inclined to believe from Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 4:11 that there was no animosity betwixt them when he wrote to Timothy, “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” Paul had obviously forgiven Mark for his discrepancy leading me to believe that Paul and Barnabas either patched it up or agreed to disagree. Both Paul and Barnabas continued on in unity of the original mission. As I reflected on this today it was a reminder to me to mind my own ministry. In the case of disagreements which may come and its okay, move on. Don’t dwell on the negative, but love one another and preach Jesus!

Our goal is to see souls saved. Satan’s job is to thwart that any cost. I don’t want to be a pawn in his hand causing someone’s eye to focus on me instead of the Master.

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Life Inspiration

Life’s Laundry: What to do when the color’s run

Written by talk2shari Published September 9, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

Funny thing about life… sometimes it’s not funny at all. There are days when I’m trying to sort the laundry of life and make sure that my thoughts are segregated like the laundry piles (lights, darks, heavily soiled, and the “good clothes). Perhaps that’s a little too metaphorical. So let’s do some laundry together and perhaps you and I both will get some things about life figured out.

The Lights and Darks

I have two sides… do you? There’s the church side of Shari. The light side. I love that side! It’s the side that gets to talk to Jesus, study His word, help His people, and do my Father’s business… it’s the side I honestly long for. And then there’s the dark side. It’s the side of me that fights with the light side for domination. I would love to bury it in a hole in the backyard. It’s distracting at best, it’s often times judgmental and desires only the best in life, no matter the cost. I try to keep them separated, but they occasionally collide and the colors run. I’m trying to do my Father’s business and something shiny pops into to my head or onto the side of a web page…I’m trying to help someone and then that judgmental notion wonders if I should even bother, they won’t appreciate it…I sit down to study God’s word and then something more entertaining comes to mind… I start talking to Jesus, and it ends up being a “Dear God I’m stupid” conversation when I know God has something to tell me but He can’t get a word in edge wise for my rantings and “please forgive me’s.”

The Good clothes vs. the Heavily soiled

I don’t even let them touch! My husband David works at a job where he may sit in a truck all day on a computer, or he may step out of the truck and get doused with oil and various chemicals that make for some interesting stain removal, usually impossible stain removal. There is no way that I would allow those grimy duds to lie next to my Sunday Go To Meetin’ clothes. Sometimes…I do people the same way. Grimy beer drinkin’, cussin’ swarpin’ people that blaspheme God. What about the tribe of liberals that scream for everyone’s rights but believe that I have none as a child of God? They make me nauseous. How on earth can I witness to them, they shut me down before I walk in the door.

Did they? Or did my divisive thinking separate me from them before God could work His magic through the Holy Spirit?

I spend a lot of wasted time going over my laundry lists. The light and the dark sides, God knows both. Good vs. Evil, God loves both. All four require treatment.

The light side is in need of exhortation. Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to “exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” We need the fellowship of other saints to encourage us to keep the dark side at bay because we’re still sinners saved by grace. I love that the writer said “while it is called To day;” meaning… don’t put it off until tomorrow, because by that time somebody might have already fallen back into sin. We all can you know. The problem with the lights and darks is not that they’re there, but that they go untreated. We don’t encourage each other enough and we don’t confess to one another enough. James 5:16 says “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” The proper way to treat the dark side is to bring it into the light. Not that the two should mingle, but that the dark is made known and then it loses its hold. But we’re afraid to tell our friends about our struggles with the dark side, so it bleeds into the light side until that side is dull and dingy. We need a good friend that is not judgmental, but righteous through the blood of Christ, another sinner saved by grace that know they too have a dark side. Do you have that friend? Are you that friend?

The good clothes vs. the heavily soiled require basically the same treatment. Non-judgmental Christians encouraging non-Christians. The difference would be in the stain removal. While a Christian’s stains are already removed by the blood of Christ, they simply need some freshening up; the unsaved person has sins that are in desperate need of removal but require pre-treatment. Before I can help an unsaved person become clean, I need to spend some time preparing my heart in prayer and preparing they’re heart for the Holy Spirit to do some work before I arrive.

My attitude can only reflect Christ if my heart does. They’ll only see Jesus if I act like Him.

I hope my laundry metaphor helped you today, it helped me to remember that I’m still a sinner, lest I look down my nose at a sinner.

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Forgiveness, Life Inspiration, Political

So you want to be whale puke?

Written by talk2shari Published September 5, 2015September 5, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

In the well known Bible story by the saved and unsaved alike, Jonah is told by God to go to Nineveh.

Jonah 1:1-3

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Tarshish is not Nineveh. It is the opposite direction of Nineveh, a city of 120,000 or so people, full of wickedness and Jonah has been told by God that he needs to go preach the gospel. But Jonah doesn’t want to preach the gospel to those heathens… Jonah doesn’t care if they get saved. Well God did. And because of his disobedience Jonah ends up in the belly of a whale for three days until he’s whale puke. This is not just a story, its history from the Creator Himself, who gave Jonah his marching orders.

And the good little Christians say, yes Amen. Teach that Jonah a lesson!

And then there’s the Kentucky County Clerk, Kim Davis. And Christians and non-Christians alike are slaughtering her name in the media because she had the audacity to stand on the side of God. So perhaps you’re saying… the two stories don’t even match up. Jonah was given an order by God…

Let’s take a journey to Acts 5:27-32

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Should Christians obey the law? Of course… except where it’s contrary to God.

So what is my correlation to this story and Jonah’s. Both stories tell of those sent out to share the gospel which is the responsibility of every saved person, not just preachers. It’s our responsibility to tell the truth of God’s Word. God’s Word says in Romans 1:25-32

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Sound familiar? God gave them and He gave America what they said they wanted. And just as it was for them, so will it be for America that putting a stamp of approval on sin starts a down hill spiral that we’re not prepared for. God did not put His stamp of approval on homosexual marriage and He under no circumstances changed the Word of God to say it was okay. As a Christian it’s my responsibility to spread the TRUTH of the gospel, else it’s a lie. Jonah didn’t care if Nineveh knew the truth until God made him whale puke. I’d rather stay out of the belly of the whale, and apparently so would Kim Davis.

As for her divorces. Those are under the blood because she repented from her sins. She didn’t say they were right, she said she was forgiven. Just as a homosexual can be forgiven for living contrary to God’s plan. But how will they know to repent if “good Christian people”, who don’t want to offend them, are telling them it’s okay? They won’t. And that’s why there’s gonna be some serious whale puke across America. It’s not pretty… but it’s the gospel.

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism

How To Find Strength For the Day

Written by talk2shari Published August 19, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

I don’t know how it goes for you on the brink of a new day but for me it goes something like this.

I wake up.
Satan starts messing with my head.
God says, “Shari, come to my room. He’s not allowed in here.”

Where’s God’s room? Just down the hall from mine. It’s a pink door with my name inscribed in gold, there’s also a black door, burgundy door, even a digital door. God’s high tech you know. It’s the Word of God, and in my house it can be found in various colors and forms and in my only preferred version, the King James. That for me is God’s room, the only place that I can make sense of the day and find strength for the day.

The writer of Hebrews said in the last verse of chapter 5, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (vs.14)

Exercised senses? I’ve been in the process of bodily exercise to try to reshape this shape of mine for a few months now and its hard work, especially for this aging woman. But the writer, who is believed by many to be the Apostle Paul, says that the strong meat (the Word of God) belongs to those who are “full age.” Those who have grown up! Those who have used the Word of God in a disciplined fashion to discern (recognize) good from evil.

There is some serious truth in that one verse (and all the verses proceeding and following it) But for the sake of this morning and getting you and I off to a good start let’s just unpack this one verse.

Carrying the Word of God is not for the faint at heart

Just like building muscle takes repetitive strengthening exercises, strengthening the spirit takes spiritual exercise and discipline. Being full of age has nothing to do with the physical age you are, but rather the spiritual age. How much weight can you carry? If the world were to heap a few thousand pounds of grief on you today are you prepared to carry the load? Not unless you own the gospel; and by own the gospel I mean that you walk in the confidence of the Word of God, having read your portion for the day, seeking the wisdom of God that you might walk in His strength.

Using the Word of God is not for the feeble in mind

Discerning good from evil is sometimes the splitting of hairs and at other times it’s the splitting of wood. Both are tedious, one takes focus, the other brute strength. The decisions you face today may take some serious consideration for direction, or the opposition you face today may take great strength to defend yourself. The writer to the Hebrews knew that when he penned verse 14. Many of them were trying to live life being spoon fed the gospel in the form of milk rather than meat.

They probably attended services…well at least once a week. But when they relied on others to give them the Word of God rather than reading and studying for themselves, it was like hiring their exercise out. Wouldn’t that be awesome! Yes, and totally non-beneficial. In many churches the preacher has to be as strong as an ox because he’s doing everyone’s fitness routine! It’s not until the body or day is in crisis that they turn to the Word of God, but because they haven’t picked it up in a month of Sunday’s it’s heavy and hard to understand. If they’d have read it every day the words would have built spiritual strength within them and the trials and troubles they faced could have been fought off with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Glory! That runs joy through my veins to think that in reading and studying even this one verse this morning God has strengthened my spirit!

Good and Evil. They’re both out there and one will win today’s battle. Here’s a few training exercises:

Isaiah 40:28-31 – STRENGTHEN YOURSELF (READ THE WORD)

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 – STRENGTHEN OTHERS (SHARE THE WORD)

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

And it never hurts to wear cute exercise outfits! Have a blessed day!

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Pocket Testament League, Youth

What You Can Do Today for Our Youth

Written by talk2shari Published August 13, 2015August 2, 2022 Discussion Leave a Comment

It’s the first day of school in our area, perhaps your youth began earlier or not yet, but it’s no doubt on the horizon. And with it comes concerns which differ depending on the region… or the day. Things changes so quickly and what our young people are exposed to is beyond comprehension in comparison to what it was like not so many years ago. We are now living in a world where families do not have time for each other and are living as mere strangers. It is advised to take an attorney’s help for blended families if your family is going through a tough time. As I lifted my youth group to the Lord this morning my heart was heavy for them, they’re good kids in a bad world… My heart aches for them. These thoughts brought me to the Word of God this morning in search of a Word of encouragement for youth workers, parents and anyone concerned for our youth. And here’s where I landed…

Luke 21:38

And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

This wasn’t only Sunday but week days as well… These where the days between Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the day of crucifixion. How quickly things can change. As we set here in the days between His crucifixion and return we too should find ourselves in the presence of the Lord each morning. Jesus preached in the town each morning but at night He would lodge about a mile away in the Mount of Olives; away from the noise of the city and the hustle and bustle of life. Probably away from the religious folk. Jesus’ examples for us are needful reminders in this hectic world that we need time to wind down in the evening; but in the morning as the day begins we should find ourselves in the presence of the Lord seeking a sermon for our souls.

Those who met with Jesus in the temple weren’t there to sit easy in the pew. They had faced some opposition to get there and so will you. I presented my Pocket Testament League program to my youth last night and asked them to start a league of their own. To commit to reading a portion of scripture every day and share the gospel. They’ll be facing huge opposition to accomplish that task. I encourage you as well to get your bible, or look at it online and pick you out a sermon for the soul. It’s in there… words that will encourage your heart and spear you on for service. And then share what you read with someone else. God’s Word never returns void.

If you’d like to be a member of the Pocket Testament League you can join at www.ptl.org/code/signup.php. They have so many free resources to help you on your walk with Christ and becoming more like Christ. Resources that will teach you how to share the gospel and then give you the tools to do just that! It’s an awesome place to hang your hat for a while. If you decide to join the league (there’s no cost) please enter my membership number when prompted (574096) I want you in my league!

But before you go… take just a minute to lift up our kids to the Lord. Please pray as the Lord leads you but a few suggestions from me would be this…

Pray they are hedged in with safety
They are shielded from wickedness
They are a light in that dark world
They are brave in their witness
They are bold in their testimony
They are support for one another
They study (Jesus, English, Math, etc.)

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Life Inspiration

The Skeptical Saint

Written by talk2shari Published August 7, 2015August 7, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

As a baby Christian I often stood in awe at some of the antics people played with the local church. Case in point: One evening following a potluck dinner the church members were making their way to the sanctuary from the social room. There were still a few folks clearing dishes and chatting about when a couple and their children came through the door. We greeted them with Baptist’s niceties and welcomed them in. Not long after that they began to share their story of hardship and how they were traveling through the area in need of food and gasoline to make it on to a very important destination. It’s been too long for me to remember all the details. But the details I do remember make me nauseous still today.

Victory Baptist Church is one of the most loving churches I’ve ever encountered. Immediately our guests were offered the food from our dinner, which was no small amount of some of the finest homemade foods you could lay eyes on. They were then told to fill their bellies full and when they were finished they could go to a local gas station where we would arrange for them to fill up their car on credit. They declined it all, they much preferred cash.

What?

Over my nearing twenty years of salvation I’ve seen similar events take place time and time again. It’s not long until you begin to get a skeptical heart towards people needing help. You want to help, but are they for real? I find the same truth in business. Not every “Christian” organization is on the up and up. For some they know that it’s a tender market and not always monitored by astute financial leaders of the church. Or perhaps they truly believe in what they’re doing and unknowingly sell a church on unnecessary products or services. So I’m skeptical of people in need, businesses and non-profits who tout success and blow their own horns.

It’s also why the Pocket Testament League has been such a blessing. I was recommended by a friend to apply for an ambassador’s position, which I did, and was accepted. I read the background of the ministry which in short was began in 1893 as the vision of a teenage girl named Helen Cadbury, daughter of the president of Cadbury Chocolates. She was so excited about sharing her faith that she organized a group of girls who sewed pockets onto their dresses to carry the small New Testaments her father had provided. The girls called their group “The Pocket Testament League.” Using small membership cards, they pledged to read a portion of the Bible every day, pray, and to share their faith as God provided opportunity. That same vision still drives the ministry today. (https://www.ptl.org/about/history.php)

So what does that have to do with my story of the skeptical saint? First… Who wouldn’t trust a fella that makes Cadbury eggs? Secondly, over my almost 20 years of salvation I’ve also learned to try the spirit.

1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

As children of God we are warned not to trust everyone, and God has instilled in us a discernment for such matters of the heart. The world would call it a “gut” feeling. Leave your gut to discern the taste of Cadbury chocolates, but when trying the spirit of a new person or organization, leave that one to God. If possible make no rash decisions, my best way of getting myself into a mess is to leap first and then start looking for a net; that’s my best described personality trait. But God said no, test the waters… there are people out there who want to take you for a ride.

The Pocket Testament League (PTL) has a Spirit of God. They’ve asked me for nothing. I’m provided the KJV Gospel of John Testaments, (other versions are available, I prefer only KJV) which also clearly outline salvation, to share with people one on one that I meet along the way or in larger quantities for speaking events. I do send them a donation each time I order because God laid it on my heart to that, and without request people have read or heard my story of the PTL and provided funds to help me out. No, that’s not a request, just a statement of truth that God is so good at not only speaking to our hearts when something is of Him, but providing for His children.

It’s a hurting world out there. People need to see generous, loving saints of God (even the crooks need Jesus). So try the spirit of those you meet, ask God if they’re for real and then love on them the best way you can regardless.

If you choose to take a part in The Pocket Testament League please provide them with my PTL Member ID# which is 574096 when offered the opportunity. Thanks and God Bless!

Posted in Christian Service, Eternity, Evangelism, Heaven, Life Inspiration, Praise

Are you sure it’s only been 3 years?

Written by talk2shari Published July 31, 2015July 31, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

My friend Dewey Moede had to remind me that we were coming upon our 3^rd Anniversary of the FGGAM.org, a web ministry and news site based in New Mexico. It was three years ago that he and I, as well as many others, partnered to share the common goal of glorifying Christ through the Word of God. Although Dewey says it’s been three years …I have to wonder; life is a blur sometimes. I discovered Dewey, who at the time was a radio personality, through mutual friends and Christian Speakers, Shona Neff and Shonda Savage. Through Dewey I’ve gathered friendships with Rick Stambaugh, Joe Fawcett III, Karen Rowe, Darlene Firk Quiring and probably a dozen or so others just to mention a few. And although I do talk to Dewey on the phone fairly often, I connect with the others only through the web as friends, and yet… I have to wonder.

Jeremiah 1:5 (one of my favorite verses) says – 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.

If God knew us before we were born, did we know each other? I don’t have the answer to that question, but I do believe there are some ordained meetings here on earth. And my New Mexico friends and family of God were for me an ordained meeting. I cannot tell you of the treasured conversations that I have had with them. Some more than others. Some are simply comments on posts or responses to something I or they have written, but there’s something about my connection to these folk; they now are a thread that is intricately woven through the fabric that God has formed from my life. They’ve added a new texture and dimension to me. I hope someday that God allows me to paint that thought.

I said all of that to say this: We have no idea how God is working in and through our lives on any given day. But He is. Our words and actions touch other people most every day in some manner, for good, bad and even in indifference we make a difference. I don’t believe my New Mexico Connections and the branches thereof were chance meetings, I believe they were divine appointments that God has used to encourage me along the pathway to Heaven where someday we’ll all gather together at the feet of Jesus. Maybe we’ll pick a little bluegrass or just talk about how good God is, we’ll have plenty of time for it all.

Although David and Jonathan’s meetings were face to face, I can relate my friendships with theirs through 1 Samuel 18:1~ And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

There’s something about the children of God, whether it was that we knew each other before we were born, or it is the Spirit of the Living God that is within us now – we do indeed know and love one another even if we’ve never met face to face. There was no ordination service of www.fggam.org and www.theJesusChick.com here on earth, but at some point in Heaven God laid out the plan and I am so very blessed that He did.

If you’d like to read about the humble beginnings of FGGAM, I recommend you read my friend Rick’s anniversary post. Here’s the link: http://www.fggam.org/2015/07/praise-him-now-praise-him-then-praise-him-when-the-storms-come-again/

Be blessed too my friends! And remember, someone crossing your path today needs you.