Category: Leadership

Posted in Christian Service, Faith, Family, Leadership, Life Inspiration

Hearts in Hot Water

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Hearts in Hot Water

Why is it that every news report, countless daily conversations and many of the thoughts we have are currently filled with struggles. Or is it just me? I’m thinking it’s not. Right now there are basically three types of people that I contend with. Those of a conservative and concerned mindset about the moral condition of our world, those who have allowed the world to convince them that sin is acceptable and only relative if it effects them personally, and those with little awareness who deem it easier to live that way than in reality. I love each one, but I can tell you that I struggle with the matter of conversing with the latter two. 

A word search of “struggle” lead me to only one mention of it in scripture. And a fitting scripture it was. The story of two nations in the womb of a concerned momma who feels them struggling within her. 

Genesis 25:21-34 KJV

[21] And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. [22] And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord. [23] And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

The Inquiry

Rebekah’s first reaction was to “inquire of the Lord of the struggle.” Would to God that people would ask God His opinion of the current struggles in our world. I had a conversation with a young person this week that I finally had to just shut down the conversation to keep a contentious attitude in control. My attitude wasn’t so healthy either. I could feel the ire rise within my soul as they implied that God approved the sin of homosexuality, made light of bible characters, and wanted to debate morality. This is the world we live in, and it’s not only the young. The influence of the secular collegiate educators is corrupt and our young people are in the mouths of a lion. 

After that conversation I too inquired of the Lord. Where is this struggle deriving from and how do I change that mindset? It hurts my heart that the word of God gets less and less respect. I believe the reasoning behind that is the conviction it brings. John Powell’s comment about the Bible being a “Spiritual Washcloth” always comes to mind in times like these. The word of God is meant to clean up the heart of the reader and the world wants no part of it. Their solution is to struggle against God’s purpose by injecting Satan’s questioning. Just as it was in the garden with Eve when Satan ask “did God not say,” and then continued to manipulate the words of God to fit his agenda. 

The two nations that Jacob and Esau came to represent were literal countries: Israel and Edom. Two brothers formed in the love of Isaac and Rebekah became two nations at odds of one another, and what was a simple family struggle became nations at war. Can we not see that potential in the church? We have one side standing on the Bible as the inerrant word of God. We have the other side saying, well yes it is, but we believe God didn’t necessarily mean what He said. Wait… what? How can that be. Well it can’t. And a simple “family struggle” has become an assault against us and their using our children to attack. 

I beg you to make an inquiry of the Lord yourself, and see what He says.

The Counter Intelligence

Counter intelligence is activities designed to prevent or thwart spying, intelligence gathering, and sabotage by an enemy or other foreign entity. If you break the word apart and define it, it’s the opposing effort of mental capacity. Good vs. Evil. Smart vs. Stupid. There is God’s side, and all others.  If you go against any part of the word of God, you are siding against Jesus Himself. Oh, but the world says no. You’re allowed to disagree with God. Yes, yes you are, it’s called free will; and its what all of us will stand accountable before God and answer for. And many will discover that all those “errors” in the word of God were in fact truth. And they’re going to be in a heap of trouble. 

On with the story of the birth of Esau and Jacob:

[24] And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. [25] And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. [26] And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. [27] And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. [28] And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

The boys were born to adversity between each other, and the attention of their parents, pitting one against the other. I’ve watched this play out in families that I know and it basically works the same way every time. Animosity and division that seldom ever heals. Personalities clashed between the brothers, one as a hunter and the other as a momma’s boy and sides were chosen.  There was now a division in the family. 

How many divisions are there in the family of God? There are 45,000 denominations globally according to google. And we know that Google is the truth second only to the word of God. I’m joking!!! But it is a source of information none the less, so we’ll go for it being that I only wanted a guess-timate anyway. Like the churches of today, both boys were vying for the attention of the parents, believing that they were the favored and the righteous. But not until a wrestling match did one gain the favor of God, but that story is for another day.

The Integrity

 [29] And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: [30] And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage ; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. [31] And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. [32] And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? [33] And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. [34] Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

And this is where integrity went right out the window! I don’t know how long it was since Esau’s last meal, but I’m pretty sure he wasn’t on the edge of death! He was however famished and desirous of his brothers soup. An opportunity that Jacob took full of advantage of to con his brother out of his birthright. He traded a very temporal satisfaction for a lifetime of inheritance. 

The writer of Hebrew says this of Esau: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

While Jacob’s character at this point was certainly in question, Esau is said to have despised his part of the world to come, he denied the resurrection of the dead, and had no regard to the spiritual blessings or to the Messiah. Jacob, who like every man on the earth is flawed, becomes Israel through a change of heart and obedience to God. 

I see the world as having Esau’s heart. While Esau was seemingly more productive than his brother Jacob, his lack of respect for the things of God caused him to lose everything of importance. Today the world focus’ on their own opinions being more important than truth and  their disregard for their own inheritance of the Kingdom of God will leave many in the church lacking.

I pray that as I continue working and serving the Lord, I pray that my words always align with scripture and that the flesh has no part of this message.

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Leadership, Life Inspiration

The Unintentional Faux Pas

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Unintentional Faux Pas

I just went back and re-read yesterday’s Jesus Chick post. Oh. My. Stars. And. Garters! The grammatical errors and typos were beyond.  I really should go back and fix it, and I really need a proof reader, but neither of those things are likely going to happen because when I write these blogs it’s often in the wee hours of the day, or I’m typing at lightening speed  (the way I talk.) Mouth engaged. Brain not so much. Which is how I do life. Fast and furious, hoping nobody get hurt in the process. This morning that caused me to slow down and ponder the intents of my heart. 

It started when a prayer request popped up on my social media feed for someone who no longer attends our church for reasons I know not why. The flesh took hold of me for a split second until the chastisement of the Lord took a stronger grip when I allowed the thought to enter my head, “You’re going to seriously pray for them after they hurt you like they did?” Yes, I’m that wicked. I don’t play church. So when someone leaves my congregation for questionable reasons I’m hurt. I’m hurt for the Pastor. I’m hurt for God. I’m hurt for me because I miss them. It’s a character flaw that God’s working on.

Typos and character flaws have a lot in common. 

Both are unintentional. Both are often caused by no brain engagement. Speed is a factor.

The Unintentional Faux Pas

Paul said it for me in Romans 7:19 KJVS

[19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

I would never intentionally hurt someone. I have many flaws, but being mean isn’t one of them. As a matter of fact, I’ve been told that I could be a little harsher, I just don’t have it in me. Nor do I think it’s what Christ would have me do. But I can’t say that I haven’t hurt people without intent. It probably happened when I was speaking without thinking. While I know I’m forgiven, it still may come with regret and consequences. And just because I’m forgiven, and aware, doesn’t mean that this blog won’t have just as many typos and my life still won’t have regrets. Being human is a harsh reality. 

So my thought for today, that perhaps you’d like to ponder as well is “How can I slow this train down?” How can I be more intentional about doing good, and less unintentional about doing bad. 

As I write this I’m sitting on my porch and it’s a brisk 59 degrees this morning. But that doesn’t stop the critters from entertaining me, especially the hummingbirds. They’re fragile little bodies are so tiny you’d think that they’d still be huddled in their nest. But no, they’re flitting about the feeder going a hundred miles an hour and my first thought is, I’ll bet that’s how people see me. Lighting here, lighting there. Never anywhere for long.

Slow this train down Shari. 

I wish I were like the lightening bugs. They also fly, but ever…so…slowly. And they light up! I’m always looking for ways to sparkle. The problem is I’m more like a lightening bolt than a sparkle which isn’t always bad. Eleven verses in the book of James summed up my dilemma this morning. 

James 1:17-27 KJVS

Destined to Sparkle!

[17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. [18] Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Nobody is any more surprised than me when God’s word fits so cleverly into my train of thought.  It’s like the question, “Which came first the chicken or the 🥚 egg?” The answer is God. He is the Almighty Awesome Creator! Of both the gift and the giver. He creates us to be who we are, and even though we mess that up, He even built into the plan an agent of forgiveness. His own Son. He made this Jesus Chick to sparkle and spoke me into being just as He did that little zippity zip hummingbird!

Designed to Listen

I love the quote that says “The reason God gave us two ears and one mouth is because He wanted us to listen twice as much as we talk.” Boy o boy do I have issues with that!

[19] Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: [20] For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. [21] Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. [22] But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. [23] 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: [24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. [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.

I’m relatively sure any wrath I feel is likely because I didn’t take the time to listen and study the situation out. When David and I have what I call a “Mr. & Mrs.” (aka disagreement) it’s more often than not because one of us didn’t listen and consider the other’s side. How much sweeter life would be if before I judged someone’s intentions I’d consider their reasons. Hmmm… God’s word is so faithful!  

The latter part of that verse brings up the mirror and the fact that when we walk away we forget what we look like. A fact for which I’m happy about this morning with my crazy hair and yesterdays make up. But it’s not good at all when we walk away from he word of God, which serves as a mirror to our soul, and like this word this morning reminds me of where I need some serious attention. 

Listen Shari….

Dealing with Deception

 [26] 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. [27] 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.

Satan’s strategies from the garden of Eden was deception. It’s still his weapon of choice when dealing with the children of God. If he can capture our attention with the mirrors of earth which only show our earthly image, he can change our focus from God’s design to a self centered diva. Then we’re not listening and visiting those who need visited or taking care of the afflicted but rather we’re just taking care of us. Which is what this “me” generation is all about.

Once again I have a dozen things on my agenda today and only 6 or so will fit. I’m glad for this morning’s study which reminds me to slow this train down and enjoy the opportunities I have to serve. I hope it helped you too! Please let me know if you’ve been encouraged by this word. And if you have please share this blog with your friends. Perhaps they need to sparkle today too!

Love ya. Really mean it. Shari.

Please ignore any typos.

Posted in Family, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Uncategorized

A Letter to Frustrated Parents

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What has happened to American Youth

That is a question near and dear to my heart. I’ve been involved in youth leadership for r over 20 years both in the ministry and the secular world of substance abuse prevention; and in that 20 years the deterioration of attitudes and respect is apparent. Having gotten into the ministry when my children were in their teens I witnessed first hand what happens when you try to fit square pegs into round holes. By that I mean when you take children who have not had faith as a primary focus in the home and then suddenly it is. My girls were very, very patient with me as I discovered Jesus and then took our lives on a 360 degree turn from worldliness to faith based living. It wasn’t always easy for them, but they knew the difference it had made in my life. They’ll tell you that they were not perfect children and that I was far from a perfect mother. Mistakes were made! Sins were committed. And by God’s grace we all survived. But the reality of it is, today’s youth have far more exposure to evil than the last generation. Evil has always been, but I don’t believe there has ever been an attack on the home to such a degree as Satan has launched in the past 10 years. 

Dear Frustrated Parent, I see you.

I watched as your belligerent teen, flitted off after having completely ignored your request. I watched as your anger turned into a sickening knot in your stomach as you realize you’re no longer in control. I know there have been tear stains on your pillow from wondering how life got so out of control so fast, and that beautiful baby that you couldn’t wait to talk, you’d now like to shut up with duct tape. I can come to you as an experienced parent and now grandparent. I too am going through it, but this time from the back seat, it’s a new generation. So I write this letter to offer you hope and to give advice from a non-judgmental perspective. Please read my words and know that each one is written in absolute love and brokenness for you and your family. 

I do not know if you know Christ as your Savior. I’m the Jesus Chick, so that’s how I approach everything in life. Since I’m unsure,  I’ll proceed assuming you are not saved. Please don’t feel judged either way. Seeing that young parent involvement in the church is almost nil and I know from my interaction with many local churches, the youth departments are not overflowing with children, so the odds are not in your favor that you’re saved. There’s a handful of children in each church at best, and yet there are over 1029 students registered in public schools in Calhoun County. So here we are where the rubber meets the road in my life: how can I convince you that Christ will make a difference in your family life and that church might possibly be what saves you from heading to the duct tape isle at Walmart, wondering at what age you can tie a child up and have it not be considered abuse, or loan them out to someone for labor until their 18. You know that’s a joke because nobody would expect a teen to know anything about labor. 

What you may not know about the church

They are filled with broken people just like you. Some of them know they’re broken and make no attempt to conceal it. Some pretend not to be broken (although they are) and make their life look like a social media post for the purpose of public consumption. They’re the pretty people that you strive to be like. Don’t bother. They’re messed up too! The only perfect person ever to be on the earth was Jesus. And even his parents lost him in a crowd for three days when He was twelve. (Luke 2:41-46) Church folks are trying to figure out life, just like you. The difference is they’re closer to the answer than you are, and have a support staff that you’re not afforded outside the church. 

Support staff? That’s right! People that God has placed in your path to help in the rearing of your children. No, they won’t take them home for the weekend, nor will they pay for college. But they will spend 45 minutes to an hour in the Sunday School class teaching your children what public schools are no longer allowed to teach, right from wrong, manners, respect, and the truth about evil and most of  all about Jesus. And while they’re in their own class, you have a class you can go to (away from kids!) that will teach you about the dangers your family is facing, who is attacking you, and how to safeguard your family from those attacks. 

When I began church on February 18, 1996 at Victory Baptist Church I was of all people most miserable. My marriage was failing, my kids were at the brink of the teen years and I was clueless as to the solution of fixing my family. You’ll note that I remember the date my life life changed. It coincided with the date I began a relationship with Jesus Christ. It was a massive transformation, I kid you not, but it was not immediate. Like everything it was a process, but you have to start somewhere.

So now you know, nobody’s perfect. Point two

The Pastor’s not perfect either. Shocker!

But what he is, is a mouthpiece for God. He’s the man that God is going to hold accountable for his direction and instruction of us. You know, the messed up people. God has tasked him with the job of leading His (God’s) army into battle against those are trying to tear your family apart. Only one weapon is required, the word of God. You only need to know the truth to defend your family, and that’s something the world will not tell you, but a good preacher will. The world is full of deceivers and liars who want to sell you an elixir that will “fix” anything that ails you. 

Have you fallen out of love? Buy this…

Are your children unhappy? Buy this…

Is your home lacking? Buy this…

Have you lost your sanity? We found it! Buy this…

No. None of that is for sale on Amazon or Walmart. Only God can fix every single one of those issues. I know from experience. He fixed them all for me. God did that by leading me to a church where the Pastor and the people took me under their wing and helped me discover the truth about why I was falling out of love. Why my children weren’t happy and why my home was never enough. 

And for my final word (though I could go on for days) 

Stop beating yourself up and just continue to love your children. Set up a savings account for them at The Children’s ISA to secure a good future.

There’s another story in Luke 15:11-32, the story of the prodigal son. Imagine being a good father, and then having your son ask for his inheritance early so he could squander it way on wild women and living. It happened, and then he returns home, but a humbler boy. The father did not chastise him and remind him of his utter failure. He embraced him, loved on him and threw a party, because his son had come home! Children are like us, they make mistakes too. They don’t need you to beat them over the head with guilt, but rather teach them how to admit failure, accept forgiveness, and move on to a victorious life. They need to see that in you too! Forgive yourself first. God has. 

As I said, I could write to you for days of my experience! But I wont’. We’ll stop here. I encourage you to find your church. (Of course I’m hoping it’s mine) But find yourself a church family that will give you the support in these trying times. You need it. And God has made a way for you to have it. The local church. 

Posted in Evangelism, Fear, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Word of God

Getting a Handle on Frustration

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Getting a Handle on Frustration

The level of frustration I have felt lately has been extreme. Liberal viewpoints abound, Corona numbers have soared in my county in recent weeks – a inciting fear, and the political accountability from a national and local level is is nil. I truly have just two desires that I struggle to keep in focus: to build strong people in the two houses of my life – my home and the church. But it seems every day there is a new frustration that comes along, preoccupying my mind and delaying the building of the house. I feel it’s my fault. I allow the distractions to come in and once they’re there I allow them to play house in my home. But they play for keeps. They’re doing everything they can to thwart my ministry efforts. I can feel it. Which frustrates me all the more.  

As soon as my eyes opened this morning a message popped up on my phone from an African friend. “Pray for Israel.” I had heard bits and pieces on the news yesterday and knew there was unrest between Israel and the Palestinians.

Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress best known for portraying “Wonder Woman”, issued a statement calling for peace and pro-Palestinians critics melted down in response calling her an ugly Zionist. Seriously… every time I hear these people I want to give them a bottle and pacifier and put them to bed. They too are much of the frustration in my life. I don’t mind a differing opinion, I do mind a liberal, venom spewing attitudes that have no concern for how anyone in the world feels except the one in the mirror. And running a close second for my frustrator award is the uninformed liberal who defends them. Oh dear gussy, why did I go here this morning? 🤷🏻‍♀️

But I did go here because it’s effecting how I share Jesus. 

It was a liberal rant that fueled the fire for my post on being an “unapologetic child of God.” I’ll be making me that shirt (literally) this weekend if God allows. It’s my way of fighting back against an enemy that is weakening my resolve to the point of reconsidering parts of my ministry. That is an unhealthy place to be. 

Frustration by Hire

In an Old Testament story Israel is facing frustration that scripture says was hired against them. I have no doubt that there are hired liberal activists for the purpose of frustrating the conservative side.  It’s true. When the Devil finds a plan that works, he doesn’t stop using it. He just finds new victims. So this morning as Israel troops are preparing for literal war on the border, I’m fighting a spiritual war in my life and using the word of God encourage my soul on both fronts.

Frustration by Hindering

Ezra 4:4-6 KJVS

[4] Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 

Perhaps by threatening them, or by dissuading the workmen from going on, by endeavouring to hinder their getting materials from the Tyrians and Zidonians, or money out of the king’s revenues to bear the expenses. I have to wonder if they raised the price of plywood? That’s what happened here! Again, Satan has no new weapons, just new victims. He finds out where there is a demand and stops the supply, whether that is for physical or spiritual material. So the question is, when we’re lacking what we need, and our bodies grow weak, how do we regain our strength to fight back?

We either need to find a new source or a new method, but above all, don’t stop working!

The book of Ezra spans many years; this wasn’t just a few days of frustration. I usually start complaining to the Lord about 20 minutes into a struggle. For certain I need to gain tenacity to withstand these attacks on my ministry. I’m not in need of plywood for building a church, I’m in need of patience and understanding, and a little extra wisdom would be wonderful to help me build the Kingdom of God. Often times my frustration comes from knowing just enough to be dangerous about the world we live in. I know many things about the agenda of leftists and their organizations. I do not know “who” exactly is involved with those organizations. So by only having subject matter and not names, I lose leverage in the debate with naysayers of the conservatives. 

Israel had been away from Jerusalem for a long time. They’d been “out of church” for a long time. There relationship with God was being restored but it wasn’t strong enough to fight the enemy. I know I’m a broken record, but its the problem with the church. Our relationship with the Lord needs it’s subscription renewed!

Frustration by Halting

[5] And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. [6] And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

Their tactics continued until verse 24 of this chapter says “Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” 

So for two years the work on the house of God was halted.

There is a great danger in halting a labor of the Lord for any amount of time. We do not know who may have come to be saved during our absence from the ministry work. So many people step in and out of the work of the Lord as if it’s an optional service of little importance. In my frustration this week, when I was debating if this was a time for me to step away from some of the work that I have been called to do, I began to think about what that would mean. I know I’m not all that and a bag of chips, but I know I encourage some in everything that I do. So what would happen if I’m not there? Who would go un-encouraged and what effect would it have on their life? I don’t want to be guilty of that. 

What about you? Are you on the verge of halting your work? Please don’t. There are souls in danger and we may just be their only hope of hearing the gospel of Christ and His saving grace. 

Posted in Eternity, Evangelism, Faith, Leadership, Life Inspiration

Know ye not?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Know ye not?

Gas shortages, Covid spikes, cyber attacks on the pipeline, it’s just another day in America. But these are certainly trying times. However… I taught my a lesson on Sunday morning using my previous post. “Unapologetic child of God.” ` And I’ve since pondered it again. It was great class, with great response from the kids. But a response that struck me was that when I mentioned the sexual sins in the temple. The kids were a tad shocked that I mentioned it. But I wanted them to understand that immorality is not just an issue off today. 

But the more I thought on this, the more I became like the children in my class and was more than a little shocked at the level of depravity of the people. And then I thought about the Old Testament behavior of Sodom and Gomorrah. Wow. We have been a wicked generation of people from the beginning. You’re probably not shocked with that information, but still yet, does it not boggle the mind sometimes? Why is it that we have become so accepting of sin, even in the church.

The men in Corinth are visiting prostitutes and they want the rest of the church to accept it. To which Paul asks them in 1 Corinthians 6:15 KJV “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.”

Know ye not? That seems like a no brainer to me, but Paul had to ask it. So it took me into a study of the other “know ye nots” of chapter 6.

Know ye not that we shall judge angels?

The members of the church fo Corinth were destroying there testimonies with a multitude of sins. One such sin was that of suing each other. Which is why he asked them in verses 2-3 of Chapter 6

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 KJVS

[2] Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? [3] Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

How lightly do church people take church squabbles, gossip and backbiting? I don’t suppose it to be an error when I say that it’s likely more of a plague than the corona virus. Rather than making brothers and sisters a matter of prayer, we make them a matter of gossip or ridicule. Ask me how I know. Go ahead. Ask. … Because I’ve been guilty of it. And its a sin that’s just looked over and ignored. And yet…. we expect God to make us judges over the world and angels? Ummmm. I’m thinking not everyone will be task with that. 

I was extremely hurt by another child of God (not anyone in my church) last week. I’ve really struggled with forgiving them because it’s not me they were mean to, it was someone in my family. And when I say they were mean… I mean “mean😡.” And in a very public way. No… not social media. But in a meeting. As a person in high authority of a church, they did major damage to their testimony for Christ by spewing venomous speech. Yes it was that bad. I’m sure to them it was justified in their mind. But would it be justified in Heaven? And would much of my speech?  As I said, we take our behavior very lightly with regard to sin.

Know ye not that sinners are watching? 

Paul asks another question: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV

[9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The Corinthians poor behavior and lack of concern for one another has Paul asking them, “Do you remember who you were?” Whew! That’s a question that should have anyone of us dropping to our knees for forgiveness and gratitude to the Savior. And what is the reaction of the lost in the world who see the present day lack of concern for sinful behavior? I’ve heard it said on more than one occasion by a lost, non church attending person, “Why should I go to church when there is no difference in their behavior and mine?” Now we know that many of the lost are looking for an excuse, but it’s the truth none the less. We know that we are all sinners saved by the grace of God, there is none perfect, save Jesus! But there is a difference between being a repentant sinner and a blatant one that either denies their behavior or ignores it and either way it could be causing someone to have no desire to know God.

While we are free to behave anyway we want, Paul defines that behavior as this:

1 Corinthians 6:12 KJVS

[12] All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

I question my own self today when I ask, “What am I under the power of that may cause a lost person to stay lost?” 

Know ye not that Christ is in you?

1 Corinthians 6:15-17 KJVS

[15] Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. [16] What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. [17] But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

I read once that there are three reasons people justify sexual sin:

  1. It’s LEGAL
  2. It’s NATURAL
  3. It’s PERSONAL

I’m pretty sure that’s how most people in the church view any sin. If it’s okay with the world, it’s okay with God. And yet it’s the furthest thing from the truth. We’re not on this world’s morality scale. What the world thinks doesn’t mean one thing to God. But what God thinks better mean something to us.

I may finish up my Sunday School lesson tonight in the Teen Bible Study class, and I’ll be using my thoughts from today to finish it up. I want my kids to understand early on that the world’s opinions are messed up! Are we as perverted and immoral as the church of Corinth? Well, that depends on whose standards you’re looking at. We all better be praising God that we stand accountable for ourselves and not the actions of other people. But then again, I believe there will be a level of accountability for our role in the church we attend and what our leaderships view on sin was. 

Accountability is not something the world has a grasp of when it comes to God. It’s only through reading and studying the scripture that you understand there are costs and rewards to our life on earth. And for certain the rewards far outweighs any earthly costs. But what about Heavenly costs? When we stand before God and answer for our life down here, and He places us in our Heavenly positions based upon how we served, and what we stood for? Hmmm. That’s a good thought for me today. Father… help me Lord to serve you better, love you better, understand you better. Amen.

Posted in Faith, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Peace, Political, Word of God

We Have Hope in the Desert

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on We Have Hope in the Desert

There are times that I have to take a break from all forms of media. It gets so overwhelming on my soul and leads me into a time of depression and frustration. But the problem with me is I shut down from everything. Including God. Add to that a life that is chaotic, ballgames, work woes, laundry piling up, dishes in the sink and the reality that I don’t have maid service,  and I’ve dug myself quite a pit. So what’s a chick to do on a day like that? Get in God’s word and dig my way out!

One of the greatest culprits of my state of mind is the state of our Nation. I’m going to share some thoughts here that may rub some folks the wrong way, but as my old friend Doyle Ballengee used to say, “If that ruffled the cat’s fur, turn the cat around.” Oh he cracked me up! But our nation has gone mad. From the national to the local level; we’ve lost our ever lovin’ mind. And for those of us with an ounce of sense, (which comes from Heaven, nothing on our own) we know that the lies and hypocrisy are so deep they end in China. Which according to one of the youth in my teen class, if we dug our way to China the earth would whistle… total random thought. That too is where my mind is at right now. 

But deep in the book of Isaiah, in a lesson for Israel, I found a lesson for me. There will come a day when God will shut up the lies and hypocrisy, but until then, just know 

Truth Flows from Above

Isaiah 41:17-24 KJVS

[17] When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. [18] I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

Rivers in high places? That’s kind of strange place to find a river isn’t it? But not for the children of God! Oh glory that thought makes me so happy. I’ve been feeling so dry and barren lately. This world just is just getting “hopeless-er.” I know… not a word. But when you look at the world from a human perspective, it’s worse than hopeless. What’s happening on a national level has made it’s way into the local level and the depth of it’s depravity has yet to be understood by most people. Sound dramatic? Our public schools have become a petri dish for the liberal left to test their theories of race, gender and misinformation on. And our “so called” educated people are the lab rats turned loose on our children by exposing them to anti-Christian rhetoric, sexual reorientation of elementary school children and panic porn medical officials creating fear in children and parents. Still sound like I’m being dramatic? It’s being taught at West Virginia University to their up and coming teachers on how to present the BLM curriculum. This image is a coloring page from it for elementary school. Is that close enough? And so, that is why my mind was in the low, dry place.

But God said He would make us rivers in the high place, not the valley. So get out of the valley Shari! God has heard my cry. Through His word He is pouring hope into this gal. 

Wisdom is in the Fountains of the Deep

 [19] I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: [20] That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

A pine tree in the desert? Who but God could make that happen? I have to believe that in this spiritually dry and barren world we’re living in, it’s us who have been planted planted by rivers and fountains of life giving water that keep us sustained and give the lost hope, in a world that has gone absolutely mad. God has given us the ability to “Know, and consider, and understand together,” that we have the truth and He is providing us the wisdom to fight against this attack on the moral fibers that He has made us up of. “Together.” He planted a multitude of different trees in that dry land, and there is a multitude of churches planted on this earth. So long as their roots are grounded in the foundational truths of God, we can comfort this fearful people. I realize that I’m speaking in a lot of metaphors today, but it’s how the Lord spoke as well, so I’m going to run with it, hoping that it encourages your soul as it is mine. 

Ignorance is in the minds of Men 

 [21] Produce your cause, saith the Lord ; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. [22] Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. [23] Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. [24] Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

I love it God calls someone out. I’m seldom brave enough to do it. I’ll speak my mind, but I generally leave stupid people to stupid ways. But not God! God tells them to put their money where their mouths are. If they believe their gods are so powerful, prove it. He did the same thing with Elijah and the Baal worshippers, Daniel in the Lion’s den, The three Hebrew boys, and now he tells these worshippers of the “little g” gods to prophesy in the name of their gods. They can’t. Nor can this tribe that’s on earth today that believe in nothing, give hope to a world looking for it. But we can. And that is why God has a remnant of us here to proclaim and prophesy that the Lord is returning. And when He does, they’ll have figured it out too late. 

Satan is making yet another attempt to get at the children in our nation. The California Department of Education will soon vote on a new statewide ethnic studies curriculum that advocates for the “decolonization” of American society and elevates Aztec religious symbolism—all in the service of a left-wing political ideology. The new program, called the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, seeks to extend the Left’s cultural dominance of California’s public university system, 50 years in the making, to the state’s entire primary and secondary education system, which consists of 10,000 public schools serving a total of 6 million students.

In theoretical terms, the new ethnic studies curriculum is based on the “pedagogy of the oppressed,” developed by Marxist theoretician Paolo Freire, who argued that students must be educated about their oppression in order to attain “critical consciousness” and, consequently, develop the capacity to overthrow their oppressors.

What used to take ten years to make its way across the United States to West Virginia seems to take less than a year now. 

The Black Lives Matters Curriculum that has made it’s way into West Virginia and every other state is going to mar our children’s minds in an unrepairable way if we don’t stop it. If you’d like to see more on the curriculum, follow this link. 

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1LGslwJwhXvpVnDgw0uC-n794l6EGzpuH.

Now is not the time to be lacks. Share this blog, share this information and make your voice known. In the words of King David, “Is there not a cause?”

Posted in Bible Journaling, Evangelism, Heaven, Leadership, Life Inspiration

A Profitable Truth

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on A Profitable Truth
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I’m not so sure what the world believes anymore. There would have been a time that I would have said “most people are God fearing people.” They had enough reverence for Him to at least respect the authority of out sovereign God. But now… I sit in disbelief as I watch people live their lives, clueless to their eternal destination and that it could possibly be entered into today. Perhaps even before this sentence is completed some will find out if they believed as they should. 

I have such confidence in God and His eternal plans that I know I am with Him in Spirit now. That excites me! While I cannot see Him physically, I feel His presence and I know that to be absent from the body is to be with Him, therefore my saved friends and and family who have died, are literally with Him. So God is my go between, between my Dad and many others. They cannot answer me, but I can ask God to tell my Dad and Doyle Ballengee, hello. It is in those conversations that I either sound completely mad to the lost, or give great hope and peace to my own soul and others who know Jesus.

The Apostle Paul understood my weirdness. He too was very weird to the world. Especially the religious world he came out of. Even though, they were the ones who originally had conversations with God all the time. They were the “oracles of God.” Privy to His wisdom like no others. But when the Messiah came on the scene they refuted every thing He did, including the miracles, choosing rather to call Him a heretic than the God of the Universe. 

Uncompromising Truth

Romans 3:1-12 KJVS

[1] What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? [2] Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. [3] For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? [4] God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Paul was one of the greatest of the Jews, no doubt headed for power and a Jew of great understanding and wisdom. The same wisdom He applied to Christianity when He met Christ. He wanted to see his people saved, and the rest of the world as well. He taught and preached without compromise on the truth, because God doesn’t compromise.

Paul understood, and everyone else should that judgement is coming. Whether or not people believe that God is the Creator of all and the Righteous Judge of the earth doesn’t change the fact that He is. Nor does it change the fact that we will one day stand before Him and answer for what we’ve done in these bodies for Him. How have you shined the light to this dark world? That’s our job. Regardless of what our career path is, our job is to tell the world about Jesus and what He willingly did for them. Will you be justified when you stand before Him and He asks, “How did your life glorify Me?” It’s an uncompromising truth and its. And 

Unavoidable Truth

 [5] But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) [6] God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? [7] For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? [8] And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. [9] What then? are we better than they ? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; [10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 

While the arrogance of the world goes on with their day, as if there is not even a possibility that God will return today, the unavoidable truth is “you are a sinner.” I am a sinner. Everyone born of the flesh is a sinner in need of a Savior. While Paul’s writing sometimes reads as a riddle to me, the truth of it reads all too clear. I needed saving. Praise God I was!  Just as today, people in Paul’s day were slanderously reporting… Hummmm, they must have been the ancestors of CNN and the rest of todays modern media tribes! I’m going out on a limb here to say that they are one of the greatest causes of people turning from Christ, second only to the depravity within the soul of every man. But they speak to that depravity. It’s a me first society and that’s the message they want the world to hear. That mindset causes people to ignore the truth of the gospel and believe a lie because the lie makes them feel better about themselves rather than facing the fact that they’re a sinner needing a Savior. 

Unprofitable Truth

[11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

While the world strives for their next dollar, their next title,  the next material thing that allows them to one up the Jones, they do not understand how very unprofitable they are. While we are expected to “live” while we are here, that life is not to be the focus. This is the journey and the audition for our next life. This morning was the first time I thought of it in that context. I’m auditioning for the role of an eternal lifetime through my actions down here. If I am living only for this world, it will be entirely unprofitable. But if I “lay up my treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not corrupt,” glory to God I will have a position in the Kingdom to be proud of because it came from glorifying God here. 

Paul was no doubt slated for a high earthly title. But he walked away from it, forsook the law for grace, signed his own death sentence because he knew that was the path God had chosen for him. It was a hard, profitable truth. This world is unprofitable. It’s heading to the burn barrels. You may or may not be familiar with that term. Long ago and far way, before Waste Management trucks drove through the neighborhoods of West Virginia picking up the garbage, there were burn barrels. My parents had one behind their house and that was how we disposed of the garbage. You burned what would burn and you buried what wouldn’t. Well… this world will be destroyed one day. It is for certain an unprofitable ball of dirt. And the souls on it who do not profess Christ as Lord will be among the rubbish, but the fire will never go out. It’s the truth, whether or not you confess it. And so is Heaven, which should be your obvious choice. 

A profitable truth is this. You have the choice of Heaven or Hell. Which is it? Let me know, I’d love to hear from you.

Posted in Christian Service, Faith, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Uncategorized

Stay in Your Lane

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Stay in Your Lane

I guess every community has them; those power hungry people who want to prove their value by wielding their authority in such a manner that all who see them know they are king or queen of their domain. It’s not enough for them to have the title, they want the awareness of their power and position by the underlings. I just cracked myself up, because I know these people! And I borderline, if not crossover the threshold of sin with my lack of respect and tolerance for them. I written before about my issues with arrogance and how I struggle to love people who put themselves above others. Well, toss children into the equation and I have an even bigger issue with you, because I love kids and if I determine that you’re not treating them well, well… I’m upset. 

And so was the case in a discussion I was in this week which lead to today’s blog post and my position on leadership. What I wouldn’t give to throw my moderate good sense to the wind and tell you who I’m speaking of and why they’ve upset my wagon. But I won’t, because that wouldn’t be wise or godly. So I’ll think my frustration through in a manner that will hopefully help us both in a lesson on “what not to do when you’re in charge of the world.”

In order to establish the “world” of which I speak, I’m referring to any domain that you’ve been given authority over. Such as the school, church, or even the home. So where ever you are that matters to you, that is your world. Are you in authority, are you an underling, or do you live in the bliss of a well ran monarchy where everyone knows their position and stays in their lane? I pray so, but if not… read on. 

Rehoboam was the son of the great Solomon, placed into the position of King not because of his talents, but because of his birthright. Which was the culture and rule of the day. Nobody would deny his right to be in that position because that is how God intended it to work. God also intended those who were and are given positions of authority to lead through His guidance. This was not the case of Rehoboam. Rather than seeking God, as did his father, and grandfather, Rehoboam thought it wise to bring his childhood friends on as advisors, who then gave him ill advice. Although they were called young, Rehoboam was actually 41 years of age. Wisdom doesn’t always come with age it so seems. 

The people had came to him and ask him to lighten the heavy load that Solomon had put on them. But rather than heed to their request, he heeded to the popularity of his friends and put more stringent work and taxes upon the people, ending in rebellion and war. But it all started with an commonly spoke quote of today. “I’ve got more strength in my little finger than that guys got in his whole body.” Sounds good… until it’s proven otherwise that a pinky strength isn’t worth a whole lot. 

1 Kings 12:10 KJVS

[10] And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.

Rehoboam ended up losing the majority of his world to his brother Jeroboam, who was a terrible leader as well. He worshipped false gods and trash talked the man of God until the man of God turned his arm to stone. And then suddenly he had a change of heart about him, desiring him to come to his house. But the man of God wisely spoke and said

1 Kings 13:8 KJVS

[8] And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:

Two leaders, placed into the position at the Lord’s will, but neither with the good sense to lead a nation. And so it would seem America is in the same mess. Whether it be a national or local incident with leadership, poor leadership effects the whole of us. So what are we to do when we’re in charge of the world?

Consider yourself a leader 

In my home, where my children are grown, my husband and I are King and Queen of our domain. I haven’t always taken my role as serious as I should, nor has my husband. And I have to wonder how many people do? Do we understand the cause and effect of who we are on those  around us, that lead out to, and effect the world around us. Our reach extends to the universe… that is a pretty far piece.

The man of God understood it. He wanted nothing to do with Jeroboam’s wicked world. 

What if today we refused to allow the world to enter us? The man of God said he’d not travel in the path of Rehoboam, nor would he enter his home, eat his food or drink his water. How would that advice fit in our world and the places we lead? 

The Man of God Understood Authority

Do we really understand authority. It is God Himself that we should be looking to in every part of our world whether that’s in the workplace, home or church. God should be the head of all, and we should never put ourselves above those whom we lead to be taskmasters over them, but what we should be doing is following in God’s footsteps of creating leaders. We do that by instilling confidence in people, not tearing them down. Teaching them purposeful productivity not completion of tasks. At the end of the day everyone needs to know they’ve made a difference. 

The Man of God Understood Spirituality over Materialism

Our worldly worth is more often than not measured by our material worth. A man or woman with great wealth will garner respect and opportunity, while a person of meagerness will be thought of as labor, not leadership. But that’s not the view of God. Nor does it mean that labor cannot make a great difference in the Kingdom of God. Jesus Himself labored in the ministry and lead by example. The man of God could gone with the King and “been somebody” but he was far more concerned about his relationship with God, than the earthly King. 

The Man of God was still Human

Boy o boy can I identify with being human and being often swayed by the world around me more than the Spirit that dwells within me. In the 12th and 13th chapters of 1 Kings, the “man of God is never mentioned by name. He leaves the presence of the king and runs into another character, a nameless prophet. It is the nameless prophet that will be his demise. The prophet lies to the man of God and tells him that he’s been visited by an angel of the Lord that said it would be fine if he stopped into his house, and so the man of God does. Because of this he was later eaten by a lion!

“But wait Lord, he was lied to, that doesn’t seem fair!” Life’s not fair, and even good leadership makes mistakes and the price is sometimes high. While it seemed a small thing to enter into a prophet’s house for dinner, even a good thing, it wasn’t a God thing, and it wasn’t His will for his life. And so the man died. 

This short study this morning brought a great thought to my mind that I, and I only, am responsible for the role that God gave me. I need to lead well, but I need to follow better. If only the man of God had talked to God, He would have told him, stay on the path… but he didn’t and then he was dead. 

I have a tendency get out of the lane God gave me to stay in as the Jesus Chick. I want to go to certain places in my community and give them a piece of my mind in regard to their leadership. But as I wrote this, my youngest grandson Parker came into my room crying. He was watching a video where someone was being mean to and elderly couple. He was literally weeping because the elderly didn’t have good food and the young people did. It was a good discussion between me and a piece of my world named Parker. And it made me realize that this is my Kingdom, and it is here I’ll make the greater impact. Stay in your lane Shari… stay in your lane.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Evangelism, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Word of God, worship

The First Cancel Culture Target

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The First Cancel Culture Target

It’s Saturday morning, and I’m off to a slow start. I was sick much of the day yesterday, (just a belly bug) nothing major, but I slept most, if not all of yesterday evening, right into this morning and then stayed in bed until 6 a.m. Oh my stars! Half the day is gone. That is really how I feel when I sleep until 6 a.m. Morning is my best “thinking” time. But here we are at 6:55 and I have a few thoughts on my mind about getting to know Jesus better. He knows me inside and out. Every hair on my head and what hair products I use. He knows that I’ve struggled with ADD-oss) Attention Deficit Disorder Oooooo Something shiny! That’s a real thing, but the only prescription for it is more online shopping. It doesn’t cure it, it just pre-occupies you to the point of not noticing what someone else has that you might need. Jesus also knows that I have a real problem staying tuned into Him when I’m so focused on me. 

So this morning I decided that I would think, and ponder what it is that made Jesus the first ever “cancel culture” target.  Cancel culture wasn’t a phrase back then, but it was certainly a social norm in the Pharisee and Sadducee circle. They wouldn’t even consider the possibility that He was who He said He was. Why? Why have such a closed mind in what was written in Bible prophecy?

Micah 5:2 KJVS

[2] But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

They knew  it. They had God’s word as proof, and yet they still wanted to cancel Him.

They Wanted to Cancel Dinner

Bethlehem signifies “the house of bread”, and a proper place for Christ to be born in, who is the bread of life; 

John 6:35 KJVS

[35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Ponder that for a second as a child of God. This morning I had lemon cake for breakfast. Not the breakfast of champions but it was tasty. And while that filled the hunger in my belly from no supper last night, it’s not the hunger that Christ refers to. That “ooooo something shiny” nature in me that I continually fight, was truthful filled the day that Christ came into my heart. I’m just a slow learner and weak vessel when it comes to pretty stuff. But when it comes to “needing” things in life. Christ fulfilled my every desire spiritually. I love being a child fo God. And I love having His Spirit within me that causes me to love like He loved. Even people that the flesh would like to slap in the mouth. But Jesus causes me to see them as God does. Which helps me better understand the Pharisees and Sadducees that the world had gotten a hold of. They weren’t Spirit lead leaders, they were self lead and worldly minded leaders. Just like we have today. They wanted no part of a Jesus who could provide for the people, both physically and spiritually. They likely knew that would cut into their treasuries. So they in effect tried to cancel supper for everyone! 

They wanted to Cancel Livelihood

Bethlehem was a place of pasture which we know from the shepherds watching their flocks by night in Luke 2:8

I don’t think it was happenstance that the angels came to the shepherds, the lowest of the low in the economic side of life in that day. In the times of scripture being written they were so little trusted that a shepherd’s testimony would not be accepted in a courtroom. Most shepherds were considered on a par with Gypsies, vagrants, and con men. Add to that the fact that shepherds were on the lowest rung of the economic ladder and had little or no formal education. Why would the Bible scholars of the day have even considered them as worthy testimonies of the birth of Christ? Their testimony was canceled before it every made it’s way to the church. So now there’s two strikes against this man called Jesus. He’s born in the lowliest of towns, and testified of by the lowliest of people. 

For me that helps me to identify with the Lord and love Him all the more! Coming from small town West Virginia, being a gal of common work and being used in the Kingdom of God makes me weep with gratitude. God is sooooooooo good to me. Bring on the cancel culture! They didn’t cancel Jesus and they didn’t cancel the lowliest of shepherds, they only made their story that much greater. Please Jesus, let it be so in my ministry as well. Allow the words that You put in my soul to encourage many across they land. This lowly shepherd girl who loves caring for God’s sheep in Calhoun County, West Virginia. 

The world today would love to cancel our ability to take care of ourselves and cause us to rely on the government for our very livelihood. Be not deceived, the corona virus shut down had more to do with the disease of power than the flu.

They Wanted to Cancel God’s Word

Bethlehem Ephratah”, which was a small city, in the midst of the cities of Judah; and “although thou art little in the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto me” a man, a ruler in Israel, “whose goings forth are from the days of old”; the meaning is, the goings forth of the family of that ruler are from the days of old; that is, from the seed of David, and a rod from the stem of Jesse, who was of Bethlehem Judah.

While on the surface they appeared to “worship God,” that was furthest from the truth. They had all the tools of the trade and the very of God written down in their hands, they didn’t believe or live it, and I have to wonder if they didn’t more so fear what they did read and know. After all, they were told that God would return one day and reign over His people. I think they’d have rather been their own boss, and that’s how they lived. Satan had convinced them that God’s word needed to be canceled and it would be done by canceling His Son.  But what Satan didn’t know was that the attempted cancellation only gave way to the un-canceling! 

Woohoo and glory to God in the highest! Does that put a shout in my soul!!! They couldn’t cancel the Creator. And as much as society tries today they cannot cancel the Spirit of God that is alive and well in His people. It is no small wonder that Jesus was the first and greatest cancel culture target and still continues to be. The power from His Spirit and His Word that is working through His people certainly has to be frustration to the cancel culture’s ego. They may have won small battles in the realm of Christianity but they have by no means won the war and we are proof! All of the “little people,” in the “little towns” who have the Risen Savior empowering them to continue sharing the word of God keeps us moving toward Heaven. And when we can no longer move in that direction it will be because we have arrived. Just wrote myself happy again!!!!

Posted in Faith, Heaven, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Political, Uncategorized

Are You Ignoring the Jots and Tittles

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Are You Ignoring the Jots and Tittles

There are days when I pay great attention to detail, to the point that I am one step shy of being psychotic about it. It’s usually when I’m tired and everything in life has gotten on my last nerve. It happens more than it use to the older I get. It also causes me to wonder how God, who is ageless, doesn’t grow so weary of us that He looks down from on high, and just wipes us out. Because if I were God, and I seen the nonsense going on in the world like it is today, that’s what I would do. ZAP! But praise God, He’s God and I am not, and HIs attention to detail doesn’t error on any side like mine does, but His is a perfect attention to detail. Not one jot it tittle, does’t matter.

Matthew 5:18-20 KJVS
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Have you ever thought about the Bible from the fact that it is a book, unlike any other on the planet, that has been read again and again, generation after generation, and is never considered antiquated by a believer because every day it’s fresh and new and every single word, jot and tittle, the smallest of punctuations, is an important factor in the lives of man and God. And yet mankind ignores it, rewrites it, takes it out of context to fit their own agenda and uses it with their own words to manipulate people.

Being a teacher of the word of God is not something that I take lightly. I know that I will stand before Almighty God one day and answer for the way I’ve taught it. All of us will stand before God and give answer for our attention to the details. It’s why He sent us His word. And changing it doesn’t change God. He will never get with man’s program which is what the world would have us believe. Any government official who says they’re a Christian and does not consider the Bible the inerrant word of God, and understand it’s meaning as much as Senate bill 179 doesn’t understand how very, very much God pays attention to the details.

Our own West Virginia Senators Joe Manchin and Shelly Capito profess Christianity, and yet neither have stood on the side of it in their office unless it benefited them personally to do so. At least that’s how I see it. This is not a political statement, this is a statement of accountability to everyone. We will be held accountable for the positions we hold in life, every jot and tittle of it. So that means we are without excuse for the bits and pieces of our lives that we considered not our responsibility or accountability. If God cares so much that even the punctuations marks matter, for certain the words and actions of our life matter.

So for a moment, let’s unpack Matthew 5:18-20 and apply it to today.

When Christ said “For verily I say unto you,” He was letting the recipients of the word know that this was an oath. If He said it, it’s happening without debate. The problem with man kind is few are any good on their word, so “verily,” is not a concept they (meaning us) are familiar with. But God’s letting us know, we better take heed to His words. Everyone one of them.

When He says “when Heaven and earth pass,” it’s means they’re going too. When? We will know when we know, and not until then. But for certain it’s going to happen, and yet the world, even those who profess, just keeping moving along as if it’s not, unconcerned that time or the jots and tittles in their lives that don’t match up with God. You know… the details.

[19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Who hasn’t broken a commandment. 🙋🏻‍♀️Every single one of us, there is no doubt. But what about teaching the breaking of commandments? Unless you’re a flat out heathen, you’re not going to teach people to steal, lie, cheat, kill, etc. And yet, the laws of our land right now do that very thing. I’m using the Covid bill as an example because it’s a life application that makes sense to do so. The so called “Covid-19 Bill” has far less to do with the virus than it does politics. It’s certainly not about helping the American people and yet they’re deceiving the people to believe so. They’re teaching deception and we’re ignoring the jots and tittles because we want our 1400.00 in relief money.

Hey! I can use that $1400.00. But what about the 10 trillion dollars of debt that they’re using to finance railroads and other projects unrelated to Covid-19? Actually, it has more to do with the fact that when Biden shut down the pipelines he moved the plan of transportation of oil and gas to the railways which his buddy, financier Warren Buffett, just happens to own. Hmmm. Might there be something fishy there? Of course! But it’s a jot and tittle that get left out because we don’t pay attention to our government and our government is happy as clams because they’re not going to have to answer for it.

Oh…. but they will.

So what does that have to do with scripture?

We all have jots and tittles in our lives that go overlooked intentionally or not. Some more serious than others. It happens. But when we turn a blind eye to elected, appointed or hired people in our lives who approve things such as the killing of babies through abortion, up to the birth age… and don’t call that murder, and when we fail to call out the politicians that voted for it, we’ve got our jots and tittles indeed and we’re teaching our youth the same. When we allow the powers that be to bankrupt our Nation both financially and morally without so much as a raised brow, I think that is details that God’s going to call some people on.

Christ continues on to say:
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The scribes and Pharisees were notorious for playing politics in the church house, adding jots and tittles of their own that the people couldn’t possibly keep, to the tune of 613 laws; they in truth couldn’t keep Ten Commandments! So how does that differ from modern day? The hypocrisy of our national (and not so national) leaders, who are God ordained positions is ridiculous.

This is why “religion” leaves such a bad taste in my mouth and makes me want to get very vocal and make people I love uncomfortable. Churches have used this pandemic as a reason not to share the gospel. Christianity and every part of it is a curse word in Washington DC and our church leaders are watering the gospel down to suit them. Oh that makes my blood boil. We have heretics and abominations on our American payrolls. More jots and tittles against our nation. If God held His beloved Israel accountable for their politics, do you think He’ll not do the same for a nation that has claimed His name and profited for decades from it.

If Americans don’t get their heads in Heavenly places, there’s going to be some mansions used for vacation home because the intended tenants didn’t catch the plain to Glory…. just saying.