Category: salvation

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Church attendance, Church Unity, Evangelism, Life Inspiration, Peace, Purpose, salvation

The Backslider’s Gospel

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Backslider’s Gospel

backsliderAs I read the opening of Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians this morning, I felt as if I should start this blog:

Shari, a servant of Christ (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead:) and all the brethren (and sisters) who are with me, unto the churches of Calhoun County. Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

What a regal introduction. We take, or should I say “I take, my calling of God for granted.” Paul was writing to the churches of Galatia because they were believing a polluted form of the gospel.  Paul marveled that they were “so soon removed from him that called you unto the grace of Christ unto another gospel.”  (Galatians 1:6b) And as I read across those verses I thought back about the people that I have seen give their lives to Christ at an altar of grace and tsmhen were so soon removed. Those who I had watched walk and serve Christ. Not as those do who get saved and vanish. Which is often the issue with a soul will who comes searching for a temporary fix to a permanent problem rather than a permanent fix to a temporary problem. Whew! That a good word right there! But the folks I think on are those who I served with for years sometimes; and then one day they were just gone. Believing another gospel? They’d likely say no. Because they’re not serving in another church. They’re absent without leave, and believing a gospel for which they aren’t even aware.

The Backslider’s Gospel

A backslider’s gospel is perhaps what I would call it. For some reason or another they found their time could be better spent outside of the church. They occasionally come on Christmas and Easter. A funeral attendance will heap conviction upon their shoulders for a good thirty minutes after the service. But then they determine that Sunday is like any other day. And they can love God on Monday just as well. They have nothing to prove by being in church.

Just as I need to be reminded Who it is and why it is that I serve Christ, a backslidden Christian too needs a reminder. Paul said in verses 15-16 “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace. To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to which were apostles before me ; but I went to Arabia, and retruned again unto Damascus.”

While Paul didn’t go to where the other Apostles were, he was still in the ministry. He was preaching and teaching the gospel as the Holy Spirit revealed it to Him. He wasn’t called to follow the church, or the leaders, he was called to follow God. So be it when someone leaves our church and moves on to serve in another, I’m not concerned for their soul. I miss them, I’m like a mother hen I want all my peeps in one place, but I’m spiritually mature enough to know that’s not always the way God sees it.

But when someone leaves church for the house… no… that’s not God’s plan. That’s a backslider’s gospel. That is the one that allows you to believe that you can be “be just as good at the house as you can in church.” No you can’t. You’ll tell yourself that you’ll read your bible and listen to the word of God. For a while maybe, then you won’t. You’ll tell yourself that you don’t need Christian fellowship. Yes you do. All these things serve a purpose in your life that you don’t want to live without. You can survive. But not nearly as well.

The gospel not only convicts the soul of sin, but it soothes the heart.

Sin may not be continuously on your door step after you leave the church, but Satan will be. He’ll place things in your life to assure you stay away from God’s house, because even Satan knows you’re better off in church.

The fellowship of believers may cause a disagreement now and then, but there is no truer friend than that of the body of Christ if you’re in the right church.

The Backslider’s gospel is the most deceiving of all. Because it tells you “You’re okay.” And you’ll be okay until you’re not and then you’ll be away from everything and everyone that can help you make it through the rough patches of life. And then Satan will convince you that nobody cares. What a liar!

If you’re away from God. Get your heart and mind set for Sunday morning. Be in your seat. If you’ve not yet left, but you’re contemplating it, hang on to the back of that pew with every ounce of strength you have and then hit the altar and ask God to help you through. Don’t go to church for the sake of other people. Go to church for you.

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

The Truth About Saints

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Truth About Saints

saint shariSaint Patrick’s Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and religion celebration held annually on March 17 to honor the Patron Saint of Ireland. It’s become more so a day to celebrate Irish Culture than the religious aspect of it. Which is good I think, being that I don’t really put much stock in honoring saints. Not to belittle what St. Patrick did, being credited to have been instrumental in establishing the Christian faith in Ireland in the 5th Century, but in the eyes of God saint hood is not exclusive to one religion. For the record, I’m Saint Shari. I really don’t anticipate any statues being erected in my honor, and it is not the honor of men that I seek. But studying God’s ideology of saints differs considerably from the worlds view.

Apostle Paul said in Romans 1:7 ~ To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A saint is a child of God. Not a perfect child of God, not an overachieving child of God, not anyone necessarily of notable character. Many saints don’t deserve a statue.  (I am one). The Catholic church has sainted many folks throughout the years and claim Peter was the first Pope, which I don’t believe for many reasons, but top of my list for not believing it is, in knowing the character of Peter, he would have had nothing to do with a religion that focus’ on the mother of Christ rather than the Savior and believes salvation can be bought. But this blog is not about my differences with the Catholic Church, it’s about the prerequisites for being a Saint and the reward!

King David spoke much of the saints of God especially in the Psalms:

But I would call Psalm 149 a Psalm of the Saints

Each verse brings great hope to the child of God for

149:1

All Saints! The Congregation, not just a select few.

1Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

All Creation! Not just a few

2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

All People! Who are saved

3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

All Saints have honor!

5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;

7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;

8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.

What a joy to know! As a believer in Christ Jesus, believing that He was the final sacrifice for mankind on the cross of Calvary, that He proved his Deity by His power over death, His resurrection and His ascension to Heaven where He makes intercession for us, allowing us access to a Holy God, even as unholy as we are, and because of all His work, we have honor.

There will be no statues of us in Heaven, I don’t know that they’ll be any statues in Heaven. I just know that Jesus is in Heaven and it is He Who I will give praise, honor and glory. And so will the saints who have been honored on earth, and those who haven’t even been recognized.

Feeling unappreciated today? Don’t. There is One Who appreciates you more than you can possibly know.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Grace, Life Inspiration, salvation

Washed in Mercy

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Washed in Mercy

wash

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

We are blessed to live in a nation where clean water is readily available to most, and it is for certain something that we take for granted. I was in the Philippines to sing at a conference about 11 years ago and my first shower in a home in the Philippines, which did have running water, but to shower there was a plastic cup that hung on the wall from a cold water only tap. You realize how very spoiled you are. It’s that spoiling that causes us to miss the blessings of salvation.

I want stuff. And the Lord says “You have stuff, you need Me.” I need more of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. This morning I was whining to the Lord about wanting something for my husband. He works so hard, he asks for so little. So when something comes up that he’d like, it hurts me that it’s not within his grasp. And while the Lord didn’t mind that I was whining for someone else for a change, it brought me back to that spigot in the wall, and a pipe sticking up out of the floor that was the toilet, and how blessed I was to be there. Because there in that city where many of the people had nothing materialistic in comparison to me, they had what I longed for and it cost nothing… the Presence of God.

While salvation was instantaneous upon the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord, my relationship with God is dependent on the time I spend in His Word and in His presence. As a friend once said “The Word of God is a spiritual warsh cloth.”

“Warsh” is the word “wash” spelled as he pronounced it. That’s an important piece of his story because he was raised poor and when he became wealthy, he didn’t forget where he came from. He glorified God and kept his humility.

When Paul wrote to Titus in chapter 3 he reminded him not to “get above his raisin.” Not to forget where he came from. The presence of God in our life, through the preaching and reading of His word is a cleansing. As I read the word this morning I was not only reminded that I can live better, but I was reminded of the fact that I can’t live good enough when it comes to obtaining the presence of God in my life. That only comes by and through His grace and mercy. I can’t earn stuff with God and I cannot earn His unmerited favor.

Praise God for that regeneration (the spiritual change) within me that gave me a new life, a new hope, and leaves my soul as clean as newborn baby in the eyes of God. Oh… I struggle. I fall and fail and muddy myself with the world around me. But He is faithful to scrub me back up!  Hallelujah!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Eternity, Family, Heaven, Life Inspiration, salvation

The Promise of Hope

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Promise of Hope
hope
Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

There is hope! I wanted to put that across every social media site this morning in big bold letters. It’s won’t be found in a lottery ticket, in the government of the United States, it won’t be found in our family, friends or your critter. If there is a giant hole in your heart you cannot fill it with money, things or other people. If someone or someone is missing you have only one hope, and that’s Jesus.

I speak from experience, else I’d not write it.

When my family lost my brother Richard, I was but a child, and a lost child at that. I didn’t understand eternity. I was brought up in church, I’d heard about Heaven, but it was nothing more than a word. A misunderstood concept. But then… Jesus.

It’s what the world doesn’t want to hear. That Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and nobody gets to Heaven without Him. Not hearing it doesn’t change it, and not accepting it only hurts you further because He is what’s missing in your life that fills the hole you have inside. He does not replace the person that caused the hole, He simply fills the void where they are and gives a bridge to seeing them again. That was the sweetest gift in my own heart today when I thought of the people I can’t see. Even some who are here on earth…

When I ask my Mother once why she wasn’t angry with God for taking my brother at the age of 19, she simply responded “Because He is my only hope of seeing Richard again.” My Mom had found the bridge back to my brother. When my Dad passed away I missed almost everything about him, except one thing, the faith he shared with me. He had Jesus and that bridged the gap between us. I knew it was not goodbye, it was “save a place for me at dinner.”

So when I see a social media post of despair, I want to bridge that gap in their heart by telling them that I truly do care and that Jesus is their answer to the hopelessness they’re feeling inside. He doesn’t replace the person lost… He is what the song writer wrote with the words “He built a bridge with only three nails and two pieces of wood, with one rugged cross, Jesus built a bridge.”

Glory to God for the bridge that I found in 1996. Glory to God for the preacher who preached the gospel. Glory to God for the patience that God had in waiting for me to come to Him. Glory to God for there is hope on earth and peace… His name is Jesus. Amen!

Posted in Christian Service, Church attendance, Evangelism, Faith, Leadership, Life Inspiration, salvation, worship

Saved but Silent

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Saved but Silent

on my mind

For certain it’s a conversation starter! For the passionate child of God it will make a preacher out of the meekest of them when they begin to tell of their inability to understand lukewarm saints. For the lukewarm saint it begins a conversation about the “Not Everyone’s.” With statements like:

  • Not everyone’s a soul winner.
  • Not everyone’s a shouter.
  • Not everyone’s got time.
  • Not everyone’s been called….

It’s usually at this point in a conversation that people start reading my very expressive face. My eyes roll. My lip gets bitten. My fingers and hands have a passion for rhythm from the war drums going off inside my head. My right leg starts to bounce a little as if I’m getting ready to run. And I too sit silent because I know if I say what’s on my mind there’s going to be hurt feelings. Usually mine, because you can’t convince a lukewarm saint that anything’s wrong with them. They love to tell me why they’re not lukewarm, they’re passion is just concealed in their conservative ways. And they’re offended that I would suggest otherwise.

Saved but silent is sickening.

A few personal thoughts that have my heart stirred up this particular Saturday night:

  • I know not everyone’s a shouter, else the church would be chaos. But the Lord wouldn’t mind a Holy grunt once and a while.
  • If you can’t remember the last time you were at the altar, you are way overdue.
  • There’s two reasons you go to the altar, 1. Because you need to, and 2. Because you think you don’t need to.
  • Everyone may not be a soul winner, but everyone should be burdened for souls.
  • If you think Sunday School isn’t important, you’re either very well studied and you should be teaching, or you think Sunday School is not needful and a waste of time. And God knows that’s what you think.
  • If the people you share your day with haven’t heard you talk about Jesus, you sat down and shut up when Satan told you to.
  • If your idea of an active prayer life is three meals and a bedtime prayer, you’ve covered food and sleep but the other 23 hours of your day are in the hands of Satan. If you don’t pray over your food, one day you may choke.
  • If you volunteer for school and community events but not for church your priorities are not in check.
  • If a child of God has made you feel uncomfortable because they do any of the aforementioned things you are going to be real uncomfortable in Heaven.

Just a few things on my heart…

Posted in Bible Journaling, Forgiveness, Life Inspiration, salvation

Do you remember the day you knew?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Do you remember the day you knew?

knowingI wrote yesterday on being under attack and it was a well-read blog. I guess there are many people feeling that way! Because of that, it’s very easy to get into a Debbie Downer attitude which puts you on easier ground for Satan to attack and it’s why you need to know that you know. As I read of the woman with the issue of blood this morning who reached out to touch the hem of the Master’s garment, it brought to mind the early days of my salvation when that touch was so fresh…

The scripture read in Mark 5:33 “But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told all the truth.”

The words that drew my mind into a place I loved being was “knowing what was done in her.” It’s knowing that I know that gives me a leg up on Satan. It’s having that place that I can return to in time when I knew something had happened with in me.

When I first attended Victory Baptist Church, February 18th, 1996 I went with a chip on my shoulder and ready to shrug off another church attendance, but something happened. I wasn’t saved that day, but I knew something had been stirred in my soul that caused my mind to shift to a new place and I would never be the same. Several weeks of going to the altar and begging God to do something, I finally realized He already had. He had changed me and introduced me to the Holy Spirit. I feared God, but not in a way that I feared judgement, I respected Him and longed to be the friend that I knew He’d been to me with His ultimate mercy. I told Him the truth; that I was a blood stained sinner just like the woman, and He healed that issue of blood by covering my wound with His own blood.

Do you know that you know? Then you should celebrate that truth today! The reason being, that in an attack that knowledge is a shield Satan cannot penetrate. Jesus told the woman upon her confession “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” That place of peace that I long for was restored in those words when I recalled the day I found the power of faith. Jesus saved me, I couldn’t do anything but reach out to Him. But my faith is what puts into action an army of abilities to make life better.

So what about you? Can you recall that day when you reached out to touch the Lord, and He acknowledge your touch with one of His own? Glory!!!!! That’s a good word for me today.

Posted in Eternity, Grace, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Political, salvation

Me and Jesus got it all Worked out… No Pope Needed

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Me and Jesus got it all Worked out… No Pope Needed

chick and Jesus

I’m not a fan of the Pope. I’m not a fan of anyone who tries to come between me and Jesus. I know that’s bad English. I’m okay with it. This is not a Catholic bashing post, it’s not a political post… although I make no promises that politics won’t come up. I started to watch the television news this morning which was left on by my husband as he went to work and then I thought better of it. Why start my day in any greater frustration that the world already does?

The Religious Side of this Event

Yesterday as I traveled down the highways of West Virginia listening to Bluegrass Junction on Sirius radio an oldie but goodie sung by Charlie Sizemore came on titled “Me and Jesus.” Written by Tom T. Hall long before “me and Jesus got it all worked out.” Well I just about took a shoutin’ fit in the car. I came home and looked up the chords and lyrics and now I’m claimin’ that one for myself and have added it to my repertoire of music for pickin’ events. This song somewhat epitomizes what I think of the Pope. How dare anyone this side of Heaven tell me that I need somebody to tell me what thus saith the Lord when I have the Word of God in my hand and the Holy Spirit in my heart. Both of which tell me in Matthew 27:51 “the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;” forever granting those who accept His death on the cross as payment for all sin to have access 24/7 to the Lord and Savior. Without the priest. Without the Pope. So that’s the end of that rant… now for the political side of it.

The Political side of this event

Whether or not I agree with the Pope, he is still a religious leader. He and I can agree to disagree and I’ll let God sort out the false doctrine that he’s touting on judgement day. It’s my role as a Christian to share the truth, which I just did, not bash the Pope. I’ll show him the respect that I show any other faith. What they believe is between them and Jesus. I stand accountable for me. But the President’s flagrant misuse of power again and again to slap God in the face, which is what he’s doing with this visit to the Whitehouse by the Pope, will likewise end on judgment day. His arrogance of promoting the gay, transgender, baby killing and Muslim agendas will eventually stop, whether or not American citizens get a backbone and do something about it. On the final Amen – Obama and his tribe of wickedness will stand before a Holy God Who only wanted to be loved for His willingness to die on that cross of Calvary and their arrogance will be gone. Of that I am promised.

The Personal side of this event

Do you and Jesus have it all worked out? Preaching is awesome! Christ died for the church, so please don’t tell me going there is not important, and there is countless scriptures of Christians getting together to worship God to back that up. But neither of those things save you. Salvation is between you and Jesus alone.  Accepting that He died for you so that when you die you can have eternal life with Him in glory. And to the dismay of the Pope, when you “get that all worked out,” you don’t need anyone to help you talk to Jesus. No fancy church… it could be just you kneeled down by a stump in the woods of Calhoun County, West Virginia. Where there is no Catholic Church.

I hope you have it all worked out!

Posted in Eternity, Life Inspiration, salvation

Do You Believe?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Do You Believe?

chick believe

Oprah Winfrey has a new show coming in October, and no… this is not an endorsement. When she verbally attacked a Christian woman on her show several years ago for having the audacity to say there was “only one way to Heaven,” I pretty much wrote Oprah off as a “spiritual authority;” not that I have ever counted her as one. Oprah said, and I quote “There couldn’t possibly be just one way,” Regarding the Christian faith. The announcement of her new show comes on the heels of my teen camp which was based on the movie “Do you Believe,” which is to be released on DVD on August 4th. That movie I will gladly endorse!!! But as for Oprah’s show, I watched the trailer and from what I could perceive, her opinion of “more than one way” still stands.

So what is it that I believe? I’m more than happy to share that with you!

I believe there is in fact only one way to Heaven. Because Jesus said in John 14:6  ~ “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” That pretty much sums it up.

So why do I believe the Bible is the Authority? Because in 1996 (the year I accepted Christ as my Savior) the Bible came to life for me. If you are not saved, you will not understand that statement. But as a child of God the Word of God will speak to every need of your soul. It is then you realize that it is way more than a book! But on the fact of accuracy and prophecy there are those much smarter than I who have determined the Bible’s authority. Dr. Hugh Ross’s website www.reason.org gave the following statistics on accuracy and authority of the scriptures:

Unique among all books ever written, the Bible accurately foretells specific events-in detail-many years, sometimes centuries, before they occur. Approximately 2500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible, about 2000 of which already have been fulfilled to the letter—no errors.

(The remaining 500 or so reach into the future and may be seen unfolding as days go by.) Since the probability for any one of these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance averages less than one in ten (figured very conservatively) and since the prophecies are for the most part independent of one another, the odds for all these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance without error is less than one in 102000(that is 1 with 2000 zeros written after it)!

Now, I didn’t need him to tell me that for me to believe it was true, but it’s still very interesting, is it not?

So what is it that you believe? And are you on my sight today because you’re searching for the answers, or are you a child of God who believes as I do? The reality of it all is this, whether we believe or not does not change Who God is, but it sure changes those who believe!

How did it change me? I don’t carry un-forgiveness, anger or hatred. It’s not that it doesn’t occasionally rear its ugly head… but it leaves quickly. I have compassion for people that I never thought possible, I pray and believe God heard and answered, even if the answer was no or later. I witness God every day in Creation. When I think about dying, I’m sad for those who are left here… not for those who died in Christ. I long for Heaven and the family and friends that are waiting for me to come home. I need to hear from God that I’m doing okay, just like a little girl needs daddy’s stamp of approval for a job well done. I love people deeper than I ever imagined I could because God made them who they are. And the greatest change of all that came upon my life was PEACE. Unexplainable peace in the best of times and the worst of times.

I Believe that Jesus Christ is the One and Only way to Heaven, because His blood on the cross of Calvary paid the price for my sinful heart to be cleansed and changed. Do you Believe?

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Forgiveness, Grace, Leadership, Life Inspiration, salvation, Youth

Where are the Accusers?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Where are the Accusers?

chick rock

“Woman where are those thine accusers?” – John 8:10b

Last night I was the woman standing in the midst… of five little girls. I say little, and yet not so little, they were young teens. Actually I was sitting, playing and teaching guitar. One of the girls had recently attended a revival where I had sung a song I had written called “When Misery Met Mercy,” and she asked me if I’d sing it for them. What an honor! And an opportunity. I began to tell them the story of the woman caught in adultery and they were amazed. They’d not heard that story, nor had they heard that adultery was wrong. I’m shocked at my own naivety sometimes. I grew up with the teaching of bible morals and I just assume that the rest of the world at least knows, even if they choose to ignore it. But the shock in the young girl’s voice was evidence clear in my mind that she really had no idea that adultery was a sin… and for a second I judged…

Not her but the world around her. And then this morning I ponder this thought, and I am convicted of my own rock throwing. It’s so easy to become that religious crowd. An honest to goodness rock throwing Pharisee is what I felt like.

In irony, the night I sang that song at the revival a man preached who was fighting his way back from addiction, which was almost as hard as fighting his way back from the judgement of rock throwing Pharisees. And that night I was angry at the church people who had thought they had the right to sit in the seat of God and tell a man who has fallen, but gotten up, that he has no right to stand for Jesus. Who were they to condemn a man Who God had said “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11b

Who am I?

Jesus said to the crowd that lingered behind, the ones who hadn’t picked up the stones, they were only spectators, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” And there I was a child of the living God, privileged to walk in the light of life and yet blinded to the world around me. I was a spectator. I didn’t throw the rock, but I sure didn’t feel as if I’d been defending that little girl either. I did not know her world, and yet every day I live in it.

I have no right to judge her world, especially if I’m not willing to go out into it. The religious crowd goes out into the world and drags the sins of the world before the church and says “We are better!” A child of God goes out into the world and says “I am you… the only difference is I’m forgiven.”

And then they share forgiveness.

No rock throwing for me today… just tears of compassion. Please continue to pray for our camp.

Posted in Eternity, Heaven, Peace, salvation

Heaven’s Post Master Has a Message for you Today

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Heaven’s Post Master Has a Message for you Today

CHICK POSTAGEAs I ran along in the sermon of my friend Roger Carter…(I say “ran” because you’ll not likely walk through one. Once he starts preaching it’s like he’s been shot out of a cannon. He’s not stopping until he reaches his destination. He’s fun like that!), but along the way he said this, “Death is a change of address.” He had to run ahead without me for a little while because my mind got stuck on that thought and I couldn’t let it go. When someone we love moves a distance away we may be sad for a little while, but most of us adjust to the idea. We talk to them on the phone, or correspond by other means and plan for the next time we see them again; and we get excited in the planning process. But when someone dies the conversation is lost… and that’s tough. I don’t make light of it.

When I lost my Dad, I missed those conversations; his sense of humor, his love of family and music and most of all, his love of God. But because of his love of God and his personal testimony of a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, I might have moments of sadness but I have I eons of hope! My Dad simply got a new address, and I know that I know that I’ll see him again in glory and that makes this journey bearable. And in the mean time I ask God to tell my dad “Hey,” and go back to planning our reunion.

So what about that address?

Living in rural West Virginia has many advantages, but one advantage is our source of entertainment… each other. As I began this blog, my mind drifted back to the 1980’s when I worked as an ad manager for a local newspaper. The editor of that paper had moved to our area after retiring as an editor for the New York Times. He absolutely fell in love with West Virginia! But he did have days which caused him ponder his decision. One such day was when he went across the street to the local post office to mail a book to a friend in Canada. He was informed by our elderly post master that you couldn’t mail anything out of the country (and he was serious). After a lengthy argument with the old man, the editor returned to our office, half angry and half in hysterical laughter. I’m not sure if he ever convinced the post master that you could mail things out of country, or if he took his book to another post office, but none the less made for a great story and one we laughed about for years to come.

There’s no physical address for that country where God dwells with my friends and loved ones who have died, but there’s a spiritual address and it’s every bit as real as Grantsville, West Virginia. Are you planning for the trip?

RETURN TO SENDER

A child of God will return to sender in the blink of an eye when their day comes to leave this world. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:52 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” That speaks of the day that Christ will call His church home. Many of us will go at once and a lost world will be left in turmoil. That day is likely very near. But for those who pass away before that day Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Confident that he would be delivered, postage paid by the blood of Jesus Christ who paid the price for us to be able to dwell in that city not made of hands but by God Himself.

But what about those who haven’t made preparation?

TURNED TO CINDER

Jesus told a religious crowd the fate of a rich man who died without knowing God in Luke 16:23 when He said “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments”. God doesn’t sugar coat Hell, and just because someone doesn’t believe it exists or chooses not to make a choice doesn’t make it an untruth and their choice is made. Hell is eternal separation from everyone. Look at the people in your life that you care about. Are you prepared to never see them again? It’s not only separation it’s also a place of fire, torment and gnashing of teeth and totally unnecessary. That address was never meant to be on the map, but because of sin and our rejection of God’s forgiveness by and through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus, it’s there.

Have you been marked postage paid, or are you lost in transit; having never accepted God’s gift of salvation? It’s the best gift ever! And it’s never undeliverable. No matter where you’ve been in life or what you’ve done, God’s grace is sufficient for all. Don’t spend another second in time without making that decision. Watch the news… and more importantly read the Word of God. Written thousands of years ago and yet they line up together with God’s warning that He’s going to return. Don’t miss the Post Master to Heaven!!!!

Error: Contact form not found.