Category: Word of God

Posted in Christian Service, Church attendance, Life Inspiration, Word of God, worship

Sounding the Sirens of the Antichrist

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion 2 Comments on Sounding the Sirens of the Antichrist

There is much conversation in these current times about the antichrist. I guess there always has been. But for me, living in this time, and you, it is certainly more relevant. While there’s been much speculation on who the antichrist is or will be, I found it more interesting a topic this morning that John said there are many antichrists. Woah…. many? 

The title of antichrist is found only four times in the scripture. All four are in the little Johns, 1 and 2. And are not in the context of the way we think of the antichrist. At least not how I think of the antichrist. I think of the antichrist as the person who comes to deceive the world during the last and final years of earth. As Paul speaks about in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 KJV

[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Though not called “the antichrist” in that text, we see the man who will come to deceive the world in the last days. 

But John is speaking of antichrists of having been present in his day, and that they will be present in the future days, because the antichrist as John refers to it in these texts, are not so much a man, but a type of man; and I have no problem seeing his presence in modern times.

1 John 2:18-29 KJV

[18] Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. [19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 

Antichrists in the church

John warns that we’d know them because they went out of the church and made it known that they were not all of us. This is heartbreaking to me, because I’ve known them, some of them I’ve met after they’d left a church and now deny that God is God. They fool people for a while, playing church, but then their true colors are manifest, made known, that they did not truly know the Lord as their Savior. I don’t believe this speaks of people who are in and out of church, saying their saved, but are not. I believe these that John speaks of comes into the church with an agenda, even if they’re not aware of it. People who Satan uses to draw people away from God by worldly deception. There are those that fall away from the church and then there are those that are drawn away into a dangerous territory. They’re often put into a position of power where they can garner a great following and in so doing draw people to them. I won’t say the names that are inside of my head, maybe you have some too, but there are self proclaimed evangelists that draw people out of the local church and into a cyber church where they are feeding the leaders with high dollar salaries and false promises. They preach Christ, but they have a spirit of antichrist. When I think of the almost worshipful allegiance their followers have, its not hard to see how the Antichrist who comes in the end could use them as little shepherds of his evil. And everyone that followed them, would fall right in line to following the antichrist. 

Scary times…

Christ in Us!

[20] But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. [21] I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

How awesome to have the Spirit of Christ living within the heart of a child of God. It is that Spirit that will protect us from falling under the trap and guile of the greatest deceiver of all times, Satan. But just as Satan positions himself for deception, we must position ourself for reception. In the local church to receive the edification of the word of God that will keep us in check agains the wiles of the Devil. 

As Gloria and I traveled the roads yesterday, we spoke as usual about our beloved Victory Baptist Church and how much the people of that church mean to us. The people are our brothers and sisters in Christ, but Christ and His teaching through the Pastoral leadership are why we’re there.  We have both been in places in our lives that were away from God, so when we found where the Spirit abounds and grows, we’re not leaving. But many have…

I used to get very upset when people would leave. Until I began to notice that sometimes (not always) but sometimes God opened the door. The people were sewing division, or false teaching, or other things that would confuse new believers. So God moved them out! 

But what scares me now is that we have many people out of the church because of COVID19 and I’m not sure of where they’re getting fed, and what (if anything) they’re eating. While ours and many other good churches are on line, the internet is not always cooperative. And while online is better than nothing, its not the same as fellowshipping with believers and hearing the word of God uninterrupted. 

I understand the fear in the hearts of the people who have underlying health conditions that put them at risk. You have to do what’s right for you. But please guard your heart from believing every word that spoken to the church about the disease. I have a feeling they’re are some antichrists in the medical industry. And I feel it’s my task today to sound the siren on false teaching in and out of the church.

Posted in Eternity, Evangelism, Faith, Grace, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Political, Uncategorized, Word of God

Is Christ Divided?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion 2 Comments on Is Christ Divided?

Woah. That’s quite a question. And it certainly deserves an answer.

I was at a family event this week, when the topic of politics came up. Dangerous ground for any family at this time. While my immediate blood line is non-confrontational, I was raised by very passive parents, so I and my siblings have been somewhat the same, although it seems that we did learn to express ourselves a little louder. Add to us an expanding family of in-laws and children and another dynamic was added into the mix. Now a conversation can get much louder and much more passionate than that of my childhood. But we have still managed to keep the peace. A fact that I don’t take for granted. I see so many families divided by multiple reasons and the worst of it is the family of God. My family has agreed to disagree, but mostly we avoid talk about politics at the dinner table. 

But a problem is, I was born to talk. And so God gave me a blog. Else my head would explode. It’s here I air my feelings and share my thoughts because I pay for the page. So my family is not the boss of the me. 😀 I said that in humor, but what is not funny is the world for which we currently live where we cannot share our thoughts aloud in most venues for fear of an outright war. And many of those warriors are from the church and I’m not sure Jesus is any where in the battle because of the question I found in 1 Corinthians 1:

“Is Christ Divided?” 

Paul asks that question of the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 KJV

[10] Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. [11] For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. [12] Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. [13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Their divisions were over who was lead to Christ by who, or baptized by who. Ours are not near so spiritual. And our founding father of these United States were wise enough to see that when they placed a separation of church and state in the constitution. Not to keep Christ out of government but to rather keep politics out of the church. Government and politics are not the same thing. We have one Government. The government of the United States. We have many forms of politics for which everyone has a right to believe. But when it come to the church, politics should never enter in. Whether you are democrat, republican, independent, from a blue state or a red state, the scripture is still black and white. So we are not to ask “Would Christ be a Republican, Democrat or other party?” We’re to ask, does what we believe line up with scripture? The only division that should be in the life of a Christian is “rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Speak the Same Thing

2 Peter 1:20

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

I praise God that I am too limited to read more into scripture than is there. Scripture was meant to read, believe and apply. If God says “thou shalt not”, don’t. If God says “thou shall,” then it’s okay. If He says nothing about it, then don’t tell people it’s in there. God did not say every Baptist preacher had to have a white shirt and a black suit. They didn’t wear britches in the Bible. As a matter of fact, they wore dresses, robes and sandals, and they looked like men and women. I said that to say, speak of what matters. And it ain’t britches. Paul wasn’t concerned about the outward man, he was concerned about the inward man. If we get that right, then the outside will match. And it still may not look like you expect it to. But it’s between them and God.

Paul’s goal was to refocus the Corinthian church on the word of God for the purpose of leading people to Christ. They’d gotten off task. It was not about how they got saved, it was what they were doing for Christ after they got saved. So I ask of you who are reading this today these questions: “If everyone in your church spoke as you do all day, what would the conversation be mostly about? And would it line up with the Bible?”

God doesn’t expect you to never talk about things in the world, but if you are talking about those things, would you talk as you do if He was there in person? He would probably like a NASCAR race, but what would He have said about the noose in the locker room? He may have said something like “Will you all shut up, people are going to Hell, and you’re worried about a garage pull. Eyes on the prize people.” I would like to be there if He did.

Have the Same Mind

Perfectly joined together in the same mind? What would that look like? Well it wouldn’t look like my mother’s dinner table I assure you. Because there are people there with a wide array of opinions and they ain’t even close the same. 

So rather than being upset with people I love, I go to the word of God.

Proverbs 29:11 says “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”

While I love that that gives me the right to say “I told you so.” When things turn out poorly, I won’t, and that’s not the intention of God’s advice. But rather keeping your mouth shut in the midst of political passion is better than arguing with someone who’s not going to change their mind in the midst of anger. But if later I can go back to that person, or write about my beliefs and why, then maybe we will one day have the same mind. It also means that I might not always be right either. If I read and study God’s word, and I do, He just might change mine. But for certain, our minds have got to align with God’s word. And what I see in most all liberal arguments is that God’s word has no where entered into the process. If they occasionally quote scripture, it’s almost always out of context. But truthfully I don’t hear many liberals quoting scripture to back up their agenda. 

The same mind that matters is only the mind of Christ. 

In the Same Judgement

Are we a judgmental society or what?! And what is the favorite go to judgy scripture?

Matthew 7:1 – Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Oh that’s a good one! But when people use it, they’re usually saying under their breath, “You are not the boss of me.” Nor is Christ usually their authority. 

While God gives us a freedom of mind, He does not give us the freedom to choose His judgment, and His is the only one that will truly matter. So when judgment day comes, and you stand before the Lord, what will your conversation be then? 

I’ll bet Chloe was not a very popular person in the church of that day, because it was they who told Paul that the church folk were fussin’ about who was better because of how they came to Christ.  And that’s when Paul brings up the subject of judgement. A subject also brought up by Jude who tells of why we should be more concerned about the word of God than about the word of men, which seems to be where we have our focus now:

Jude 1:14-25 KJV

[14] And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, [15] To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. [16] These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. [17] But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; [18] How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. [19] These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. [20] But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, [21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. [22] And of some have compassion, making a difference: [23] And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. [24] Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, [25] To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Christ isn’t about division. Nor should the church be. Make sure you’re on His side. It’s the only one.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Evangelism, Faith, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Word of God

My Jesus Agenda

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When I tell people that it’s a struggle to stay focused, I’m not sure they understand the depth of the struggle. I can start out with the greatest of intentions of writing a blog, 3 minutes later I’m writing a song, but before it’s done I’ve thought of a media banner, or an instagram post, or perhaps there’s a load of laundry calling my name. Or like now… the beds unmade and it’s bothering me. I kid you not. And that’s not a random occurrence of a thought pattern. That’s every day, all day. I struggle. When I wasn’t working (in the secular world), I laminated a list of daily chores to keep me on track. But now my chore list just has to get done the best it can because my at home hours are less. Which has been another burden on my soul. The ministry work has suffered so I can pay bills. Bills I created… ugh. Well, that’s depressing. So this blog thought has been a few days in the making. In the midst of all that hoopla that I just mentioned I’ve lost five of the ten chickens we just bought to a dumb racoon, and had to coon proof my coop. Which took two days of serious labor, but its done and the coon was live trapped last night. The same coon I was ready to knock in the head myself, but this morning when I looked at it’s cute little face in the trap, I made David take it to work with him and let it loose by the river bank. I’m too tender hearted. 

Wow…. that’s a lot of info. Welcome to my world.

Now, for My Jesus Agenda. It’s a three point agenda as mentioned in the artwork above. The first of which is to:

Speak Jesus with Clarity

It’s seems to be an issue the world has a problem with right now. We have to speak Jesus in a round about way that won’t offend their poor little souls. The same souls that are headed down the path to Hell on a wide road. But nobody’s worried about that. Well except me. And thousands of other ministry people who try their best to speak the word of God clearly and correctly. But the trouble is.  There are far more in the ministry catering to this world and not speaking speaking the Word of God with enough truth so that they can understand salvation. Which is sad, because the plan of Salvation isn’t complex! Neither is knowing how to live after salvation if you read and study the word of God. But we’re not raising Christians to feel the need to study on their own. They want someone to spoon feed them the gospel one day a week, (if that)  and then when they are fed, to make sure it’s not any rougher consistency than mashed potatoes so they don’t struggle to swallow. 

Wow, I feel like I may have just unloaded my wagon on you. 

Clarity is my goal, so I guess I’m not mincing words or mashing potatoes today. Rather than getting caught up in any theological debate, I just want to tell you about Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, I want to help the world (and myself) know the God of all Creation, and the God Who is coming to take us home, better. 

Agenda point number 2:

Stand Firm in His Authority

Another struggle I have is remembering that it’s not my words I’m speaking. It’s the Word of God. And if people don’t like it, that’s their problem. 

I was listening (again) to the Glenn Beck program on BlazeTV and he spoke to Dennis Prager, the founder of Prager University, an online information source. prageru.com. Lots of great content on it. But during the interview, Mr. Prager said of the 10  commandments, regarding the 3rd of which is “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain,” that it means in Hebrew “to carry the name of the Lord.” In your life, how do you represent God? That gave me a serious think time on the law, and a deeper gratitude for grace. But in the process of his defining of the deeper meaning, there was a point when I, who’s think tank is much more shallow than Mr. Pragers, was grateful for the lesser amount of knowledge that I have. Mr. Prager said that there are those who in religion teach the commandments, they teach the third commandment as meaning saying OMG is the unpardonable sin. Well, of course it’s not. The unpardonable sin is not accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. And while I’m grateful for the wisdom he imparted to me about “carrying” the name of the Lord, nothing ever justifies speaking irreverently the Lord’s name. When people cuss, they’re not always taking the Lord’s name in vain, I don’t necessarily think they’re headed to Hell, but it sure doesn’t make me think of Heaven.  That’s why I started the “stop the cussing campaign, that I need to get back at. But for now there’s a far greater evil in the world than a few cuss words I’m not comfortable hearing. 

Our people are going to Hell. And partly because God’s people don’t take our job of being “Christian” serious. 

Mr. Prager is Jewish. He is well versed on countless religions, but knowing religion doesn’t mean you know Jesus. I know Jesus. And that makes me a lot smarter than a lot of really intelligent people. It also makes me a lot more powerful than a lot of people. You too. But are we walking in the wisdom that the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ is upon us? Good question right?

Agenda point number 3:

Serve the Lord with Gladness

Psalm 100:2

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 

King David was not the apple of God’s eye without reason. He loved the Lord, He communed with the Lord, He sought the wisdom of the Lord and He worshipped the Lord. Serving God was not a part of His life, it was His life. He was human, he made mistakes, but when He was in tune with God, He was a happy man. 

That’s the secret, although it’s not really a secret, to the success of a child of God, be it in the secular world or the spiritual world. Be in tune with God. My happiest days are days that His word encourages my soul and His Spirit fills me up to overflowing. My saddest days are the days when I let the world consume my thoughts and turn the Spirit off like a water faucet. Remember my focus issues. Yep. How many happy days and how many sad days do you think I have. If I’m honest, I have way more sad days than I should. Because this world and all it’s chaos has gotten my mind off the Jesus Agenda. 

Time to make a new list of daily priorities. 

How about you? What’s on your Agenda? 

Posted in Christian Service, Leadership, Political, Word of God

This is Serious

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Today, I want to share with you some things that are heavy, heavy on my heart. I emphasized heavy but even that doesn’t do it justice. Yesterday evening I attended church and was encouraged by the pastor’s message from 1 Timothy. I felt the Spirit of God as we sang “What a Friend we Have In Jesus,” and loved sitting by my bestie Glo. She is my sounding board in life and ministry. So are you that read my blog! And I thank you! I am grateful for every day I can spend in the house of the Lord, especially with the recent pandemic closures, but I was a little more than disheartened over the lack of attendance, yet I understood. I realize that my sometimes gung-ho approach to life isn’t always appreciated. But having been saved out of dead religion was a life altering experience for which I’ll not apologize, which was followed by being given a ministry of the Lord which is something that I alone will stand accountable for. Which brings me to the burden of today. 

After I got home from church last night, I tuned into a Blaze special by Glenn Beck. It was not on public television, it is not on YouTube or Google, because they’d have taken it down. Glenn’s investigative reporting unveiled the dark side of this world we’re living in right now as I would have never thought possible. But I’m a cockeyed optimist. I still am, but I want to be optimistically informed as well. And so I pay my BlazeTV subscription and I tune in to what most of my Democratic friends and family would call a radical right approach to life. Can you be too far right? Just asking…

The unfortunate part of my television viewing last night was, I was tired. Which means my attention span would waver. But not much. Especially when he got to the root of the nights show which was to reveal the truth of Black Lives Matters (BLM) that most Americans are probably clueless to. These times are far scarier than you think. Starting with Susan Rosenberg.

This statement is from Wikipedia:

As of 2020, Susan Rosenberg sits as vice chair of the board of “Thousand Currents”, a foundation- and contribution-funded international grant-making charitable organization which supports grassroots organizations in the “Global South” as well as acting as a fiscal sponsor of the Black Lives Matters Global Network.

Also according to Wikipedia she is an American far-left revolutionary terrorist, author and advocate for social justice and prisoners’ rights. Rosenberg was active in many radical movements of the 1970s. After living as a fugitive for two years, she was arrested with an accomplice, Timothy Blunk, in 1984 while unloading 740 pounds of dynamite  and weapons from a car into a storage locker in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. She had also been sought as an accomplice in the 1979 prison escape of Assata Shakur. Rosenberg was sentenced to 58 years in prison on the weapons and explosives charges. She spent 16 years in prison, during which she became a poet, author and AIDS activist. Her sentence was commuted by President Bill Clinton on January 20, 2001, his final day in office.

Might this help you understand the violence happening in our streets? If you go onto the BLM website, you’ll discover that their agenda doesn’t have quite so much to do with black lives as it does, gay, transgender and ridding the world of the  “biblical defined family.”

I believe that a lot of good American people, who believe they’re defending black families, have inadvertently gotten themselves on the wrong side of a dark organization and when they realize it, it will be too little too late. We are a country who thrives on underdog stories. We love seeing the little guy win! But this isn’t a little guy story. This is a white political funded organization that has a designed objective. We’re talking about millions and millions of dollars funneled through the BLM organization. But that’s not where the money’s going. And that was the Glenn Beck show. He listed the organizations and the people who were receiving that money. Because I only know enough to be dangerous I won’t even get into that. Just take note that I’m telling you its scary stuff, it’s very political. And what’s happening is meant to do one thing, “take down America.” And they’re making a good attempt. Starting with our President and anyone who supports him. 

So. Back to my heavy heart. While America is a burden, it’s not near the burden that my people are. The political deception is not only a tool of Antifa, but Satan is living his high life as he watches souls headed for Hell and clueless that they are pawns in his plan. 

My church was pretty empty. I pray they were watching on line. But that’s not enough to assure me that they’re okay. I know how hard it is for me, the Jesus Chick, to stay focused on my ministry work. It was hard for me to write these words today, and wonder if it would cause my site to be taken down. Causing yet another source of the gospel to be lost.

But then I read the story of Philip and Simon this morning. Not Simon Peter, but Simon the sorcerer. He loved the entertainment side of his work. But something happened. Phillip happened. He began to make a difference in his part of the world, so much so, that even Simon got saved!!! But there was still apart of him that like the entertainment. So when he saw the apostles casting out spirits and healing people he wanted some of the action, even offering to pay for the gift of the Spirit of God. But Simon Peter said to him in verse 20 of Acts 8:

“Thy money perish with thee, because trout hast thought that the fit of God may be purchased with money.”

So much for that theory of Catholics.

But Simon repented and said in verse 24 “Pray the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.” 

And so they went on to continue preaching the gospel in Samaria.

The gospel isn’t a show. Too many churches and people love the pretty, entertaining side of the church, but when it comes to standing for the Word of God, they’re found lacking. So the story of Simon gave me hope! Those of us who are standing on the side of right, speaking out against what’s happening, sewing love, not hate, but always speaking the truth of the gospel can make a difference in the lives of the Simons of this world who like a show. We can turn them around until they too are converting others into in the name of Jesus and taking down those who are trying to tear down America. 

Yes I’m a cockeyed optimist. But it’s not a false hope. It’s a belief that I serve a God Who can stop this nonsense and put our world back on the right track. But not without the voices of His people. Don’t be silenced. And if you can, go to church. The Lord needs His people in the battle. 

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

The Panic, the Pandemic and the Pantheism

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Pan – the root word of our subjects today. Derived from the Greek meaning all, any, everyone. Dr. Mickey Carter brought this to our attention in his sermon on Sunday evening a Victory Baptist Church in Grantsville, West Virginia. Far away from the city of Caesarea Philippi and the Temple of Pan. Mickey Carter is one of those men of God who has likely forgotten more than I’ll ever know. But the wisdom in the recesses of his mind is amazing to me and it causes me delve deeper in scripture. Which is what good preachin’ does! 

So here we go, I hope you enjoy this quick journey in the very shallow pool of my wisdom. The bulk of the information that I’m using today came from an article on www.thattheworldmayknow.com. The title of the article is “Gates of Hell.” Which sometimes I think the world is standing at with anticipation and a ticket to get in. It’s insane how the world is embracing this nonsense of today, and yet it’s nothing new is it? 

In Jesus day they may not have had the World Wide Web, but they still had access to filth and sin. One such place was in the the city of Caesarea Philippi. It stood in a lush area near the foot of mount Hermon and was filled with immoral behavior and pagan worship. Much like America today. It was the center for Baal worship and eventually the worship of Greek fertility gods. This area became the center for worship of the Greek god, Pan. The Greeks named the city Panias in his honor, but it was later changed to Philipi when it was conquered by the Romans and rebuilt by the Herod Philip. 

In a cliff above the city the people built shrines and temples to Pan. And this is where Jesus chose to deliver his “graduation speech” as it was referred to in the article of information, to His disciples. It was in that pagan environment that Christ would ask the question in Luke 9:18 –“Whom say the people that I am?”

Many in the religious world would have told Jesus not to take His disciples to such a wicked place. 

To the pagan mind, the cave at Caesarea Philippi created a gate to the underworld, where fertility gods lived during the winter. They committed detestable acts to worship these false gods.

In order to entice the return of their god, Pan, each year, the people of Caesarea Philippi engaged in horrible deeds, including prostitution and sexual interaction between humans and goats.

When Jesus brought his disciples to the area, they must have been shocked. Caesarea Philippi was like a red-light district in their world and devout Jews would have avoided any contact with the despicable acts committed there. And there they were in the midst of an evil society, much like we are today, but the shock value seems to have worn off most of the church. They’re willing to embrace the wicked rather than listening to Christ who instructed the disciples in Matthew 16:18

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Christ didn’t want us to fear and avoid the evil of the world but rather storm the gates of Hell and win the battle. But for now we’re too busy. 

The Panic

There’s our root word again. According to the 1828 dictionary, the pan of panic is derived from the fear caused by the god Pan who was not only the god of fertility but the god of the wild shepherds and flocks and companion of nymphs. He had the hindquarters, legs and horns of a goat. I too might panic if I seen such a creature. But it’s not the creature that has caused the panic in our land. It’s the created.

The Pandemic

A man created disease, but as bad as the disease is the emotion that men have created in mankind. We’re as unreasonably frightened of this pandemic as the people were in the day to be afraid of the god of Pan. There is a vast difference between caution and panic. We should be cautious. We should protect the weak. But we should not have ever cowered in fear in our homes, ruined doubt economy and avoided the assembly of ourselves together. The quarantine of our nation incited greater fear and sent our nation not only into panic but into insanity. And most churches have halted the work of Christ and are now adopting the theology of men allowing pantheism to soar.

The Pantheism

Pantheism is the worship of many gods. Hello? Sound like Caesarea Philippi? It sure does to me. And every bit as crazy. On the far left of our nation, both literally and figuratively, the drive for paganism and pantheism is a force to be reckoned with. But not one to fear. If we fear it and what’s going on out there we’ll be as ineffective as the government was on their solution to the pandemic. We know as children of God there is “no other God than Jesus Christ. Capital “G” God. They may have a little g god, but what is that by comparison to the Lord Jesus Christ, who took on the sins of the world, won victory over Hell and returned as our risen Lord and Savior! 

This is for certain not an exhaustive study of the subject of pan. But it always helps and encourages me when I realize that Satan’s tactics haven’t changed. And the advice of Jesus during the days of the Apostles is still His advice for the day of Shari. And He is still the God of Victory! 

Posted in Christian Service, Church attendance, Church Unity, Evangelism, Heaven, Leadership, Life Inspiration, salvation, Word of God

Don’t Kick God Out

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Don’t Kick God Out

Matthew 8:28-34 KJV

[28] And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. [29] And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? [30] And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. [31] So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. [32] And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. [33] And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. [34] And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

A World Possessed

Two people (does not say male or female) though I think perhaps they were male, which I don’t suppose matters in the scope of life. What matters is that they were possessed by devils! How many it doesn’t say but it must have been more than a few because an entire herd ran down the hill and into the sea. I can’t say that of all of Jesus’ miracles this is one I would have wanted to see. It seems a little violent to watch a passel of pigs commit suicide. But, and no apologies to PETA, a human life is worth far more than a pig. And I love pork, so there’s that. And I wouldn’t mind seeing a herd of pigs run out of Washington with the demons that live there. Our world is a mess, and I believe that there are still many demon possessed, whether or not the world wants to believe it. I find it ironic that the world is so fascinated (and not fearful) of paranormal activities, but doesn’t believe in the spiritual realm with relation to Christ.  And scripture like this tells us a couple of facts we shouldn’t ignore. 

Demons know Christ and the power of Christ. Verse 29, “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God”

Demons have great power, though less than Christ. Verse 32, “and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea.”

So that should settle as to which side you’re on.

A World Stressed

Never in my lifetime have I seen the world as stressed as it is right now. The fear rising up in people need only be activated by a word on the nightly news that they take as fact and law. Knowing (at least they should) that the media lies and manipulates the country into their agenda. And so, that leaves the question, “where did their agenda begin?”

2 Timothy 1:7 says

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

That settles that for me. If God doesn’t give us fear, then the same tribe that convinced those pigs to run down the hill and kill themselves has that power over the world today. But rather than just hanging out in the country of the Gergesenes, their across our country with full access to the media and a nation hanging on their every word, rather than the word of God. 

So the world refuses to accept a “sound mind” but rather the embrace the sound of “demonic forces.” Ugh… that makes me nauseous.

A World Refusing to Blessed

That pretty much sums it up. God has not given us the spirit of fear, although we lived in it daily for the weeks of the Corona Virus. And now with the potential of rioting breaking out anywhere in our country the fear is again on the rise. 

I have to wonder what would happen if the church, and I mean every church of every denomination who believe in Jesus Christ alone (which are the only churches with the power of God), what would happen if tonight they hit their knees and prayed “Lord, send the demons out!” Not only said it but believed it and then waited to see what God done. 

That’s not what happened in the country of Gergesenes. They kicked Jesus out. Verse 34 tells us, “and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

What? They kicked the power out of the country! And so it seems that that is now the attempt of the ungodly bunch in our nation. People will believe an outright fabricated lie of people they do not know, but the one who they say lives inside of them, they refuse to accept His words. Which leaves me asking the question, “Do they know Him at all.” Our nation has kicked Him out of the schools and their latest attempt is to stop the gatherings of the church in their own house of worship, but allow them to gather in dens of iniquity. Come on world, open your eyes!

Hebrews 10:31 KJV

[31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

And without an action on the part of the church, that’s what is about to happen. I don’t believe God will forever accept this rebellious land. 

A Worldwide Emergency Broadcasting Test

This trial that our world is facing is only a test by comparison to the end times. I’m not a “Debbie Downer,” but I am the Jesus Chick. And if He said it, I believe it. This world is playing out like the book of Revelation. We need to prepare and know that if Jesus calls His church home, and He will, are you in a relationship with Him where you are one of the called? As I said before, the Demons knew who he was, but they were not spared. And those who profess to know him but do not possess Him in their hearts won’t pass the test of Jesus’ return.

Get your people ready church!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Evangelism, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Purpose, Word of God

Bad Behavior: Own it and move on

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion 1 Comment on Bad Behavior: Own it and move on

I’ve often said there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. In my world there’s an even finer line between confidence and lack of forethought. I am that leap and the net will appear kinda gal. So, yesterday as I drove down the road listening to a podcast of some of my favorite people, I should have seen the warning signs. That bristling on the back of my neck, the fact that I was biting my lip, my righteous rage and holy hostility festering just beneath the surface, and then, just as I pulled into my destination it exploded in an iTunes rating. 

So let me back up and tell you how the story began. 

The podcast that I was listening to was a Christian podcast of some characters that I will leave nameless for now although some of you may already know. In faith, I love them. I love their stand for Christ and the great witnesses they are. But they had a day of stupidity and it caught me on a day of pondering it too long. They were talking about the stock market and the fact that one of them loved dabbling in it and was pretty successful. I don’t have a problem with that. And I don’t think the stock market is gambling, even though there’s risk. I theorize that on the idea that it’s investing in the hope of American business. Is it guaranteed? Nope. But neither is going into business. That’s a risk. But if you have the money and you’re investing your money at VT markets with the knowledge it’s not a sure thing, I don’t think God minds.

But then their conversation went somewhere I never expected. Poker and other forms of gambling. Only one of the three was involved, but he was very adamant about the fact that he didn’t consider it gambling because he was very good at it. Therefore it wasn’t a risk.

What? 

The conversation progressed into a the fact that he also agreed with video gambling because he was very good at. At which point he goes on to say that he had recently had a conversation with President Trump’s son, and tried to convince him that they needed to legalize it again because it was a great way to make money. 

What?!

My outspoken, Christian star, who I adore and love listening to, just broke my heart. I have heard this man take a stand on the word of God, witness to lost souls in places that he wasn’t invited for that purpose and do it boldly! But this day his focus is not on the things of God, but rather the almighty dollar and how it’s okay to bilk other’s out of their money who aren’t as good playing cards. Trump’s son, took the high road, and informed him that gambling was indeed wrong in that it destroyed people’s lives. And it was at that point that I pulled into my destination. 

For the record, I didn’t throw stones.  I just pointed to the word of God and that in Romans 14:13 it clearly reads:

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

Whether or not you consider that it is “not an issue for you,” doesn’t change what it is. 

Gambling defined is “To play games of chance for money; bet. Or to take risky action in the hope of a desired result.” That would mean that those who do it are “gamblers.” It doesn’t say only those who lose. And somebody has to lose for someone to win. That’s not so with the stock market. Everyone “can” win. They likely don’t, but they could. 

Probably the preverbal straw that broke the camels back was when he added alcohol into the mix saying “drinking is not a sin, but there are those who are alcoholics, that shouldn’t drink.” But the fact of the matter is, how do you know who’s an addict? And if by your drinking (which this guy doesn’t) and you cause an alcoholic to fall, by drinking in their presence, who’s accountable? I’m pretty sure, you’re a stumbling block.  

Now, that being said, and off my heart, let me put this into perspective as a child of God in times like these. As I told my brother in Christ in my iTunes rating. “I have issues.” I’m not saying I’m perfect. But what I’m saying is if we’ve been given a platform for the Lord, He is going to hold us accountable for how we use it. And in these uncertain days, our time is way better spent witnessing for Christ rather than lobbying for the devil. 

I will continue to listen and watch this podcast. Because I’m not throwing away all the good that they’ve done on the 50 other shows I’ve listened to, because of one bad day. For the record, the other two on the pod cast who are his family, never defended him. They however, didn’t call him out very well. I said all that to get to the point of my bible journaling pic… Life is war. We have to be confident in our battle and we have to be bold in our stand! Don’t destroy your testimony by defending bad behavior. Just own it… and move on.  

Posted in Bible Journaling, Faith, Forgiveness, Life Inspiration, Prayer, Word of God

I’m optimistic, not stupid

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on I’m optimistic, not stupid

As I’ve previously stated, I’m a cockeyed optimist! But before anyone gets the notion that I’m unrealistic, I thought I’d squelch that thought with some good old fashioned realism. My friend Tracy Millers sings a song with the lyrics “I’m not a Jeanie in a Bottle.” And that is truthfully how some people treat God. They forget Him for 364 days and then on the tragedy of the 365th they want God to pull their butts out of the fire. I said, we’re gettin’ real here today. I’m not throwing stones. I too have been guilty of ignoring God’s warning and then when all heck breaks loose, I want Him to fix it. It’s the way of human nature. And sometimes He does, and sometimes He lets me feel the heat of the fire. 

Isaiah speaks a needful word to the children of Israel 700 – 651 B.C. (ish) in chapter 48. But not just for them, it’s a great word for the Christians of 2020.

So, you call yourself a Christian…

Isaiah 48:2-14 KJVS

[2] For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.

It’s my biggest pet peeve. Those who call themselves a Christian but could never be convicted of it for lack of evidence. And God is speaking to the children of Israel on the same matter. “So, you say your from my town, where’s the proof?”

It’s why, when things such as the Coronavirus comes into our lives, people are ill equipped to handle it. They say they have a relationship with God, but there’s no confidence of it when facing theirs and other people’s mortality. That’s when the rubber meets the road. Believe me when I say I’ve gotten the t-shirt. It fits on a little teddy bear 🧸 that says West Virginia University Hospital which I received during heart surgery so that I could hug it when I needed to cough following open heart surgery. I had been warned, “eat better, exercise, etc., etc.” Yes God, I’ll get to it. And I did not. And I paid the price. But praise God when I went through the fire, I had the confidence to make it through un-singed because I had a relationship with Him. Do you? In these troubling days are you confident that regardless of the outcome He’s bringing you out! Or can you feel the flames flickering at your heels?

So, you’re trusting in this world….

 [3] I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. [4] Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; [5] I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.

I see it every day. It makes me nauseous. If you’re reading this, you’re likely not one of them, else you’d not take the time to study God’s word. But they’re in the world and unfortunately their in our families. Those who still don’t see the need in turning to God and renewing their relationship with Him. Or discovering the need to have a relationship with Him.

God calls Israel a stiff neck, brow brassed nation. Hello. He’s callin’ em out! I guess that’s what I’m doing today. What are your trusting in to bring you through COVID19. And do you actually believe that you are untouchable?

[6] Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it ? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. [7] They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them. [8] Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. [9] For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. [10] Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

I read those verses and thought… that’s why we’re still here in the midst of this crisis. God’s not about to let man say “I brought you out.” He’s allowing us to be in this furnace of affliction to not only get our attention, but to let us know… again… Who is in control. He’s deferring His anger. 

So, you thought it was about you?

Ha! Not so. That’s where the arrogance of man gets us into trouble. It’s always about us, right? 

[11] For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it : for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another. [12] Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. [13] Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. [14] All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things ? The Lord hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

God tells Israel they’ll be restored. But it’s not that they didn’t have to go through some no good, very, very bad days. But when they came out of Egypt, and when they come out of the end days of this world, there will be no doubt WHO brought them out. And because of that history, it’s why I can say in the midst of this furnace, I’m believing in the miracle that God will bring us out of COVID19 in a miraculous way. Because He’s tired of this world too, but He still defers His anger at this present time. 

So yes, I’m optimistic! But I’m not foolish enough to think that there is not always repercussion for sin and arrogance. I’m praying for our nation, I’m praying and believing that I’ll be in church on Easter Sunday wearing my new dress with the rest of the church around me. Do I know it to be true. Nope. But I know it could be!!! Glorraaaay!

Posted in Bible Journaling, doodles, Life Inspiration, Word of God

The Bible According to Satan

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Bible According to Satan

It was an instagram post. It’s why I love that platform. Because without words, (tho technically this was a word) but through images we can stir the soul; remind the world… no remind me, that I am loved. Unconditionally, unequivocally, without hesitation or regret, loved. I don’t always feel that way. And given any time at all to think and I will pick my faults to death. But with a few markers, some happy thoughts and a little time in God’s word, I wrote myself happy. It was needful. 

When I catch the news or social media clips I hear the Bible according to Satan.

We expect you to suffer long, we are unkind, and we envy one another. We vaunt (praise) ourselves for our knowledge and we puff ourselves up. We behave unseemly, but we judge the behavior of others. We are provoked by good, but we think and encourage evil. We rejoice in iniquity, there is no truth in us. We help no one, we believe in no one, have no hope, offer no hope and  tolerate no one. We fail. 

But listen to the word of God!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

[4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; [6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; [7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. [8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

Children of God, love each other. Take care of each other. Pray for each other. Rejoice in God’s word and we believe in His hope! God is love, therefor Love never fails. That is my hope this morning! I hope that it is yours. Turn off the television and tune into the word of God and encourage yourself in the only known truth in this world we live in!

Posted in Christian Service, Church attendance, Church Unity, Evangelism, Fear, Life Inspiration, Praise, Word of God, worship

What’s Your Norm?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on What’s Your Norm?

Today begins a new experience for my beloved Victory Baptist Church Worshipers. A day where we meet online in stead of in person and my emotions about this have run the gauntlet. I usually love new adventures, but this one not so much. I love social media, but today, it feels cold and sterile. It disrupts the norm, which in truth, God’s really not about the “norm” is He? God likes to upset apple carts. 

Now let me preface todays blog by saying I don’t think God created COVID-19. That sounds more like the handiwork of Satan. He loves his triple “D” tactics, death, disease and despair. He loves it when people are panicked and I have no doubt that he loves the effect this has had on the church not being able to assemble themselves together as Hebrews 10:25 tells us to do.  So I’ve put a lot of thought into how our services are going to work today, and what will it be like. What should I wear? That was a big question! I know, ridiculous right? 

I’m not one who generally cares what anyone wears to church. And my warped sense of thinking is one that has me dressing to the 9’s on Sunday morning, but going in a more relaxed attire on Sunday Night and Wednesday. It’s a personal preference. I just don’t argue clothes. I think that is the least of the worlds problems. But for me it was a big deal this morning because, today is the new norm. And how I approach this service will be how the world sees it. Woah… that is a scary thought. 

So I went to the word to see what God thinks of worship services. 

The very first place worship is mentioned int he Bible is Genesis 22:5. And it’s a very fitting verse for today. I wanted to name this blog “Satan’s no good, very bad day.” Because it had to have been. The day that worship was instituted as a word, a way and a witness.

Genesis 22:5 KJV

And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

The Word Worship

Abraham left his men, and took his son and went out into the wilderness to worship. Hmmm. Just family. And not even all of them. Sarah was still at home. Abraham had been told to lay his son on the altar and sacrifice him to God. And in what is an unthinkable act, he was headed that direction. We of the church know that that is a symbolic act of what was to happen to God’s own son. Not Abraham’s son Isaac, for God provided a lamb! But my focus is on that time of worship. Following the realization that God had provided the Lamb, just as He did for us all through His Son Jesus Christ. What a reason to institute the word and the act of worship! What a service that must have been. I doubt he complained that it was only family. Because of that act we have victory over not only COVID19, but anything Satan puts in front of us. Including the fear. We have a worthy reason to praise God from our place today! 

The Way of Worship 

Oddly enough, there is no mention of what Abraham and Isaac wore. Only the act.

Genesis 22:10-12 KJV

[10] And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. [11] And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. [12] And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

My soul shuddered when I read those words. My eyes welled with tears. Thinking how far off we are from what true worship should be. It’s not who’s there, or where “there” is. It’s whether or not you have laid it all on the altar. That is the way of worship. Is every fiber of your being in it? Abraham’s literally was. He was about to slay his own son that he had prayed for and loved. So I have to ask myself this question today. What am I bringing to the service this morning? That is the way of worship.

Forget the fact there will only be a few of us in the building. Who knows who might be out there in cyber land and above all, God will be there! 

The Witness of Worship

That’s what today will be about. It’s our opportunity for the world to see that it’s not man we come to church for. It’s the Lord God Himself. He alone! That is the witness that we need to bring in our cyber services. Lord, You are Worthy.

Yes, it was no doubt a “No good very bad day” for Satan on that day in the wilderness. Because Abraham and his son instituted the act that Satan hates. The very thing that he desires and will never experience, because God alone is worthy.

So… whether you’re dressed to the 9’s or sitting on the couch in your pj’s don’t stress it. But as you listen to the word being preached, remember that day int he wilderness when one man was willing to lay it all on the altar, and that day on the cross when one Man did. 

Glory! Let’s worship together!!!!