Category: Youth

Posted in Bible Journaling, Eternity, Evangelism, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Political, Youth

The Day Religion played Politics

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Day Religion played Politics

Last night was our Wednesday Night Bible Study at Victory Baptist Church and I dashed in the door at the last minute. I had come home from work earlier and sat down “for a minute” in the recliner before church. That minute somehow turned into an hour and I was almost late after a much needed nap from staying up with the election results. Well, I guess results isn’t a good word. 

My heart was a little broken. I felt like our country had betrayed our President and his job well done wasn’t appreciated. But my lesson for the night was on lying. And how not to believe a lie. I feel such an obligation to help my teens with life. I love listening to their little adult minds share their daily struggles and taking those angsts and making them into a lesson. Sometimes I’m the teacher, sometimes I’m the student. 

Last night they shared with me how they felt as they watched America determine their future without regard. Such maturity! 

We spoke about living in a society where the truth is not regarded of high importance. How it takes a toll on us personally and even Christians pay little attention to the ethical behavior of people. It’s just a part of life. But that is far from God’s reaction!

The first recorded lie in the Bible was in Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Imagine that day for God. He watched as the beings He had created betrayed Him. Satan, who at that time was called Lucifer, was created to be one of the most beautiful of God’s angelic host. That beauty had caused him to elevate himself (in his own mind) to desiring the role of God. And the desire turned in to the act of betrayal and the fall of man. I can’t imagine the level of broken-hearted ness the Lord experienced that day. I realize He’s all knowing, it didn’t catch Him off guard, but that would not have stopped the God of such compassion from feeling the slap across His face that Satan had yielded and Adam and Eve had fallen for. And so it began, the wickedness of men that over time certainly hasn’t gotten any better. 

But there came a day, Glory to God! When redemption of the world occurred in another act of betrayal, forgiveness and restitution for every sin, past, present and future. In the most dramatic turn of events man has ever known. I wasn’t there, I really don’t have too much of a concept on the power of the situation. My mind cannot comprehend the level of intensity of that day. But I’m grateful none the less, and I’m grateful for this message. I needed it. Maybe you do too in light of our current days of uncertainty. 

As I went in to election night, I had a sense of calm. I knew that God had it in control, and that regardless of the outcome, I was okay. That’s a nice religious statement isn’t it? It was true, but as the night progressed my sense of calm waned. Until I finally went to bed in frustration. I couldn’t shake the feeling of deception across America. The “magic votes” that just “appeared” in other States and the arrogance of the leftist who loved to mock President Trumps reactions to their wickedness. 

I was unsettled. But still believing God’s providence over the situation. I have to. My trust in Him is the only thing that keeps me sane. 

Hebrews 6:17-20 KJV

[17] Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: [18] That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 

The world will lie. God will not. He is willing more abundantly; meaning He wants to heap upon us, his children, the counsel through the Spirit and He promises it. It’s one thing that makes us far more advantaged in this world with regards to what’s been happening. The confusion heaped upon us because of the circumstances of politics and the virus, the arguments and differences of opinions are what Satan is using to discourage us from listening to the Holy Spirit. He knows if he can cause enough distractions our focus likely will cause us to miss God’s guidance. And we’ll most certainly not be focused on His immutability, unchanging God! Our world may change, but our God will not.

Two things never change:

It is impossible for God to lie the strong consolation (comfort) we have in that fact. Being able to trust someone without question brings great comfort! We not only have comfort, we have hope!!!!

[19] Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; [20] Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Trust, comfort and hope are built in a relationship, the closer we get to God, the greater will understand the working of the Spirit. 

The mention of “the veil” in verse 19 is what brought me to the thought of “the day Religion played Politics.” Imagine the arrogance and glee Satan got having thought he had defeated God. All of the conniving behind the scenes and betrayal by using the religious crowd, the political crowd and the gullibility of Judas to set that plan in action. But what none of them knew was that the very plan they had set into action was the very plan God had orchestrated from the beginning of time to redeem man and restore our relationship with Himself. Proven by the renting of the veil from top to bottom and meaning that there was nothing that stood between the Lord and His people any longer. 

And so it was as I sat trying to conceal my brokenness to the teens last night that I suddenly realized they had once again taught me by allowing God to work through their lesson and remind me that God will take care of the arrogance and pride in this world once more. And regardless of the outcome, we are one day closer to the return of Christ when we will meet Hope face to face. There will be no more hurt feelings by us or God and all will be right with the world. There will be no elections because we are the elect of God, the ones He has chosen to be His children, yes! He elected us and we ran unopposed because nobody is a match for the will and the Word of God!

That arrogant tribe of today will not likely read my blog, but that’s okay. I encouraged myself, and I pray I encouraged you!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Evangelism, Family, Fear, Leadership, Youth

How wicked do you think this world is?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on How wicked do you think this world is?

From the days my girls were born, I enjoyed every stage of their life. I didn’t always do it right… more often than not, utterly wrong. But parenthood is trial and error. 

Where I mostly got it wrong was the fact that God was not in my life until they were 8 and 12. By that time I had sewn quite a few mistakes into the material that they would use in raising their own children. Sad fact, but one I have to take responsibility for. They’re good gals. They too are navigating the parental waters, but their sea is so much rougher than mine. I’m proud of them. They have no idea how proud. But I’m scared. Not in the sense that the world is frightened of everything right now, but from the standpoint that my children and grandchildren are facing the greatest evil I’ve ever witnessed. And I’ve seen some pretty crappy stuff in my 58 years.

I would like to remove my grandkids out of the equation of harms way, but that’s not humanly possible. Even if I put them in a padded room, they will be within reach of the spiritual wickedness of this world. Be not deceived… you may be the greatest, most protective and sheltering parent on earth, but your children are in danger. And the reality of it is, most parents are not the most protective and sheltering parents, because we want our children to experience life. We mainly try to keep them away from wicked things. 

But what happens when the wicked come in when we’re not with them?

I know I’m a like a broken record lately. But I feel compelled to tell the truths I’ve been told so that I can forewarn my part part of the world.

Did you know that 27 states in the United States have adopted a curriculum for sex education to be taught in all grades from kindergarten through senior high, that is so graphic in nature (even for the 5 year olds) if we showed it to children outside of the school we would be arrested for exposing children to pornography, but its considered “education when the teacher does it.” I doubt many of you know. Get ready to be shocked! The images on the curriculum are blurred, else my site would be marked as porn. 

Here’s the link to some samples:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N56NpE-XQ2-vcVz7BdKPMDwnFzSwTFmr/view?fbclid=IwAR0CEaJWx5KaqDGjltrORLL6tCmCUi6MP1hPCkB1WDLeMlNDEhGVp1jDrik

Now that the crazies have got the worlds mind on the corona virus, racism, etc, they’ve now set their sights on our kids. And if you’re thinking I’m a conspiracy theorists, you are so wrong. I have always been naively simple when it comes to trusting people. But the world we’re living in has made me very tired of having a Susie sunshine attitude, and I had to give myself a dose of reality to protect my family. The liberal crazies are now targeting our kids directly in the classroom with “Comprehensive Sexuality Education.” They’re teaching kids — as early as kindergarten — masturbation, anal sex, transgenderism, and abortion. It makes me nauseous that those words are in my blog. I want to share Jesus, not that. But 27 States have already adopted it! Just in case you didn’t look at the curriculum, I need you to understand the perverseness of this world and the direction they’re headed, which is to our children’s schools. 

Ephesians 6:10-12 KJV

[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

When God had Paul pen those words to the Ephesians, I wonder how much insight Paul had toward the year 2020.

The Spiritual wickedness in high places refers to the spiritual realm of Satan and his demonic forces. But it could just as well refer to American hierarchy who is cutting the throat of their own nation. 

Satan has launched this attack against the children of the world and most people refuse to listen, thinking rather that folks like me are the crazies and we’re fabricating fear when I’m truly trying to warn my kids and everyone else’s to put that armor on your children and yourself, and don’t blindly let the world “educate” your children. And never assume it won’t come to us in the little communities of America. 

My grandchildren’s schools have been on again, off again because of the exposure to the virus in our community. I seem to go from one extreme to the other in worry. One minute I’m worrying because they won’t get to play like children, and then the next minute, I’m worrying that they won’t even get to be children. 

Praise God! That although this world is filled with bad news, we have the good news every day to guide us and to give us hope that Jesus is coming soon to take us out of here. We are complete in Him, Jesus Christ. He, Who through the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom to know what we need to know. I believe that He sent me to tell you this information. And I believe He’s telling the church to do their best to stop it now before it’s too late. 

Colossians 2:10

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Posted in Evangelism, Forgiveness, Grace, Leadership, Life Inspiration, testimony, Youth

The Danger of Walking on the Wild Side

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Danger of Walking on the Wild Side

I’ve recently watched a few Christian friends, and by watching I don’t mean “watching” in the sense of waiting for them to fall or judging their walk. I watch because they’re drawing attention to themselves and the fact that they are drawn to the wild side. To my knowledge, they’re not actively participating in a bad lifestyle, but they’re fascination of it brings me to the realization that I too, and likely every child of God, can be drawn into a desire to walk on the wild side. And there is a danger.

Romans 11:24-26

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, untill the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungoliness from Jacob.

Apostle Paul is speaking to the Jews about the wild side of the Gentiles. They didn’t appreciate it. They’d always steered clear of the Gentiles; and now, this Gentile loving Jew was telling them that they should embrace them and call them brothers and sisters. What? That rebel nation is now God’s people too. Yes! Hallelujah. Because we were made new. We were not a heathen branch grafted into a healthy tree that would have weakened it. But rather we were a newly formed branch, not formed by nature which grows wild, but rather formed by the Creator with purpose. I just wrote myself happy!

The Jews were represented by the olive tree, a valuable, fruit bearing tree. But their focus wasn’t on the fruit, it was on their status as the original tree. Apostle Paul was trying to reintroduce them to the Fruit Bearer. Christ. The long awaited Messiah that they had rejected because they didn’t understand the mystery of the work that God had done. They didn’t want to understand. That would be key.

And sometimes we don’t want to understand the price God paid to turn us from that wild branch, into a Holy Nation. You see, there’s a side of me that can look back on the wild side of life and think “that was fun.” But then I remember what life was really like outside the True Branch. And nothing on the backside of where I am now, seems appealing. I don’t want to mar the beautiful Branch that I have been allowed to become a part of.

That’s what scares me about the friends of mine that find joy in reliving the wild side memories and walk dangerously close to marring the branch.

Glorifying Sin Mars the Branch

When someone speaks of the past life’s sin in a manner that makes it sound fun and exciting, it can cause the unsaved to think that we’re missing out on something by being saved. That’s a mark on the branch, because it is the furthest from the truth.

I lived unsaved 34 years. I had plenty of experiences in life that the world deems as fun. I also know the miserable state I was in at the time. That somehow gets forgotten by those glorifying those days.

But now… Glory to God I’m having more fun, and more excitement than I ever had pre-salvation. Hands down, it is not an exaggeration!

Glamorizing Sin Mocks the Branch

That thought makes me nauseous. But for me it’s what happens when I hear someone laughing and joking about sin. Whether it’s their sin from a previous life, or someone else living in sin. There’s nothing funny about it.

What someone views as a funny story about a drunk, reminds me of the lives I’ve seen ruined, absolutely destroyed because of alcohol. When a Christian speaks of alcohol as “not sinful,” when drank in moderation, I wonder who they’re trying to convince.

While few people joke about drugs, the legalization of marijuana (visit https://www.buyweed.au/buy-weed-canberra/ to buy them legally) reminds me of a night at 15 years of age, I almost died because someone laced mine with PCP.  You may say one has nothing to do with the other. I disagree. Because one is a gateway drug to the other. Just as beer is the gateway to a stronger fix for an alcoholic. And one time just may be the end to a life that wasn’t saved. It’s a game that is too dangerous to play, and certainly doesn’t need glamorized by God’s people.

Glossing over Sin Moves the Branch

Making light of any sin, or looking at the wild side of life as a fond memory causes an instability in the life of the believer not just the unsaved. I’ve watched it play out too many times.

I heard a preacher mock the “Baptist” about not being drinkers for months and months, and then I watched him fall to alcoholism. He did eventually win the victory over it, and I praise God for that, but he paid a high price.  

I watched as a woman made light of her indiscretions and almost destroyed her marriage.

I was broken hearted when a preacher friend fell to a sexual sin. I also remember his last sermon, the title of it was “Finishing Well.” He did not. Infidelity counseling was knocking at his door and it helped save him.

I didn’t get my 20 plus year badge of the Christian faith without being broken hearted, hurt, and yes, I too have fallen because I’ve walked too close to the wild side. It’s too dangerous to make light of and Satan loves it every time a Christian “fondly” remembers a day of sin. Don’t give him one drop of glory.

Remember what the price for that sin was. We are not heathen branches grafted into a healthy tree. We were made new! Let us act like it.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, doodles, Evangelism, Life Inspiration, Music, Peace, Purpose, Youth

Ministry Isn’t An Afterthought

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Ministry Isn’t An Afterthought

I seldom ever just draw for the sake of drawing. It’s likely with a blog or a request in mind that I doodle the “Jesus Chick” cartoon that I use so often. Today, I finished some work for the Bible College, began to process my thoughts about a blog topic and determine what might follow that as far as getting something accomplished for the Kingdom and then my mind drifted. To a place of just wonderment. A siesta of sorts. I know… I just came back from a siesta. Four nights of revival and two at the beach and the sad part is, I needed that siesta to remind myself that I need to take more siestas.

Most people who look at my life look at me as an “unemployed woman” who occasionally serves the Lord (which isn’t a real job according to most), sings a little on the side (which is technically goofing off) and is readily available to forget about the laundry and dishes (true story) and go off on jaunts across the world with her bestie and play with her grandbabies with the remainder of her spare time. I just wore myself out talking about my time off!

I thought, perhaps today, I’d share a little about the glamorous days of “The Jesus Chick.” If you’re in the ministry, you can no doubt identify in many ways. If you’re not, please use this as a catalyst to pray for those of us who “don’t have a real job.”

On Monday’s I pack my guitar and song books into the car and travel to our local nursing home. I sing and minister in word to about 10-15 long term care residents. I try to sing songs of their childhood faith so that they can chime in. What a blessing that is to see patients who can’t remember their name half the time, recall every word of “How Great Thou Art!” Sitting across from me is usually a very cranky faced woman. She breaks my heart. She knows religion but she doesn’t know Jesus. She’s bitter at the world and my music soothes her soul temporarily, but just like Saul, who hired David to soothe his, when the music stops… so does the peace. She doesn’t know peace. I carry that home in my guitar case. It gets heavy sometimes.

On Monday nights a couple of friends and I meet at the church for a Bible journaling class where we share our art, but more importantly we share our heart. We’re burdened for our people. We want our churches to grow, we want our friends and family to experience the fire of Jesus! During the day I prepare handouts for the girls and conversation starters. Everyone needs conversations of the heart. It helps us grow in our own faith when we sow seeds into the lives of others. Good seed. That’s important to know. Stay away from those who sow weeds in your garden.

Wednesday’s I have a teen ministry where I try to sow good seed and pull the weeds of the world from the lives of children. Good grief there’s a lot of weeds to pull. If it’s been a while since you’ve sat down with teens to have an in depth conversation about their life you’d be shocked at what they face and be awed that they can come out of it unscathed. Only in Jesus.

If you follow this blog you know I have weeks of abundant writing and weeks of less. It depends on how much life takes its toll on my time. I sing at every opportunity. Often times for secular events hoping that my words in song and my testimony in between will spark a conversation with someone in the audience.

Spare time is often helping other ministries with promotion and publication art. And then when the weekend rolls around it’s game on for Jesus! I teach Sunday School, sing solo and sing in the choir, organize events and take care of our own church publications and such.

Does it sound like I’m complaining or bringing attention to my works for Christ? I surely hope not. That’s not my intent. My intent is to allow you to see that ministry may appear that it’s an afterthought; especially for those who work “real” jobs. But carrying the burden for souls in a guitar case, a hymnal, a cyber church and the occasional back pocket or purse is a heavy load. There’s no time off from your mind. I speak not only of myself but of ministers all over the world. Serving God is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my entire life, I’m sure they’d say the same.

But sometimes you just want to fly away… or splat a mud puddle in cute boots.

“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then I would fly away, and be at rest.” PSALM 55:6

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This blog is in it’s 8th year. Hosted on godaddy.com for the past five. Expenses incurred for the operation of this site are without complaint and with gratitude for the opportunity. If the Lord would impress you to give to help cover some recent technology issues, I’d be grateful. I’ve not been in the world’s workforce for 3 years and for that I glorify God. It’s given me the opportunity to not only write and work on music, but minister to nursing home patients, volunteer in the Christian School teaching art and help other ministries with marketing. All of which require technology, communication, time and gasoline. Again it’s without complainT… but just in case you have a desire to help, or have “extra money” 🙂 Know that I would be eternally grateful.

Here’s the Link

 

Posted in Bible Journaling, Eternity, Evangelism, Family, Heaven, Life Inspiration, Youth

Forever Young!

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Forever Young!

You don’t have to get honest and point out any of the flaws in my being. Believe me, the mirror attests to the fact that I’m no longer 18, and should the makeup I apply conceal my age, my skeletal and muscular being cry out in agony most days as I attempt to keep up with the younger me within. This was a conversation that my friend Gloria had on one of our recent adventures in the big city. I remember the street we were on, the plaza we were passing and everything about that day just like it was yesterday. But in actuality it was day before yesterday, just like the time I was 18, or so it feels. How is it that our body ages so aggressively and yet our mind continues in the state of youth? At least until you lose it. And perhaps even then we are forever in a state of youth.

I love the scripture promise in Ephesians 5:27 when it says “That He (Christ) might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

I’m going way, WAY, out of context of this scripture, but it’s truth none the less. I sooooooooo look forward to the day that I am presented before Christ, without age spots, or wrinkles or any blemish on this ever so blemished body that I now reside in. Now, of course, if you’re a theologian your right eye is probably twitching because you know that that scripture refers to the blemished, sin filled bodies, we now reside in and the presentation of them in that day when Jesus calls us home and we will receive a glorified body.

But I’m here to tell you, my inward Shari is unblemished and forever young and eternal now. And so is yours if you’re saved. If you’re unsaved, you too have an eternal nature, but it’s not going to receive a new and glorified body. It will be cast into the eternal fire of damnation in Hell and away from everything good that you love. If that’s you, go to my plan of salvation page and fix that matter before God right now. Then you too will know the feeling of being forever young.

It was a stark reality for me the other day when I realized my first born child was the same age now as I was when I got saved. Wait a minute, I was a grown up woman! “How did we get here so doggone fast” I asked myself? I don’t feel 55. Except when I get out of bed and then I feel 85.

So Gloria and I both glorified God that He has given us the understanding of eternity and that this world is a step in the process of aging out to forever young. When we get that glorified body, we  will no longer experience the degradation of the one we now reside in. Even Christians forget that we are eternal beings. We want to hold on to this world and everything in it when we should be working to take everything that matters with us. And that’s the people we love. They too are eternal and need to know Christ as their Savior.

Gloria and I are going to a “bigger city,” than the usual big city this week. We’re heading south for a little R&R for the psyche and the soul as we follow the Marietta Bible College Choir on their Spring tour down south. I hope to get renewed and refreshed and feel the youth in my bones as well as my soul for a day or two. Follow our adventure on the Jesus Chick page on Facebook. I hope to share some live video feeds of our time. We’d love you to come along!

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This blog is in it’s 8th year. Hosted on godaddy.com for the past five. Expenses incurred for the operation of this site are without complaint and with gratitude for the opportunity. If the Lord would impress you to give to help cover some recent technology issues, I’d be grateful. I’ve not been in the world’s workforce for 3 years and for that I glorify God. It’s given me the opportunity to not only write and work on music, but minister to nursing home patients, volunteer in the Christian School teaching art and help other ministries with marketing. All of which require technology, communication, time and gasoline. Again it’s without complainT… but just in case you have a desire to help, or have “extra money” 🙂 Know that I would be eternally grateful.

Here’s the Link

Posted in Bible Journaling, Fear, Youth

Liquid Lies

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Liquid Lies

Four Reasons People Fall into Substance Abuse

According the Center for Disease Control statistics of 2015, West Virginia had the highest per capita drug-related death rate in the U.S. In 2015, the state saw 41.5 deaths per 100,000 people attributed to drug use. Researchers from the CDC found that the increase in drug-related deaths in West Virginia from 2014 to 2015 was considered statistically significant, with an increase of 16.9 percent. While the rest of the country wrestles with an alarming rate of illicit drug use, West Virginia is truly on the front lines of this battle.

On Friday evening our church attended an event called “The Judgement House” at the 14th Avenue Gospel Mission in Parkersburg, West Virginia. We drove an hour, broke bread at a local pizza establishment and then made our way to the very well performed Judgement House drama on the subject of overdose.  The drama storyline was that of a girl addicted to drugs following the murder of her mother, her own addiction, the attempted intervention of family, and her life failures. All of which eventually leads to the death of her brother, her overdose and the eternal ramifications of their life decisions. It was a soul stirring event because for me. It was also one that caused me to examine myself, God’s grace and consider the fate of people in our community.

There are countless reasons for people falling into addiction and sin, but I believe each of them can fall under four subcategories.

Four Reasons I’ve seen people turn to drugs and alcohol and not to Jesus

  1. Reason One: Familiarity
    1. Constant advertisements, store displays and discussion of the good times of sin. Even the bible says in Hebrews 11:25 that there is “joy in sin for a season.” If your of any age at all you know this. However, there’s also the morning after and the results of any decisions made. It may be life altering for you or for someone else. You may not see the destruction of it for years down the line when your decision, and acceptance of it as natural behavior, leads to the destruction in your own child’s life.
    2. 1 Peter 2:11– Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
    3. 1 John 2:16– For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
    4. 1 Corinthians 15:33– Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Questions:

Do you see the commercial effects of familiarity in your life? Store, television, internet?

Do your friends make poor decisions and how much are you drawn into their decision making?

How do you think they affect you?

Do they cause you to accept the behavior as “normal” and not see it for the sin that it is?

  1. Reason Two: Escape Reality
    1. In the storyline the girl could forget her mother’s death and her father’s grief when she took the drugs. Although in reality it just mask the pain, it was still there.
    2. Escaping reality can also be placing the blame on everyone else. The girl in our story blamed her father not being there for her at her mother’s death. Yet she had her brother. It’s easy to look at the people who let us down and discourage us as the reason we make poor decisions, but none of that is a valid excuse with God.
    3. This doesn’t have to be speaking of the extreme life of addiction. It can also be speaking of our behavior when someone lets us down. Perhaps we’re rude, disrespectful, or we won’t do what we know is right to do because the world deserves it or we’re “having a bad day.” That too will be an accountable moment before God if in our decision making we affected the lives of others.
    4. Satan’s goal is to convince that we are alone. And then he attacks in our weakest hour, with our own weakness.
    5. 1 Peter 5:8– Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
    6. Proverbs 20:1– Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Questions:

If you examine your life, are you placing blame on someone else and excusing bad behavior?

  1. Reason Three: Attention Seeking
    1. There are people who will look for any reason to get all eyes on them. Even to the point of self-destruction. They love when people feel sorry for them or perhaps they’ve bought Satan’s lie that the drugs and alcohol make them a more enjoyable, braver character.
    2. It’s easy to fall into an attention seeking trap. We all want to be loved and sometimes that’s at our expense and sometimes that’s at the expense of others. Our words can be just as harmful.
    3. James 3:10 ~ Outof the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
    4. By placing attention on ourselves, we make others feel less and for certain God is not being glorified.
    5. John 5:44 ~ How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only

Questions:

Does our decisions honor God?

Do we excuse sin for the sake of comedy? (cussing, off color jokes, conversations about topics Christians shouldn’t have?)

  1. Reason Four: Rebellion
    1. A reason as old as time. It began in the garden when Eve seen the fruit and Satan convinced her it was good and would make her as wise as God, and then Adam ate it so his wife wouldn’t be alone.
    2. Not doing what we know to be right is rebellion.
    3. It’s turning away from God and toward the sin. God looks upon rebellion pretty harshly.
    4. 1 Samuel 15:23 ~ For rebellionis as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
    5. We tend to make rebellion glamorous.
    6. 1 Corinthians 10:13– There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
    7. Galatians 5:16– [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Questions:

Is there an area of rebellion in your life?

The acronym
FEAR

It often boils down to F.E.A.R.

  1. We fear not fitting in to the public norm. Rather than living the godly standard.
  2. We fear that reality is worse than our imagination. It’s actually reverse.
  3. We fear we’ll be overlooked. Rather than desiring God be seen.
  4. We fear the world more than we fear God.

This blog was my Sunday morning teen lesson following the Judgement House, which is why it’s in outline format. Feel free to use this in your own ministry!

Posted in Family, Life Inspiration, Youth

I couldn’t un-see it

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on I couldn’t un-see it

chick see

I watched a video on social media this morning of a three young teen age girls who had been intentionally duped by their parents and a make believe online predator. Each girl accepted a friend request from who they thought was a teen boy and agreed to a meeting. One left her home to meet him at a nearby park, another opened the door without so much as looking to see who was there and the most heart stopping was the third who got into a van with the twenty something man and ask where his brother was! The parents were there watching and shocked in horror that their children had fallen so easy to prey of what could have been a sex offender.

I unfortunately am not shocked. We’ve inundated our youth with garbage and filth and then we’re shocked that they skip childhood and go directly to “hitching up” online. Young girls were used in the making of the PSA for youth safety but young boys are just as much at risk. And for us “country” folk who still live in neighborhoods where everybody knows your name…the predators know it too. We’re not in Kansas anymore Dorothy.

Through the exposure of social media, television etc., young children, practically babies, are seeing women and men in lewd acts and because it’s right there on their living room, family or bedroom television, it’s now the norm. It’s as if they’re missing out on life if they’re not dating by age 12. My stomach rolled over when I wrote that.

Each one of those parents had had the “talk” with their children about the dangers of predators and online chats. It didn’t matter. The kids were reacting to what their minds had probably seen a thousand times on everything from cartoons to theater movies. They were well versed in “what should happen next.”

Social media is relatively new… this tool of Satan has been here a long time!

The oldest book in the Bible is the book of Job. And even Job knew he was at risk by being unable to un-see certain things.

Job 31:1-12 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity. If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out. If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door; Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

Let me put that in layman’s terms as best I can to relate to today’s blog.

Job made a promise to God that he wouldn’t so much as look at another woman. He knew that it would be the very thing that would draw him away from God and end in destruction. He knew God was watching everything that was going on in his life, every step that he took was guided by his eyes. Just think about that statement, and how true it is…what we see we want. It’s human nature. What has your child seen, and do you want them to have it at the age of 12 or 3 or 8? Job knew that if he walked in the pathway of iniquity it would also take its toll on his family. He would lose his children and his wife. Can you not see that play out in America today with everything our homes are exposed to? I sure can. Job knew that judgment would come to him for the sins of his home.

And so will it ours. I’m not throwing stones at you without several landing in my own garden.

Another trending social media post yesterday, and yes I watched it, was this oversize lady, and I use that term loosely, apparently drunk on the beach who couldn’t stand up from the edge of water. Each time she attempted the wave crashed in and knocked her back down and as the tide went out her body came out. She rolled around on the sand as her fella attempted to pull up her parts and pieces and the crowd looked on in hysterics, not one offering to help… although I’m sure their fear was being drug down with her. One gal commented, “I can’t un-see this!” Well, like the idiot that I am, I can’t un-see it either! I was drawn in by the sheer antics of it.

Be careful little eyes what you see… for the Father up above is looking down on you in love, oh be careful little eyes what you see.

Please be careful out there today. Don’t roll every video that trends on your site and turn off the garbage in your house whether those who dwell there are babies or big people. None of us need to see it.

 

 

 

 

 

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

What You Can Do Today for Our Youth

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on What You Can Do Today for Our Youth

chick school

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

Luke 21:38

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

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

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

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

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

  • Pray they are hedged in with safety
  • They are shielded from wickedness
  • They are a light in that dark world
  • They are brave in their witness
  • They are bold in their testimony
  • They are support for one another
  • They study (Jesus, English, Math, etc.)
Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, 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 Easter, Life Inspiration, Praise, Youth

Something Happened at the Church House!

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Something Happened at the Church House!

chick church house

It is just a little past Palm Sunday, Monday as a matter of fact, but my mind is still on Sunday. Yesterday evening our choir performed the Cantata, “Jesus Saves.” I wept through much of it, tried to sing because I thought surely my big mouth would be missed, maybe not… but I was so caught up in the moment. My littlest gradbaby played Jesus with Mary and Joseph. Mary, who had forever wanted to play that role, but was never chosen as a child, yet as a young woman, God fulfilled her desire. I inwardly snickered at Joseph who was worried about OSHA regulations in the carpenter shop and refused to wear sandals but insisted on wearing his work boots. And then Jesus… played by a man our church had come to love as interim Pastor and continues to play an encouraging role even now. He came down the aisle to shouts of praises and Hosanna and in a twist of irony, his real lie daughter who played Mary had just left the stage. He was portraying Jesus, but more importantly he knew Jesus. There was a sense of worship on the platform, he broke the bread and shared the cup, pondered that day in Jesus’ life. He knelt and wept… and my heart was broken. How did that crowd go from shouts of praise to shouts of crucify Him?

Matthew 21:15-16

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

The children were crying in the temple. They were praising God and having a shoutin’ good time. Kids can do that because they have no concern for appearances, they live in the absolute moment. I have a feeling it was young and old alike who were living in that moment as Jesus made His way down the streets of Jerusalem to the shouts of “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” John 12:13

But something happened at the church house.

Jesus had made it to the church house; and what did He find? Greedy religious people making money and unconcerned about anyone but self.  He threw them out of the temple and justifiably so. But inside the temple there were still a few of them left. The children were in the temple praising God and celebrating the King and it upset the stiff necked religious leaders. So Jesus reminded them of the Old Testament words in Psalm 8:2 –  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

One sure fire way to tick off religious people is to catch them up in their own game. They were so wrapped up in the law and spouting off scripture that they stopped feeling it. They were now the enemy of the cross and were about to be stilled. Christ’s presence had Spiritually moved the crowd. They knew He was different but when it came to the church, they knew He changed things and religious people hate change. So they decided they’d get rid of the problem and changed the cry from Hosanna! To Crucify! By silencing the child, the one who has no concern for appearance, only truth; but not for long. The church was silenced for a few days…

But then something happened at the church house!

It changed no locations. It was no longer in a building but it dwelled within the people and it could not be silenced.

The tears that flowed down my face during last night’s Cantata was that inward child; the one in the temple crying “Hosanna, Blessed is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Don’t lose sight of that inner child this week…