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Depreciated Pastors

Written by talk2shari Published October 5, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

It’s Pastor Appreciation month, and if you have one you should indeed appreciate the fact. I guess it’s more relevant than ever this year as it is the first year since salvation that I’ve not had a Pastor. Those words really hit me hard this morning, because I’m a spoiled brat in the house of God. I don’t know why He chooses to bless us at Victory Baptist Church like He does, but in the absence of a Pastor on staff, God has sent not only one man, but multiple men who are qualified preachers in the site of God. So as a Pastor is sought I cannot say that I know what it’s like to be leaderless because I do not, nor has the Word of God been lack, we’re blessed. But a Pastor is not only a preacher and leader, (in the words of Matthew Henry) they are magistrates and ministers. Their role in the church is worthy of appreciation.

Jeremiah 3:15 says ~ And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

A Pastor after God’s Own Heart

Samuel said of David that the Lord had sought him because he was a man after His own heart,

1 Samuel 13:14

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

It is God’s heart desire to satisfy the body of Christ. To give each member what it stands in need of. Some need knowledge, some need understanding, and all need a captain. Inspired by God in Psalm 78:72 David wrote of himself as the leader of Israel “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

A Pastor’s role is not just preaching on Sunday, it’s very much like David’s shepherd days when there would be sheep who stayed nicely in the pen, those who wandered off and the occasional black sheep to be dealt with. There were mild mannered sheep, and bullies. There were ewe’s who didn’t want the shepherd to boss her baby, and there were rams who thought they knew more than the shepherd. The shepherd fed them all. There were bears and lions on the outside that the shepherd defended the flock from; sometimes, they didn’t even know.

To put that metaphor in layman’s terms, there are steadfast members of the church who desire to know God deeper, to them the Pastor feeds knowledge. There are those who stray in and outside the church, to those the Pastor offers guidance and understanding. He is magistrate to those who stir strife inside the church, and minister to those who have struggles in their lives. And on his off hours he’s fighting a literal and spiritual warfare with those on the outside of the church who would desire to rip apart the work he’s doing on the inside.

The world continually depreciates their value, and unfortunately many churches do the same. Please don’t tell me that your Pastor doesn’t need a little lovin’ this Sunday. Give honor where honor is due.

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Will you ask?

Written by talk2shari Published October 3, 2013October 3, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

Handhewn 1860’s Log Church in Gilmer County, West Virginia

I pass Job’s Temple everyday going to and from my office. Although I have no ties to it, it’s actually in the county my husband was raised in, I’m still drawn to it. I love that God has preserved this old place of worship and I have to wonder what the saints of God that labored to build it would think about the Country they’d just fought for. For six years it sat unfinished while the civil war raged around it and was completed in 1866. They had strong political views then too, although I doubt they were as self-promoting as the United States today. I try to imagine the first service following the war. No doubt some that worshipped there had lost family in the battle, death was a harsh reality. It was battle on their own soil; fear had been present daily. Peace was sweet.

Word traveled to America in the same era that upward of 10,000 Christians were massacred in Syria by Islamic forces. But on American soil, on at least three occasions, President Lincoln proclaimed public fast days when he urged Americans to go to their houses of worship, to confess their sins humbly to the Almighty, and to ask God’s blessing. There may have been some that gathered at the site of the incomplete Job’s Temple, who prayed and fasted as their leader had ask… my how far we’ve come. While on foreign soil Christians were martyred for their faith, on American soil Christians where memorialized. There was no CNN or nightly news that broadcast images only belated newsprint that would make it’s away around eventually.

But the people of Job’s Temple were likely more concerned about their own soil than that of another nation. They had their own issues to contend with. They could not even imagine a day that America wouldn’t be a Christian nation and Islamic attacks would be an issue. What a difference 150 years can make.

One of my favorite verses has been brought to mind multiple times, I even tried using another for this post and then finally with God’s gentle prodding and these words being recalled to my mind again and again, I knew I’d better listen.

Jeremiah 6:16

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Three directions from God: Stand, See and Ask.

I’m reminded this morning of those men and women who throughout the years have stood on the foundational old paths of Christian faith. There are many still standing, regardless of what media reports.

I have Job’s Temple, an historic land mark that reminds me of a time when our nation was led by Christian values in the church house and in the White House. It could happen again if we’d take President Lincoln’s advice and confess our sins humbly to Almighty God and ask Him to bless this nation again. The arrogance of our leadership is set on destruction and we set knowing what needs to be done and yet doing nothing. Even those of us who are still on the path are not walking, we’re just waiting. It’s not biblical.

Isaiah 40:31 says ^“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Wait is not to stand still, but to serve and to walk. Ever moving forward to the Kingdom of God.

We may or may never have the opportunity to go to Capitol Hill and speak our minds but we have a greater hill than that.

Psalm 121:1

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

ASK!!!

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If Your Life was a Project Proposal, Would God approve it?

Written by talk2shari Published October 1, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

Ephesians 5:21~ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Submission. It’s almost a dirty word in society today. You can drop any vile, profane word in a room full of men, women and children and nobody turns their head; but speak about submission and you’ve got a fight on your hands. There are two definitions for submission, the one (which causes the fight) is the “The action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person.” I love the dictionaries use of it in a sentence. “They were forced into submission.” Even the dictionary thinks it’s a bad thing. And then there is the second definition, the one I want to focus on today (and not because I fear the first, I believe in submission as a wife and a servant of God). The second is thus: the action of presenting a proposal, application or other document for consideration or judgment. That doesn’t sound too painful does it?

As a matter of fact, in my world it sounds exciting. Submitting an idea to someone for consideration leaves open the possibility for a new project or venture and that’s the stuff excitement is made of. What if each one of us went into the house of the Lord, knelt at the altar and submitted our ideas before the Lord. He may in all reality send you back to the drawing board, I’ve experienced that many times. But He may just say, “Let’s do it!”

That apostrophe “s” in the word “let’s” is you and Jesus. That’s where the first submission definition comes back into play. I know… tricky, tricky…. Right? You were excited right? New projects do that to people. Or at least me! But take it from the queen of trial and error, leaning much heavier on the error side; if you want success in your life submission is key. Whether we’re talking about family, career or the church, there’s an order, and without it there’s a battle.

Life’s a project.

If you submitted your life for approval what do you think would be the result? I know the answer in my own life. ~ REJECTED: You need to do a little more work on this and resubmit, Shari. Clearly some of your ideas have not been well thought out.” Mainly because I set myself up for failure by not having submitted myself to Him. God knows we have great ideas, He gave them to us as an assignment. But He didn’t give them to us to be changed and manipulated into our own and for our own glory. They were His and for HIS glory.

He gave us a family as a project for us to work on together, and submit ourselves to each other in love and mutual respect, understanding authority and accountability to God, and for His glory.

He gave us a career as a project for us to work on together, and submit ourselves to each other in love and mutual respect, understanding authority and accountability to God, and for His glory.

He gave us the body of Christ as a project for us to work on together, and submit ourselves to each other in love and mutual respect, understanding authority and accountability to God, and for His glory.

So… what’s your project idea? Have you submitted it to God for approval? Have you submitted to the authorities involved to get it accomplished? And most of all, will it glorify God?

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Frustrated Grace

Written by talk2shari Published September 29, 2013September 29, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

Can you frustrate grace? Apostle Paul said you could. I love his forthright writing. (That’s almost a tongue twister!) But he enforces grace as hard as he enforced the law. And yet as the modern day church, 2000 plus years this side of grace we are continually trying to rebuild works.

Galatians 2:18-21~ For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

A little background on these verses. Just prior to then Paul and Peter had had words. Paul felt compelled to line Peter out regarding his separating himself from the gentiles so as not to offend the Christian Jews who believed to be saved you still needed to follow the ceremonial laws. I fear we have a few laws of our own. The Bible says “Come out from among them” (II Corinthians 6:17) and too often I hear that verse being used as church separation rather than as the way it was intended as a sin separator. The entire verse reads “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

Before you stop reading for fear I’ve gone over to the all-inclusive side of a one world religion let me clarify that I’m not talking any other faith other than those who have our born of a virgin Savior, Jesus Christ, crucified for the redemption of fallen man, risen the third day and awaiting our return in glory LORD. Now that that’s settled let me continue. We’re still separating ourselves and that ought not to be. I believe in the Baptist doctrine for which I make no apologies, but I have friends of various other denominations. I take each one of my friends as individual saints of God and do not lump them into their denominations, as I hope they do the same for me. Because in truth there are some Baptists I’d rather not be lumped in with. I speak not on any specific denomination this morning because when Paul wrote this there was none, although you can see its beginning.

Why would we want to rebuild what was destroyed?

The ceremonial law. Six hundred and thirteen commandments? I can’t even keep ten. And although I really don’t believe we’re rebuilding Jewish law in the Christian faith I see ideas of man intermingled with grace that to the unsaved, they have to wonder “How much work is involved in Christianity?” The church (as a whole) spends so much time explaining why someone else is wrong that they forget to say why Jesus is right. Peter was so concerned with what the “religious” thought that he hurt the gentile believers, and it’s still true today. We’re still hurting each other. There’s enough false religions out there that we have no need or time to tear down the ministry of another church because we don’t believe as they believe.

It’s really not about what we do, it’s about how we live. What goes on in our churches is seldom seen by the lost because we don’t live the example outside the walls of the sanctuary.

We were created to worship God. When’s the last time you worshiped at work or school. (Don’t try to feed me separation, you can do it if you want to, even if it’s subtle.)

We were told to study the Word. In the words of an old friend, the Word of God is a spiritual “warsh” cloth, it’ll clean you inside and out. When’s the last time you’ve really bathed in the Word.

We’re called to be a witness; to tell others about Christ, not to tell others what others are doing wrong. Jesus said, “I am the way.” He did not say how you dress is the way, how you speak is the way, or how you sing is the way which in many ways we are using to define salvation.

This thought has been on my heart a lot lately. Care to weigh in?

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No Where to Hide

Written by talk2shari Published September 28, 2013October 14, 2019 Discussion Leave a Comment

During my earlier years of working in the courts I was always a little surprised when people would hire bail bondsmen. It was most often the case, providing the crime wasn’t too bad, that a defendant could post 10% of the bail and be released, or they could hire a bail bondsman who usually charged 5%. The difference was, the court gave you the entire 10% back when all was said and done; the bail bondsman used the 5% as profit and you kissed that money goodbye. Seems like a no brainer, but there are many wealthy bail bondsmen (or women) to prove that’s not the case. And a few television shows that thrive on people stupid enough to think it’s a good idea to skip out on court. Today, because of the times we live in, the 10% option isn’t always on the table, too many people would view that as a cheap escape.

But the bondsmen? They’re still in business because they have something the court doesn’t have. Ownership. Literal ownership of the defendant. Apex Bail Bonds in Danville offers fast, affordable professional, and confidential bail bond services. The court is highly limited today with all of our “rights” to do anything to a defendant. But a bail bondsmen has a little more leeway. In the 1990’s one of the court approved bondsmen went a fella’s bond who decided it was a good idea to jump bail and head to Texas. The bondman got wind of it and headed to Texas to find him and bring him back to West Virginia. When he located the defendant he handcuffed him to the roll bar on the back of his pickup truck and made him ride there all the way home, or so the story went. And I believe him because that bail bondsman was as much an idiot as the defendants he bonded out. He was just on the other side of the law.

God and bail bondsmen have a few things in common, but God trumps them for certain!

God, like bail bondsmen often only get calls when someone’s in trouble

They don’t want to talk to either when times are good. But let them get in trouble and the phones ringing off the hook. The difference is, you may or may not get an answer from the bondsman, but God is always on the line and he ALWAYS answers. He has three, yes, no, or wait. And all three are the right answer for you.

God, like the bail bondsmen, has a fee

The difference is, God waved His. As a matter of fact, He paid it for you with His own blood on the cross of Calvary. You owe Him nothing because He gave everything. If you’ve trusted in Him as your Savior; if you believe He died in your place, and rose again the third day to prove we too can have victory over death, Hell and the grave, and that He now awaits you in Heaven where He intercedes on your behalf then your debt is paid in full. Whatever it is that caused you to call on God, is under His blood.

God trumps the bail bondsmen. He not only owns you, He controls your fate

The AllPro Bail Bonds professional can deliver you back to the court in whatever manner he decides, but he cannot control the verdict. God does. Under the blood you are NOT GUILTY. If you’re not saved, it’s GUILTY.

There’s coming a day. And my heart tells me it’s soon that God’s going to hold court.

Revelation 6:15-17 ~ And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

There’s no place to hide. Please know that you know Jesus. If not, follow this link https://thejesuschick.com/the-road-to-salvation/

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That’s Not Reasonable!

Written by talk2shari Published September 26, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

We need to Reject Reasoning

That idea came to my mind and I immediately thought, “That’s not reasonable!” After all, reasonable is the least we can be right? And then it hit me, “When did God ever settle for the least?”

Mark 8

Jesus had had quite a day! He’d been challenged by the disciples and fed 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread and a few fishes. (Mark 8:1-9) He’d been challenged by the Pharisees for a sign (Mark 8:10-12) and gave them nothing; and He’d again been challenged by His disciples when they failed to remember who He was only hours after the miracle (Mark 8:13-21). They thought they’d let Christ down.

Christ, who was fully God and fully man. What kept the man side of Him from smacking people in the back of the head, I have no idea. When we’ve seen God do great things, why do we expect less. God didn’t settle for less, why should we? The world will tell you that failure is acceptable. Don’t worry about measuring up. Settle for what bread and fish you have. And so we do and tell our kids, it’s good enough. And God says, not so. Look what I can do with what you have, stop settling for less.

We reason His provision

We say we believe Matthew chapter 8, and yet we don’t allow God to move like that in our lives. We’ve never trusted our bread and fish to Him. I’m not a prosperity gospel believer. I don’t believe you speak wealth into your lives any more than you can speak yourself onto the moon. But I believe in provision. And sometimes God gives us the miracle and sometimes He gives us instructions. And I believe we should show our children that if we trust what we have to Him and obey His words, He’ll provide for us. They need to know Who it is that controls the world. And to the world, that’s not reasonable. The disciples had just seen Christ feed 4000 and then got into a boat and thought God was upset with them because “they” forgot the bread. They forgot He was their provider.

We reason His providence

Christ left that miracle feeding or 4000 and was faced head on by the religious of the day who sought a sign; (Matthew 8:11-12) to which He replied “There shall no sign be given unto this generation.” God doesn’t have to prove Himself to anyone. And yet, someone with a sincere heart, who willingly gives and does for the cause of Christ, to them God says in Malachi 3:10 ~ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Our families need to know that God doesn’t have to prove Himself to anyone, but He will to those who love Him.

We reason His precepts

Mathew 8:15-16 ~ And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

The disciples thought it was about them. Christ said “No, it’s about Me.” The desire of the religious leaders to have a sign was a rejection of His ministry. Jesus warned the disciples not to reason Him out, just trust Him. We need to understand that if the Bible says it, it’s truth. There’s no work involved in getting to Heaven, just trust and obedience. They go hand in hand. If we believe what the Word says, and we trust in Christ, we’ll obey. It’s not to say we won’t occasionally fail, we will. But it’s then that we understand the protection of God. He does not condemn His children; He helps them back up and puts them on the path again. That is the challenge that He sets before us to show the world Who is in control. Sometimes God puts our own world out of control so that we have only Him to lean on. It’s then that the world can see Him. It’s not when “we” can do it. It’s when there is absolutely no reason “that” should have worked. And God says, “that’s ME.”

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Are you without?

Written by talk2shari Published September 23, 2013September 23, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

Romans 5:6-11 ~ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Without Him we were Without Strength

There is a certain arrogance in all the earth pre-salvation, a deception from the depths of Hell that you don’t need God to complete your life, or to save you from Hell. It’s mostly present on the good days. It’s those days when they look in the bank and see money, when they look in the mirror and see beauty, when they look inwardly and see health. When all is well. And then it happens…just past the copious (abundance) carnality lies mortality and reality. Sadness or sorrow strike and suddenly you realize that all the money in the world can’t buy health, beauty or happiness. And in reality you are weak. And when you’ve realized that and the arrogance comes back… “I have to fight against this, else I’ll be devoured in grief;” only you’ve not realized it yet but you’re already in the lions mouth.

Without Him we were Without Goodness

I am always in awe of the American military force. They willingly put their lives on the line for a Nation that has allowed the hierarchy and political pundits to throw them to the wolves, who’d sooner they be devoured than defend “their” soil. Nor can I understand how over 2,000 years ago as Christ hung on the cross, crucified by the political and religious factions, yet still willing to die for us so that we could have the hope of eternity in Heaven. I know on most days my goodness is limited at best. And then I look at my children and grandbabies and think about eternal separation. And for a split second I get it. We’d do anything possible to keep from being separated. And when Christ hung on that cross, He did it so that a Holy God could be with an unholy people.

Without Him we were Without Hope

Until you’ve discovered the hope of accepting what Christ did for you, you’ll never get the joy of having hope. The joy in realizing that the fear of death is gone, that He control’s the universe and that come what may you have a home waiting for you in Glory that will allow you to live in a state of perfection with a perfect family, forever. We don’t have to understand His ways, we only have to remember His willingness to die for us. If He was willing to do that, He’s not going to waste our lives by allowing us to go through something without reason, we have a Hope! His Name is Jesus.

Jesus was the final atonement allowing us at-ONE-ment. One in Him. He is our completion.

I’m so thankful this morning for the Hope that dwells within my heart and I am not without. When I’m discouraged, or worried about the circumstances in life, how awesome it to know that Jesus is in control.

How about you? Are you weak, worried, wrong?…God’s got you covered.

Don’t know for sure?

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Elephants and Idiots

Written by talk2shari Published September 22, 2013September 22, 2013 Discussion 2 Comments

Today is National Elephant Day. A day set aside to honor the mammoth creation of God. These gentle giants have been a favorite of children and adults for years. From Dumbo to Babar they’ve made children’s stories and cartoons come to life. One of my favorite audio books was “Juggling Elephants” a story of a man’s experience with the circus and learning to become the ringmaster of his life. I’ve spent much of my life juggling elephants, which is seldom productive. Which is why I often resort to audio books, because in my multi-tasking way it allows me to do two things at once, usually drive. But this morning my reference to the elephants and idiots, is more about the Elephant in the room, which is a favorite idiom of mine referring to something as plain as the trunk on an elephants face, and yet ignored. Welcome to America. The land of idioms and idiots.

It is by God’s immutable grace that America still exists. Our nation as a whole is ran in absolute ignorance as they spend billions of dollars on wars (not our own) and on political factions (which unfortunately are our own) and the American public sits by and chooses to ignore it as if it will magically be all better someday. We pay people for their inept running of our nations and treat them like rock stars when they come into our community and hold no one in Washington accountable for the actions, be they democrat or republican. Why?

Revelation 18:4-5 ~ And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

It’s Sunday morning. My skirt and blouse are hung on the door waiting to be donned and my hair and makeup waiting to be strategically placed to make look like a princess and my heart is on that place that I call home, Heaven. And I hear out of Heaven this morning as I write, “Your nation needs to come out from among them,” and I don’t know how to make them understand, other than to use this very small platform as it is and tell my friends, it has to start somewhere. We can continue to ignore it, and wait for Jesus to return or we can lift our petitions to Heaven, and tell God we’re ready to take America back to the foundation of its roots and then head out the door to church.

Church? Really. I hear it being said. What can the church do? Take a lesson from the elephants. The size and strength of healthy adult elephants leavens tem less susceptible to a predating lion. They’re more apt to be harmed by a human. Their calves are vulnerable to the lion, but the larger cows heard the calves into the center of the herd for protection. Can you see the application that can be made to the church today? A healthy church is much less susceptible to the predator Satan, they’re more apt to be harmed by the people with them, especially a new baby Christian. We need to join together, and make sure our leadership is going in the direction we want. We need to protect the young Christian, and children in our congregations from what the world says is “normal.” We need to stand together as a Christian nation.

I’m not a “let’s all hold hands and get along Christian.” There are too many false religions that are taking people to Hell for me to link hands with everyone and the Bible clearly says to “Come out from among them.” 2 Corinthians 6:17. Revelation 18:4 said it again. But I believe there’s a big remnant that could be called up this morning to make a difference.

For some reason we look at our general congregation size and view that as the church. But look at the statistics.

ATTENDANCE	# OF CHURCHES	WEEKLY WORSHIPERS	PERCENT
7-99	177,000	9 million	59%
100-499	105,000	25 million	35%
500-999	12,000	9 million	4%
1,000-1,999	6,000	8 million	2%
2,000-9,999	1,170	4 million	.4%
10,000-plus	40	.7 million	.01%
TOTALS	approx. 300,000	approx. 56 million	100%

Facts from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.

Fifty-six million people in churches across America (and yes I understand that they are not all biblically correct) but even so, 56 million and we allow the American leadership to tell us that we cannot make a difference. Hello? Does anyone else see that as ludicrous besides me?

I fully believe that America’s sins have reached Heaven. I believe God is going to get fed up with us and our lackluster attitude towards serious faith. But I believe we can make a difference. I pray you’ll head to your church this morning and think about the idiom and call your congregation to come out from among the idiots. We never belonged there.

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POW/MIA’s in the Family of God

Written by talk2shari Published September 20, 2013September 20, 2013 Discussion 2 Comments

Today is National POW/MIA Day; a day set aside to honor the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. I cannot imagine the horrific pain that families goes through when it’s discovered that their loved one is unaccounted for in a battle zone and they are left without closure as their battle rages on long after the war is over. We need to pray for those families today. I have to wonder if God doesn’t feel the same way about those who are POW and MIA in the church.

The POW

If you don’t believe that the church is a battlefield then you’ve either not been in church or you’re in a dead one. Either way you need to get moving. A prisoner of war has been captured by the enemy in circumstances far beyond their control and held against their will. They’d rather be anywhere than where they are. Not to make light of the real POW’s but I’ve seen many sitting in the pews. They’re trapped in bad marriages, miserable jobs or other poor decisions and they don’t see any way out. Satan has them in darkness and a state of despair, and in truth, “out” is not usually the plan. God usually chooses to take you “through”. They’re not weak, they’re worn; the weak would have crumbled under the pressure. They’re not pitiful, they’re purposed. God has a plan for them and that’s why Satan attacked. In their heart they know there’s a light at the end of that dark tunnel but for right now, it’s nothing but black.

A prisoner of war on many occasions, literally and figuratively was King David. No one would call him weak, he killed a giant while an entire army cowered behind him. But mingled in with all his victories were several vexations. Some brought on by his own sin and at other times because he was doing what was right. We can’t always assume that when we’re in a hard place in our lives it’s because we’ve messed up. Sometimes (as was the case with Job) God is going to use others as a vehicle to move us into a new place. That new place may be the same place with a different vantage point. But God’s got a purpose.

3 steps from Victory.

Psalm 6:1-10

O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Pray – David was in such a state of vexation that his bones ached. Have you ever been there? I know I sure have. It’s that darkest hour when you feel like you’ve gone as far as you can go. The enemy has beat you down time and time again, but you know that’s it’s not over and you begin to…
Lobby for the cause – God knows the end, He also knows your heart but sometimes I think He wants us to prove to ourselves how much it’s worth fighting for. We have to get to the point that we’re sick of listening to ourselves groan and looking at our surroundings and start making plans to get out.
Know that God has heard – Once we’ve prayed and lobbied for our cause, we need to give the enemy their eviction notice and start living again.

Then we need to get our praise on!

What if you’re one of the MIA’s?

What if you’ve known God but you’ve walked out on Him? You’ve left the church and you’re not even sure where to go. You have to go back the way you came. Grace is amazing. If you don’t know God, then you may not understand grace at all. Grace is simply this… God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. He paid your sin debt and He has the gift of eternal life and a 24/7 phone card to Glory waiting for you, but you have to accept it, he won’t force it on you.

I hope if you’re in a dark hour, you’ll call on God. And call on me too, I’d be happy to pray for you. God bless!

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3 Things You Need to Know About Hell

Written by talk2shari Published September 19, 2013 Discussion Leave a Comment

Trending on Twitter this morning #Hell. It’s a little down the list and doesn’t have the hash tag (#), meaning that the definition and reasons for its trending are not all the same, nor are they all godly. As a matter of fact, few of them are. I found it ironic and a noteworthy moment in my day that #Hell was trending.

/Trend/ a general direction in which something is developing or changing. Synonym tendency, movement, drift, swing, shift… you get the picture.

/Hell/ noun

a place regarded in various religions as a spiritual realm of evil and suffering, often traditionally depicted as a place of perpetual fire beneath the earth where the wicked are punished after death. or

exclamation

used to express annoyance or surprise or for emphasis.

Psalm 86:11-13 ~ Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

It’s not just a trend on Twitter, its a trend in life.

It’s a noun

It’s a real and literal place. It may be considered an exclamation of annoyance in the world, but be not deceived, it’s a place. I’ve never doubted it but I’ve ignored it, and from the time I was old enough to hear the word I had a fear of it because someone taught me. But its influence seems to have dulled, it’s way down on the list of many people’s concern; they walk away from the truth else they’d be scared too. Nobody wants to think about it being a real place, because then they have to come to terms with a real God. Hello? He’s real too, and so is Heaven!

It’s natural

It’s a great tool of Satan to numb you to the fear of Hell. It’s natural not to want to tell your children about it because it’s a scary place. That’s why we don’t tell them about stranger danger, traffic and poisons, right? Of course we tell them about those things, they’re real. See point one, so is Hell. And refusal to talk about it and think about it is Satan’s way of keeping you heading towards it and eternal separation from those you’re trying to protect.

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

It’s nearer than you think

In Luke Chapter 12 Jesus tells the parable of a certain rich man whose ground brought forth plentifully. And he boasted in himself saying that he had so much he’d just tear that down and build greater. (Paraphrased my me) but God’s response was this…

Luke 12:20

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

No one is guaranteed another breath, regardless of age, health or wealth. And yet Satan has lulled millions into putting it off another day. I praise God that He put me in a place to hear about Jesus. You’re here today because He wanted you to hear too. If you don’t know for certain where you’d be if you breathed your last breath, I beg of you to make ignore the truth no longer. You tell your children to stay away from poison because you love them. God’s no different. He’s given you the warning. Take heed.

How to know for sure you’re going to be in Heaven, and how to tell your family so you will not suffer eternal separation…

https://thejesuschick.com/the-road-to-salvation/