Tag: belief

Posted in Christian, Eternity, Evangelism, Life Inspiration, Life's Failures, salvation

Doubt Will Come — So Will Eternity

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Doubt Will Come — So Will Eternity

A few days ago I stood in the home of three young women who sat by the bedside of their mother, waiting for God to call her home. Each of the girls said that they had made professions of faith. That was as far as I could take that conversation. It was between them and God whether or not everyone was prepared for the next step in their Momma’s Journey. The return home. The Momma was just a few years older than myself. She was a Momma and a Grandmomma. A sister, friend, daughter and niece. All of the things that all of us are, but most importantly she was a child of God. 

As I tried my best to encourage the girls, I couldn’t help but think about that journey we’re all taking home. This life truly is like a vapor. It seems like yesterday that I was running in the hills of Duck Creek with cousins and siblings, scooping up turtles without a care in the world. But then suddenly without warning, there’s no running, I do well to walk some days! I’m not scooping up turtles, I’m sharing the scoop on a news site that I run on the internet. I share the stories of people lives, some happy and some sad, but all are important in the scope of eternity. 

I’ve made it no secret that I have struggled spiritually for the past few years. But now, as I embark on a new church journey, it seems that ministry opportunities are on the horizon and I’m heading back up the mountain in the spiritual sense. I told my new Pastor, when he expressed his concern for me overloading myself, that a busy Shari is a happy Shari. It also creates a focus on God and His desires and not what the world would have my attention to falter on.

While the experience of watching a friend pass away is not an enjoyable one, it is one of purpose. It draws the mind to eternity and the need for a knowing the truth. 

This morning a video popped up on my Facebook feed of a preacher who was preaching that one’s salvation could be thrown away. He referred to Hebrews 6:1-6 as evidence of that.

Hebrews 6:1-6 KJV

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [3] And this will we do, if God permit. [4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

In the previous chapter, Paul was writing to some who ought to have been teachers, but who needed still to be taught the first principles of the gospel; they were such babes in grace that they needed the milk of the Word, —the very simplest elements of gospel truth, — and not the strong meat of solid doctrine. I fear that is the case in many churches across America because preachers are no longer preaching the simplest of truths. But the writer of Hebrews had no problem preaching truth. He tells them that it’s time they get off of the diet of babies and onto the food of men. 

Hebrews 6:1a. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;— The very basics of the word of God and move on to the deeper understanding. It’s as if he was saying, you’ve passed elementary school, now let’s move higher up the ladder of understanding until we get to the university level. And by the way, that level is achieved through the Holy Spirit. Not some seminary or college that teaches you to be a stick in the mud. 

Hebrews 6:1b — Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Let us make sure that the foundation of understanding is laid, but let’s not do it again and again. I know people who have been “saved” over and over again, believing that they had lost their salvation. God knows the wretched heart of man can not live a perfect life, but we can acknowledge the sin, repent and move on. Believing that sin was covered by the blood of Christ.  

Hebrews 6:2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. This is what we’ve been taught and believe, there should be no disputation about them, but move on  to the work of Christ. This is why churches fail to see souls saved. They’re stay on the fundamentals of faith, and the work of God goes undone.

Hebrews 6:3. And this will we do, if God permit. We must keep on going forward; there is no such thing in the Christian life as standing still, although plenty have sat.

The next three verses are what the social media post focused on. And the words can certainly be twisted to look like the writer is speaking of eternal security. If they’re taken out of context and no longer apart of the previous conversation above. 

Hebrews 6:4-6 — For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

The writer doesn’t say “if they shall fall.” We’re all going to fall; for me it’s multiple times a day that I fail God. But the writer says “fall away.” Meaning, it’s impossible for the power of salvation to cease to have power over the child of God. Once you believe, you cannot un-believe. If so, you never truly believed to start with.  We all have time of a lack of faith. That is not failing to believe, that is humanity. Even John the Baptist asked Christ “Are You the One?”

Without the grace of God, none of us could ever over come the evil of this world. If the blood of Christ does not purge us from sin, what more can be done? But because of grace, we are saved. Forever and ever Amen. 

For further reference look at the verses that offer us the security of being a believer. 

John 10:28-29 KJV — And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

John 3:3 — Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 10:29 — My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Romans 5:l — Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 4:30 — And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Those are just a few of the many verses that officer us security in the belief that salvation is forever. 

It’s a funny thing about faith. I can be having an off day, where everything is going wrong and I hear “You’re not saved Shari, if you were your life wouldn’t be such a mess.” But then I take myself back to February 18th, 1996, the year I was saved, and show myself the real mess. And then I take myself to May 26th, 2018 when I faced open heart surgery with the sweetest peace imaginable and then I tell myself to shut up. 

Doubt will come. And so will eternity.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Church attendance, Eternity, Evangelism, Faith, Life Inspiration

What Angels Desire to Know

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on What Angels Desire to Know

My Minnesota friend, Darlene Quiring, posted a meme this morning with a list of random foods that asked the question, “How adventurous are you? One point for every food you have tried. To which I responded zero, but I was thinking the question asked if I liked those foods, but even still I had only ever tried 3 of the 39. I am indeed a finicky eater. With my waistline, one wouldn’t think that. But I don’t do very many types of meat. My main problem is, I think too much about what I’m eating. Praise God there were no critters harmed in the making of cheesecake! 

Which got me to thinking about the many things that angels haven’t tried. Like Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches. A staple in my life. I’m not sure if they’re even curious about their diet being lack of certain fine cuisine, but I know they’re are curious over one thing, because the scripture tells me they are in 1 Peter 1:12. It is there the word reveals that the angels desire to look into the gospel. God’s heavenly creation, that can travel between earth and Heaven, know God face to face, as well as kill thousands when called upon to do so, are curious about something we humans take for granted and many decline. 

Born Again Babies

1 Peter 1:2-12 KJVS

[2] Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

I understand the foreign concept of salvation and words like born again to folks who haven’t been raised in church. But tell me how many “foreign concepts” those same people will accept without question that border if not cross the line of crazy! They’ll believe that there was an explosion one day in the cosmos that created earth as we know it and that somehow intelligent life just came to be, that’s the craziest of  all…but of course the world is full of crazy. So if you happen to be reading this and “born again” is a foreign concept to you, let me explain what it means in my life.

As an unsaved person I went to church as a dutiful child should. I grew into an adult without understanding the concept of salvation. I was a rebellious child on the inside. I tried to behave on the outside so that I might please my people. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in God, I just hadn’t ever really understood how salvation came to be because I’d never experienced it myself and had unfortunately witnessed too many professing Christians who failed to back up their belief with actions. Outside of church people did not talk about the Bible. Except some of my family,  my dad loved talking bible! Oh how I wish I had appreciated his wisdom when I could have. 

Oh glory I also understand the Apostle James who said in Chapter 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” I understand, because when I got saved I had a desire to work!

But back to those angels. I Understand their salvation confusion. Not from the fact that God is real, they know He is, they know Him face to face. They also know how Holy He is. But what I’m sure they have massive confusion on is how God could love us? And love us enough to die for us. We’re a bunch of reckless, ungrateful sinners who fail Him daily and yet He still chooses to send His Son to die in our place. Wait… if you’re unsaved that’s also foreign to you… how could someone die in our place? 

Just as most people understand the concept of sin and punishment, there had to be an ultimate payment for this reckless, ungrateful bunch of people. Knowing that nothing could appease a God who is perfect in every way, He allowed His own Son to become the ultimate sacrifice. It may not make sense, but when He reveals Himself and His truth to you through our acceptance of this as truth, suddenly, what seems foreign to the world, makes perfect sense to us. 

But not to those angels, who have also seen our inheritance. Yes! As children of God, we’re in for a big reward at the end of this life. Continuing on in 1 Peter 1:

[4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: [8] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: [9] Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Because we believe and have faith that the word of God that we’ve received is truth, God has an amazing inheritance laid in store for us in Heaven. We’ll have plenty of problems and heartache on this earth, but nothing will take away what God has planned for those that love Him and look forward to His coming. 

Another foreign concept for the unsaved, and unfortunately one misunderstood by many who are saved.  Misunderstood often times because Christians do not read the scripture for themselves, but rely on the preacher to tell them what they need to know. And a sad indictment against the ministry because they don’t preach it because it’s a heavy subject to study. But I am a believer that God will reveal the truth of end times bit by bit as we need and that He is currently opening up many Christians to understanding parts of Revelation not understood before. No, I’m not saying I’m a scholar on the subject, nothing even close! But I understand more now than I did. My Pastor has opened my eyes to much of it, Joe Lancaster has been teaching and opening up the word from Revelation in his Sunday school class at Victory Baptist Church. And I can read and understand for myself because the Holy Spirit is within me. 

Ahhhh, something else that may be foreign to the unsaved. How the Holy Spirit works. Even the prophets of old wondered how that would come to pass. 1 Peter 1:

[10] Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: [11] Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. [12] Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

And now we’re back to the angels. The Prophets knew that God was going to send salvation through the Messiah. They did not know the specifics, they only knew that God said it was so, and how it happened was up to Him. And so following His Son’s sacrifice, God left a piece of Himself within each believer so we’d have the guidance, understanding and assurance that everything in His book, the Bible, would come to pass and we’d be a part of it.

So I have what Peter described as “yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” It is that joy that gives me a desire to share the salvation of Christ, which like peanut butter and jelly, the angels have not experienced. But I’m hoping when I get to my house that God has created for me, that some of the angels will come over for dinner and I’ll get to share some fine cuisine with them. I’m kidding. I’ll have cheesecake too. 

Bless you! And if you have questions about your salvation, about the Bible or Jesus. I’m not a scholar, but I’d love to help where I can. Just send me a message though Facebook or through this website. Love ya! I really mean it!

Posted in Bible Journaling, joy, Life Inspiration

4 reason we don’t have joy

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Why is it that absolute joy always seems to be just out of reach? There is often in my life temporal joy, but the pure, unencumbered joy is always looming in the distance. I can see it… but I never quite reach it.

As I continued my reading in the book of 2nd Kings this morning I happened upon the history of King Jehu and perhaps the answer to that question.

2 Kings 10

28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. 29 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. 30 And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. 31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. 32 In those days the Lord began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;

Israel came up short. They missed out on the full blessing of God because Jehu, although he got rid of Baal worship, continued on with some prettier sins.

It’s the little things in life that prevent the big joy. The things on the lower shelves of life that are readily available and a distraction from our walk with Christ, but we never remove them. I’ll start with the easiest thing to prevent us from having pure joy:

The Law

The Jews created 613 laws out of the 10 commandments. It was proven in the first generation of God’s people that we couldn’t keep one rule, (not to eat of the tree of life) and to add 612 more to the equation gave many more reasons to feel like a failure. So the wonderful Savior we have devised a plan to replace the law with grace. But we (or I) keep law on the shelf as a reminder that I’m a failure. I discard grace pretty often by reminding myself of past failures, as if the blood of Jesus Christ wasn’t enough. That thought just made my stomach roll over.

The Attitude

“Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you handle it!”

What a great truth. I don’t’ know who said it but they were spot on. How is that Paul said from prison in Philippians 1:4 “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.” He could pray for those who were “living the life” with joy, even though he was in the worst of circumstances and he could do so because he had the right attitude. Much of my joyless days are created by the attitude that began them with.

The Appetite

Oh… I could preach to myself on this one.  Both spiritually and physically. Many, many, many of my issues arise because of my appetite. Those things that I desire that are not necessarily wrong, but are wrong for me. That delightfully pink cupcake on my counter is oh so tasty, but the waistline it creates is less than lovely, and yet I let my appetite rule. Let me put this one on for size… rather than reading the word of God when I get up in the morning, I press the home button on my iPhone to read the gospel according to social media, and then wonder why I’m not feeling all spiritual inside. It’s because I just digested somebody else’s heartache, anger, disgust, or perhaps it was a cute puppy pic, but it still took my mind away from the pure joy of the word of God.

The Belief

You’ll note that lie is italicized in the center. I more often than not believe the lie of Satan that joy is unobtainable. I’ll never be good enough. (the law) I’ll never be in the 10%, (the attitude), I need what I see (the appetite) I’m an what Satan says I am (the belief)

Although I went from the bottom shelf up, our problem in life is from the top down. BAAL. Jehu got rid of the big sin, but he kept the little sins in his life. And caused Israel to fall short. Wow, is there some truth in that for my life. What about you?

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Posted in Eternity, Life Inspiration, salvation

Do You Believe?

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chick believe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in Life Inspiration

To Sob, Sing or Believe?

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question & meAfter about the 4th or perhaps 40th bad news post on Facebook this morning, my heart was overwhelmed. I was on the verge of either breaking out in tears or song, I knew I had to do something, so rather than explain myself to the rest of the office, I opted to do a quick blog. The page was full of God’s children from birth to retirement fighting battles. They were hurting, their family’s hearts were broken and worry consumed many of their minds and the why’s started coming upon me.

God why does that innocent little child have to suffer like that?

Why does that mommy have to go through that?

Why is it that that man of God, who wants to do nothing more than serve you, has to suffer so?

Why does that man who served our country have to suffer through the rejection of government accountability?

Good grief and o my goodness, that list of why’s went on and on!!

So I turned to the Word of God for reasoning as He is the only One who I know I can trust for answers and I found myself at a familiar passage of scripture:

John 14:1

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

I have to believe God’s got this heartache in His hand and under control… “But it would be way better if I had a reason Lord,” I continued to question God. So I read on until I came to verse 14 of chapter 14 to which it read “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

Woop… stop the record. “Anything?” But God, that’s not how it works. I’ve seen things not go as we ask, why is that in there? In my soul I heard… Go back and read it as I intended it.

Verses 12-13 prior to that read:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Twice it is said that He will do whatever we ask, but not once did it say “as we’d ask it.”

So that child that I asked God to heal, He will. That veteran that I ask God to assist, He will. That Preacher that needs healing and provision, He will provide for. But there’s something attached to that healing and provision, and that is “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” It’s the Son’s decision on how my request is answered, but it is for certain that God will get glory, and it will be well. That’s hard for us to understand when we’re witnessing the pain in this moment of time that way out there in eternity is reason to rejoice. I don’t have the answers… I want the problem fixed, and now would be a good time. But God’s word says I may have to wait, and in so waiting, glory!

If God fixed everything the way we want Him to, how much would we miss out on? And how much worse might things be.

I’ll trust God.

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Wait for iiiiiitttttt…. Bring on the rain!

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James 5:17-20 ~ Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

I love passionate Christian people! They not only stir my soul but things happen when you’re around them. Sometimes it happens quickly and other times you have to patiently wait for the rain. For three years and six months Elijah prayed for the rain. You can almost hear him saying “Wait for iiiiittttt….” No doubt there were people who laughed him to scorn, his friends may have stuck with him for a while but some of them likely walked away shaking their heads saying “Po ol Elijah, he just don’t get it.” Yeah, I know they didn’t speak country in Israel but I can still see it. More than that I see Elijah watching them walk away and being a little broken hearted that they didn’t have his faith. They served the same God, they’d seen and heard of His miracles, they knew God wasn’t on the clock, why couldn’t they believe? But that was okay, because Elijah had enough faith for all of them.

Passion isn’t for the faint of heart, but it is for anyone who will believe. James said Elijah was a man of “like passions.” He was just like us, he put his under-britches on the same way we do. I’ve been waiting for God to move in an area of my life and I know there are people out there who are saying “Po ol Shari, she just don’t get it.” Well I’m waiting on the rain! Have I been tempted to move to another mountain with a moister climate? Plenty of times!But the truth of the matter is, if I moved there I know in my heart that that land would be dry and barren too. God said “Wait” and I so I am…

In I Kings 18 we find Elijah still waiting in faith, God had rained down fire on the altar on Mt. Carmel and Elijah knew that the sky was about to open up. In verse 41 “Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.”  He hadn’t seen the first drop, but he could hear it! He had been faithful, He had kept his eye on the sky believing it was on its way. He was passionate about his purpose in life, to show others the power of his God.

So here we passionate people are. Is there something you in faith have been waiting for God to do?

Elijah told them to go seven times and check for the rain, Let me know if I can pray for you and at Wait for iiiiittttt…7 tonight I’ll check the posts and lift your request to the Lord.