Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Life Inspiration

Zero Tolerance Christianity

Written by talk2shari Published February 7, 2016February 7, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

While I will agree there have been behaviors by self-proclaimed Christians that should not be tolerated, I would not tout them as Christian behaviors. Therein lies the difference and a misconception of the world that all Christians are alike. But in all honesty I don’t think the world cares that we’re not alike, it serves their purpose to collectively lump Christians into a group of extremists trying to take over society. And yet we ignore a real group of extremists who have set their minds to violently take over the world and call them a religion of peace… seriously? “Oh but there’s just a few ‘extremist’ in the bunch that give the religion a bad name,” they say, and then those same “theys” will complain because a Christian organization wrote scripture on a cup and gave away hot chocolate on a college campus. Is this a Sunday morning rant? I sure hope not. It’s not my intent to rant, it’s my intent to give you something to ponder about your own toleration.

We have only ourselves to blame for the intolerance in the world, because we (collectively, as they like to judge us) have been tolerate of their intolerance of us. They say we cannot pray in school, and we say “okay.” They say gay marriage is acceptable in the sight of God, and we say “okay.” They say killing babies is not killing because the baby has yet to be born, but a drunk hits a pregnant woman and kills the child and is charged with murder, and we say that that hypocritical thinking is “okay.” A Muslim religious ritual can be conducted in a public school and it’s “okay,” but we dare not bring a Bible into a classroom. We have a President who has 10 more months to finish his anti-God agenda and the liberal’s hiss like a snake at conservatives who dare object.

Is it any wonder we’ve become tolerate of our own sin? We’ve certainly accepted everyone else’s. God is viewed by socialistic society as an angry God of judgement because He doesn’t tolerate what destroys society. Sin destroys us from within. America is proof of it. They have not had to fire the first shot on our soil to have us cowering to their way of belief. That same notion that has been accepted nationally now knocks on the door of every home and most open the door and offer it cake and coffee, followed by cake and ice cream for the kids because we want them to grow up being tolerate of intolerance.

All the while there are sects in the Church who are removing the blood from the gospel because it seems harsh and intolerant and the God of the New Testament doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings because he loves everyone and accepts them as they are, even Muslim. Yeah… that’s how far we’ve come.

For the record, Christians are not all the same. There’s still a few of us left who believe the inspired Word of God as it was written and without apology. The Old and New Testaments explain that God does not change. Old Testament scripture says in Malachi 3:6

For I am the Lord, I change not

New Testament Scripture says in Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

It’s not God who wavers on His word, it’s man. And before we, who have not changed, get on our high horse and shout to the top of our lungs, “preach that!” Because we’ve stood firm on our foundation… have we also stood firm on our foundation personally?

What words crossed our lips (or minds) this week?
What attitude did we share with friends, coworkers and family?
Did we have God’s stamp of approval on every decision?
Did we turn away from ungodly images or thoughts?
Did we love others as ourselves?
Did we tell someone about Jesus?

At what point does God tolerate sin? On our minimal sins or the world’s maximum sin?

Neither. God has no tolerance for tolerance.

Will we sin, yes, we’re human, 1 John 1:8 says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

But the difference in Christians should be that it’s never tolerated nor accepted. If every Christian in America would get back to that basic belief-ism and stop allowing the double standards that liberalism has placed our country in II Chronicles 7:14 would come to pass. I’m not ready to give up on America…

Search yourself and ask God to shine the light on darkness.
Never accept sin as an acceptable standard.
Pray that Christian Americans will stand up for God’s word.
Never stop talking about Jesus.
Pray with purpose

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Posted in Church attendance, Life Inspiration

Are You Prepared for the Storm?

Written by talk2shari Published January 22, 2016November 30, 2022 Discussion Leave a Comment

Friday, January 22, 2016 and I’m contentedly sitting in my house preparing for the first big winter storm of the season here. I’ve got my lanterns ready and my strategy is just to stay put. I made a run yesterday to get my hair done (hey a gal’s got a look good) and did pick up a gallon of milk while I was out. Walmart was busy but not crazy while I was there. I watched as shopper after shopper strolled by with their buggies piled high as if this storm were going to last an eternity. My first thought was… it’s three days people. We’ll make it… But I don’t know their circumstances, perhaps they may not see sunshine until Valentine’s day. Who am I to judge? But it did make me think.

People are so concerned about temporal storms. And yes, they’re bad. I don’t want to make light of them. But where is the cognitive skills when it comes to eternity. They’ve ignored the warnings on that one for a long time. Eternity comes into view at the funeral of a loved one but fades from most minds as they exit the funeral parlor. Many funerals have become “life celebrations” and preparing burials with custom stonework but with no gospel at all because it’s “too hard on the family.” Why I’m stuck on the serious note today, I don’t know… but the storm preparation yesterday really made it as heavy on my mind as the forecasted snow will be on the roof tops. And I pray that someone reading this will take my message to heart as they’re hold up in the house this weekend; and spend that time preparing for a storm of a more serious matter.

Luke 8:23-25

But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

That question “Where is your faith?” breaks my heart for so many who don’t understand the concept of faith. Their faith is believing that they believe, not knowing what they believe. Wow, that’s either a pretty deep thought, or I’ve just confused myself. But it’s true! Ask them about their faith and they’re fine… but ask them to define it and the conversation usually takes a detour. The disciples knew their friend Jesus was in the boat, but they didn’t know God was. They were pretty sure He could do something, but they weren’t sure what. So when He spoke to the storm and the winds and water obeyed him they were shocked!

Before they left the shore if they’d have been ask about their faith it would have been fine, but when the storm hit…where was there faith then? I want to ask my friends and family who say they’re “fine” and yet there’s no proof in the puddin’, the same question. Frustration mounts as I see storms ahead of them and I know they’re not prepared. When I do bring the subject up it’s as if I’ve slapped them in the face. How dare I question their salvation? How dare I not?

Okay, so you say you’re fine…

Then why isn’t God in control of your storm? We’ll all have storms, that’s life. But there is a drastic difference in boat ride for someone who knows what they believe, and for those who just believe that they believe but aren’t really sure what that means.

You know Jesus? Yay!!!! If you do. I’m not going to take that away from you and say that because you don’t give me evidence of it you don’t know Him…. But…. That lack of evidence means your faith is in need of rescuing. And not for my sake (although I’ll love it) but for your own. When your child gets on your last nerve and you’re about to jump overboard, Jesus can calm that storm like that (did you hear my finger snap). When you’re up to your eyeballs in debt and a bill collector just took your eye glasses and you can’t see any hope before you, Jesus thrives on giving His people hope. When the news is bad and the prognosis is worse, Jesus can shush the voices of fear. You may be setting in sunny weather, but when the storm hits you need to be prepared.

Preparing for a storm is making sure that your child knows Jesus so that the Holy Spirit can speak to their little heart and help you help them. Get your faith in order as a family. Preparing for a financial storm would have worked better if we’d never get financially strapped to start with, but it happens. Knowing Christ won’t erase poor decisions, but He will guide you every step of the way back out and calm many storms that can take you under without Him involved. Get your faith in order. Bad news may have had nothing to do with any decision you made, but resting in Christ will take a load off your already worn out state of mind. He is so faithful!

Saying you know Him isn’t enough to get you through the storm. You need to know you know Him. Where is your faith? Are you in need of rescue?

Get out your Bible… read the instruction manual.

Go to Church… There’s safety in numbers. Well, maybe not today…

Get the lines of communication open… talk to God.

I love you… God loves you more.

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Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration

What are you doing with the big “A”?

Written by talk2shari Published January 8, 2016January 8, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

Every time I read, hear or think on the anointing of God, my mind goes back to Preacher Walt. A larger than life black evangelist who came to our church for a few years and added a flair to our worship that had not been there previously. How could it have been? We’re a predominately white, redneck, rural West Virginia community. I say that with love and the kindest of intent without shame; I do indeed love where I live and I love the people who live in our community, but we needed Walt to move in and shake us up a little bit. And it did shake a few… they opted for a less loud environment. If you’d come in the doors of Victory Baptist Church on Sunday morning and inspect the crowds fashion sense you’d find everything from Levi and Wrangler, Macy’s and Vans, to straight off the rack at the Dollar General and Goodwill. We have all the bases covered for your comfort level, but if you want a church that makes it about fashion… we’re not your church. We make it about God. But back to Walt. Walt may have given “Mr. T” his first starter kit for jewelry. He loved bling. He also liked fine suits and shoes and everything matched everything and everything was colorful! And when he stood before our congregation to preach he would often put his fingers in the position of the capital letter “A” and speak of the anointing of God, and the privileges of a child of God and by the time he was through you were pretty sure that you alone were the favored child of God and there was no other. Walt preached Jesus, he preached salvation true and free, he did not preach prosperity gospel; he preached truth. And the truth of the matter is a child of God is anointed for purpose and while purpose is not without problems it is with promise. Whew! That’ll preach! will it not? Walt would have liked it!

So my question for us to ponder today is “What are we doing with the big “A”? If you’re saved you have it. God’s placed you in a position with purpose, He’s anointed you and given you the promise of finishing the work that He has started in you. Philippians 1:6 says clearly – Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: – God’s got a plan, but are you workin’ it?

Isaiah 45 tells the story of Cyrus, God’s anointed leader who He literally opened gates that should have been closed.

¹Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

As I understand it the gates of the cities and palaces wherever he came were opened to receive him as conqueror including the gates of Babylon which were “left open one night” for the army of Cyrus to take over the city. Cyrus had to battle, but his ways were made straight in that the obstructions in his path were removed.

I’m not saying that our battles will be without problems. We all know that’s not how life works. But isn’t it great to know that as a child of God, He has already gone before us and prepared the way. We just have to stick to the path!

²I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

His ways were not only made straight, they were paid in advance.

³And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

The Jewish Rabbins say that Nebuchadnezzar having amassed riches from all over the world, worried who he could leave it to when he died. He decided that “nobody” should have it. So he ordered ships of brass to be filled with the wealth and dug a place in the Euphrates where he hid them and turned the river on it. Well guess who found it? Cyrus. God’s anointed. Treasures in the darkness… Jeremiah said when he conquered Asia he brought away thirty four thousand pounds of gold and a whole lot more… that’s a chunk of change!

I don’t know about you, but I haven’t found any pots of gold buried in the river, but what I have discovered is that God provides wealth in a variety of forms. Some monetarily, some in unmerited gifts, perhaps in a great job, and others through friends and family. But as children of God we can all find the blessings of God that have been hidden in our lives waiting to be uncovered.

he question again is, what are we doing with it? Reading on in Isaiah 45 it says

⁴For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. ⁵I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: ⁶That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.

God said, I gave you these things so that people would know “I am the LORD, and there is none else.” That’s your purpose. When Brother Walt stood before our congregation and shouted… yes, really shouted… he stirred our souls. When he was ask to bless the offering of the day he did so by saying and asking us to say it with him, “I have because I give, I give because I have, and therefore, I am never, never ever, without… it’s offering time! And then Heaven would come down as we rejoiced in the goodness of God. Life’s not always good… but God is.

We need to brag a little on God today…

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Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration, Purpose

Don’t Dis Appoint Yourself

Written by talk2shari Published December 18, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

Last night I watched as 100+ Marietta Bible College students presented 100+ roses to Dr. and Mrs. Guiler as they sang the tribute song of Ray Boltz “Thank You.” Needless to say the tears flowed like rivers of grace down my face and this morning my heart is still full as I sit in Salt Fork State Park in Cambridge, Ohio looking out the window of the lodge balcony. I too was an honorary mention last night at the annual Christmas event and my humility kicked in overdrive thinking of the unworthiness. God is so good… and I am so not. Yesterday’s drive up was filled with sermons from the podcasts of Hillsong Pastor Brian Houston, last night I was blessed by Dr. Guiler’s Christmas sermon, and this morning they’re all heavy on my mind. I’d like to tell you each one and tell you that I’m that deep of a thinker, but you and I both would know that that’s not so. So likely some of each of those sermons will spill into my blog this morning and hopefully bless you the way it’s blessed me.

The year’s coming to a close and I don’t feel the least bit accomplished this morning. I feel undone. I’m nowhere close the caliber of Christian I should be for the blessings I’ve received and I feel like Isaiah did in Isaiah 6:5 “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

I’ve seen the King present in my life too as He laid purpose before me and I stepped around it thinking that surely God meant that for someone else. Not unclean, unworthy, unfocused Shari. So when I listened to Brian’s sermon yesterday on “disappointment,” I thought, “Wow, that should be the theme song of my life. The queen of disappointment.” I have the continual feeling of grief for being a disappointment to self, others and above all God. But as Brian unpacked the word disappointment, God opened my mind in a way it’s never been.

God’s only appoints… He never disappoints. Dis-appointment is the hindrance or prevention of an appointment. Therefore if I am disappointed I’ve allowed something to stand between my appointment (God’s purpose) and me. While saying I’m unclean, unworthy, and unfocused is true, it’s also true that those inadequacies have been covered by the blood of Jesus. By believing those things to still be the case in my life I’m “dis-appointing” myself from God’s purpose, thus denying myself the opportunity to be used and blessed by the God Who thought I was worth dying for.

I tell my youth every time we meet that I want more for them. I want God’s blessings and riches to be poured into their lives and for them to realize who they are in Christ and what potential they carry within themselves because they’re carrying the Lord Jesus himself within them… and then I don’t live it myself. Glory to God what a message for us all.

Moses tried to dis appoint himself when he told God, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

After Jeremiah wrote my favorite verse in Jeremiah 1:5 saying “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” He tried to dis appoint himself in verse 6 when he said “Ah, Lord GOD! behold I cannot speak: for I am a child.”

Gideon who was told by God that he was a mighty man of valour then tried to dis appoint himself from the task laid before him by telling God how disappointed he was in Him. Gideon said “Did not the LORD bring us from Egypt? But now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”

Moses said “I can’t talk.” Jeremiah said “I’m too young,” and Gideon complained that God had left them in a bind. None seen the potential that God had placed within them. But thousands of years later, we read of them and their miraculous purpose.

What has God written in my book that I’m trying to un-write? That’s my question for us today… how have I “dis” appointed myself from God’s purpose?

2 Timothy 1:11

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

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Posted in Christian Service, Leadership, Life Inspiration

A Most Unusual Word

Written by talk2shari Published December 3, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

This was written in booklet form as a Wednesday night study for the Junior/Senior High Youth group at Victory Baptist Church, in Grantsville, West Virginia in hopes of giving them an encouraging word as we wind down 2015 and soar into 2016.

What truth we are living in as we see in the closing book of Daniel when the Lord says in 12:4

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

We are for certain in those days. The time is now that the world needs to see the certainty of the God of an “unusual people.

In January 2015 I prayed for and received a word that I could focus on throughout the year; that word was:

Believe!

I was pleasantly surprised how God would show me this word again and again in various forms and places through the year. So as the year closed and I began asking God for a 2016 word, He responded with what I consider to be a follow-up to 2015 ~ my 2016 word is:

Unusual

It’s fitting for me in more ways than I care to admit. But then I began thinking about the first time as a new convert I was said to be “peculiar.” I wasn’t offended. I knew it had something to do with the Bible, so I looked in my concordance and there it was… in all its splendor in 1 Peter 2:9 (as well as other places) – And as I had suspected it was a compliment, not an insult.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

God loves the unusual.

This year God asked me to share my word with you. We can see the world waxing colder and colder. As Christians it’s so very easy to put up a shield to protect ourselves from the harsh cold world. But what if we rather thawed the icy walls around us allowing them to see and have the living water of Christ Jesus our Lord within.

Those icy souls would be better viewed as snowflakes; beautiful and unique just waiting for the warmth of a child of God willing to do unusual things. Loving the unlovable, generously giving and sharing God’s word with boldness and an excitement bubbling from within that transcends the norm of what people have seen in Christianity. That’s my prayer for you… and me! Let the world be normal… we’re an original masterpiece of God Who’s waiting to do something remarkable with us. Are you ready?

God loves the unusual

2016 WORD OF THE YEAR

UNUSUAL

In the book of Daniel Chapter 2 is an unusual story about an unusual man and a King who had an unusual request. King Nebuchadnezzar asked for the wise men to first tell him a dream he had dreamed (but couldn’t remember) and then explain the dream.

***

Unusual Requests

Daniel 2:1-6

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

That’s one strange request! And one that brought deadly repercussions if ignored. The world has unusual requests for Christians, do they not? They require explanations of us that they require of no other religion. They aren’t asking the Muslims to explain Allah, the Buddhists to explain Buddha or the Pagans to explain their unbelief. But we are called to explain everything about Christianity.6

Creation (How could God create it?)
Separation (why does God want it?)
Admonition (Why should we heed it?)
Exaltation (Why should we give it?)

Of no other religion are these answers being demanded. We serve an unusual God, and we are asked unusual requests because we are an unusual people. If we could be explained… no one would care. Our God is unusual and Awesome! And He expects His people to be unusual and awesome as well.

Exodus 19:5

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Psalm 135:4

For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Titus 2:14

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

God treasures the unusual!

***

We serve an Unusual God!

Daniel 2:7-11

They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.hey answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

The King called their bluff he said “tell me the dream and I shall know that ye can.” As if to say, “prove you’re who you say you are.” God put this thought in Nebuchadnezzar’s mind because He knew the world would think that to be the strangest, most unreasonable request they’d ever heard. “Tell me a dream that you dreamed but can’t remember and then explain it.” That’s crazy. But Nebuchadnezzar was relentless, he said either do it or die.

To Shari quote this part of the story, the wise men then said, “Okay… tell us one more time what you want.”

To which Nebuchadnezzar replied “I know your game, you’re wasting my time.”

I believe that people who genuinely are searching for the truth, don’t waste time on false gods. It doesn’t take them long to see through false gods. But Jehovah God, Our Provider, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, there’s something unusual about Him and they recognize it. But for many they don’t want to trade their control in for faith.

The “wise men” knew they couldn’t fulfill the King’s request. They told him that this was a “rare”, an unusual request he was asking. No person could possibly answer it, only gods without flesh. The answer to the King’s question would have to come supernaturally.

And God smiled…

He said you’re right. And it will come supernaturally through my man.

An Unusual Man

Daniel 2:12-18

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel had wisdom and insight that was not afforded the other “wise men.” The King likely suspicioned the other wise men’s abilities, but Daniel had a supernatural connection to the dream maker through the power of prayer, his and that of his friends.

So when Daniel came to the King’s henchman and asked questions with wisdom, his reputation had preceded him. When going before the King to ask if he could make known the dream the King didn’t doubt him. The testimony of a child of God who lives their faith out loud is known throughout the communities for which they live. It’s unusual! Hypocrites are a dime a dozen.

The Christian testimony should be such that when problems arise people come to us for counsel. But unfortunately too many Christians live their lives in such a way that their counsel seems no different than any others. God needs us to be unusual.

***

Unusual Bravery

Daniel 2:19-25

Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter. Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

Did you notice that the scripture said “Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” And it goes on to say how.

He prayed for God, to God, that He would be blessed by men forever.
He acknowledged where his blessings came from. For wisdom and might are his.
Daniel knew that God is the God of circumstance. Any season or reason in life is of God and He can change it in the blink of an eye. They’d come to kill Daniel, but soon they would adore him.
Daniel acknowledged that King Nebuchadnezzar did not get into the position of King without God’s stamp of approval.
And Daniel praised God for making known to him the meaning of the King’s dream

God chooses who it is that he elects to use. He controls the lives of the unsaved and saved alike, orchestrating their direction in life like the Puppet Master and the marionette.

After Daniel prayed he went to Arioch and said “Let’s do it.”

You better believe it would have taken gumption for Daniel to stand before the King. He’d already ordered them killed, Daniel knows he’s upset! But Daniel had confidence that the God he served had just delivered him the message that would divulge the secrets locked up within the King’s mind, a message that nobody could deliver.

Do we have that kind of confidence in God today? Do we believe when we hear a message like that from the book of Daniel that God is using it to ask us to step out with greater confidence? – – – We’re about to find out.

Daniel 2:26-30

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

That’s what I always feel like when God chooses to use me in amazing ways. “But God, I’m no different than any other child of God… But He reminds me although that’s true, not all of God’s children are willing vessels for the cause of Christ. This word for 2016 is nothing as it’s spoken by my mouth, but when God puts it into action it can become amazing and used for God’s glory! The word “Unusual” may have been spoken by ordinary Shari, but that makes it no less significant for you should you decide to see what God can do with that word in your life in 2016. It is for God’s glory that I ask you to be unusual.

Daniel told the King that he knew what his heart said. I make no profession of knowing your heart, only you will know what your own heart says about this word “unusual.” If you choose to take this message to heart I’m convinced that God will do amazing and unusual things with you, but you have to be unusual.

Daniel’s confidence level soared because he knew in His heart it was from God. He served the God Who was truth, and revealed the truth. The very same God we serve today.

2016 has some awesome things about to happen.

The day God gave me this word, within 30 minutes, Steve Boggs called to say Eagle Ranch Revival and Mission Center had just been given 50,000 dollars. – unusual things….

I’ve been feeling bad, but God says you’re going to be fine. I have unusual things to do with you.

Daniel told the King, I’m not anyone of any greatness, but I serve a great God who will use me anyway. You may say that “You’re just a kid from a little town in West Virginia.” God however thinks you’re amazing, but in order to go up, you have get down.

Matthew 23:12 says

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

If we’re going to be used by God humility is required. There is a vast difference between confidence and arrogance. One is right and the other wrong. One relies on the power of self, the other realizes that without God we’re nothing but with God we’re everything! Make sure you walk in the confidence of the Creator. Daniel reveals the Lord’s message with confidence in the “Lord’s message” not his own wisdom.

First Daniel describes Nebuchadnezzar’s dream…

Daniel 2:31-45

Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Then Daniel interprets the dream regarding the future of the King’s monarchy… that’s the wisdom God affords. What man cannot even imagine is but a small thing to God.

This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

Daniel is a young man revealing great prophetic truths by trusting in the Truth that God has revealed to him. I’m not a prophet… I cannot say what your future holds except to say that it will have far greater things in store for you if you determine to be “unusual” for Christ.

This world will fall. But we serve a God who has created a world that will never fall.

Right now America is still an awesome land. We have power, strength and glory (though it’s fading). As Daniel spoke to Nebuchadnezzar he reminded the King of his greatness and the providence of God that placed him into that position. God’s providence still reigns in our lives, serving to get us where we need to be. He’s got a plan and we’re a part of it; that plan is to spread the truth of eternal life through Christ Jesus. A position that we take for granted. Ambassadors for Christ is not a position that God took lightly when He watched His Son being crucified for us to have it.

***

An Unusual Position

Daniel 2:46-49

Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

God not only placed Daniel into a place of authority, but Daniel asked that his friends come along for the ride. Daniel was put in a place to be elevated and used for that eternal Kingdom. And I believe that that’s why He has us in this place. I believe that God can do some amazing, awesome, unusual things with every one of us. And that we can bring our friends into that same blessing. But we have to (using the old Cliché) DARE TO BE DANIELS.

I would like to see every one of the youth in our ministry elevated into positions of greatness for the glory of God. And God can do that. But you have to be a person of unusual character in the world today. When I say “dare” to be a Daniel I’m setting a challenge before you, because it’s not easy. Unusual means having a right heart, staying in His word, working in His house, having the right friends to encourage you and listening for His guidance in all things.

Are you ready to do unusual things for the God of glory?

~***~

Questions to ponder

Are you living your life in a manner pleasing to God?
Would your friends seek your counsel?
If God asks you to do the unusual, are you confident to trust in His ability to make it happen?
What is it that speaks to your heart about Daniel’s unusual story?
Spend some serious time in prayer asking God where it is He’d have you be unusual. What was His answer?

A paper copy of this booklet is available for $5.00, plus shipping cost of $2.00 via Paypal. For a copy please message me at talk2shari@gmail.com or message my phone at (304)377-6036.

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Posted in Life Inspiration, Life's Failures

How to shush Satan on Failures

Written by talk2shari Published October 2, 2015October 2, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

Listening to a Perry Noble Sermon the other day, he spoke of a man going through a time of rebuke. He said that what he discovered was, when he rebuked himself, it was harsh and angry; but when God rebuked him it was with an arm around his shoulder, and words of kindness as God drew him close to show him what needed corrected in his life. That’s so true in my own life. I constantly have feelings of failure in every realm of life…being a wife, parent, grandparent, friend, teacher, servant of God, housekeeper, cook… oh the list goes on. If we received certificates of failure my wall would be filled!

Side note: Certificates of failure do not have God signature on them. That’s an interesting thought is it not?

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Thoughts of failure are a stronghold in my life and I’m pretty sure that I’m not alone. What an awesome weapon for Satan to use ourselves against us. He cannot occupy the space within but he can occupy the space without; whispering imaginations in our ear against the knowledge of God. I can look about my messy house and unfinished projects and Satan spews “you failure.” But if I shush his lips and listen to the Holy Spirit I hear, “Look how blessed you are! Those guitar picks strewn across the floor are there because of the gift of music and the gift of grandchildren (who strew them across the floor), the dirty dishes in the sink are there because of the gift of food and the joy you receive from cooking and serving, that laundry is there because you have clothes on your back… really cute ones and cute boots on your feet! Those unfinished projects are joy in the waiting because I’ve gifted you with the ability to create… oh my stars I just wrote myself happy! I “almost” don’t care that my house is wreck… but Satan still spews. You can’t shut him up forever. But God will one day!

Revelation 20:1-3a ~ And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up,

Shush Satan…

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Forgiveness, Life Inspiration, Political

So you want to be whale puke?

Written by talk2shari Published September 5, 2015September 5, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

In the well known Bible story by the saved and unsaved alike, Jonah is told by God to go to Nineveh.

Jonah 1:1-3

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Tarshish is not Nineveh. It is the opposite direction of Nineveh, a city of 120,000 or so people, full of wickedness and Jonah has been told by God that he needs to go preach the gospel. But Jonah doesn’t want to preach the gospel to those heathens… Jonah doesn’t care if they get saved. Well God did. And because of his disobedience Jonah ends up in the belly of a whale for three days until he’s whale puke. This is not just a story, its history from the Creator Himself, who gave Jonah his marching orders.

And the good little Christians say, yes Amen. Teach that Jonah a lesson!

And then there’s the Kentucky County Clerk, Kim Davis. And Christians and non-Christians alike are slaughtering her name in the media because she had the audacity to stand on the side of God. So perhaps you’re saying… the two stories don’t even match up. Jonah was given an order by God…

Let’s take a journey to Acts 5:27-32

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Should Christians obey the law? Of course… except where it’s contrary to God.

So what is my correlation to this story and Jonah’s. Both stories tell of those sent out to share the gospel which is the responsibility of every saved person, not just preachers. It’s our responsibility to tell the truth of God’s Word. God’s Word says in Romans 1:25-32

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Sound familiar? God gave them and He gave America what they said they wanted. And just as it was for them, so will it be for America that putting a stamp of approval on sin starts a down hill spiral that we’re not prepared for. God did not put His stamp of approval on homosexual marriage and He under no circumstances changed the Word of God to say it was okay. As a Christian it’s my responsibility to spread the TRUTH of the gospel, else it’s a lie. Jonah didn’t care if Nineveh knew the truth until God made him whale puke. I’d rather stay out of the belly of the whale, and apparently so would Kim Davis.

As for her divorces. Those are under the blood because she repented from her sins. She didn’t say they were right, she said she was forgiven. Just as a homosexual can be forgiven for living contrary to God’s plan. But how will they know to repent if “good Christian people”, who don’t want to offend them, are telling them it’s okay? They won’t. And that’s why there’s gonna be some serious whale puke across America. It’s not pretty… but it’s the gospel.

Posted in Life Inspiration

Have you made your mark?

Written by talk2shari Published August 29, 2015August 29, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

I have many, many quirks and fetishes in life that makes me the strange person I am. One of them happens to be that I like markers. But not just any markers; I like markers that make a statement. Markers that leave a mark! What a novel idea. I like them bold, every color under the rainbow and I don’t want them to fade. I like my people the same way. Every path I’ve crossed in my life has left some sort of mark on me and I no doubt, even if they don’t appreciate my Sharpie analogy, have left a mark on the lives of others.

I’m sure when Frederick W. Redington and William H. Sanford, Jr. founded Sanford Manufacturing Company in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857 they had no idea that their focus on producing glue and ink would one day explode into the creative masterpieces that have been accomplished by Sharpie artists. I’m likewise sure that when we get to Heaven we’ll have no idea of some of the people that we left a mark on. Apostle Paul told the Romans the Philippians that we were to mark two types of people, so get out your Sharpie dude!

Mark the Trouble Makers

Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

I can almost guarantee every church has got at least a few. While Apostle Paul’s marks were concerned with “offenses contrary to doctrine,” those who would change God’s Word to suit their own purpose, there are also those who (contrary to scripture) just love trouble. Those who love making statements that are sure to ruffle someone’s feathers, create dissension among the members or are just plain mean! It comes in the form of gossip, criticism, “correction” and oh so often in the form of prayer requests. Whether it’s changing God’s Word or causing God’s Word to be unheard when someone is upset, we need to mark those people and avoid them. While it’s impossible to avoid someone completely in most of our smaller congregations, we don’t have to linger in their presence either. Dispense the Christian niceties of “God bless ya sister or brother,” and move on down the aisle. Don’t give opportunity to fall victim to having your mind taken off the Word of God and placed on something that you likely can do nothing about.

There is the story of days gone by when an “adulteress woman” was marked with the scarlet letter “A” for adulterer. This for me is akin to what Paul is saying, only he didn’t say mark the sinner, he said to mark those who cause division among the saints, because that is serious business. It’s much like having an affair on Christ because you’re breaking His heart.

Mark the Tried and True!

Philippians 3:17

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

I’ve been blessed with a Christian lifetime full of “examples.” There’s likely not enough ink in a sharpie to mark those who have walked beside of me and been encouragers of the faith. Paul said to take note of those people, probably because we’ll need them again. I wish that I could send every single person who’s made a mark on my life a red Sharpie, but I’m sure I’d unintentionally miss someone. It’s more important for me to mark them along the way by telling them that I praise God they’re in my life. How about you? Got a Sharpie dude? Start marking!

Posted in Christian Service, Grace, Life's Failures, Prayer, Purpose

Rededication – Getting back to God’s Plan

Written by talk2shari Published August 27, 2015August 27, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

If I asked you this morning how your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is, what would be your answer? It’s not a comfortable question, because if we’re truthful, none of us are walking as close to the Lord as we should be. At the end of Wednesday night teen class last night all the teens had cleared out with the exception of a few girls who wanted to talk (such an honor!). One of those young ladies had made the decision to rededicate her life to Christ and her friend encouraged the way. She wanted to put a marker down that she could look back at and say “This is the day I moved closer to Christ.” While the renewal of our mind should be an everyday occurance because of the garbage that travels through it in the course of a day, rededication is a more serious event. I think of it much like the time in Jacob’s life when he left home. In my mind’e eye I always picture him as a young man, but in truth he was past the age of retirement when he left his parents home heading toward Haran (Genesis 28:10). That puts a some what different perspective on his behavior and a certain need for a getting his heart right with God.

He’d lied to his father, deceived his brother, and his mommy made him run away at 70 years old… I think it was time. His first night on his own wasn’t in an apartment in the city it was on a hillside with a pile of rocks for his pillow and there he found himself with night dreams, visions and a lot of time on his hands. It’s those harsh nights that get me too. When your mind won’t stop reeling of the things in life that are not as they should be and darkness has a tendency to bring things to light… Like the need for a right heart with God.

Jacob’s dream: (Genesis 28:12-15)

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

¹⁶And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.

For me that was the equivalency of arriving at church, and at the end of service saying, “Wow! I had no idea God hung out here.” I’m pretty sure there are some folks who still don’t know… but I digress. God had met Jacob there and he didn’t know until he awoke from his sleep. That’s the time of rededication! When you wake up and realize that God is trying to move in your life and you’ve been so far from God’s mindset that you had no idea. When He created us, He spoke a plan but then we get off track. As a child of God we all want it… you know… God to do something great in our lives, but we start going through religious motions. We can do it in our sleep. Don’t cuss, don’t chew, don’t date the guys who do (especially if you’re married), go to church, treat people right and so on and so forth. And then church becomes less of a priority, but we still treat people right! Jacob didn’t even do that. He likely felt as low as a snails belly! He knew he’d messed up.

God wanted to do great things in his life, but first Jacob was going to have to come to terms with God, on God’s terms.

Vs. 17-22

And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Jacob put that stone down as marker in Bethel (which means house of God) as a reminder that he and God and renewed their relationship in that place. Do you have to be in church? No, but it sure helps set the tone! My young friend had come to church last night with the need to lay a marker down. I can’t wait to see what God does with her life! She’s entering her first year in high school and was ecstatic that a church across the street from her high school was opened once a week by the senior class for a prayer lunch. A group of young people returning back to the place God began dwelling many years ago… What do you think might happen there? Revival!!!!! I hope.

Let’s all go to the Rock! Age doesn’t matter, but God needs us to get back to the plan.

Posted in Leadership, Life Inspiration

How to be Fashionably Late

Written by talk2shari Published August 10, 2015August 10, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

I have a friend or two and a relative or two who are most usually late for meetings and events. It’s not that they’re irresponsible or forgetful, they are some of the most responsible and intellectual people I know… it’s just that their prep time is longer than usual. Perhaps they need prompters to help them along. I’m about to take Mark 2 in places it may have never gone before, and for some of my Bible Scholar friends, they may prefer not to travel this road with me at all. But it’s on my mind today.

I love it when a preacher speculates about the story around the story; adlibbing conversations that may or may not, most likely did not, occur around a biblical event. My nephew Robert preached on Mark 2 last night at his home church, and he just wowed his ol’ Aunt Shari at what an amazing work God is doing in his life. Isn’t that the kind of work that God always does? Amazing!

This morning that scripture is still heavy on my heart, but not in the context that Robert preached it… I’m thinking about the story of the four men who carried their friend to church from an entirely different perspective.

Fashionably Loud

Mark 2:1-3

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

What a church service! Loud, crowded and the roof blown off. That’s just how I like mine.

Why is it that ¾ (or greater) of the churches in America feel the need to sit and soak… or sulk. They’re more resemble a funeral than praise and worship. What part of “Worship” hour did you not understand when you arrived at church. I’d rather see someone late and loud, than on time and dead. I love seeing people so desperate to see God move that they’re willing to take extreme measures to make it happen. So they got there late… I’m sure it was not an easy task for the four of them to carry this guy from his home. Nor is it always easy for that Momma or Daddy to get their brood bundled up and on their way. When they finally got there they were likely hot and tired, not willing to wait any longer. They were late enough! There’s got to be another way in… “Hey nobody’s using the roof!”

Fashionably Lead

Mark 2:4-5

And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

The man sick of the palsy could not get himself to Jesus, so his 4 friends not only lead the way up they broke it up. They were desperate to get to him to the Lord and they didn’t care how big of a scene it created. Sometimes it’s necessary for leadership to make a scene in order to get things stirred up and the Spirit moving. How far are you willing to go to hear the Lord say to your friend “thy sins be forgiven thee.”

Fashionably loose

Mark 2:12

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

And thus where my thought derived from this morning. They’d never saw it in that fashion. What fashion? I expect that he not only walked… he walked with style. Possibly what they’d call a swagger. He may have even danced a jig. There’s something about a new convert that can be visibly seen, if they’re lucky it never fades. Well… I don’t want to say lucky, let’s use the word blessed! When you’ve been bound by sickness or sin either one, and you’re suddenly free of it you understand the value of being “loose.” It changes the way you walk and talk and people notice. You have the freedom to speak and act with boldness!

Are you a fashionista? Are you loud, are you a leader, are you loose? (in the godly way of course.) Let’s make some noise for Jesus today!