Tag: Christian living

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Political, Word of God

Riding the Struggle Bus to Meet the Political Train

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Y’all know I ride the struggle bus to work every day. Even though I work from home. I struggle not with what is right and what is wrong. God’s word lays that out pretty clear. Thou – shalt – not. That’s clear enough! But when it comes to the decisions of what I should involve myself in and with that is not always so clear. I can listen to one sermon and a preacher will say one thing, I can listen to another sermon and another preacher will say something totally different. I can respect both preachers opinions because it’s what they believe, but is it what God wants for me? That’s where I’ve been lately. And so it is that God and I have been talking politics.

Should I listen to the World’s News?

I’ve always loved the news. I have to take the occasional break from it and be very careful of “what” news I watch because it messes with my head. But I want to know what’s going on and I’m pretty sure God wants me to know. Ignoring reality doesn’t change it and it might get you called on the carpet before God some day.

Romans 13:1-14 KJV
[1] Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. [2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

The Commentary of Charles Spurgeon says this on the matter: Government is Ordained By God, vv. 1-2. Paul calls for submission to authority three times in this passage (verses 1, 5 and 7). In the first of these, Paul states the command in a very straightforward manner: “Let every soul be subject to the higher powers.” This is then followed up with the key rationale for this imperative: “For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” This is our Father’s World! As Daniel said while in captivity in Babylon as recorded in Daniel 2:20-21, 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: God is Sovereign! This belief is the foundation for what Paul is saying in these verses. If God is completely in control of all things, then obviously whoever is setting on the throne is there because God put them there. The implication of this declaration is spelled out in verse 2. To resist the authority of government is to resist the authority of God and will result in judgment (both now from the civil authorities and in the future from God).

But today is a much different day than that of Charles Spurgeon’s, but not so much different than the Apostle Pauls. We know this to be true because when you read the instruction left for us by the Apostle to the Gentiles in the books of Romans through Philemon, the Apostle is speaking to people that are every bit as messed up as we are today! He speaks to them about the sins of the church, heinous sins… He speak to the churches of the false doctrine they’re teaching that leads men astray. He lines out the leadership of the church regarding their roles. He encourages and he jerks a few knots in some of them. The powers that be want him dead and until his dying breath he does not cease to expose the mystery that God had given to him to reveal. He has divine appointments with powerful leaders and he never backs down.

Acts 26:28 KJV
[28] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

He didn’t persuade Agrippa, but what an impact he must have made on those around him!

Would to God I could make that kind of an impact, but there is a part of me that says…. “Please Lord, don’t let me lose my head in the process.”

Should I Consider the World Views?

Paul tells the Roman’s in Chapter 12:

Romans 12:2 KJV
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The theological definition of renew is “to make new; to renovate; to transform; to change from natural enmity to the love of God and his law; to implant holy affections in the heart; to regenerate.”

There’s a difference between considering and conforming. To consider something is to weigh it in comparison to the Word of God. Does it align? To conform is to ignore the word of God and go with ideals of man. Should this not be our method in politics? Not to view politics in a worldly method, but view it with the mind of Christ. If only are “so called” Christian leadership both nationally and locally would do that, we’d live in a much different world. So what is the child of God to do with regards to politics? Ignore it? God doesn’t want His children ignorant. Ignorance will get somebody hurt.

Listen to Paul’s words as he tells those in Rome (for our edification as well) that God ordained government to protect the innocent. Do they always? Certainly not. But for us to step away and allow evil to take over every facet of government would not be the mind of Christ. We may not always be able to make change, but we can make a difference.

[3] For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: [4] For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. [5] Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

Should I Not Pay my Dues?

[6] For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. [7] Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due ; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. [8] Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. [9] For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [10] Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. [11] And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. [12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. [13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

God is so good! Remember my comment about know the “Thou-shalt-not’s” of the Bible earlier. That was before I even read verses 6-14. And yet God knew I love a good outline! He just cracks me up! Paul tells the Romans not to hate Government, but to pay them what they’re worth because they are the ministers of God. He allowed them to be placed in their position. But it is our job to be the children of Light. Shining the light of Jesus Christ into the darkness of this world so that they can see the truth. And then walk in it. There is far too many again, “so called” Christians walking in the dark and conforming right to it. We need people willing to pay their dues by being involved in shining the Light of Christ and protecting those who need protected. We can’t save them all, but like the starfish on the beach, we can save the one’s we take the time to throw back in the water.

I’m so grateful for the word of God. Thank you! Jesus for shining the Light on me in 1996 and bringing me out of that dark place I was in.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Life Inspiration

Wisdom from the Water

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Being the wife of a fire fighter allows me a “little better” understanding of the concept of emergency services. Very little, if I’m honest. I’m not a member of the department, I’m the “half unit” of Fire Chief 119 by emergency services lingo. I’m the whole unit of Jesus Christ. As my husband fights to put out the fires on earth, I fight to put out the fires of hell, one soul at a time.

My trip to Windom, Minnesota was fruitful, both for the souls of that city and for my own.

John 7:38 says

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Water plays a huge role in our life. My husband is also Chief Operator at our local water treatment plant, so he has a passion for all things water. He takes his job as serious as any operator in the state of West Virginia I’d say. In addition to putting out fires with water, he’s also headed up the water rescue team through the fire department to rescue victims of flooding or accidents (click on this website link to know whom to approach in this situation to get help legally ), and he’s pulled more than one lifeless body out of the water. Water has the power to heal the body as well as kill the body if one doesn’t use caution. But in the spiritual realm there is only one purpose. Life! Praise God I’m in the business of providing that water that Jesus Christ gave to me in 1996.

Just like the human body the spiritual body must have the water of life!

Essentiality

Water is essential for the cells in the human body to function properly, and believe me when I say, it’s essential for the Christian to function properly. It breaks my heart when I realize how very little the word of God is taken into consideration in the lives of people today. It’s what’s gotten folks into trouble from the beginning of time. They allowed someone else to tell them what “thus saith the Lord” rather than having that conversation themselves. When Satan deceived Eve, he did it by manipulating the word of God.

Genesis 3:1-4 “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

It’s so easy for someone to take the word of God out of context, or change just a few words to give it an entirely different meaning, contaminating the Living Water of God and destroying the body of Christ.

Listen to the preacher, yes! But read the word of God for yourselves and hear straight from the Savior Himself.

Evidentially

There is an evidence in the body of the presence of water. It hydrates and breaks down allowing the transport and removal of the icky things that tend to linger on in the digestive system. Isn’t it amazing that that’s exactly how the word of God works!

Reading the word satisfies the thirst of a soul that longs to hear from God. And along the way it purifies the body of those lingering sins that so often hang in the life of a Christian who doesn’t spend enough time in the word. Evidence begins to show in the life of a child of God by the Word of God flowing from them into the lives of others and again that chain reaction occurs. Hallelujah! It’s how souls are saved by the very vessels God pours into.

Enthusiality

It’s not a word, but it works for my third point.  Water helps limit the changes in body temperature in a warm or cold environment. And you better believe in this cold world, you need the ability to stay even tempered and enthusiastic about your relationship with God. Turn on the news and your blood may boil… at least mine does. Spend a few hours in the presence of carnal Christians and watch your temperature plummet and your desire for spiritual things diminish.

But spend time in the word of God and in the fellowship of strong Christian people and it will excite the soul! Windom, Minnesota has a new sister in Christ Jesus; it has a marriage restoration in the making and some dramatic changes in the lives of some children of God who discovered through the word of God and testimony of His people that the water of life not only extinguishes the fires in Hell from one less soul to burn, but floods the body of Christ with life giving water that is essential to its growth.

20 years… it never grows old or cold!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Political

Is This The American Church?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Is This The American Church?

american-voter

So this morning as I lie in bed, scrolling through Christian videos on social media regarding the election, there was this urgency in my heart about the coming week and next Tuesday’s election. Oh my stars… the day that will no doubt change the dynamics of our Nation and all I can think of is where’s the church? More cockeyed emails, seriously? And I don’t want to get into the middle of it because I’m one of those center children who hate confrontation. The oldest children are the take charge folks, the babies are my way or the highway folks, and I’m the one that just says can’t we all get along?

And God said “No. Not since the snake in the garden.” And then that image came to me of the head in the sand, which is what I feel best represents the American church of Jesus Christ today. Now, if that’s an actual denomination, it’s not meant as a reference, I speak collectively of those who say they are born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. How on earth have we gotten to this place as a nation where you would actually think voting for an immoral, baby killer approving, American killer,  outright liar without apology woman who is worse than Jezebel should have the right to even run as President.

Wow, I guess I just crossed the line with a few people, but my heart needed me to say it so that I could at least not consider myself in line with the cowards who have refused to take a stand on the issues of this election. Let’s face reality. Neither candidate is someone that we would want to be a representative of the church; but God has not been shy on what He thinks about the sins of this nation and the likes of Hillary. And while sin is sin and Donald Trump isn’t perfect by any means, at least he stands for something that I can get behind. Somewhat important things like the defense of our nation, not the distraction and destruction of it through liberal mindsets that would allow Muslim belief to overshadow the Christian foundation and convictions that we desire to live by, partnerships with people who view women as unworthy to live without their permission and yet calling conservatives biased because we don’t want Hillary as President and touting that it’s because she’s a woman. Seriously. Does the church have its head in the sand?

This is not a democrat, republican, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, etc. issue. This is the Word of God issue that you can’t change.

Isaiah 45

Thus 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;  I 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: And 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.  For 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. I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:  That 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.

I believe in my heart that God will use who He chooses whether or not they are a child of God. But He will not use anyone who is anti-Christ. I did not say Hillary was the antichrist, please note that… But she is doing everything within her power to destroy the Christianity of our Nation. God can make the crooked straight, He can bring darkness to light. But God’s people have got to be the vocal vessels willing to step out for the cause of Christ and get our country back on the right path.

I have places to go, people to see and things to get done else I’d write more… I may be back tomorrow on this subject.

 

 

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In the Audience of God

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1 Chronicles 28:8

Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.

As I read the words in 1 Chronicles 28:8 and the commentary, I said to the Lord, “I cannot tell anyone anything new about this verse, but please help me tell them something relevant to the day.” And He is faithful.

Earlier in the day I was blessed to receive a call from Dewey Moede, Pastor, Evangelist, man of God and friend from New Mexico, and during our conversation mention was made of his desire to someday hear me play the fiddle. It might be short lived if he were to actually hear me play, but I was humbled none the less. You see, my fiddle playing skills are not concert worthy by any stretch of the imagination, I play because I love the music and the fellowship involved.

When a group of bluegrass musicians congregate together on the streets of a festival or the Bearfork Trading Post Bluegrass venue it’s a sweet time of camaraderie. Even an amateur fiddler such as I is permitted the opportunity to take the break (play the melody solo) as the audience gathers around to enjoy the music. It’s both enjoyable to be in the audience and in the congregation of musicians yet the pressure on the performer can be in degrees higher from none to extreme, depending upon their ability to play. You can guess which end of the spectrum I’m on. But when you stand in the audience of God… wow. Then the pressure’s on.

I think the judgment of the church is taking place while we are here, but we alone will one day be in the audience of God to stand accountable for how we lived our lives before our family, and they may or may not inherit the Kingdom of God because of our testimony. Scary thought…

While in a congregation of musicians I can miss an occasional note and the audience may not even notice, but when I stand across from my music instructor and expert musician, he knows. And while as a congregation we may appear as if we’ve got it all together, our Instructor knows the truth. While God does not expect perfection He expects us to at least be practicing for it. If we lived every day with the idea that we were performing life in the “Audience of God,” what would change?

I know for certain I’d have read the manual more. Evidently I’m not alone. According to a recent study

  • More than 60 percent of Americans can’t name either half of the Ten Commandments or the four Gospels of the New Testament.
  • Some 80 percent including “born again” Christians believe that “God helps those who help themselves” is a direct quote from the Bible.
  • And 31 percent believe a good person can earn his/her way into heaven.

I think we need to do a little more seeking so that we may be found also keeping those commandments.

There’s a couple of life lessons you can learn from a fiddler.

  1. If you don’t practice you’ll never get any better. And practicing requires picking up the fiddle and playing.
    1. If you never read your bible, you’ll never understand it. It too requires picking it up.
    2. There’s a need to be in the congregation. If a fiddler never plays music with anyone else, their timing gets off and it becomes harder to hear if you’re playing in tune.
      1. The same hold true if you’re not a part of a congregation of the Lord. If you’re not in a body of believers who can walk with you and encourage you, you’ll have a hard time staying in tune. Your heart will stray.

God said to keep and seek all the commandments. Well… I have yet to play a fiddle tune to perfection, nor have I lived a life of keeping all the commandments. Some days I feel like I’ve broken all ten. But I keep practicing. So that one day when I stand in the audience of God I will hear Him say “Well done!”