Posted in Bible Journaling, Easter, Evangelism, Faith, Life Inspiration

The World’s Warped View of Christianity

Written by talk2shari Published April 3, 2021April 7, 2021 Discussion Leave a Comment

Last night was communion at Victory Baptist Church and it’s been a long time since we gathered together for that purpose because of the Corona. My heart was tender to the Lord, a fact I’m grateful for. It had not been the case this week. I had allowed the world to come between me and God to the point I was feeling worthless and ashamed. Not a good spiritual condition to be in the week of Easter or any day. But such was the case and I needed my heart stirred. The Pastor’s text for the evening was 1 Corinthians 10:21-23 KJV

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Those verses immediately resonated with my spirit. I felt like I had been dining at the Devil’s table all week. I hadn’t read the Bible like I should, I hadn’t prayed like I should and going into the time of year that we celebrate the very reason we are who we are, I was lower than a snail’s belly. Praise God by the time the wafer and communion cups were passed out I had asked God’s forgiveness and felt as though fresh oil had been poured upon me. God is so good.

The scripture still drew my thoughts back to the week I had endured and the world we live in. It’s so warped. To most people Easter is just a holiday, not a holy-day. So long as it’s the celebration of Easter bunnies and baby chicks all cute and cuddly nobody has a problem with it, but mention the truth that Christians pause this time of year to celebrate our risen Savior and the world has a problem with us. Delve into the depravity of man that created the need for Jesus to be crucified, and the world gets its little feelings hurt because they’re offended. And not only the world, the church (collectively) has chimed right in with that reasoning. They’ve removed the blood songs from the hymnals and excluded any sermon topics that aren’t politically correct for fear offending the power of the left, and the powers of the right are as week as day old dishwater. How did we get here? How did I get where I was the beginning of this week and stay there throughout! It’s ridiculous.

“Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” as Paul asked. I have no doubt. It’s why I began scribbling the communion glasses on my iPad as the preacher preached last night. One represents the world, the other the purity of the Lord. The worlds glass is dark and tainted with the opinions of man not the doctrine of Christ. I listen to this young man on Instagram for entertainment that I perhaps shouldn’t. But he intrigues me. His name is Christian Walker, and he is the son of retired professional football player Hershel Walker. He is epitome of the world, and has made a name for himself as an out spoken Republican conservative and is praised for his boldness, and the shedding of the typical stuff shirt that the right is usually viewed as. I’ll give him that. He’s definitely not your typical conservative. He’s flaming gay and broadcasts it loud and clear without apology as he professes his Christian faith.

Ummm, doesn’t that go against what the word of God says in Romans 1:25-27 ~ 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.

It sure does! And yet I watch him and enjoy his rants and ravings against the leftest agenda as he ignores his own sin because it’s his lusts, and somehow his sin is okay. That’s warped. But that’s the world we live in and it’s created an unholiness in the church that’s going to make God puke.

Revelation 3:15-16 KJVS

[15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

So what does all that have to do with Easter and Communion? How much value do we place on what Christ did for us? How many times do we compromise in our own beliefs to cater to the world around us, or to our own lusts, pretending they’re the “small sins.”

By the end of the service last night my mind had drifted to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who stood at the foot of the cross that her Son hung on having been beaten beyond recognition, spit on, stripped naked and mocked. I could feel her heart breaking, I could feel the tears sting my own eyes as I tried to imagine that as my child, but couldn’t. It would be too much to bare. I imagined her screaming, “This is my Son! He did nothing but love us!” And with that the shame of my own lack of reverence for the Lord and the things of the Lord stung me. Thank God for grace.

The world may take this day lightly, the day before our Lord arose from the grave. But imagine being there, having witnessed the horrendous events of the days before, and then seeing the tomb empty, feeling your heart burn within you as the men on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:32) Meeting the risen Lord face to face, being with Him, speaking with Him, seeing Him ascend back to Heaven where He awaits our arrival. Glory to God how can we be so lacks when it comes to the Holiness of God?

Following His crucifixion Peter went back to fishing, the other Apostles hid for fear of being the next to be killed, until He arose. And then the gospel was back with a vengeance against Satan’s plot to destroy the Lord.

Well, the vengeance is on us now. Satan has turned the world against us, but we still have the same reasons to rejoice and loudly proclaim Christ arose! But first we must stop cheapening the price He paid by allowing the world to convince us this day is about bunnies. Nothing against bunnies, but our children need to know that it’s about Jesus!

I was one proud Noni this week when my grandson Logan wanted his hat for the Easter Bonnet Parade at his public school to be about the “real meaning” of Easter. I’m proud of His boldness! God…. let me be so bold in my world

Posted in Life Inspiration

Don’t Lose Your Appetite

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

Physically speaking that is usually not an issue with me. My appetite seldom suffers a blow. Upon the rare occasion that it does it’s usually a physical thing, not an emotional issue because stress causes me to seek comfort with a Mr. Bee Potato Chip Bag and a Diet Coke. They of course counterbalance each other and all calories are sacrificially eliminated. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it. But for certain the appetite is a gauge of sort to the inner self.

I don’t think that it’s coincidence that God uses food for sacrifice and illustration so often in the Bible. He knows that it’s something we can identify with and appreciate, it’s a very important part of our lives. In celebration we gather round food, in mourning our family gathers after a funeral service for a meal, the communion table is set with bread and juice and the flavor as it hits my taste buds draws my mind to scripture and the day when God said we’d share it in His presence one day. Glory to God! that is such a special time! Food is important! Whole studies have been done on the importance of nutrition but today my mind is elsewhere.

Lack of appetite with the children of God is rampant when it comes to the things of God both spiritually and physically. I know that there are more causes than possible to list but I think they all fall into three catagories:

We don’t want it.

In Psalm 23 (my refuge Psalm in times of heart ache) David says

¹The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

David didn’t want because the Lord provided his every need. We don’t want because we have too much. Americans are a spoiled nation where we throw away more in a week than many will have in a life time. True story… and because of our overabundance and constant craving for things we have no appetite for the things of God.

We’re too tired for it.

²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

David could lie down in the goodness and protection of God even in the midst of this trial and be at peace because he knew God was in control and that there was purpose in everything.

We run to and fro, and to and fro trying to meet self-made quotas and at the end of the day we collapse in exhaustion without so much as a “Thank You Jesus” for giving me another day. We have no appetite for the things of God because we’re worn out.

We’re not even at the table

³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

In order to eat and be nourished by the good things that God desires for us we have to be in a right relationship with Him. When God desired a sacrifice of Cain and Able, Cain refused obedience to God’s plan. He had this lovely fruit and veggie tray that he’d picked up from the Deli, but God had told him to go to the meat department, not produce. We try so hard to “produce” acceptable works. But God wants obedience… He’s the leader. He restored David’s soul because God was Shepherd of his soul.

We’re afraid of it

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

David could fear no evil because the rod was a rod of correction and the staff was a staff of direction, both were there to keep him safe. We’re afraid to be that close to the Lord and allow Him that kind of control. Just like the sheep David shepherded, he knew that he would be prey were it not for God’s protection.

Dinner’s ready… are you ready for it?

⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Even in the presence of your enemy, whatever that may be: people, finances, relationships, health… God has prepared you the finest of cuisine. Don’t lose your appetite because of what’s going on around you. God’s in the kitchen waiting for you to come in and enjoy this awesome meal and time of fellowship with Him, but you’ve got to slow down… sit and rest… leave the pride and sin outside the door…allow God to guide you… and then sit and feast on His goodness.

This blog was totally for me… but I hope you tasted His goodness in your life too!

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Posted in Uncategorized

Jesus may have rather just had a bologna sandwich

Written by talk2shari Published July 7, 2014 Discussion Leave a Comment

If you’ve been saved any time at all you’ve likely heard a sermon preached from the story of Martha and Mary. And if we’d all be honest, when we imagine “our” role in that sermon we’d like to think that we are Mary. After all she’s the cool spiritual chick hangin’ out with Jesus at a time when women weren’t supposed to be hangin’ out with the boys. And we imagine Martha as some old spinster woman with nothing better to do than tattle on her sister because she’s getting all the attention from the boys. Or perhaps that’s just my warped way of thinking. But the truth of the matter is, I’ve been Martha on more than one occasion! I’m forever the server. I was born with a servant’s heart and because of that sometimes I spend more time serving and worrying about things that have no eternal value, that will surely be hay and stubble, rather than making an eternal difference on myself or someone else.

There’s a difference in working for Jesus and working with Jesus.

Luke 10:38-42

³⁸Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

There are things that absolutely have to get done, else there would be chaos. I get that… mainly because I’m often the root of chaos. But there comes a time when Jesus would rather just have a bologna sandwich and have the extra time to sit and commune with you, than to see you put all of your time into an eight course meal, collapse at the end and be frustrated in the middle. Truth? Indeed.

I don’t think Jesus was chastising Martha, I think He wished she “got it,” just like He wishes we did. When we’re hustling and bustling about in our daily lives whether that’s at work or at home, Jesus is saying, come and sit by me for just a minute and scratch half that stuff off your list.

But in sitting with Jesus, sometimes He it’s too intimate. He starts getting inside our head, and perhaps it reveals more about why we’re doing dishes than we like to confess.

A conversation with Jesus and I might go something like this…

J – Hey Shari, come and sit with me for a while.

S – Okay

J – So, I understand you want out of debt.

S – Yep.

J – Let’s look at your finances.

S – Um… You know what Jesus. How ‘bout some beans and cornbread. It’ll take me just a minute. (so off I go… busy work for Jesus!….And then I’m back.

J – Thanks. Dinner of champion’s right there. How about that family of yours… I know you pray for them, but we don’t talk a lot about a plan for them…

S – Doggone it Jesus, I forgot your coffee! What kind of server am I for Pete’s sake? I’ll be back…. Okay, I’m back. Here’s Your coffee… just like you like it.

J – Awesome that you know how I like My coffee… And yet some of the folks of the church have needs that you know nothing about. When’s the last time you’ve called…

S – Time for dessert! Let me whip up something…

All the while Jesus would have just rather had a bologna sandwich and my attention.

Get the picture? I got it all too well.

Are you serving for Jesus, or with Him?

When’s the last time you and He sat down for a serious soul searching one on one? This is not a “you should” message. This is a “Me too” message.

Love ya… Mean it.