Tag: divine appointment

Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration, Purpose

Don’t Dis Appoint Yourself

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Don’t Dis Appoint Yourself

chick appt

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.

CLICK BELOW TO FOLLOW OR MESSAGE ME ON FACEBOOK

chick encourage 2

Error: Contact form not found.

Posted in Christian Service, Leadership, Life Inspiration, salvation

The Boundary Setter

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Boundary Setter

2 Timothy 1:9-11 ~ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

I love scripture that affirms eternity past and future, purpose and position in life. It makes sense of my nonsensical world. Timothy was a young believer and Pastor privileged to be mentored by none other than the great apostle Paul. Paul’s burden for Timothy was apparent in his letters to him, and their mutual respect for another’s genuine faith. He was touched by Timothy’s tender heart, verse 4 says ~ Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;” and as Paul’s time grew short on earth he was grateful to have a comrade on the battlefield in whom he could depend. Paul and Timothy’s faith allowed them to apply the past to the purpose of the present so that their future could be anticipated with promise.

The planning in the past

Before the world began God’s plan was in action and I was in it! I know, it shocks even me that with all of God’s planning and time I wouldn’t have turned out better. But it’s not about me or my abilities (my works) it’s about His own purpose. That’s where it gets foggy for me. I try to impose my disabilities on God’s abilities. God says show up as you are and He will use us where we are, but so often I think there has to be advanced planning. There was….in eternity past God provided the grace we’d need for today. It’s already there before our feet hit the floor in the morning.

The purpose of the present

is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Manifest – meaning it’s now made known. I know, I know, if you’re like me you don’t see it often times either. But it’s there in the evidence of Christ at work in your life. I’m amazed at the awesome people that God puts in my life at specific times; those who have just appeared at the right time. Every pivotal experience in my life generally has a new person involved that made it possible. God working through them. But even more amazing than that is when “I’m that person.” I fear that I’m missing the boat of opportunity because I don’t often step up or out when God nudges me for fear of stepping over the bounds. However, who’s bounds am I in fear of stepping over, God’s or mans.

Acts 17:24-27 says “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitiation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

I love that! The boundaries that God has set were determined from the beginning of time and so long as I continue to search for Him, He’ll continue to direct my paths and place people in my path. I need to stop focusing on the boundaries and spend more time focusing on the boundary setter.

The promise of the future

…who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Christ came to provide eternal life through the light of the Gospel, and He chooses to use vessels like you and I to spread that hope.  If we’ve been saved, we’ve received the appointment; it’s on our schedules whether we want it or not. Someone, somewhere needs to see Christ in you today, their future may depend on it.