Posted in Bible Journaling, Heaven, Life Inspiration, salvation, Uncategorized

Don’t Gamble with Eternity

David didn’t Gamble with the Day
There are some days where when I feel the favor of God so richly on my life that I am ashamed of the countless ways I fail Him. And then there are days when I absolutely feel that there is a target on my back that marks me for every demonic spirit in the world. Murphy’s law has nothing on Shari’s odds. It’s a good thing I’m not a gambler. I don’t gamble and I don’t play games with God. But I feel that there are people who do. I guess King David did as well. 

Psalm 5:1-12 KJVS

[1] Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. [2] Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. [3] My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord ; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Bright and early in the morning David started his conversations with God. He didn’t wait until he was in trouble and then “hope” God would listen. I can feel the conviction on my own life on that one. I’m not nearly the prayer warrior I once thought I was. But then of course I’ve always said that I thought I was a prayer warrior until I realized all my prayers started with, “Oh God forgive me.” How would I feel if my children only spoke to me when they were in trouble? Praise God that’s not an issue, because I know I would feel unappreciated and unloved for certain. Is that how God feels? Do I cause God to feel unloved? God forgive me if I do. Sometimes I feel like I need a conversation starter, with people and with God. How’s this for a starter: God, what’s on Your heart for me, and what can I do for You today? 

The moment I typed that I felt His gentle Spirit massage my soul. I know my heart has much turmoil right now. I have people that I love who are hurting. I’m hurting. I’ve had friends move on to eternity this week and my heart is broken for their people. My daughter Whitney had kids going in multiple directions a few days ago and her little Party Schnauzer, who goes by the name of Maggie, was staying with me. Whitney finished her day and went on home without remembering where Maggie was. All evening Maggie watched for her people who didn’t come. The next day when Whitney and the kids returned, Maggie’s disposition changed. She ran to them, excited her people were home. That’s how it will be for us all some day! All our people will be home. But until then, life will have heartache. Please pray for the peace of my husbands family, whose  son Marty passed away due to Covid this week. For my friend Sue whose sister won her race for Heaven. And for the Stull family, whose sister Leona, and wife of Clay, is having a grand reunion with her siblings that passed before her.  

We never know when a day starts, what it will bring. It’s good to start the conversation before the crisis.

Don’t Gamble that there’s nothing in the Dark

[4] For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. [5] The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. [6] Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

I’ve never been a fan of the dark, but I can’t say that I haven’t walked on the edge of darkness. There are things in my past that I look back on and think… “how could I have ever thought that it was okay to be involved with that?” It wasn’t as if I was involved with the mafia, but I’ve had some people in my life that took me to some pretty dark places, be it literally or just in my mind. It’s why I’m so concerned for the youth in my life. The world around them shows darkness in a bright and shiny way. It’s seems like an oxymoron. But if I say the name “Hollywood,” you likely know immediately what I mean. It certainly glistens, but the darkness in that city is something we cannot imagine. But are we gambling that there’s nothing in the darkness around our world? 

Our kids our getting ready to head back to school. Just so you know, it’s dark there. Don’t gamble that there’s nothing there. Warn them, pray for them, talk to them and to God about them.

Don’t Gamble that you have another Sunday

[7] But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. [8] Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. [9] For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. [10] Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. [11] But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. [12] For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

There’s countless people that thought they’d live to see another day, but they did not, our relationship with God doesn’t end at noon on Sunday when the service does. For many people it didn’t even start. They’re waiting for life to settle down so they’ll have time for God. My brother was 19 when he was killed in a car accident.The Wolf of Law Street attorneys helped us in claiming the compensation as he was killed out of third party negligence. I’ve never had the promise of tomorrow. But that still didn’t stop me from being stupid until I was 34 when I got saved. Praise God for His multitude of mercy. It’s one of the many reasons I go to His house on Sunday. Here’s a list of a few of the reasons I go to church:

  1. He has been merciful to my soul without me deserving it.
  2. He guides me through life and shares His destination with me.
  3. He allows no enemy to come at me without His protection of me
  4. Many are those who have forsaken me, but never God.
  5. People talk smack. God speaks nothing but the truth.
  6. I trust Him.
  7. He brings such joy.
  8. He blesses me beyond measure
  9. I feel His favor in my life. 
  10. He gave His Son that I might have an eternal life with my children and family. Can you think of a better reason? Can you think of a reason you shouldn’t go? If you can… send it to me in a message and let me talk to you about it and pray for you. 

God is amazing. 

Posted in Life Inspiration

I was in the wrong spot!

chick tetelestai

Do you ever get so tired of the battle that you’re ready to throw your hands up in the air and cry uncle, or aunt, I surrender or Calgon take me away! The Lord knows I’m there. Everyday there are decisions. I understand the words of Joel when he said in Joel 3:14

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

Those who had come to fight against God’s people would meet with the Lord’s decision, but in the meantime…the Lord’s people are still caught in the decisions of others and perhaps decisions of their own. Which way to I go?

A friend from church gave me a bracelet yesterday with the Greek word “Telelestai” on it. That is to say “It is Finished!” Christ’s final words on the cross of Calvary. Joy floods my soul to think of the meaning of those three words, a song fills my heart; I strummed it for a while on the guitar last night. I’m not sure if it will be a song for the ears of others, or just from my heart to God’s, but I needed it. I needed to hear those words… for I am in the valley of decision. I need to know, and perhaps today you do as well, that “IT IS FINISHED!”

The decisions that lie before me are old news to God; He knows the end result. What stresses me out is that I am in the valley and the enemy may or may not lie in wait on the other side of the hill. I just don’t know. Because that’s how Satan and his band of warriors work, in the dark shadows of the mountain. We’re not only not promised a rose garden, we may have a few briar patches to fight our way through. When God is about to do something amazing the powers of Hell work to thwart it, God works in the Light and His work is made manifest to all who desire to know. If you can’t see God at work you’re probably not looking in the right spot.

I’ve realized today the valley of decision is not mine. That’s the enemies spot. My spot is just below the crest of the hill, right under the Lord’s wings as He makes way for whatever lies ahead. I’ve read and heard that “valley of decision” verse forever and a considered it a passage for the life of a Christian, for we too have decisions to make, but not from a valley vantage point.

It is finished! The battles that we fight are but sign posts along the route to victory. Stick with the plan… His plan!

John 19:30 ~ When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Posted in Life Inspiration

When the enemy’s close, God is closer!

Camp is three days out for the teens at Victory Baptist Church, and I don’t know if they’re more excited about it or me! I have a few first year campers who are uncertain of what to expect; they just know that the other campers are excited so they are too! Me, I’m always excited to see what the Lord will do. So this morning as I searched God’s Word for a word about camp I found a word about camp and life.

Exodus 14

1And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Who hasn’t known what it was like to have that enemy closing in on them? Just when you think life’s under control and then suddenly on the back of your neck you feel that hot, nasty breath. My stomach churns just to think about it. You’re in a predicament, you’ve prayed and have direction… and now this. Why? I wonder what the children of Israel are thinking as they leave in amazement with the enemy paying their way, there is rejoicing and gladness and then from behind them they hear the hooves of the enemy’s horses. Good grief I hope we get to watch the real movie on IMAX when we get to Heaven, I’ll bet it was a sight to behold.

When the children left there was no doubt the glory of God was on their journey, after all His presence in the cloud hovered above them and guided them out. Now all they needed to do was move forward, but there was the sound in the background…clickety clock, clickety clock, clickety clock… it was if their time was running out. They were on foot with babies and belongings, how could they possibly out run those horses?! And then in real time that cloud moved. What was once above them guiding the way now moved between them and the enemy and while it still provided light on their side, the other side was pitch black and confusing.

The Word of God is proven much the same way today for the sinner and the saint. On the sinners side it’s darkness for there is no light for their path, no guiding force, just a dark path of uncertainty without hope. But on the side of the saint, Glory!!! We have the light that not only guides our way but shields us from the darkness behind. The enemy may be close, but God is closer and above all mightier!

That’s the message I want for my teens this coming week. I want them to understand that they serve the God of Israel, and what that God did for Israel, He’ll do for them. I’ve had my own clickety clock, clickety clock this week. That feeling of impending doom… My God is going before me, and He’s got my back. How’s your week going? In need of prayer, I love the opportunity!