Posted in Eternity, Faith, Leadership, Life Inspiration

How to Shut up the Stupid People

An Independence Day Message

Let’s be frank. There’s too many stupid people to shut them all up. But there’s a biblical way that may work on a few in your neighborhood. It’s found in the book of 1 Peter where he speaks to the redeemed of Christ, (that’s us) reminding us that we should be more like the nature of God than the nature of man. We should be holy and righteous in our daily walk so that the unsaved world can see the light of Christ. 

Peter doesn’t say it will be easy. He was the apostle crucified upside down. He quite obviously was willing to put his money where his mouth was. Where is there faith any where close today?And where is there committed Christian Americans who are willing to walk for Christ in honor of the temporary country they’ve been given by God. There is such a lack of respect in America right now that it’s more popular to be anti-American than patriotic. And within the church it is getting more  popular to take the holiness and righteousness out of the church and replace it with worldly apathy so that anything goes and nobody is offended. Preach! I say. Ain’t it the truth?

And so Peter did Preach it.

1 Peter 2:9-17 KJVS

[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:

That’s my life verse! I was born to be peculiar. 

Let’s see some Bling!

This country needs to see some Christians standing out in the crowd for what they know is right. Someone shining the light of Christ while standing up for the foundational truths that this nation was founded on. One Nation under God.  People who are willing to fight for what they believe in.

It’s not hard for me to speak Christ when I remember the dark place that I came from. The place where Christ called me out of. It’ was literally like stepping out of a dark cave, where I felt alone and frightened, into the light of day where I had friends waiting for me and a support system like I’d never had. I had family who loved me, but I felt they had to. That was a rule. But I’d never had this genuine relationship with a body of people who were working for the same goal. And the goal was to love on and take as many people with to Heaven as possible. That should be what the world sees when they see the church. But unfortunately too many Christians can’t get the world out of themselves. They don’t realize how important God thinks they are. They are a “royal priesthood.” 

Put on Your Crown!

Your not an ordinary person. You used to be, but now you’re someone highly important and you should live like you are. 

Peter said:

 [10] Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. [11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; [12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

While America is our home for the time being, we are still considered pilgrims, just as Peter called them in his day. We are a visitor in this land, never meant to put down roots like we’re going to be here forever.  When I go out of town and stay with someone I don’t move in like I’m never leaving. I treat their home and them with respect, and honor their ways, even if it’s not something that I would do at my house, so that when I leave I’ll be spoken well of. 

That’s how we should walk through this world. People should love to see a Christian coming as they would if the King and Queen of another nation were coming to visit. Think of a time when you had visitors that weren’t the best kind of visitors. They’d didn’t leave you with the desire to invite them back. Kind of like the people in Seattle that destroyed their own town. Who in their right mind would want to invite them into their city or their home. 

So if we represent God in our hometown, what should people see when they visit us? If we are the representatives of Christ here on the earth, the royal people of God, what should we do when we meet people in every day life? Should we expect them to bow? No! We’re in their land. We should be treating them with respect. We should also be oozing the goodness of God to the point hat they can’t wait to be in our presence again. But is that the case?

What do your friends and family see in you? What do they hear from you? And leaving their presence better than when you arrived? Or are they telling their neighbors that they’re glad you’re going? There used to be a slogan at Victory Baptist Church that said “Discover the Difference.” Is there still a difference?

Don’t Ask Anyone to Kiss Your Ring

[13] Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; [14] Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. [15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: [16] As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. [17] Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

While we’re just visitors in this foreign land and our actual home is in Heaven with God; unless He decides to take us home, we’re going to be here a while. So what should we be doing?

Submission

A terribly dirty word in society today. Everyone wants their own way. But that is not God’s way. His way is for us to submit and humble ourselves as visitors in a foreign land. If it’s a new decree that citizens are to wear purple on Fridays. Wear purple, what’s it going to hurt? There’s nothing in the scripture that says you shouldn’t wear purple. But if they make it a decree that we’re to wear a rainbow in support of pride, what should we do? Sorry folks, that’s where I draw the line. And I would hope that I have respected people enough on the ordinary laws they’ve made, that when I stand out against matters that are biblically incorrect, people will honor me because of my kindness.  But maybe not. I’ve certainly seen it both ways with the mask mandate. 

I humbled myself many times and wore the mask. Other times I had a rebellious spirit that said no. I’ll be honest, I’m probably not the poster child for Peter’s verse when it come to that issue. But I always tried to explain in kindness that I didn’t mind people wearing them, but I can’t breathe with them on. So I opt to breathe. I hope you don’t mind! I wasn’t using my liberty as a “cloke of maliciousness” as Peter said. But there have been some who did. 

While Christ is the Son of God, and came from Heaven which we have never seen. Was perfect in every way, that’s not what He flaunted when He came to earth. He did not have people kiss His ring and bow to Him. He didn’t even wear a ring. He came humble, not even having a home to live in. So what is expected of us?

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Respect everyone. Saved and unsaved alike. 

Love the people of the church. They are our people!!!         

Understand who is the sovereign leader of our Nation. It’s not the senile old man in the White House, but he our president. And unless it goes against scripture, I’ll honor what they say. And then perhaps, they’ll keep their mouth shut and won’t prove themselves ignorant. 

Posted in Life Inspiration

A Skyrocketing Revelation!

The chaos of unbelievers and naysayers changes nothing in the order of God. If the saved could get a hold of that, it really would be a skyrocketing revelation. Myself included. In this free country where freedom of speech tears at the very fabric of our faith and causes us pain, fear and confusion, it does nothing to change Who God is. This world may be full of utter chaos and it may have gone drastically downhill since the ages of old when churches were filled, but it still does not change God. The God of the 1850’s Great Awakening is the same God of the sparsely attended American revivals of today. He didn’t change, we did. Our priorities as a nation and our personal allowance of outside interference to our own relationship with God has squelched the Holy Spirit’s moving in our churches. Revivals have become nothing more than annual “events” with very little (if any) change in the lives of those who attend.

On this Fourth of July, when we’re celebrating the birthday of our nation, founded on Christ, whether or not anyone wants to confess that fact, I felt it was a good time for me to remember that the God of order is not out of order.

Isaiah 24:6-9

Only One Big “G”

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Allah, Buddah, Venus, Aphrodite or any thing else the world calls a god, still doesn’t get a big G. They can pray to it, dance for it or swear by it and it changes nothing. But as a child of the Living God, my prayers are heard, answered and in the Lord’s will they’ll change things! Capital G makes a difference.

Only One God Who Can See

And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.

Prophecy after prophecy has been fulfilled in the Bible. If God speaks it, it’s going to happen, and that bother’s people. Nobody wants to hear the worlds going to end and God has an order for it. He has appointed people into places of authority since creation and He’s still appointing people who will no doubt have their share of cause and effect in the end time events. Add to those prophesies fulfilled, God’s promises made, and we should be rejoicing like no body has ever seen. As scary as times can be, if you are a child of God this should be a time of excitement too knowing that your God is going to see you through it all.

Only One True Peace

Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

All the “delectable” things of the world that appears to satisfy the souls of men means nothing. We know it, and yet we still desire it because we are so very human. As I struggled with my computer again and again this morning I could very easily fall into that mode of vanity where I thought I was justified in my desires. But in my heart, I could hear the Lord saying, “Shari, you have the one thing that everyone in the world wants. Peace. You have been given the privilege to be my witness and share that with a lost world. When those in the world stand ashamed because they denied me, you shall receive My Glory.

That’s a Skyrocketing Revelation for me! It makes fireworks inside my mind to think I serve the God of the universe Who is the only true God. The only one who has an order and a purpose for everything in this world and I’m a part of His team. I hope you know Jesus Christ as Savior. He was the finishing touch of God’s final plan for order. There had to be a sacrifice worthy to pay the price of all our sin, and the only sacrifice that would pay that price was God’s Son, Jesus. He died to pay the price for every sin we commit, so that on our final day, when all is said and done, we will be found worthy to enter that Holy City where our God dwells. No body else’s gods promise anything close to what we will receive.

Only One!!!! Glory! He’s mine.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Faith, Uncategorized

The Liberating Life of Salvation

No automatic alt text available.Not knowing the exact date of my salvation, I, for the longest time, claimed Independence Day as my Salvation date. Perhaps that sounds strange to you that I didn’t know the exact date that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior; but for that insight you’d have to understand a little of my background with religion. To sum it up, I knew church (religion) I didn’t know Jesus. So when I started the journey to the realization that I needed saved I had to get past the fact that I was indeed lost. Religion teaches salvation is what I do, not what I couldn’t do. So I was, therefore, bound to the lie that I had to do something. And even when I realized that I needed saved and made that confession of faith in my heart, I didn’t tell the world for the longest time because they assumed I had been saved. And so I lived defeated again for some time by not proclaiming that salvation experience aloud. But I did loose myself from that lie eventually that Satan kept whispering in my ear… “you’re not saved.”

Galatians 5:1 – Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Loosing the Lies

So often churches today teach that being in church is the relationship with God. That is no truer than a stranger in my house being my child. If I did not give you birth (or adopt you), you are not mine. And if you were not “born again” (John 3:3) you are not a child of God. So at the beginning of my journey, February 18, 1996 I had to get religion out of the way. A notable date (one because it’s my Mama’s birthday) and two because that was the first day I heard the gospel in such a manner that it made me go “hmmmm.” And I continued to go “hmmmm” for several months because I couldn’t un-hear what the world had filled my ears with…

  • You’re fine.
  • You go to church
  • You serve in the church
  • You live right (ish)

The fact was I always lived defeated. There was no peace in my life. A constant fear of knowing just enough about the return of Christ to be dangerous, caused anxiety in the greatest proportion. So the discovery of Christ Jesus turned my anxiety into assurance when I realized the work was done. At least for the salvation end of it. Now was the fun part. Service! That I could do.

Laboring In Love

Galatians 5:13 – For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

We’re not saved to set, we’re saved to serve and I have always had a servant’s heart. Learning the purpose of that heart was liberating. So claiming Independence Day was twofold. I was independent (sanctified) from the world that continually judged my efforts and very dependent upon the God who embraced my efforts. That feeling was like a 4th of July Fire Works display. I “oooooooh” and “aaaaahhhh” every time God allows me to do anything for Him. I stand amazed that He has put me into the positions He has. I’ve never grown out of love, nor have I lost the excitement of salvation. I pray I never do. But I see people let it go all the time. And that amazes me ever more.

Romans 8:21 – Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Laying Hold of the Liberty

After 21 years of laying hold of that liberty apostle Paul speaks of, I have no intention of letting it loose now.

Paul told the Corinthians 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I receive a clean slate every day (Lamentations 3:22-23) Being saved doesn’t stop me from making mistakes, the old Shari still has to make her presence known quite often. But what it does do is it gives me the freedom not to stay in the feeling of failure that kept me so defeated pre-salvation. God is faithful and just to forgive. Meaning that as His creation, He is the only one who has the authority to clean you up like that.

Natalie Grant summed it up in her song “Clean.” I’ve posted the link below. I pray you’re celebrating your independence day in the freedom of Christ Jesus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ol1V-sj1gc

Posted in Life Inspiration, Political, Prayer

10 things to Pray for on the 4th of July

chick eagle 2

Whether or not we agree with our Nation’s direction, and let me be clear… I don’t, we are still obligated as children of God and it is for our own benefit that we pray for our Nation and leaders. And by prayer I don’t mean that we pray for a pot fall from a window and take them out. Tomorrow is July 4; a day to celebrate independence. Because of current and past men and women serving our country and willing to risk their lives for our protection we continue today to have the freedom to pray openly and are given a biblical mandate to do so.

Paul, in his instruction to Timothy said, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,   prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” – 1 Timothy 2:1-3

Paul understood what it was like to lose your freedom. The very people he was instructing the church to pray for had beat and imprisoned him. Although we are often beat down spiritually here in America, I’ve never been beaten and cast in prison physically. We are without excuse for not praying.

Here’s a few things on my prayer list today for our country:

I pray…

1.    That the leadership of our Nation, States and Communities feel the conviction of the Lord Jesus Christ to seek His wisdom.

2.    That the children of God in authority are bold to proclaim His Word and the Sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ.

3.    I pray for a hedge of protection around our Country and that the power of Heaven would thwart any efforts to bring harm in our land by the enemy, especially on our Nation’s day of celebration.

4.    That church leadership who have lost the genuine Word of God, would find it again and call their people together and tell them they have found the book as they did in 2 Kings 22:8.

5.    I pray that our military, here and abroad would have the mighty hand of God shielding them from attack and that in so doing the enemy would fear our God as the other nations feared the God of Israel (our God) in 2 Chronicles 20:29 – And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.

6.    I pray for humility. For all of the United States to acknowledge Who God is.

7.   That hearts tremble tomorrow in reverence of our Lord for how He has protected America.

8.   For our children who have never known a godly nation. I pray that there are those set before them who are godly showing them the way to Christ Jesus.

9.    I pray that the churches, especially my own will line the altar and pray for America this Sunday.

10.  I pray for me… and you should pray for you… that we are who God needs us to be for our people.

Gen. George Washington issued this decree on March 6, 1776, calling for a day of fasting and prayer as our country began its long and bloody battle for independence:

“Set apart … as a day of fasting, prayer and humiliation, to implore the Lord and Giver of all victory to pardon our manifold sins and wickedness, and that it would please Him to bless the Continental Arms with His divine favor and protection—all officers and soldiers are strictly enjoined to pay all due reverence and attention on that day to the sacred duties due to the Lord of hosts for His mercies already received and for those blessings which our holiness and uprightness of life can alone encourage us to hope through His mercy to obtain.”

We are blessed to live in the land of the free, but as Christians we are blessed with a freedom far greater than that provided by our nation. The blood of Jesus Christ our Lord freed us from the bondage of sin, and gave us the opportunity to commune with the Lord Himself through the Holy Spirit. That freedom should never be taken for granted.

 

Posted in Uncategorized

America the beautiful… a tad “too” independent

Jude 1:4

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

My Pastor preached this verse in a sermon many years ago, under the title “Creeps in the Church.” It’s another one of his many sermons that I am reminded of periodically, as if God is reminding me, “Don’t become one of them, Shari.” Them? The creeps. Antinomians (those who believe grace excuses immorality.) This is not a God Bless America blog,”This is a God Blessed America, and now we’re blowing it” blog! There is an urgency in my soul to tell every Christian I meet not to buy the lies of dead religion. Who told you that church was no longer important? Who told you that your children would “eventually” come back around? The creeps, that’s who told you.

The creeps believe that once you’ve been saved you can live in any manner under grace. And while I am a “once in grace always in grace” believer, I also believe you had to have obtained genuine grace, and once you do, you’ll not live in habitual sin. The Holy Spirit will be will be on you like white on rice, and you’ll know that you should not. But America, our Christian nation, has become so independent in our lives that we think God’s got us covered regardless of our whether or not that life is backed up by Bible principles. We’re not the creeps… we’re the decent people…

We have decent sins.

  • Sunday school is no more important than the quality time I spend with my family on Sunday morning, neither is Sunday Worship, evening Service or Wednesday evening services. (And the children see… God is second, or third, or even further in place.)
  • I don’t want to offend people with the gospel by constantly talking about Jesus. (And you didn’t know that you were the only gospel they were going to get.)
  • I don’t pray over my food, it makes people around me uncomfortable. (And yet God provided the job and the means for us to eat while 10,000 mothers weep because they have nothing to feed their babies.)
  • I’ve done my time in church service, let the young people take over. (See my first point, they’re not there.)

What we’re saying is I don’t need God in my life. We have declared our independence from the God who brought us liberty to live in this place.  We’re not antinomians, or are we? They are adulterous, lying, thieves who justify their behavior by the blood of Jesus. And yet James 4:17 says “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

It’s a sin issue for the creeps and for the “decent people.”

I pray we declare our dependence again on the God of All creation. God, help us to be a blessing to You, You’ve already blessed us.