Tag: Peculiar

Posted in Bible Journaling, Church Unity, Faith, Family, Heaven

God’s kids are weird

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on God’s kids are weird

It was up on iPad bible when I opened it up. It happened to be the verse of the day on biblegateway.com. No coincidence… I needed it again. 

1 Peter 2:9 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:

A Chosen Chick 

Every day we need a reminder, or at least I do, that God, the Creator of all chose me. Me. A little nobody from the hills of West Virginia to serve Him and tell the world about His Son. He chose you too by the way. So what are we doing with that information today? 

As a child I was almost always odd man out. I wasn’t athletic, so I was most always one of the last chosen for a game. I wasn’t a talented singer, so I was placed in the background of all productions. I wasn’t overly academic, nope… that would have been an exaggeration. So nobody had high hopes in my future. Least of all me. I was everyone’s  friend, and few people’s girlfriend, until I met David Johnson. Someone who thought I was worth fighting for.  And while that sounds like it should make me a little sad, it does not. It fashioned me into the compassionate, socially aware human that I am. While I always thought God had a plan for my life,  even pre-salvation; the closer to eternity I get, the more I realize how critical it is that we fulfill our created purpose. 

Being chosen is a big deal. Not for kickball, but for Heaven! 

A Royal Reason

A Royal Priesthood? According to the 1828 dictionary, a priesthood is “an order of men set apart for sacred offices.” 2 Timothy 2:21 tells us “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

The “these” of that scripture speaks of things that dishonor Christ. God expects His people to be different than the world we’re living in. That purpose that He’s chosen us for, (not our earthly purpose) but the one we’re working for in Heaven is also a big deal. There is a position awaiting us in Heaven, a title to be given that we know nothing of while we’re here. But be rest assured it’s a big deal up there. We’re not going to be twiddling our thumbs on a cloud, we’re going to have a position in the Royal House of God! Glory to God! We need to be practicing our best royal behavior while here on earth, because God’s watching and He’ll reward us in kind.  

Being Royal is a big deal.

A Holy Home

While America is an amazing Nation, it’s far from Holy! John 15:19 says “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

For the most part, the nation we live in doesn’t even like us. God said it would probably hate us. And yet, we’re called to defend her. That’s tough. But the guiding principles that we were founded on is a worthy defense. 

When David and I were young, he was terribly jealous. I didn’t understand it because it was not an emotion I felt and certainly not one that I cared for.  It made me feel as though he didn’t trust me. But that wasn’t it at all. He feared losing me, because he had witnessed loss in his life. We belong to a Jealous God. He won’t lose us, because it is He who keeps us, but He knows that the world has attractions that will steal our love for Him and pull us toward evil and heartache. He’s protecting us when He desires our separation from this evil world. 

When God “fabricated me,” He put within me desires that would serve the Kingdom. This world would gladly garner those talents for their use but I’ve been “set apart” at the point of salvation. Those gifts and talents are Holy and they’re placed within the home of Christ (my heart) for a purpose.

Being Holy is a big deal. 

A Peculiar People

Some days I feel flat out weird! But it’s okay, God likes it. Not fitting into this world is readying me for the next world. I don’t want to feel at home here, if I do, that  means that I’ve settled for far less than God intended. Not being popular as a child allowed me to walk a path that hadn’t been cut by someone else. Sometimes the things in our life that feel the worst, end up being what makes us the best… an original piece of art, created by God for the Kingdom. 

Christianity can indeed play a significant role in family dynamics and how parents choose to educate and nurture their children. Many families prioritize spending quality time together in activities that reflect their faith, such as attending church services. Additionally, showing love and care for their children may extend to tangible expressions of affection, such as providing them with gifts like tznius clothes or toys. These gestures can serve as symbols of love and also contribute to a sense of belonging and cherished values within a Christian family.

Glory! Being weird is a big deal. 

It’s why 1 Peter 2:9 is my life verse, and on days that I’m feeling a little weirder than usual, I need the reminder of why. 

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Life Inspiration

Remember Who You Are

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Remember Who You Are

In a moment of ministry frustration due to lack of time management and just a feeling of being overwhelmed, a dear friend reminded me to remind myself of what I was called to do. I have a tendency to get bogged down with this, that and the other; sometimes important, sometimes not, and then the things I really desire to get accomplished… just don’t. Combine that with the day to day of life, and the struggles therein and I’ve got a target on my back and I’m in the crosshairs of Satan.

1 Peter 2:9

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.

Remember You are Chosen

Galatians 4:5 says: To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

As non-Jewish Christ believers we were adopted into the family of God. He chose us! That’s an important thing to remember as a child of God, because Satan would love us to believe we are a burden to the Father. And it’s an easy task for him to make me believe that. I fail God continually. So surely He get’s fed up with me not taking the price His Son paid seriously.

The truth is, God knew my faults when He chose me. He knew I’d fail Him. He also knew my heart to serve Him and to be a servant in the Kingdom of God. His Son died so that I could have that opportunity. I couldn’t have become a child of God any other way! I was chosen by God, and if you’ve been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, so were you!

Remember You are Peculiar

That’s not a stretch for me. I’ve always been odd. But this peculiarity is more along the lines of being set apart from the rest of the world for a specific purpose. Our uniqueness of gifts is the very thing that God placed within us for His purpose. Our talents are not our own.

Remember You are Called

I fully believe that God prepared me through childhood to call me to service upon Salvation. He put very odd gifts and desires inside of a strange little West Virginia girl. I would stand in front of the mirror and pretend to be a speaker… not a singer like most kids. I wanted to capture the attention of an audience who came to hear what I had to say. I just didn’t know at that time Who was going to hire me. God did that in 2010. We’re still negotiating salary. For now He provides my every need and listens to me whine when I don’t have what I want. I should just be grateful He’s letting me breath.

So today, I refocus… again. 1 Peter 2:9 – Chosen, Peculiar, Called. – Shari

 

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Faith, Family, Life Inspiration

What a great feeling to know that I know!

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on What a great feeling to know that I know!

Child of God (2)If you know me at all, you know I’m a little on the odd side. I’m a dreamer, a visionary, a doer and planner, a singer of songs, a writer of words and a multimedia artist… and not all those things work out like I’d like them too. As a child I knew I was odd, and for the most part I was okay with it. But there was always that hole in my life that needed filled; the hole that needed to know I belonged. I was raised in a loving home with a huge family and I knew that I was theirs, but I didn’t belong. We moved around a lot when I was very little, but when we finally landed in Calhoun County, West Virginia in 1971, even though we stayed put… I didn’t feel that I ever belonged. I had tons of friends. Real friends, not fake ones. But that didn’t matter, the hole was still there. Perhaps you know where I’m coming from.

In 1996 something drastic happened. That hole was filled with the concrete of salvation and I never again felt that I didn’t belong.

As a new convert I was sitting across from a preacher from out of town that I had just met and we were talking about the gospel and sharing our faith and he said to me, “Shari, you are a peculiar person.” I didn’t even take it as an insult, I knew within me it had a spiritual connotation. And so as soon as I got the chance I went to my concordance to search the word “peculiar.” And lo and behold there it was in 1 Peter 2:9

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;

I claimed it for my own that day. I am a peculiar person. But unpack that verse and it will have you on shouting ground.

Chosen

Not by chance, but handpicked and purposed by God in His ultimate plan for the universe.

Royal priesthood

Not for the world, but employed by the King of kings for servitude in this earthly realm with our heavenly reward yet seen.

Holy nation

Not alone. The day of my salvation put me into a family too numerable to count, who many have prayed for me that don’t even know my name, but uttered a pray for a child of God or a missionary in need and it was me and God answered. O’… I belong!

Peculiar people

Not like the world. The world strives against itself trying to make it; never realizing that it is an unattainable goal to be anything outside of what we are in Christ. Because that is our eternal purpose.

I’ve read 1 Peter 2:9 many times, but this morning was one of those ‘aha’ kind of days that God opened my mind to His word and said “Here is where I showed you that you belong. No go and tell someone else who needs to understand that truth.”

So there it is. I hope you get it… because it’s an awesome feeling to know to Whom you belong!