Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, joy, Life Inspiration, Music, Word of God

Creative Armor

Written by talk2shari Published January 19, 2021January 19, 2021 Discussion Leave a Comment

So yesterday (against my will, kinda kidding) I received the Covid Vaccine. When I say against my will, I meant that I really didn’t want to take it. But the hubs and the daughter thought I should, and so I did. There is a rebellious side to this Jesus Chick that doesn’t like being told what to do. Sometimes even by God if I’m being honest. But especially by the government. When they gave me my little “passport” card it made me slightly nauseous. And so it begins… my permission slip to travel, to go to a concert, to live. Does it sound like I’m bitter? Well maybe a little. I came home and took my frustrations out on my guitar, which in hindsight with a sore arm this morning may not have been such a good idea. Rebellion comes with a price.

But it all got me to thinking about prevention. You know… an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I believe that; I’m just terrible at practicing it. Except spiritually. I’m a “little” better at that. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. A worthy study this morning is from the book of Ephesians, a well known and quoted verse in the Christian circles, but it certainly takes on a weightier meaning in present day.

Ephesians 6:11-18 KJVS

[11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Wiles: devious or cunning stratagems employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants:

There isn’t any earthly armor that will stop that bullet. But there is something that will stop it. The Word of God. If I don’t begin my day in Bible Study, I begin it in a weakened condition. I’ve already allowed penetration points in my armor. I’m not sure what was in that vaccine yesterday, but supposedly some form of concoction that will sure up my body against an attack of the Rona. Spiritual battles are far more complicated to predict, and individualized, but one similarity for certain is that they both attack the weak. The virus attacks the weakened immune, the devil and his tribe attacks the weakened in spirit.

That’s what’s wrong with most churches and most Christians. Folks show up on Sunday, take a dose of medicine from the preacher and then head back out into the world. But come Monday morning, some of his words were forgotten, the spiritual high you had when you left church is beginning to fade, and Satans minions are on you like white on rice. You could refortify the armor but, you’ve got a busy day, or Facebook is calling, Instagram is rolling and you need your peeps! No, we need God.

Speaking from experience, the second I enter the passcode to my phone Satan has me on a downhill slope to Socialville. It’s a great place… til it’s not. Much like Covid it’s a communicable disease. It attacks without warning, crippling the spirit through cunning strategies of Satan. Manipulating our minds and persuading us to do what the world wants us to do. Comply. Accept their norm as our norm.

In a month or so, I have to go back for Maderna part 2. A booster to the shot I received yesterday. That’s what daily bible study is. It’s a booster to the word you received on Sunday! I know life happens, but in some form or another, your have got to get the word into you. For me it’s either bible study, preaching or podcasts. I listen to Christian based news on Blaze, I avoid liberal media and people as best I can, unless it’s for the purpose of soul winning. And that mind set is another avenue to strengthening my armor. If I have in my mind to win souls for Christ, I’m not thinking of them as foul mouthed liberals with an anti conservative attitude. I’m thinking of them as an unsaved child that needs God.

Another tool for buckling up the Armor of God (at least for me) is creativity. The happiness I glean from being creative helps my mind shield the negative thoughts that Satan would like to pummel me with. Whether it’s music, art, or crafting around the house I fully believe God put desires like that (or others) that keeps our mind active and protected from wicked influences. Maybe creativity is not your thing, but I guarantee there’s a spot in your brain with a desire to do something that makes you happy. Take time for it today!

I did a pod cast on Saturday called “Thank God for Grace.” It’s less than a ten minute listen, but it encourages you to get creative with a project of the week. The link is at the top of this page under “The Jesus Chick Podcast” tab. I hope to do those every Saturday, and maybe even expand into some other bible studies. I do that as much for me as anyone else. Because every creative thing I do for the Lord helps to keep one of Satan’s wicked darts from penetrating my mind, or heart. Spiritual battles scare me. Because one that burns out of control can take a child of God from the mountain to valley very quickly.

So here’s my advice for us all. Get creative for Jesus. Or organizational or cleaning or what ever it is that floats your boat and makes your soul happy in Christ.

Blessings!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Grace, Life Inspiration, Peace, Praise

The God I Know

Written by talk2shari Published July 6, 2019May 10, 2022 Discussion Leave a Comment

For the past week, you may, or may not have notice my lack of presence on social media.

In the world of rural West Virginia, for lack of another terminology, crap happens. My niece-in-love Kaitlin was traveling the highway in front of our home, as well as a dump truck that had just unloaded his bed. In thinking that the bed was completely down he began moving on the road, when it turns out the bed was still partially up. He then clipped our phone and internet cables, which was bad, but; but also in the process it broke a bolt from the truck projecting it like a shotgun shell through Kaitlin’s truck windshield where it lodged. (see photo below) Which was a nightmare that I can’t even fathom. Accidents can happen at any time. You may get into an accident and your car may be wrecked while driving to work. In such cases, you can hire an attorney who can help you get compensation for the injuries or damages caused.

Without the providential hand of God, this story could have ended so much worse. I’m sure it’s a thought that ran through Kaitlin’s family’s mind on more than one occasion. I’m so grateful that she’s okay. I’m so thankful that I know that God!

Because of Kaitlin’s truck accidents in Beaufort, it caused me to spend far less time on social media. I was not entirely without service. If I walked around the house or yard, held my hand and my mouth just right, I could get enough service to get the occasion message or post through to my phone. I’m a sad and desperate social media junkie. I need help! (Insert smile here)

But I spent my time journaling the book of Jude, verse by verse. Which I’ve only made it to verse 13 of the 25. There’s just so much meat in the book! I could chew on one verse for days and not get all the flavor out of it. So I share with you today, Verses 9 and 10 and a few of my thoughts on religion and why I’m so glad I know the God of that bolt!

Yahweh-Shammah

The LORD is There

Satan loves religion! So we find him in verse 9 arguing with Michael the archangel; but Michael is refusing to argue back. I’m not that strong. I run my mouth to Satan on a pretty regular basis. But the scripture is clear that it wasn’t Michael’s fight. And I fear that I may have fought more than a few battles with Satan that weren’t mine to fight.

As I understand it from commentary, Satan wanted the body of Moses to be buried where the people would be able to set up a monument, which would become a shrine. Far be it from the children of Israel to worship something other than God, and their great respect for Moses (occasional) and reverence (with days of hypocrisy) would have likely caused them to take their eyes from their true deliverer, which was God!

El Shaddai

Lord God Almighty

He was the One with the power to deliver, not Moses. He may choose to use people, or like in the circumstances of Kaitlin, He may just stop a bolt bullet. None the less, He is God Almighty! And worthy of praise!

In verse 10, it is a continuation from verse 8, which speaks to the people of Jude’s day (which sound a lot like the people of our day). It says they were filthy dreamers, defiling the flesh, despising dominion and speaking evil of dignities. Sound like American politics to you? Politics and religion are close in relation. Satan loves when both make it into church house conversations because they are sure to cause division with “most” people. But not a church whose focus is the unity and leadership of God.

Jehovah Raah

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Michael the archangel had a relationship with God, not a religion. He knew the Lord well enough to know that he did not need to argue with Satan, but leave that conversation to God, Who will put the smack down on Satan in the end of our story! Glory to God! Even though Michael, a spiritual being, had the power to kill thousands, and would have no doubt been a worthy adversary of Satan, he was strong enough to shut up. I’m not that strong. I am more often than not in the natural. It is in that mindset that we corrupt our relationship with God. Because we don’t allow Him to have control of us.

I’m so, so very grateful that Kaitlin is safe and is the momma of three beautiful little girls and can continue raising them. And I’m grateful that through her safety, I learned many lessons from the book of Jude. Including the fact that I can rest in the knowledge that God has my world in His control.

Satan may be the little “g” god of this world. But he can only go so far as the Lord will allow! Glorrraaaaaay!

Jehovah Shalom

The Lord Is Peace

Posted in Bible Journaling, Eternity, Life Inspiration, Peace, Prayer

Getting in Tight With God

Written by talk2shari Published June 4, 2018June 4, 2018 Discussion 2 Comments

To say that open heart surgery brings on a realization of mortality is a likely an understatement. We all have somewhat of a an understanding of it, but when suddenly the single organ in your body that keeps you alive isn’t functioning correctly, you realize how very, very close we are to eternity. Literally one heartbeat away. You also realize how very important that relationship with God is. I wasn’t too awfully worried about politics, world antics or uncompleted goals and the fact that I’ve yet to master many, many chords on the guitar. I wanted to feel my Father stroke my hair and say “Shari, I’m here with you, you’re okay.” And so it was. He did not leave me nor forsake me and for the record, there were no dark hours, because where He is, is Light. I share this so you’ll know if a time comes (which I pray not) that you find yourself in one of those predicaments, He will not leave you either.

So this morning as I read the Lord’s Prayer, it was oh… so… sweet. and each word took on a deeper meaning. Six petitions, (three relating to God’s honor, three relating to our own concerns.

Matthew 6:9

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.

FATHER: Creator, Redeemer, Adopter of me, an unworthy urchin of the Gentiles. Brought into a royal family, a blood bought nation, who though many of them have no earthy blood connection, treat me like a true sister through Christ Jesus. They prayed for me and petitioned Heaven on my behalf because they too love the Father, who we call Jesus. He hears our cry, just as an earthly father would and stays by our side. I know… I felt His presence in the hospital, ambulance, operating room and recovery. There is power in the name of Jesus! Our Father in Heaven, and also within the heart of His child.

HALLOWED: Sanctified and set apart. There is none like Him. There is no other name on earth that can calm a raging storm in your life or bring an unexplainable peace upon you through the storm. Buddha, Allah, nor any other of the countless gods this world calls upon have the power of Jesus. And those who encourage people to “call upon the god of their choice” are allowing the demons of Hell to open a door of torment to someone already in trouble. Praise God for He Who calmed my sea. HIS NAME IS JESUS!

Vs. 10 – Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.

THY WILL BE DONE: That’s a hard one for someone like me that needs control. So when I lay flat on my back without even the ability to go potty by myself, I suddenly understood that God was truly in control. He took every single earthly power I had away. It was just He and I. Like it always had been, but I had had forgotten. His will is for a relationship with His children that cause them to work toward all things eternal, not earthly. There is no fear in running towards Jesus, but there is a definite fear of leaving behind those who do not know Him.

Vs. 11 – Give us this day our daily bread.

DAILY BREAD: Just enough. When the children of Israel ate manna in the wilderness there was no excess with the exception of what was needed to eat for the Sabbath. Jesus tells us in John 6:48 – I am that bread of life. His Word will fill the soul like a hot buttered biscuit with jam fills the belly. Matthew 6 continues on to tell us not to worry for any earthly necessity, God’s got us covered. But we should strive to collect the thoughts of God through His word and fill our soul with it in abundance so that when we’re laying there flat on our back, we don’t need to see the book. We are the book. And we are filled to the brim in want of nothing!

Vs. 12 – And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

FORGIVENESS: I can say with all honesty that I haven’t been concerned with anyone who’s hurt or upset me over the course of a life time in the past few weeks. Life in perspective is knowing that the only forgiveness that matters is my Father’s in Heaven. Scripture says that we must forgive others if we expect it in return. If Christ can hang from the cross, a sinless man, only guilty of loving us and forgive we who take His act for granted, how can we dare say we’ll not forgive anyone? It makes me nauseous to think of the times I’ve held someone’s soul in the balance of un-forgiveness because of pride and pettiness on my part.

Vs. 13 – And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

DELIVERANCE: Temptation comes from the side of flesh, not Spirit and it is easily accessible and readily available to take us away from the peace of God. And for all that’s left in this wicked world, Satan is seeking the opportunity to devour us as a lion. Especially those who actively serve God and desire to make a difference. Daniel and the three Hebrew boys were not chosen for the lion’s den and the fiery furnace by happenstance. From the Old Testament to John the Baptist and the Disciples of Christ, Satan has targeted God’s chosen vessels. He’s still targeting us. But Hallelujah we serve the Living God whose Kingdom will never fall, He Who holds ALL POWER and will receive ALL GLORY forever. Satan loses, we just have to keep on serving. We who are in Him Win! Glory!

Posted in Life Inspiration, Political, Prayer

10 things to Pray for on the 4th of July

Written by talk2shari Published July 3, 2015July 3, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

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 Life Inspiration

But Now… A Warning: Be kind to the Outcasts

Written by talk2shari Published February 12, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

I’ve been somewhat dragging my feet on the “But Now” series, knowing the the next few were still in Isaiah, and likely spoke of judgement; which is good, but with my frame of mind lately leaning more to the depressed state, I just didn’t want to heap any more judgment upon my own mind. The news in the world around us wasn’t helping to put me in a happy place either, every news source had nothing but bad news to report or so it seemed. Friends and family were facing issues and I had just about had as much as I wanted to withstand… God always has way more faith in me for what I can survive than I do. But this morning it was impressed upon my heart to continue on, and so I rallied the team and here we are. Me and the Holy Spirit; actually He was already up, it was me I had to rally.

Isaiah 16:14

But now the Lord hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.

Judgment; I warned you. However, the good news is it’s not us! And God has cut Moab a break if they’d only take heed to get their lives straightened up; God does not desire anyone to perish, nor should we. If you read the beginning of this chapter it’s a good news chapter for the children of God. Although they’re certainly not in a good place, and are concidered the outcasts, God warns the Moabites in verses 4-5

Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

Judgment day’s a comin’!

Every day I feel more and more like an outcast in this world. It brings to mind a favorite old standard “This World is Not my Home.” From the piddles of sin around us to the worst of it all, ISIS, I’ve just had enough. And then I read a chapter like this and know that God is still in control and He’s still got His eyes on the outcasts. God continues to warn against the day of judgment through men and women of God who will in the face of persecution and indifference tell the world about Jesus. Isaiah was that man in his day. I guess I’m that gal in my day, although I fall far short of Isaiah.

I found solace this morning in God’s warning to Moab, both for them and the children of God. Sinners take heed how you treat the child of God. He not only has His eye on them, His Hand on them and He has a heart for them. He’d love to save the sinner, but if they continue to deny Him, judgment will come and that’s in stone. He warned Moab that within three years they’d be small and feeble. The bullies of the world have been warned that their day is on the horizon, though no man know… God knows.