Tag: Proverbs 3

Posted in Faith, Life Inspiration, Word of God

We can want it but we can’t will it

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on We can want it but we can’t will it


Would to God I had full understanding of all things in life. Why things happens and why certain things don’t. Why can I not be everything people need me to be? My heart breaks in two and I stitch it back together spiritually just like the doctors in Morgantown, West Virginia did literally, with one exception; they actually knew what they were doing. I struggle with guilt on a good day, add to my day the inability to fix a problem, and the realization that I am no where close the Apostle Paul level of human, and I’m defeated and the wind is sucked out of my sails. 

I spent yesterday in Parkersburg on Church errands while listening to preachers and I thought I was ready to take on Hell with a water pistol. Oh… I was feeling so accomplished spiritually. And then real life happened. Where real people have real problems and I couldn’t fix it. I was physically hobbling around the city because one of my medicines (atorvastatin) is shredding my heels and ankles. Both  of them… not just one. Hey, it’s all or nothing with me! Following that I attempted to fix other issues like I was the Apostle Luke. A doctor of both the physical and the spiritual. As it turns out, I’m not either.

Proverbs 3:1-6 KJVS

[1] My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: [2] For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. [3] Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: [4] So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. [5] Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Although I can quote Proverbs 5 and 6, I won’t tell you that I can live it. As for verses 1-4, mercy and truth often feel like they’re choking me so perhaps I at least have them in the right place. 

But let me get to the gist of todays thoughts and try to work my way through this frustration with the word of God as my guide.  

The writer of proverbs is none other than the wisest man ever known,  and yet he too made stupid mistakes. Just because everything is yours for the asking doesn’t mean you should ask. The difference between Solomon’s mistakes and mine is he had the money to back his dumb ideas. But there was a time in the beginning of his life that he sought wise counsel and godly wisdom. Another reason why God doesn’t trust me with money.

Thank God for Grace

Old Testament is filled with History and examples of real people living life in an era not meant for us. Can you imagine if television evangelists could call down fire 🔥 from Heaven for real 😮. Can you imagine stoning a person to death for breaking the law? I have no desire to live in that era, and yet I do when I try to align myself with the law. Grace did not make the law of no effect.

Galatians 5:1-4 KJVS

[1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. [2] Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. [3] For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. [4] Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

When the Galatians were trying to live out the law under grace, Paul told them that Christ is become of no effect. What a painful statement. And that is how I felt last night, trying to encourage someone without the ability to physically do something. My flesh wants to fix everyone’s life, but I can’t. So Satan tells me I’m a failure. But where grace and Old Testament still exist is when Solomon tells us to lean not on our understanding. While the Spirit came upon Old Testament saints, the Spirit lives within us. They nor us have to go through this life without the wisdom of God that was once given to the Old Testament priests. But we still have to acknowledge Him. 

Acknowledge Him how? 

His Authority. 

Our lives are a product of our decisions, but there is a Kingdom authority that has the power to change hearts, minds and circumstances. But it is at His discretion.  And that’s where our understanding has to come in. We can want it,  but we can’t will it. That’s God’s decision.

We also have to acknowledge His Sovereignty 

God has the authority to make things happen or not, but His sovereignty decides whether or not it does, and both are good. Boy did I need to hear that this morning. Perhaps you did too. Bad things seldom, if ever, appear as good. But the good will come in God’s sovereign time.

Thirdly, we have to acknowledge His instruction.

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJVS

[13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I attempted to quote this verse last night but only made it through the first part. Which was okay, but it was incomplete; in that it didn’t finish God’s thought. God is faithful and unfortunately so is Satan to his work of creating troubles in the lives of God’s people. The difference is, God can take the temptation away or he will help us to bear it and either way we’re coming through. 🙌🏼

Glorrrrrrrraaaaaay! I hope this word encouraged you today. It sure did me! #Shari #TheJesusChick

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Eternity, Evangelism, Life Inspiration, Praise

What are you feasting on today?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on What are you feasting on today?

I have the day after Thanksgiving attitude of gratitude. A gift from the Lord this cold blustery morning. I received it from reading a book recommended by a friend, which allowed me to delve into the deeps of scripture. What joy comes from reading His word! It was if I was sitting at a Thanksgiving buffet with every delectable food of my favorite persuasion crossing my tongue. I kid you not, the Word was just that sweet to me today. It brought to mind the joy that I received over the past couple of days while baking and preparing food for our family’sThanksgiving dinner. I thought about those who would enjoy the food and the time of fellowship we’d have, much like I receive when sharing the gospel.

A student from Marietta Bible College had messaged me in the midst of our feast yesterday to ask for prayer so that God would use her in a mighty way to minister to family she was spending the holiday with. She later informed me that she had the glorious honor and privilege of leading two new souls to Christ! Oh what a Thanksgiving moment. She had given them a “taste” of her God and they partook of her feast!

Shouldn’t that be how we treat our responsibility of sharing the gospel. It tastes sooooooo good. Why would we not share it.

Put on your praise today!  In the book of Isaiah he was having one of those crazy praise days in chapter 61.

No meal is complete without a little oil!

As children of God we have the anointing upon us to grease the way for the gospel to be accepted.

Isaiah 61:1-3

(1)The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

When my friend messaged me yesterday she did so because she knew the power of prayer to make the way where Satan would be striving hard to stop it. I see heartache in every direction this time of year. People are hurting, they’ve family estranged, they’ve lost someone to death, relationships are torn, families have problems and we have the sweetest gift to give anyone of them. It may not make the problem go away, but it will give the oil in their life that will ease them through the troubled times.

Every meal needs comfort food

(2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Most of us have those favorite foods that bring into mind a sweet memory or an easier time of life. It may just look like food to some but to us it’s a sweet piece of comfort. For me that’s pie! I had a sliver of comfort for breakfast this morning in the form of Cinnamon Apple pie and a cup of coffee. And as much as I enjoyed it, it didn’t bring me a smidgeon of the comfort that I found in God’s word, which lead me to a reason to share this thought. We need to be as excited about sharing the comfort we find in God’s word as we are with sharing our favorite foods. In these troubling times people need to see the comfort we find in our relationship with Christ.

Everyone’s burned something!

(3)To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

I didn’t burn any of the Thanksgiving treats I baked this year, but something from a previous baking had dropped into the bottom of the oven and was charred into a piece of coal while my scalloped potatoes were baking. My husband was panicked that I was trying to burn the house down (ever the fireman that he is.) I assured him it was the old not the new, and so I removed the old and the sweet scent of the new was all that we smelled from then on.

Past hurts and trials can certainly leave us burned. But Isaiah reminds us that God gives us beauty in exchange for the ashes. But we have to give him the charred remains of our burdens and with it He promises to replace it with joy and praise.

The illustrations I shared were just a few moments in my real life that God used to remind me that I have a purpose on earth. And that’s to share not just the earthly gifts He gives, but above all the spiritual gifts so that He may be glorified and that my friends and family will be drawn in by the aroma of Christ in my life. Oh what a sweet savor and a sweet Savior!

Thank God for what you have today and share that goodness with someone else! You too have purpose.

Posted in Life Inspiration

Getting in Tune with God

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Getting in Tune with God

chick tune

Life… every time I think I have a handle on it, God speaks to me as if to say “Really?”

Twice this morning God brought to my thoughts Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Trust… I think I trust Him, but then I’m not sure if I even get it. If I “trust” Him, why am I always trying to fix life? Why can’t I just wait for Him to open doors instead of picking the lock? Seriously? That’s a good thought. It’s just a shame I don’t take my own advice. I’m still blaming Eve. If she had trusted God and not eaten of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, my life would be so less complicated. Just think about it… not having to live life by trial and error. That goofy fruit really messed things up, rather than having the mind of God, I now have the mind of me… that’s seldom good.

Lean…What must it have been like to literally lean into the bosom of God? I think of the Apostle John who said in John 13:23 “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.” That always cracks me up! I read it as if he says… “the one whom Jesus loved… He liked the others. But I was His favorite.” But how wonderful would it have been to have sat with Jesus face to face and had a conversation where the Lord’s advice wasn’t a guessing game as I so often feel it is now. I know… the Holy Spirit is within me, and if I was really the Jesus Chick I’d know what He wanted me to do. Well you’re right and I do know what He wants me to do, He wants me to trust and lean but not upon my understanding, upon His. It’s the human perception that causes the error… that doggone smarty tree again. The one of good and evil.

Hindsight is always 20/20. God wasn’t trying to keep Adam and Eve from enjoying life; He was sparing them the full weight of reality.  Reality bites. Reality is where lust replaces satisfaction. What God had for Adam and Eve was perfect and what Satan introduced them to was doubt. Genesis 3:1b “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

That same lingering doubt is in my mind today… Is that really what God wants me to do? Its then that I must

Acknowledge… Just admit that you can’t go it alone. Adam and Eve were not created to walk in the garden alone, they were created to walk in fellowship with God. He had their path laid out for them until Satan entered the scene and created paths, in the plural sense. God’s way was and still is “one way.” John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

In order to get back into fellowship with Him, He created that path home which I took in 1996 when I acknowledged that I couldn’t go it alone and that I needed Jesus in my life. I still have self-will, which is what gets me into trouble and causes confusion. Life isn’t a guessing game when it comes to decision making. We don’t have Jesus face to face, but we do have Him heart to heart. If I’m not hearing the answer to the question I’m asking, then my heart is not in tune to God’s heart and I need to tune it up through the Word of God and prayer.

I hope today finds you in tune!

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Posted in Uncategorized

Hey Superwoman…. let’s be honest.

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Hey Superwoman…. let’s be honest.

superwoman

It’s the superwoman syndrome that has gotten me in trouble on more than one occasion I assure you. And I’ve been that way since childhood. I have the mentality that for every cause I can surely come up with an effect that will make it “all better.” What this syndrome has often lead to is me being out of the will of God. There was a time in my life that if anyone invited me to be on their committee I accepted and was their “go to gal.” If it needed done I’d do it! I didn’t care how hard or long I had to work, it would get done. I was a dream member for “most” everyone. For control freaks I was nightmare. My get it done attitude often times put the cart before horse, or left out key components for success. What I have discovered through much intensive therapy with the Lord is there must be a method to my madness, or it is but chaos.

Proverbs 3 1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

 Through much trial and error I’ve learned before any decision is made, and I mean any decision, I need to discuss it with God. I am not a clinical psychologist or physician, but I don’t think you have to be to determine that one of the top disease makers in the world is stress. And stress is almost always derived from poor decision making on someone’s part and most likely the breaking of a commandment!

Commandments aren’t tricky. They’re pretty much cut and dry: “thou shalt not.” If thou shall, you can expect trouble. The flip side of that is verse two, long life (health) and peace (which is great wealth, non-monetarily speaking of course). Are you now asking what this has to do with the Superwoman syndrome? Commandment number 1: Have no other gods before Me. A god is anything that we put before God.

Taking on any task in life without the guidance of God is saying that you don’t need His advice. Ouch! The cause and effect that I thought I could have was true; but the effect was not always good. Case in point: As a young mother I was involved in everything in the community. And this is not to discourage volunteerism, which is needful in every community, but I took volunteerism to a new level. Finding a balance in life is necessary. God intended us to help others outside our homes, after all, Christ gave another commandment, “Love thy neighbor.” But we’re not to love our neighbor at the expense of our family or our health. There are boundaries that we need to set as a family, and in prayer seeking His guidance. I fully believe that our lives are a ministry. I’m not a pastor or a preacher, but I’m a minister to every life I touch.

3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man

Mercy and Truth should begin within you. If you’re honest with yourself, you know when you’re pushing yourself too hard. If you’re like me, a worn out you is a grouchy you and serves no one well. God said to bind mercy and truth upon your neck and write them on your heart. They’re like your cape and crest across your chest! With mercy and truth for all concerned in our lives, we can become super women! We find favor and good understanding with both God and those in our lives. How wonderful is that! And what peace it will assuredly bring into our lives.

5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Being superwoman doesn’t mean you have to save the world. The world is not ours to save, Christ did that on Calvary for those who come to His cross and accept it.  Being superwoman is being all that God desires you to be; not the rest of the world. What I learned in my superwoman years is that the end result was letting everyone down. It’s just too much. So… this Mother’s day, whether you have children or not, take off your cape. Put on truth and mercy. Start by being honest with yourself. We take on too much. Have mercy…