Tag: Quarantine

Posted in Bible Journaling, Church attendance, Church Unity, Health, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Uncategorized

Let’s Be Separate Together

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Let’s Be Separate Together

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if we could just block out the wickedness from our lives and have no contact or affiliation with anything that took our minds away from the Lord? If our children and grandchildren were never exposed to anything that would corrupt their minds, and not a foul word was spoken in our presence. Oh Glory to God would not that be awesome! Well of course it would, but it ain’t life as we know it. I stood in the grocery line yesterday; yes, six feet apart as the tape on the floor instructed. But it didn’t take me out of earshot of the guy behind me with the filthy mouth who uttered words that I loathe without consideration of the fact that he was in a public place where children may or may not have been present.  It has become an acceptable part of society that language isn’t to be stifled for any reason. The same is true with images and behaviors that were once considered inappropriate for public display, and now children are exposed to behaviors that cause them to have emotions they’re not prepared to handle. It makes me sick. But such is life, so what am I to do. 

Staying in the word helps. It’s a refocus tool that God meant for every child to not only have, but to use. What a novel idea! Pastor Steven preached Sunday evening about how we take the word of God for granted. It’s so true. I have it with in my grasp 24 hours a day. It’s on my phone, my iPad, on my table and multiple shelves in my home. And yet, I’m not in it nearly as much as I should be. I take spurts where I read and study, and then I get distracted and people and things take my mind away from the word and I get in a worldly state. Again…. what do you do. 

The one great thing that this quarantine captivity has done for me is cause me to realize that being separate isn’t a bad thing. When the children of Israel came out of captivity, one of the first things they did was to separate themselves. 

Ezra 6:21 KJV

[And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel, did eat,

That’s a couple of my favorite things right there… God’s people and food! 

I think it’s important to realize that the fellowship with God’s people is vital to our Spiritual condition. And as we get ready to join together again we need to appreciate those places where the children of God can commune without the world. 

In the Word of God, not the word of the world. 

A prepared heart for a time of fellowship goes a long way in the receiving of the message that God has laid on a Pastor’s heart. If we are prayed up, and read up when the word is spoken to us, it seems to sink deeper into the heart of man than if it has to break through the walls we put up to keep the hurt of the world away. There’s so much discouragement out there. I can so easily start putting up a shield to people around me for fear of my mind going places that it shouldn’t. There are even some church folk who evoke that spirit in me. Their negativity or worldly words cause my mind to be distracted and frustrated. But if I prepare my heart before I enter the sanctuary, I seem to have an inner shield that protects me from the world, and allows the word to take root. 

In the house of God, not the dens of iniquity.

It’s a sad day when even the grocery store is filled with filth. We need our time in the house of God to separate ourselves from the world. When the churches were closed for quarantine it took a necessary part of a Christians life away. Separation. Even the home is no longer a sanctuary of escape. We have television, radio, internet, etc that drags that world exposure right through the the front door with us. We need the church where the world is less. Unfortunately it’s still there in some ways, but it’s far less. And with a little help from godly leaders who are tuned in to what God wants His people to focus on, the world can be shut out for a while. 

It’s why we have to be careful about allowing the church to look to much like the world. Yes, it might attract people in, but it also opens the door wide for Satan’s influence. We still need the old ways, scripture is clear on that…

Jeremiah 6:16 KJV

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

In the Spirit of God, not the spirit of Fear

2 Timothy 1:7 King James Version (KJV)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

For certain the Coronavirus has caused us all (or most of us) to fear a little greater. That fear has caused us to avoid people and places and now going back in and around people and places is going to come with some hesitancy that I fear will take it’s toll on the church. Handshakes and hugs will be rare, if at all, and smiles will be behind masks, some tied on, and some painted on. It’s another reason to get in the word of God and read the many, many promises and fulfillment’s of His care of His people. 

He’s going to take care of us! We need to believe that, not just say it. 

I’m not saying that we should proceed with caution when joining together again. But the spirit of the church should be one of peace. We may not be able to shake hands or hug as we once did, but we can use words of kindness and eyes of affection to go a long way! I can’t wait to be back with my friends of the faith. I want to celebrate that day and remember how good God is to allow us to be together again. 

I hope my words today have reminded you that you are important to God’s house. You are missed, and loved. Consider yourself cyber hugged today, until once again we can greet each other as before. 

In His love, and for His glory. Let’s be separate together!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Church attendance, Evangelism, Leadership, Uncategorized

The Return to Church

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Return to Church

It was the heading in the book of Ezra that caught my attention this morning. “The Returning Remnant.” That’s very much how I view the church at this point. It’s as if we’ve been in captivity and we’re about to return to build the house of the Lord. Oh my stars, that makes me so happy, and I hope that when this remnant returns we truly build the house!

I always find prophesy so fascinating. Two hundred years before this event in Ezra, Isaiah foretold of it happening. I’m told that there are 1817 prophesies in the Old and New Testament, As one preacher said, that alone should cause us to stand on the Word of God! It’s events such as those that the world cannot deny… well, they can and do, but they can’t change it. Hallelujah! Now, back to my story. 🙂

A STIR IN THE LEADERSHIP

Ezra 1:1-2 KJV

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

I see it today.  Perhaps you do too. God has clearly stirred the leadership of our country. It is God who has the hearts of all men in his hands, even the kings, and Presidents, of this day. I don’t question why the Coronavirus happened. I don’t like it, but I don’t question it. What I do enjoy is that God has gotten so much glory and it’s causing many to turn to God, wondering if this is truly the end times. Not nearly enough, but many. So I’ll take it! So what will happen when we return to the house of God. I have to wonder. Will there be a great stir in the church. Will people remember how sad it was when we were told that we could not congregate together. I remember how I felt. Nauseous. I missed my people. 

So when we received the word through the Governor that the churches could once again gather together, even with limitations, my heart was overjoyed. Perhaps it’s a chance for those of us who God has called into leadership to regroup and plan for a great gathering of our communities. I feel that this is our time to let the light shine for Jesus. People are listening and receptive to eternal thoughts with so much sickness and death in view. 

For such a time as this… those words have echoed in my ears for weeks. 

A PREPARATION OF LEADERSHIP

Ezra 1:5-6 KJV

Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem. And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

I have to ask myself this morning, what am I holding onto that I have not given to the house of God? Ask yourself that question. What thing, what talent, what precious thing are we holding on to that we’ve not given to the Lord’s house for use?

When God stirred up the King, He also stirred up the leadership of the church to give of what they had to the service of God. It’s a great question that deserves an answer. I look about my home this morning and think of how good God has been to me. The many, many gifts, talents and precious things that God has given me. What can I do with those “things.” How can I build His house with these things He has given me. And if I cannot build His house with these things, what am I doing with some of them at all? Iff there are things in my life that take my mind off of God, and many things that I have does, I need to look at those things and refocus on what’s truly important in my life. 

I like to “think” that I am sold out for the ministry. But am I? This morning I’m not so sure. Yes, I’m dedicated, but I’m not so sure that I have sanctified myself to God’s liking. Sanctified means separated. Have I separated myself from he world enough? Ugh. There’s that nausea again.

Although I’ve technically not been out of church, I still help with the live broadcast on Sunday’s, my Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings have been spent at home. And I must confess, it’s taken its toll. I have not prepared lessons, and prepared my heart for those services that I was missing. I have not really prepared for the time when God calls His remnant back together, which is now! There is so much work to do.

THE ROLE CALL OF LEADERSHIP

It’s often time in the “role call scriptures”, where name after name after name is listed, that my eyes glaze over and I become “churchy.” Just reading through the word to get through to the next interesting part. But today as I read through the countless names that total up to the 42,360 children of Israel that God called the remnant; I thought about each name, and that number. All of which is important to God, else He would have not brought it up. 

You too are in the role call of the church. Your name and the role you play is an important part of the ministry. 

Look at the children of Israel in Ezra, chapter 2:

Ezra 2:64-70 KJV

[64] The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, [65] Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. [66] Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five; [67] Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. [68] And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place: [69] They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments. [70] So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Those people and things that God thought important enough to mention, might not have seemed important to the world. There were people, critters, things…. God can and will use anything that is given willingly. He used it in “their” place. (Verse 70) Just where they were. And I believe that as we go back into the house of God after this very long hiatus, that God is calling us take a look at all that we have, and ask ourselves, what can I use for His glory? 

It’s a question that needs answered, at least by me. God bless you all, and I hope that some of you will take the time to let me know if this message stirred your heart and made you ponder some of the precious things that you’ve been holding back from God’s service. 

Posted in Bible Journaling, Evangelism, Faith

The Invisible Enemy and the Visible Hope

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The Invisible Enemy and the Visible Hope

I see the panic. It may be an invisible emotion but it is very visible to the eye when you watch the people on the news, in press conferences and for me, a closer realm, social media. The world, even many Christians are buying into the lies of Satan (and the media) that we have reason to allow our emotions to control our lives rather than faith.

This is not a bash against people who have fear of the Coronavirus. I won’t say that I have fear, but I certainly have concern. I wash my hands after someone looks my direction. My skin is dry and cracking because of the hand sanitizer. I have no intentions of stopping that, I think it’s good hygiene as well as precautionary against the virus. What I do not do is allow the virus to control my thoughts. My thoughts are truly focused on those living in fear, and I have a desire to share the message of God that cries Peace!!! Just as Jesus spoke that over the water when the storm came and scared the disciples to death. Hey! They were saved… it didn’t stop their fear, so we’re in good company. Jesus calmed the water, and He’s doing the same for folks today but we have to take the time to sit a spell, and listen to what He saying.  Rather than running in fear of an invisible enemy, which takes faith… you have to believe it’s there, even though it may not be, use that faith to trust in the invisible God, Who has proven Himself there time and time again. 

I’m speaking to the saved. Those who have experienced God. If you’re not saved, or you’re not sure, keep reading until the end, your message will be there. But as for those who know Jesus and yet live in fear, ask yourself this question: Why are you fearful? Are you afraid of the virus, death, the economical effects… there’s plenty of fear to go around. Satan has every base covered and we’re heading around the home plate. This is not shaming you for your lack of faith, this is spoken in hopes of shoring up your faith. 

Let’s look at Moses. He had faith to follow God’s instruction to be a leader, yet not enough faith to have confidence in his own leadership. That describes me so often. 

Playing for the Home Team

Hebrews 11:24-32 KJVS

[24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; [25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; [26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

When Moses was “come to years” meaning when he had matured, he refused to be called someone he wasn’t called to be. Even though that meant stepping away from the comforts of everything he’d ever known. That’s what faith is. It’s what getting up in the morning and stepping outside the door is. We have to believe that even though this isn’t a comfortable place to be in, God is there with us, and that’s way better than being outside of Christ. The knowledge that Moses was switching to his home team gave him confidence to face his greater fears. 

I didn’t mean for this to be a baseball analogy, but it’s working, right?

Plagues for the Away Team

 [27] By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. [28] Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Plagues of the literal sense for the Egyptians, not for the children of God. But that’s not the day we’re living in, this plague can attack the saved and unsaved alike. The clean and unclean, it matters not. But what seems to be a greater plague on America right now is the consistent plague of fear and confusion. People have no clue who to trust. Scripture is clear who the author of confusion is in 1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace as in all churches of the saints. 

At this time in scripture people were causing confusion in the churches which was disrupting the confidence people had in the Lord. hello? Sound familiar? They were speaking things that people didn’t understand, it almost sounds like someone was having a liberal press conference. It’s what happens when people don’t read their Bible. The world speaks gibberish and they buy it as truth. 

Not knowing the truth will cause panic. But understanding that regardless of how this thing unfolds, our Lord’s got it every bit in control, will bring peace and confidence that we’ll be okay. And if we run out of toilet paper, there’s options. Just saying. It’s not the end of the world. But as for the away team, those who don’t know Christ as their Savior. There is no peace or anyone to have confidence in unless it’s mislead. It pays to be on the Home Team!

Planning for the Game

Everybody has to have a game plan and every team needs a leader. When Moses took off with the millions of Israel, He didn’t have any plan, other than to follow God’s leading. That’s how we have to plan each day now. I’m not a scientist, I can’t search for a cure. But I can practice social distancing, wash my hands, and stay home as much as possible. That’s what my leaders have said to do. I figure if I follow those guidelines, I’ll likely be okay. But what happens if bad things happen?

 [29] By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land : which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. [30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. [31] By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. [32] And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Moses when through the sea being chased by Pharaoh’s army and the enemy drowned! Joshua went into the Promised land and had battles ahead, but God fought the battle! Rahab risk her life for God’s people, Gideon fought a battle using a pitcher and stick and fooled the army that sought his life. How many battles did David win and how may times did Samuel warn. Glory to God we serve an invisible Savior but His victories are evident!!

Yes! I just wrote myself happy.

We have to strategize for the coming weeks. Plan accordingly as we can, but trust God for everything uncertain! And do not fear. That is Satan’s tool to keep you miserable. Make the most of every day in your home. I’m looking around at a mess right now thinking… I perhaps should spend my time more wisely. 

And for those who don’t know Christ. You cannot have hope outside of Him. He is the way to victory regardless of what life brings on us. Please,, ask questions, seek answers, God will provide and if you need help message me! I’d be glad to help you find answers