Shari Johnson – Page 58 – The Jesus Chick

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Leadership, Life Inspiration

Yes, I’m one of those people

Written by talk2shari Published July 19, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands **

If you’re happy and you know it the your life will surely show it

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands**

Yes. I am in full blown camp mode! I’m singing camp songs, I’m grinning inside and out because next week I’ll have the opportunity to spend five glorious days with 20 or so rowdy teens in a camp in the hills of West Virginia. If you’re not a teen leader then that may sound like more of a punishment than a reward of life, but if you’re in the youth department of a church, you know which ground I stand on! It’s Holy Ground!!!

Isaiah 54:13 says “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”

I don’t know if you’ve noticed lately but our worlds in a mess. Fear and anxiety is running ramped and I myself have days that I feel like hyperventilating until the Lord returns. Imagine that in the life of our youth, whose minds are inundated with fearful images, music filled with anger and hatred, political nonsense on every media outlet and all running an inlet straight to their heart. Some are churched, most are not, and all have a desire for a future, even if they’re unsure of what that might be.

Our camp theme this year is “The way that I’m Wired.” It delves into the inner-working of God inside everyone, and how that should play out in the believer. I’m excited!! I can only wonder what God might have done with me if He’d have had a hold of my heart as a child… these teens that I’m about to embark into a camp adventure with can find out now and that makes me very, very happy to be apart of it!

My first lesson for them is “happiness is a choice and a gift of God.” It comes from seeking His will and when that is discovered, you can still grin from ear to ear, even when the world around you is falling apart. Life’s not perfect, we won’t grin ever day… but we can.

When I teach, I grin. When I sing, my soul leaps within me. When I play music my heart smiles and it is all because those things are the will of God for my life… it’s how He wired me. David said in Psalm 144:15 – “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”

Color me Happy! And please, pray for our camp July 24-28.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Forgiveness, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Life's Failures

Don’t Limit God

Written by talk2shari Published July 14, 2016July 14, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

If only I had failed God once and learned my lesson I’d consider myself in pretty good shape for the shape I’m in; that shape being a sinner saved by grace. But no, I have to again and again fail God, beg mercy, feel minty fresh for about 30 seconds and then sin again. Why are we such a fickle lot of people? Christian people that is. Am I alone? I’m pretty sure I’m not.

This past week a well-known preacher, Perry Noble, and one that I had followed, fell. I loved this guy. He wasn’t perfect and I didn’t agree with everything he said but I loved his style of preaching and his “realness.” The problem with being real is it also makes you pretty transparent. Because you’ll say anything. If it comes into your mind, it’s usually out of your mouth before you give a second thought. This was his style. He was funny and charismatic and above all, thousands of souls came to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ through him. I believe that. His words stirred my soul and I believe God used Him. But he fell, because he, like I, am human. His transparency gave me a spiritual insight to him that said “proceed with caution.” He dabbled too close the snake pit, and that my friend has gotten many a preacher in trouble. Alcohol was his downfall, and I won’t even get started on that because I could write for days! And it’s not the point in this blog. My point is the limits we put on God is through sin’s hold. It’s not the sin itself, it’s the hold it get on us.

Israel let God down again and again. But His great mercy brought them through. Read what David said in Psalm 78

But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 78:38-41

God understood Israel and He understands us. He knows we are weak vessels and that we fall, but the key is to move forward away from the snake pit. Turning back doesn’t stop God’s forgiveness… He’ll forgive again and again. But He won’t bless again and again. We limit Him. Even God has limits, they’re called “us.”

He desires to pour His blessings down upon us, bring revival into our church houses but our turning back puts a speed limit on the Holy Spirit. Turning back is different things for different people. For my preacher man that fell, he got too close a substance that fuels the fires of Hell. Alcohol. I hate it and everything it stands for. That was his sin, I have my own, and you have yours. And for the tribe of preachers that want to cast this preacher to the curb… God sees you too. God Who is full of compassion forgives, you who are full of pride will point and condemn the man God forgave.

My point to ponder is this: Don’t limit God. He forgave the sin, now move on. There’s a new speed sign up ahead that says “full throttle!” Don’t turn back.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Life Inspiration, Peace

Don’t Play the Fool

Written by talk2shari Published July 8, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

Wikipedia defines a jester as historically an entertainer during the medieval and Renaissance eras who was a member of the household of a nobleman employed to entertain him and his guests. I believe that also defines those who deny God.

History In the Making

The denying of God is as old as history itself. Man continually believes that they have life figured out; mocking God and His people for their weakness of having faith, not realizing the very thing they define as weakness is the strength that allows the child of God to live in a state of peace, which the fool who denies God desires, and yet refuses because it’s too simple.

Household of the Nobleman

I thought this morning, as I looked about my meager home, that I have missed the mark. I desire more… more stuff. And stuff for certain is fun and I believe God for “stuff” that will glorify Him and allow me to be used for His glory, but not at the cost of the world’s nobleman. The world defines success on a tally sheet of wealth and the fact that they can pay for entertainment to preoccupy their minds and keep it off the spiritual side of life. Allowing the guilt of denying God to be suppressed. But He is still there, whether or not you are reminded.

His Guests

The nobleman, or noblewoman as the case may be, love to entertain the masses. They love to draw people into themselves, giving them the feeling of power and control; all the while they are deceived and they serve to deceive. Countless souls are pulled away from the pulling of the Spirit of God, that draws all men unto Him (John 12:32). Pulled away by the entertainment of Satan himself disguised as a court jester, and he laughs and laughs and laughs. And the noblemen and women continue in misery disguised as amusement. They know it…

Psalm 14:1 says

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

There is a God. His name is Jesus. He is holy and sovereign and He speaks to the heart of every man and woman, pleading with them to come home. Today I may not live in a mansion bright, but when I lay down my head at night, I know that if I should not wake to see the light, with my Creator my soul is right. And that my friend lets me sleep tight.

That’s a peace that cannot be bought. Do you seek it? Then you seek Jesus.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Life Inspiration

It’s good to know

Written by talk2shari Published July 5, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

What a privilege and joy to wake up to an awesome God! With every second of my day before me, it’s wonderful to know that God goes before it placing His stamp of approval on the events that I know not what, but I know that He has not allowed anything to happen without purpose; and He will receive praise and honor. He allows me to be used in His service… gracious… what a privilege that is! I sometimes forget who it is that I work for.

This morning as I sit with coffee in hand and my eyes toward heaven the words came easy, and short. But though they are few, the truth within them is vast.

Psalm 5:3

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

It’s wonderful to know… He is there.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Life Inspiration

God’s Not Playing Games

Written by talk2shari Published July 4, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

Happy Independence Day! In West Virginia today it’s another rainy day with yet another threat of flooding in some areas that could really use a break. Please pray as clean up and restoration continues in hundreds of homes across our State. As I sit high and dry on Mt. Zion Ridge this morning my heart breaks for those in crisis, and for a country in crisis. How I wish that God’s blessings could rain down on America but I’m too conscience of where America is at morally to believe that that is a possibility today. I am forever the cockeyed optimist who will never fail to believe that God could changes hearts in heartbeat… it just scares me as to what it might take for that to happen.

Reading in Leviticus this morning of the instructions laid out to Moses and Aaron of the Levitical law for sacrifice, God’s attention to detail was apparent and serious! Nine chapters of instruction and Aaron performs a sacrifice which was so awesome that the glory of the Lord shown in such a manner that the entire congregation shouted and fell on their face. Glory to God that must have been an awesome sight! So why is it that we find in the tenth chapter that Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu are struck dead for offering a stranger fire before the Lord? What didn’t they understand? Unfortunately the same thing America doesn’t understand when it comes to receiving the blessing and protection of a Sovereign, Holy God. God’s not playing games.

Leviticus 10:10

And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

There’s a difference. Whatever the strange fire was that Nadab and Abihu offered wasn’t God approved. And regardless of religions and government which says some “things” are now approved, it doesn’t change the fact that God’s not in it and He’s still every bit as serious about holiness today as He was in 1400 B.C; perhaps even a little more serious being that the final sacrifice that was made was the Son of God, not a critter.

So what does holiness look like today? It’s not perfect living because our sin nature won’t allow it. It’s not offering a sacrifice in any manner or form because we can’t do anything greater than God has already done.

Simply put its saying “Lord, You are Holy. Nothing is before You or greater than You, I’m a sinner in need of grace and mercy and it is You Who offer it and I who accept it. You Lord, are enough.”

America has nothing but God. For now He still extends grace and mercy. Let us not fail to thank Him and praise Him for that today.

God… please bless America.

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Leadership, Life Inspiration

Dwelling on Past Negatives Accomplishes Nothing Positive

Written by talk2shari Published June 28, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

It’s so very easy to get thrown into a negative frame of mind, is it not? This morning as I read the scripture of Moses’ trek to the mountain to receive the word of God, and Aaron’s transgression of listening to the people’s request for a golden idol, my mind went reeling into the negative side of the church.

Why must we always fall by the ways of the world?
Why is it that faith is so hard?
Why are we such a fickle lot?

I had in my mind that I would bible journal about the golden calf this morning. There were plenty of golden calves in my own life that I could use for illustrations, but my heart wouldn’t let me ponder those passages. It was if God said, “I don’t want you lingering there, read on…” And so I did and was I ever glad! What encouragement there was in Exodus 35. Moses and Israel had had their time in the wood shed, they were moving on!

Exodus 35:21

And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord‘s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

There was my point to ponder today. Dwelling on past negatives accomplishes nothing positive. It serves to take you back into that place and feeling of failure. Who needs that? But refocusing our attention on the service of the Lord and what He has given us stirs within us a desire to be better, and I for certain need that in my life!

And they came…. It’s time to get busy!

Every one whose heart stirred him up… (or her as the case may be). If you’re a child of God He has given you the desire to serve Him and not only the desire but the ability and means to serve Him where you are.

I could dwell on how I’ve failed, I could look at the failures of the church as a whole, or I could make an eternal difference in someone’s life with my talents today. They didn’t cost me a dime! Now, some of the tools for which I need to use my talents cost money, but God has generously supplied those too, how can I not give them back. And if you look at your life, I would guess that you’re in the same boat sailing with blessing!

Put on your robe of righteousness that was received by the blood of Christ and serve Him today! I love positive encouragement it does a soul good! Serve God with a smile!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Christian Service, Evangelism, Family, Prayer

Don’t Stop!

Written by talk2shari Published June 27, 2016June 27, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

There are people who have been on my pray-dar for years. That’s my radar that alerts me when someone I love is away from God and I plead their cause to Him; asking for more days, weeks, years of mercy. Whatever it takes to see salvation come. Somedays its gut wrenching. Other days I’m so frustrated with their lack of respect for the holiness of God and His divinity that I want to throw them under the bus myself and help God out. But that’s the flesh not the spirit. The Spirit of God says lift them to me. It’s a reminder that came to my attention this morning as I read the details of Aaron’s breastplate. Twelve stones, twelve names, twelve tribes… born before the Lord in that holy place continually.

Exodus 28:29

And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually.

“Don’t stop.” That’s what I heard this morning. Keep lifting their names to Me, I hear. And so I will continue with my list of people, the jewels in my life that I love so much, bearing their names on my heart to the Lord, asking for deliverance to come. That’s probably a good word for you too… “Don’t stop.”

Posted in Bible Journaling, Life Inspiration

God’s in the Details

Written by talk2shari Published June 24, 2016June 24, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

When reading scripture I often get very Shari; which is to say, from slightly distracted to a form of glassy eyed, let’s just get through this so I can get on to the next adventure, type of reader. But what had often been beyond my comprehension (by choice I believe) this morning captivated my mind’s eye in the book of Exodus Chapter 26; which is the description of the curtains of the Tabernacle. I began to read, and then re-read, and re-read again the details that God laid out for Moses as he stood in the cloud on mount Sanai. Every thread, every seam, every ornament of detail, God instructed Moses in the manner of interior decorator extraordinaire. I was kind of awe struck that God cared so much about curtains. But these weren’t just any curtains. There were the curtains that were His home among His people and then as is the case with me my mind drifted to other places and things of modern day. Like me… where God now dwells. My eyes welled up with tears when I began to think of the attention to detail that God laid out when designing me, and my people.

I’m an odd duck. People who know me would be inclined to shout “Amen!” My mind doesn’t work the way sane people’s minds do. Someone shares an idea and my mind take it, bends it and distorts it until it’s a plan. I’m a planner! No, I’m an extreme planner. I don’t just stop at the basics, there’s always got to be a bigger, better, more exciting way of accomplishing what others would believe to be mundane. I drive organized people to brink of tears with my constant chaos and change of direction. I have over my 20 years of salvation allowed God to reign me in and not drive church people nuts always. But sometimes I’m chaotically extreme.

But God is perfectly extreme. Every finite detail that He spoke into creation makes me want to shake the atheistic notions out of people. How can you dare say there is no God when you are so complex? “Science” they say… God will make monkeys out of the scientists someday when they meet Him face to face. I’d really rather He didn’t. I’d rather they got it before it’s too late.

This morning I’m just grateful that all the detail that God put into those curtains, lets me know how very valuable I am to Him. That the inner sanctuary of my heart where God dwells, is more splendid that I can imagine. Which leaves me much, much more to explore!

King David realized it when he wrote Psalm 8

³When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

⁴What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

⁵For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

⁶Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

He said in Psalm 139:14

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

God has put a great many details into us! Rejoice in who He made you to be!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Faith, Fear, Life Inspiration, Uncategorized

What to do when the Walls close in

Written by talk2shari Published June 20, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

It’s a dreadful feeling to feel like the walls of life are closing in on you from within and without. I’m a frequent flyer with that emotion because I’ve a constant supply of things on my plate. I’m not the authority of teaching how to prevent it, although in my heart I’m relatively sure I know the answer (God). But my only problem with telling people “no” is that it always comes out of my mouth, “No… I wouldn’t mind.” Followed by the wall of emotion and the thought running through my mind, “What were you thinking!” But then…I finish the task at hand and that oozy goozy feeling that occurs when you’ve helped someone out comes over me and the overwhelmed feeling goes away…until tomorrow.

This morning as I pondered the 20 things I have on my plate and the three I have time for, the verse in Exodus stirred my soul with a word from Heaven. The wall of water for which the children of Israel walked through wasn’t to overwhelm them in its vastness or to create fear; it was to make the way while God held the world in its boundaries. And that became my prayer for today. Lord, keep the world in its boundaries and me on the path.

Exodus 14:13 gives us three points to ponder today if your plate is like mine:

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

Fear Not

Fear is a marvelous tool of the Devil to stop you in your tracks. It will put the journey of life on hold. I speak truth because I speak with experience. I’ve had some notions in my noggin for several months of a path I’d like to take, but I’ve allowed fear to stop me. Because it’s a great deal of work, and it’s a path I’ve never trod, it’s had me overwhelmed. I didn’t know where to start, even though God’s said go. I have a feeling when the children of Israel seen the sea before them and the Egyptians closing in behind, their apprehension level soared. What had they done?! They even ask Moses “have you taken us away to die?” At least in bondage they weren’t hunted down! That’s how they felt.

Well, that’s how I’ve felt since I began serving the Lord. Hunted. And Satan is a mighty hunter! But Moses give us the second point to ponder…

Stand Still

What?! With the enemy on our tail and you want us to stand still? That doesn’t work for me Lord. I like and need to be busy doing stuff. That’s my response. But my methodical busy work is often undoing what God is doing. The Lord wanted the Israelites to see that it was He who would make the way to their freedom, if they’d just stand still and not try to make another way. And then those miraculous walls went up! The ground was dry, the path was straight and they were going places! But not until they shushed and let God move.

And See

And so they did. They seen the walls go up and Pharaoh’s army go down. They seen what protected them had destroyed the enemy. That’s exciting news for me today, how about you? Rather than looking at the wall closing in, I’ll just stand still and wait for God to do something amazing!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Church attendance, Family, Life Inspiration

Momma’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Heathens

Written by talk2shari Published June 15, 2016 Discussion Leave a Comment

As I read 2 John this morning, I’m not really sure why I heard the song playing in my jukebox brain “Momma’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys,” but it made me smile. And even though I know a few, honest to goodness, Christian cowboys and cowgirls, the song seemed somewhat fitting for the sentiment that John was trying to project in his letter to the “elect lady.” It rendered a call of concern to momma’s and daddy’s of modern day to hold tightly to your babies and guard the door of the home to what you allow those little minds to see.

John wrote to her in verse 4 “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.” That commandment is to love one another, and how very important it is to grow our children up to love each other and serve God. But it seems to be the furthest away from priorities in the modern home, be it a Christian home or otherwise. Everyone is so all fired concerned that their children have the crème de la crème of the world, while failing to protect the crème de la crème they’ve been entrusted with the watch care of.

John’s words had to have encouraged this momma, and I want to encourage mommas and daddy’s out there today, who have their children in church, to keep up the good work! It doesn’t go unnoticed or unrewarded. Read on…

2 John 1:5-8

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

John warns us that at the door of life there are many, many deceivers, antichrist spirits, who would love nothing more than to take your child away from you and put them into the harm’s way of the world. In John’s day you had to open the door; today it’s in the house already via internet, television and radio. Satan’s avenues into your children’s minds are many, and you’ve got a full time job keeping them safe. Heads up…you won’t be perfect. Life happens. But a great start is bringing your children into the house of the Lord where they’ll hear the word of God and those seeds will be planted inside their little hearts. That way, when Satan does attempt to deceive them, (and he will), they can pull out their sword and shield and stop him in his track! Or their gun lasso if they’re a cowboy or girl.

Tonight’s Wednesday! I’m fired up for a few boy and girls coming my way at Victory Baptist Church. I hope you’ve got plans to get yours in the house of God too!!!!

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