Shari Johnson – Page 70 – The Jesus Chick

Posted in Leadership, Life Inspiration

A Spiritual Check Up for a Hard Day

Written by talk2shari Published July 17, 2015November 4, 2021 Discussion Leave a Comment

This morning, after another Muslim attack on our nation, I was ready to rale at anything that looked political. I’m tired; physically, mentally and emotionally on many levels and for many reasons. It’s not a good day for me to get in the flesh. But it would be an easy day for me to do it. That’s when the flesh likes to react the most, when I’m weak in the Spirit. Let’s be clear, the Spirit is not weak, but I’m weak. It’s a good day for a Spiritual check up!

1 Peter 2

1 ~ Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

Spirit check one… check your attitude Shari. When evil occurs as it did in Tennessee yesterday it’s easy to want to lash out at the political nonsense around us and the acceptance of evil as “the norm.” But God said to lay all that aside and rely on Him. Sin abounds, not just in the world but in our selves. The day to day hypocritical living, coveting and speaking in frustration is enough to keep me humbly aware that I have no right to point fingers.

2 ~ As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Stay in the Word! In Bible College if I heard it once I heard it dozens and dozens of times, “The Bible is a Spiritual ‘warsh” cloth, it’ll clean you up!” (West Virginia colloquialism inserted for “wash”) How true that statement is. Reading the word is like a mirror to the soul. Every sin shines brightly when the Holy Spirit begins working through the Word of God. If you want to enhance your spirituality and get some predictions on your path, contact the online astrologers from www.prnewswire.com, who provide the most apt information.

3~ If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Bible is not only a “warsh” cloth it’s food to the soul. Reading wisdom that is pure and true and always a right word in the right season of life is addicting and amazing. As I read the scripture for this blog I’m more than a little aware that God was sending me a warning this morning that I needed to get my attitude in check, especially before taking a group of impressionable young people to camp in a few days. Glory to God that He provides my every need. Even a swift kick in the pants.

4-5~ To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

I am chosen, precious child of God, and so are you! Men may not allow or understand the wisdom and purpose that God has for our lives. But we who were dead in our trespasses and sins, are now alive through the Spirit of God. I love the scripture in Luke 19:40 that says “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” God can not only bring hardened Christians to life, but the rocks in the hills as well if we won’t praise Him. Praise is the Spiritual sacrifice expected of every child of God. And when you start praising God, it’s hard to complain about the world.

6 ~ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

God gives understanding to those who love and seek understanding through Him. We are blessed in a world that has no clue about the spiritual significance of the modern times and troubles, all of which point to our Lord’s quick return.

7-8 ~ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

To us the Lord and His Word are precious, but to a lost world around us, who rejects Christ and His Salvation they are stumbling all over themselves searching for answers. And God has appointed them as well to be a part of the story. Nothing that has happened caught God off guard. Nothing in my day will either. So for me, in my hurried and worried way… I’m going to rest in the arms of Jesus, believing the house will wait, the hubster won’t starve without me, the birthday party will be blessed, the grands will be good, the church bus will roll and camp will be amazing! Amen!!!

Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration, Political

Three Reasons I Woke Up Fed Up

Written by talk2shari Published July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

I woke up fed up, but made up my mind not to give up. American politics didn’t change who I am but it did change how I view people. God created me with a heart of compassion, even pre-salvation my tender heart always wanted to right the wrongs of other people. I have no prejudice in me because of the color of a person’s skin, or a lifestyle of sin. Sin is committed by all of us, and it’s not justified by any of us; but forgiven by the Lord Jesus Christ upon the acceptance of Him as Savior and the price He alone paid on Calvary. I can’t work for it nor will my compassionate heart gain me any brownie points with God. Compassion is expected.

So why did I wake up fed up this morning?

Because the Lord feeds His people the finest cuts of meat and they spit it out on the ground in exchange for ice cream.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Preachers preach their hearts out expounding the truth in the Word of God, but because it goes against what the “world” deems as acceptable, even the parishioners who are in the house of God on Sunday don’t want to hear it and rally against it as if they have the authority of Almighty God to change what is right and what is wrong. I’m fed up with that non-sense! But I still believe that there’s a few of us left who believe the Bible from cover to cover, who don’t read between the lines or change the lines, we just accept it as truth. And because there are a few of us left I believe God has been merciful to America and would love to show this egotistical lot of Americans who it is that’s in charge and Almighty. But the few of us who are left must be bold.

Because the world views the life of an animal more valuable than the life of a human.

Mark 5:13-15

And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

This is slightly out of context of Mark 5, because I don’t know that the pig keepers cared more about their pigs than they did about the crazy man in the cemetery. But I can say flat footed today that the people of America (as a whole) would care more about the pigs than the crazy man. Don’t get me wrong… I love critters, and believe that they should be pampered and loved on. But if it came down to the life of my dog or the life of my child, it’s not up for debate. My child wins, or anybody else’s child in harm’s way. But Americans will scream bloody murder for the rights of a dog that maimed a person but will say nothing when a child is murdered before it’s allowed to be born and it’s body parts sold by Planned Parenthood. How much longer will God be merciful to us who say nothing?

3. I’m fed up with those who mock Christianity and attempt to belittle the Lord Jesus Christ.

They can’t honestly belittle the Lord. I mean really… the Creator of all the Universe. How can you talk down to He who looks down upon you from on high and could by His breath speak you out of existence? It’s laughable… if it weren’t so doggone scary! Jesus spoke in Matthew 25-40 saying

Matthew 25:37-40

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

God said, “I saw you feed and care for my people.” Even though the world tries to belittle what Christian’s do and to stop the ministry of feeding hungry souls the Word of God, we just need to continue on, fed up or not. Just keep feeding people the truth, because God sees, and one day those who mock will mock no more.

Love the unlovable. The crazy man at the tomb may have been a politician.

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Leadership, Life Inspiration

Telling people about Jesus is my Superpower – what’s yours?

Written by talk2shari Published July 13, 2015July 13, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

Yesterday afternoon I met with a small group of our Sunday School Teachers and the Pastor for an appreciation luncheon and kick-off to the fall programs. Sunday School Teachers are my heroes of the faith. As a young girl moving into a new community, it was a Sunday School Teacher who also worked for the Board of Education who made me feel welcomed and loved both at church and school. I grew up in the ranks (literally) in the faith by starting out in pre-school and working my way up through each grade level into the teen class where I’ve been for ten years or so. I’ve watched the eyes of a toddler sparkle as they learned a simple song about Jesus and then watched a teens eyes sparkle when they learned to tell someone else about Jesus. It’s an amazing transformation to go from just an average citizen to a Superhero!

Hebrews 1:1-3

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

The Privilege of Sharing Hope

Not everyone is cut from the Sunday School Teacher fabric, but there is no doubt in my mind that there is some fabric draped over the seat of church pew failing to listen to God’s calling on their life. In so doing they’re missing the opportunities that God has set before them one of those opportunities is to share hope. Adults can get so caught up in the bad news of the world that the Good News is overlooked. We take our own salvation for granted as a generation of children, churched and un-churched, are growing up without hope. Yes the world is bad… but God is good.

It frustrates me as I see parents battling behavior issues and attitudes, of which many could have been taken care of during the Sunday School and Worship hour. Are there misbehaving children in church? Of course! Multitudes of them. Many of which who have been in church since the week they were born. But the difference is made in the foundations that are laid during those times. Yes it’s hard, yes it’s sometimes embarrassing; but realize that every church going parent has been there. During those precious hours that your child is in Sunday School and Church, those Heroes of the faith are instilling foundational truths inside of your child that if they are continually nurtured and encouraged will give great joy to your heart. What joy it is to know that if Jesus returns your family will be together in Heaven! There is peace in the unknown. Not knowing is heartbreaking.

God’s Report Card

The elders obtained a good report. Are you excited for report cards to come out? I never was as a child but I’m looking forward to the one that God has waiting for me. There will likely be some things in the comment section that says I could have done better. But when the grades are shown I think I’ll get a “P” in every class for pressing “toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus ~ Philippians 3:14.

Pre-School (P)
3^rd-5^th(P)
6-8^th(P)
Senior High (P)
Life (P)

Press on pilgrim! And if God’s been pecking on your heart to share Christ through serving in your local church, don’t deny yourself the blessing!!!

Our Sunday School Worker Luncheon was a blessing! And I had the privilege of celebrating my Super Heroes with a Superhero themed day. The links below are some of the designs I gathered from Pinterest ideas and a few of my own and the tools to help you create your Superhero day too!!!

I gave each Sunday School Teacher and youth worker their very own Supehero name. I really put a lot of thought and prayer into this as a blessing for myself. I thought about the various characteristics of each person and what made them an awesome servant of God. I used those characteristics to search for scriptures that would serve as a reminder to us both and then gave them a hand made I.D. Card. They loved it and it was great fun!

Super Hero tight bags where too cute! Another Pinterest idea using white gift bags and craft papers cut and glued in place. I filled them with appreciation gifts and the tootsie pop buy below.

superhero sucker capes were printed on card stock and hot glued to a tootsie pop.

superhero cupcake toppers were a hit! I picked up toothpick toppers from Walmart and hot glued my printed cartoon actions on top. Easy Peasy!!!

Superhero Shield fruit tray was a Pinterest idea. They used marshmallows or cheese cubes to add a circle of white between the fruit. I opted for just fruit and used vanilla yogurt in the center. Makes a great stress free dip! We also served Pizza, but if I would have had more time to plan I think I would have done hero sandwiches 🙂

$1 Lanterns and a little hot glue and craft paper.

And finally my Victory Sunday School Worker Luncheon Power Point. It may or may not be suited for your church, but it’s got some great images on it and you can tailor it to your needs.

Posted in Fear, Life Inspiration

From Fear to Faith with Apostle Paul

Written by talk2shari Published July 9, 2015July 9, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

Faith… We study it, share it, preach it and proclaim it over the hurdles we must jump, but every new predicament in life brings us back to the beginning of striving again to obtain that mustard seed of faith that will bring us through. After almost twenty years of salvation, one would think that I have would have obtained great faith… after all, I’m the Jesus Chick right? And yet it takes so little to get my knees knocking and heart trembling. But as He always does, God shows me that I’m in the good company of Apostle Paul who boldly preached in the face of death, yet he had his knee knocking moments as well. So this morning I’m looking to shore up my faith in the Word of God. If you’re needing a prop or two in your life I hope you’ll come along with me as I unpack 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Mr. & Mrs. Smarty Pants

I am forever trying to plot out life in my own wisdom. In comparison to the wisdom of Paul I would still be in pre-school, and yet the Apostle Paul said that he was determined to know nothing but Christ. Regardless of the level of your intelligence, the letters behind your name or in front of your name, if you seek to know anything outside of the wisdom and will of God you’re in trouble. The first step to living in faith is stop thinking on your own and remember the price that God paid for you.

If God. The Creator and Knower of all designed you and your life, and then sent His Son to the cross of Calvary to pay for your life, will He not continue to care for it and put everything in your path to take you where He wants you to go. You and I are precious commodities in the Kingdom of God. We are the vessels that He pours Himself into and then places people and events in our path to bring glory to His Kingdom. Sometimes the paths are hard, but how much easier would it be if we just rode the wave rather than constantly fighting the current of the high waters about our neck. God’s got this.

Scaredy Pants

But I’m afraid! Paul was too! He said he was weak, afraid and trembling. That sounds pretty serious to me. Now granted… Paul was facing people who wanted him dead… What you and I usually face is far less, but God understands our fear. Paul, a learned scholar, didn’t rely on the wisdom that he had acquired through men, but allowed the Spirit of God to take over his faculties and bring the message to the people.

It’s hard to let loose of fear, because actually it’s the other way around, fear has a hold on us. What bothers me this morning was lying in bed beside of me. (No, it wasn’t David) It was this ever present feeling of uncertainty. It was on my mind when I laid down and occupied my pillow throughout the night. So this morning I allowed God to lay hands on it. I don’t have that power! It is only through the Holy Spirit that I can be brave for today.

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

If we are to stand in faith we cannot stand in the wisdom of man, because man just doesn’t get it. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ~ Hebrews 11:1

Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration

Don’t Miss Out on the Blessing!

Written by talk2shari Published July 8, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

If there is one thing (and there are many) that our new Pastor teaches as he preaches, it is that the Word of God in part or in whole is the Word of God and not to be taken out of context. The world today loves to take a piece of God’s Word and twist it to fit their fancy or should I say their agenda. The Word of God offends those who are not right with God, it does not offend those who are but it can hurt like a swift kick in the pants. I say that with confidence. I didn’t say it wouldn’t offend saved people, because there are saved people who are not right with God. I’m sure there have been times that I’ve been one. But I do strive to understand and rightly divide the Word of God. Believing that I will stand before God for every stroke on the keyboard done in His name.

This morning as I sought to see through God’s eyes via a challenge from a man journeying through cancer, I landed in the book of Luke to see what God’s eyes saw. And I was amazed that He saw me.

Luke 6:20-23 ~ And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

He lifted His eyes on His Disciples

Hey! That’s me. Although I wasn’t there in the multitude that had seen the many miracles He performed, I’m in the multitude who has been the miracle. One that God chose to use in spite of all my imperfections. When Christ lifted His eyes it didn’t say He looked at the crowd, it said His eyes were on His disciples, His fellow servants and friends. And then He ran down the list of why they were blessed.

If you’re poor you’re blessed… because you realize that it’s not a cliché to say that God is everything. Any material possession that we strive to own (and I do) is going to pale in such comparison to the riches that wait for us in glory. I have no idea what musical instruments await me in Heaven, but compared to the ones I long for down here… well… I doubt they’ll compare.

If you’re hungry you’re blessed… I’m always hungry so I must be extra blessed! But God speaks not of food, although He knows it’s tasty; but rather He speaks of the Word of God that so offends the world but fills the soul of the hungry child of God. It can’t be explained it must be experienced. When you read the Word of God it is every bit as satisfying as supper at the end of a long day.

Blessed are they that weep…for ye shall laugh! That’s the Heaven I’m talking about. I cry because I’m sad, happy, blessed and concerned. I wear my tear bag on one sleeve and use the other sleeve to wipe the snot. Oh… I know that’s ugly, but you have no idea how often I cry! So what a wonderful thought that God says I’m blessed because I’m a bawlbaby and that God’s got a thousand corny jokes waiting for us in Heaven. The Pastor will be so pleased!!!!

Blessed are the hated. I don’t think too many people hate me, but it is for certain that I create a level of discomfort with all my Jesus chatter. And Satan and his cronies hate me. But even if they hate me, it’s okay! Because God said when they part company with me… we can dance! Leap for joy He said, that sounds like dancing to me.

Well, I hope I rightly divided the Word. And I hope today finds you blessed for all the right reasons. Father. Son. Holy Ghost. Child of God.

Posted in Life Inspiration

Sunshine for a Rainy Day

Written by talk2shari Published July 7, 2015July 7, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

I don’t think a day goes by that I have not heard the “C” word. Cancer. A word that can bring even the mightiest warrior to their knees asking for mercy. It is no respecter of age, gender, or socioeconomic status. Saint and Sinner… it has claimed both.

As I listened to a devotion on Periscope this morning from a sister in Christ Jesus in Pennsylvania, she always closes her broadcast with prayer requests and prayer. There too the “C” word popped up. And as I listened to her sweet prayer she said something that sent my mind here… this place I’m at today. She asked God to heal those who He had created the blueprint for. The Creator. We just don’t give Him His just dues do we?

1 Peter 4:19

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Them that suffer

I cannot say that I have not questioned God’s divine wisdom when it comes to the diagnosis of someone I love. Even someone I don’t know! I see on social media post after post of heartache and my heart breaks. I see images that almost rip my heart out of my chest and I weep and pray and ask God to heal them and sometimes He does… and sometimes He takes them home and I’m left to pray for a heartbroken family; and again I ask God why? Why must these people suffer? It doesn’t seem right.

And then I am confronted with the truth that I am not the judge of what is right, only the Creator of all has that privilege. God’s plan was never that man would suffer. He created us in perfect health, in a perfect place with a perfect plan and then along came sin.

So rather than blame God for the suffering, which is what the world tends to do, we skip past the fact that Satan brought all of this into the world when he wanted to play God. And the human race is still allowing him to play god, the only problem is God is good, Satan is not. And this suffering that is in the world has an agent, Satan himself.

Suffering His Will

So why then is it the will of God that we now suffer? I do not know. Everyone’s blueprint for life is laid out differently, except for the fact that everyone is born with a sin nature, even the most innocent of child has been born into sin. That is why the bible says it rains on the just and the unjust. Everyone’s life is designed to point them and those around them to the Creator and that perfect life that He will afford His children one day in Heaven. A time when we will look back on this tidbit of life in the scope of eternity and think… wow… so that’s why it happened.

Committing the keeping of our souls to Him in well doing

How do you do well when life is not well? How do you sit beside someone who is suffering and tell them that God loves them? You commit them to Christ and then start looking for the work He’s doing through them.

The countless times that I have watched a child of God suffer, and yet still find the strength to praise God, I have also watched the blueprint unfold before my eyes. As hard as it was there was purpose.

I have many friends suffering right now, but there is one little girl on my mind especially who has suffered again and again because of Juvenile Arthritis. Last weekend she went into crisis having to have multiple surgeries and my heart ached as I watched for updates by her mom. She came through and so did Christ. Because she didn’t get to go outside a merciful nurse brought her some window paints and let her paint on her hospital window. The image above is her artistry. And there it was even in her darkest hours she was sharing the love of Jesus.

Her mom is a child of God. She has committed her child to Christ as they go through these hard times. I pray and believe in the Creator that holds her blueprint in Heaven, that He can guide the doctors to a cure for her disease. But until that day He continues to use her for His glory. And one day she’ll look back on these rough days and God will show her the souls that she touched for Him.

Just hold on… God is faithful.

Glory!!!!

Please pray for the sunshine girl. Her name is Reagan.

Posted in Eternity, Heaven, Life Inspiration

Weep Not for Me!

Written by talk2shari Published July 6, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

One of my favorite trees of all times is the willow. Those billowing, flowing branches that drape the ground are just beautiful! I should have known that those trees would have a purpose and spiritual significance in the Kingdom of God… I didn’t…. but I should have.

Psalm 137, believed to have been written by the weeping prophet himself (Jeremiah, he foretells of the coming destruction of the enemies of God. My mind likes to ponder that thought as I see the modern day enemies of God proclaim their victories in arrogance. After reading and studying this Psalm this morning I pray I’ll never view that tree the same again. What hope we have in that tree!

Psalm 137

1-4 ~ By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?

Thus… the weeping willow! I get his emotional outcry. It is hard to rejoice and sing psalms when we see the nonsense going on around us that has our country in an uproar, and seemingly captive to doing anything about it. The children of Israel were physically captive and being carried away into Babylon and their oppressors were wanting them to entertain them with their songs of Zion. “How can I rejoice?” Jeremiah asked. But then he encouraged himself to do just that in verses 5-6

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

And this is where my soul begin to think itself happy. Just as the children of Israel were looking to Zion as that day when their captive souls would be free from bondage and in the arms of God, so should we. Our Lord will not always be mocked and the mockers will have their day of destruction. Read on weary child of God.

Vs. 7-9

Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

The word “rase” means to destroy! And our enemies, just like the daughter of Babylon who rejoiced in the misery that they inflicted upon God’s children, they’ll be rewarded by God, but not as they believe. They’ll be rewarded with the same treatment that they’re dishing out today. Their arrogance will be short lived on that day.

So as I pass by the weeping willow tree I’ll recall the words of Jeremiah in Psalm 137 and I will rejoice. For we are on our way to a city whose builder and maker is God and death and destruction will be no more. I’ll not hang my harp upon the willows, but I’ll fiddle the tune of Amazing Grace and thank God that I am heading there someday to be with Him.

Posted in Christian Service, Church Unity, Evangelism, Grace, Leadership, Life Inspiration

The Ugly Side of the Church

Written by talk2shari Published July 4, 2015April 17, 2022 Discussion Leave a Comment

The Ugly side of Christianity. Why that was on my mind this morning I do not know. I actually haven’t dealt with it for a while. “There’s an ugly side to Christianity,” you ask? You likely didn’t because we all know it’s there, it’s just usually not the topic of conversation unless someone’s upset, and then it’s ugly! Well let’s just say up front, I’m not upset. I’m just tired…

I’m tired of the church focus being far left, far right and the ones in the middle make God and I both puke. I’m tired of Methodist, Presbyterians, Catholics, Pentecostals, and yes my own beloved Baptists. I’m tired of Bapticostals, Presbythodists and yes those are made up names, but let’s just call it like it is, the church of the living God didn’t have a name over the door when it came to be. Acts 11:26 said “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

There are some very notable characters in the eleventh chapter of Acts.

The chapter begins with Peter witnessing the first Powerpoint presentation on earth. It’s true! Verse 5 says “I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:” Clearly that was an automatic screen! And upon it was a sermon outline for Peter.

Vs. 6-9 ~ Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Point number 1 – It’s all good. Even bacon.

Point number 2 – Let’s argue about it.

Point number 3 – I said Shsssh. Eat more pork.

Okay… that might be a stretch, but it’s in there. Peter had been preaching and teaching Christ to the Jews. He loved his people, and there’s nothing wrong with that! I love my people… But God was about to take him outside of his comfort zone into the land of the Gentiles and those people eat bacon! For us that argument sounds silly, but for a man brought up to have no communion with those outside of the Jewish faith, this was a huge deal and the church folk were upset and demanding answers. So Peter answered and not only that, he brought witnesses, those who had been saved as God had said they would. I won’t expound on that I just encourage you to read the book for yourself.

But here’s my point. Peter stopped labeling people and just viewed the people as sinners needing saved by grace. And through that preaching and acceptance that God’s grace belongs to all people, the word of God went further and the church grew.

Now… I’m not suggesting that we all link arms and sing Kumbaya. I’m not saying we ignore sin. But it’s time to eat more pork, or chicken or just cut a slice of bread in two and agree that even though we may differ in some ways, those of us who preach Jesus, crucified, risen the third day and the only way to Heaven can love on one another outside the church.

Let’s get rid of the ugly side of the church, it’s so unbecoming. Preach Jesus! Love one another… it really is a Great Commission!!!

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 Christian Service, Church attendance, Church Unity, Life Inspiration

We don’t patch old britches where I come from

Written by talk2shari Published June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 Discussion Leave a Comment

There is danger in dead religion

What seems like a lifetime ago, almost 20 years, I sat in the midst of dead religion. I didn’t know it, until the first day I sat in the midst of live faith! Tears well up in my soul as I write those words because it breaks my heart to think that there are many people around the world sitting where I once did. They are quite possibly good, saved people, serving Christ in their place; but I was not. I didn’t know the saving grace of Jesus Christ any more than I knew Superman. In my mind I knew of Jesus, but didn’t know Jesus. He was as surreal as Superman himself. I would read (and teach) scripture thinking… wow… that’s an amazing story. It is an amazing story, but at the time my unsaved soul had no spiritual discernment of the Word of God that comes with salvation, so it was just a story. That’s the danger of dead religion.

The scripture becomes just another book. The church becomes just another place. A prayer becomes a ritualistic means of getting “it” done.

Matthew 9:16-17

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Patchin’ Old Britches

The disciples of John the Baptist had just questioned why Jesus’ disciples did not fast and carry out the ritualistic practices of the Pharisees. And to country quote my Lord, He said, we don’t patch old britches where I come from. That thought tickled me. The Pharisees put so much stock in their religious practices that their relationship with God was not a relationship at all, but merely a “get it done” method of behavior. Where they came from was all they could think about, not where they were going. The new that was happening was making them very uncomfortable. And for Jesus to put His new disciples in with the old works of the Pharisees would have been to Him like patchin’ a old pair of britches that were worn out. The new converts would have become a part of weak, worn out group of people. Jesus disciples were hanging out the Lord, the Bridegroom as mentioned in verse 15. They had a new relationship with the Lord who was in their midst. The Pharisees had lost their relationship with the Lord through ceremonial living.

New Wine and Old Bottles

The Pharisees represented empty vessels. Jesus said in Matthew 23:27 – “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

Putting new wine in an old bottle would have been like putting a live person in the tomb of the dead. A new convert sitting in a church filled with lifeless Christians is no different. You’ll become one of them, just an empty vessel, looking pretty, but filling no one’s soul. You need fellowship with Christ and His people who are filled with the newness of life that never grows old.

I hope today finds you as a part of a church that is carrying out the mission of God, which is to bring people to the knowledge of Christ and His salvation and then disciple them to bringing others to the knowledge of Christ and His salvation. That jug of wine never gets old!!!

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