Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Life Inspiration, Word of God

Unapologetically a Child of God

So you think me a fool. That’s okay. It seems that I’m in good company. 

That was my thought a few days ago when someone belabored my opinion and reaction of false religion. I bit my tongue, not wanting to create a scene and take away from the spiritual lesson I had hoped to achieve. For a second I questioned myself, which I think is good. It keeps you humble to understand that you yourself are not above mistakes. But like the Apostle Paul, I prayed my debater would tolerate what they considered my foolishness til I could further explain my reason of passion on the matter of false religion. 

It wasn’t until the following day, when I held back tears in a store in town as I seen the evidence  and damage of false religion in my own community. It made me nauseous, it made me angry, and if they’d have ask my opinion I’d have gladly told them, but they did not. I did not horn in on a conversation that I was not invited into, but rather once again bit my tongue. But I will not do that with those who have been laid to my charge to teach. I will encourage their zealousness for Christ, and gently correct their apathy toward false religion. And so began this brief study, 

Bear with Me

The Apostle Paul speaks to the Corinthians when he says in 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 KJV:

[1] Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. [2] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

It is not in arrogance of wisdom that I get angry when someone defends the behavior of false religion. As I said previously, I have no great wisdom and education to boast of. Though I have some.  But what I do have is the Spirit of God that causes me to understand Paul’s “godly jealousy.” I am not a jealous person by nature. I have always believed if I was not enough for someone, be it in a relationship or a friendship, then that person was free to move on, because in Christ I’m enough. It is because of His great love for me and ultimate sacrifice of His life for mine that I can defend the Christian faith and call out those who attempt to lead Christians astray, especially those young in the faith. I take my role as a teacher very serious. It is an absolute shame many who teach Sunday School or other church classes treat it with a lackadaisical attitude. As if what we do is somehow unimportant in the grand scope of life. I mean… “it’s just Sunday School.” Right?

Well, let me tell you a tale of “just Sunday School.” Prior to my salvation I was placed in the position of teaching youth Sunday School classes without ever the question, “are you saved.” I didn’t even know what salvation was. I had no concept of the Bible or the importance of the role I played in the eternal state of my students. So now, you’ll forgive me if I’m a tad jealous and zealous over the role I understand as life altering and the fact that I know I am a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth. Sunday School is serious business.

Fear with Me

 [3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Salvation is so simple. And yet… the depth of what happens to a soul that is saved is beyond what you could possibly understand when you say the words “I believe.” Satan loves to make it difficult. It’s why he’s so effective with false religion. And lest I be misunderstood about what I believe false religion is, I believe that false religion is anything or anyone that teaches salvation in anything or anyone other than the blood of Jesus Christ. Christ alone saves. “Not by works lest any man should boast” the scripture says. So tell me thou man of religion, what can you do to be saved? First of all, don’t be a man of religion, be a man of relationship.

What brought me to tears in town this week was a man that I stood behind in line at the pharmacy. I had been brought up in the same church he attended, I knew him and his wife and I loved them. Sweet, sweet people. My thought was “there will be lots of sweet people in Hell because someone dared not to offend them with the gospel.” There are fewer and fewer churches sharing the need of having a burden for the lost. Few churches preach conviction of sin and the power of the cross. I speak from the experience of having been in many churches across the nation, both physically and virtually. Are their churches my business? No. But when their churches have a profound effect on people I care about, that is my business. 

Paul said he feared, lest by any means Satan would beguile (to charm or enchant) people as he did Eve. That’s a good description of what’s happening in many churches. They’re charming people with music and programs that attract people but do nothing to edify the soul with preaching and encourage believers to live right. The church of Corinth had issues, not the least of which were claims of spiritual superiority over one another, suing one another in public courts, abusing the communal meal, and sexual misbehavior. It was a community of wealth but Paul says in verse 8 of this chapter that he had “robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.” He was referring to the fact that many poor churches were supporting his mission work so that he could preach and try to correct the errors of the wealthy churches like that in Corinth. Paul called them out, he did not walk on by. He had too much invested in the people he cared about. And so do I. 

I have felt fearful for many years that we, who were once known as a godly nation, would be the recipient of world missionaries coming to present the gospel to the godless nation of America.  I could seriously see it happening now. Our current government is anti everything conservative, so where does all this fit in with false religion. It makes our people ripe for the picking because the nation is such a state of despair. There is no trust in the government, local or national. People are searching for a place to find hope, which would have once been the church, but now because of Corona, many churches are not open, or have limited services and outreach ministries have gone by the wayside for “virtual” meetings. Non- relationship meetings. Oh…. even writing it my stomach turns over. How can we be the hands and feet of Jesus from a phone or computer screen? We were created to be a relational people. 

According to the Washington Post, even though suicide rates have fallen globally, they have climbed every year in the United States since 1999, increasing 35 percent in the past two decades. Another fear that I have is that these rates will continue to rise because hope is quarantined and not able to come out and play. But you better believe Satan and his minions have immunity and readily available to deceive people from where they are. 

For many children Satan’s location of choice is in the public school system which has our children’s minds at their disposal from 8-3, and the parents are too busy and too tired from 4 to 9 to deal with them, so they’re left exposed to the internet on their own until the wee hours of the morning. In 2014 there were 4200 religions listed in the world; if Paul was “fearful” over what was happening in Corinth, imagine what fear he would have today at what his people are exposed to. Parents and children alike search the web for hope and for help and there is any number of organizations out there waiting for a way into their lives, and Satan will use them to manipulate them right into Hell. 

Don’t Bear with Them

[4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Paul was in fear that the people of Corinth would “listen too long.” Someone once said that if you say something long enough and loud enough the people will eventually believe it. I could add to that, if you start it early enough it will be a seed sown deep into the heart of a child. That’s why it’s so important to Satan to get his hooves in the door of a school house, and believe me, he has that door propped open wide. 

While science was always his preferred route of invasion, calling Creationism into question; Satan has now used false religions to infiltrate the minds of youth by promoting that all beliefs are acceptable, but Christianity is too narrow minded and prejudiced to be considered. Unless of course it’s the Catholic religion, which is perfectly fine because Catholics are not encouraged to read their own bible, but rather have it read to them through their agents of God, the priest, who is their method of communication to God. It was this religion by a teacher who my grandson commented to in school. Unfortunately he knew just enough to be dangerous. But he spoke truth none the less. And it was likely my fuel that fired him up. For which I’ll not apologize. 

Paul made no bones about the fact that he didn’t want the people of Corinth giving ear to people who preached another Jesus. Do the Catholics preach another Jesus? They preach that Jesus’ sacrifice alone wasn’t enough. They preach that the veil that was torn asunder on the day of the cross meant nothing for the “average man,” but only certain men could speak to God. They preach that a man has the power to forgive our sins. None of which is true, and is damnable doctrine.

So…. while I’ll not go on a hunt to try to correct people of Catholic religion, or any of the other 4200+ religions, if they come hunting for my people, or if their influence is felt in my community, I’ll not sit silent. Nor will I worry about offending them.  I have family and friends who have been influenced by the false teaching of this world, or a more common issue, they’ve been influenced by churches who do not consider it their job to preach the gospel of conversion. If there is not change in the life of a person professing Christ, if sin doesn’t convict their soul, I dare say they’re not a child of God. But it is unfortunately not the teaching of many churches. I’m not judging. It is truly between them and the Almighty God for Whom I serve. 

I am unapologetically a child of God, I am not about what’s over the door of a church. I am about what is within the pages of the Bible and that alone. But I am still, unapologetically Baptist, because it is the doctrine for which I agree with. What I teach the youth in my department is this. Know Christ. Know why you believe in Him. And when people call your faith into question, let it be unquestionable what you believe in because you and Jesus are that tight.

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

The Fruit of our Lips

Hebrews 13:15

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

In search of a word from the Lord, He reminded me that I have words too. Words of praise, words of encouragement… words.

Lots of them. 

His words come first. For guidance, instruction, chastisement, peace, and sometimes just wonderful conversation. All of which is an example to me that I should be more about my Father’s business. It came in the form of a visit from a childhood Sunday School teacher, Miss Janet. One of the sweetest ladies in my life. She stands just a little over four feet tall, but inside that tiny frame is one of the first people I met in Calhoun County who forever impacted my life for Christ. She’s was a soul winner, long before I had heard that terminology. She loves Jesus and she uses her words for that purpose. She uses her words to tell her little part of the world that she loves Jesus. That is a huge part of our Father’s business.

The Thanksgiving Holiday is just a few weeks away. Can you believe that? Where has another year gone. I stand in awe at how very quickly life is passing. I’m 57 years old. Yesterday I was in Miss Janet’s Sunday School class in the basement of the Mt. Zion Methodist Church. And I know that for her it seems like yesterday that she too was a young woman. We have less and less time to make our words impactful. But along that pathway of life, we need to take the time to show our gratitude to the Lord for all He’s done. To praise Him continually. It’s what I learned from Miss Janet yesterday. She’s still a teacher. Never stop praising Him. 

Words are the fruit of our lips. What’s the flavor of your fruit. Sweet like an apple, hardy like a pear? Perhaps in that ooey goodness of a banana. I hope if you’re a lemon you add a little sugar. Are you a peculiar fruit like a star fruit. Oh my goodness. My mind is going so many different places. God’s creation is a great place to start praising Him!

What’s in your frig today? If you have anything, and I’ll bet you have more than that! We need to thank Him for it. So many in the world have nothing. They don’t even own a frig. I learned that from my friend Martin in Africa. They harvest, kill and eat. No left overs. No frig. Just living day to day. Oh… we have so much to praise Him for today! 

I pray you’ll use your words wisely. Be sweet and fruitful. Using your words to glorify the Father. Happy Saturday! And if you’re reading this today, remember tomorrow is Sunday. A good day to go and praise Him!! I’m ready!

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Life Inspiration

Stop! in the name of Love

chick stop

Last night I taught our teens from the Francis Chan study on Crazy Love and managed to heap huge conviction upon myself. I hate that! But it’s necessary in your walk with Christ to look at life through the eyes of God, not the eyes of self. I measure up pretty good next to me… as a matter of fact we’re dead even. But line me up next the disciples, or Who we should be lining ourselves up to (Christ Himself) and I’m not so hot. I fall far short of who I should be. I don’t fall in to the completely lukewarm category but I have tendencies that no doubt make God’s stomach queasy.

Going through the motions:

Isaiah 29:13 says “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”

Does that not describe the church of modern day to a tee? Everybody’s a Christian (just ask them) but their lives certainly don’t back it up. SMO’s. “Sunday morning only folk.” If you’re one of them, I’m about to get on your last nerve. If we feasted on food like we feast on the word of God you could count our ribs. It’s truth. How on earth do we expect to survive in perilous times, when the only thing that’s going to get you through is the promises of God? And we don’t’ have them. I’m so proud of my group of teens at our church. Wednesday night we’re packed out! But the truth is, we could do better. That’s why I’ve been doing this Crazy Love series with them. I don’t want lukewarm Christians in my class, I want crazy kids who are sold out for Jesus Christ and they don’t care who knows it. I want them to look at their friends and understand if they don’t tell them about Christ, there’s a good chance no one else will either; and the end result is their friend will go to Hell.

Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 7:2It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.” A funeral is better than a party? Yes, because a funeral brings the reality that our lives are like a vapor.

James 4:14

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

If we lived what we say we believe we’d be telling someone about Christ. As a gospel singer I’ve sang at a great multitude of funerals. They’ve not all been for saved people. As a matter of fact the very first funeral I sang for was for a lost soul. His family asked me to sing “Hello in Heaven,” because it was too late for the one whose funeral was being held, but it was not too late for the rest of their friends and family. That was a real eye opener for me as a young convert. I’ve been blessed to be among a congregation of people who try to live for Christ. We all fail. Daily. But we’re trying.

I encourage you to live for Jesus today and tell someone about His saving grace before it’s too late. Live the crazy love that we’re taught the disciples lived.  God likely will not ask you to give up everything you own and serve Christ, but are you willing to use what He’s given you to serve Him? What friend or family are you willing to let go to Hell? You’ve likely said none… but what are you doing to stop it?

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Posted in Christian Service, Leadership, Life Inspiration

Not a Few!

rockstar mom

Acts 17:4

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

Elevated to an uncommon plateau, the women of Acts 17 must have made quite the impression on Luke, the writer of the book of Acts.  Important women in the community now consorting with the Christians and being saved… and not just a few of them! My oh my, what a testimony of the influence that we can have on our communities. If women of that day, who were more often than not viewed as a piece of property, could influence a multitude of people in their city, what can we accomplish if we’d set our minds to it.

It’s been a heavy burden on my heart lately that I don’t speak out as often or as boldly as I should; that I waste more time than I can afford on nonsense when I should be about the Master’s business. There are days I wish I was as brave as those street preachers who sacrifice themselves on the altar of ugly. Because that’s how people treat them when they see them open air preaching… ugly! I know why, because they’re convicting, but that doesn’t make it right in this supposed free country. Everyone wants the freedom speak their mind but Christians are not allowed to have an opinion at all. And not until the anarchy that’s making its way across American in rapid speed takes the rights of non-Christian’s as well, will they understand. But enough of that soapbox.

My point here today is defining your chiefdom. We’re all famous in our own world but what are we doing with that influence. I have no doubt that my children love me, they both verbalize it quite often for  which I’m grateful, but how much do I use that influence to encourage them for Christ? I try not to be a nag about church… I know it will have an adverse effect. After all they’re grown women. But am I vocal enough in a non-judgmental way to let them know that time is running out? Look at our world and the control that the Islamic State has over us by inciting fear. It consumes the television news and the internet cyberspace constantly. So instead of talking about Jesus, we’re talking about them… there’s something wrong with that.

Today we need to talk about Jesus. You’re a chief in your own land… use it wisely today. Commit to talking about Jesus as much as they’re talking about Islam. If we all did that, we’d influence “not a few!”

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Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration

But what about Monday?

Psalm 147:1-5

Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

God’s understanding is infinite, ours lasts about twenty minutes; just long enough for the preacher’s sermon to be over. It’s almost as if when the lights are flipped off after the final service on Sunday, so was the message. We go from worship mode to work mode, or wife mode or whatever mode it is that is the next event in our week. Jesus is left in the back of the pew with the dog-eared pages of our hymnal. It’s a favorite spot we like to turn to, but just on Sunday. We have a burden for the lost…on Sunday, we pray for the sick… on Sunday, we study the Word… on Sunday. But what about Monday?

Praise the Lord He doesn’t turn us off on Monday.

Today, at some point, I can almost guarantee you’ll walk past the brokenhearted who feel like an outcast. They didn’t get spiritually recharged at all on Sunday. Sunday may have been spent in one argument after another, or dealing with broken pipes or broken people. They have wounds that are deep and you very well may have the ointment of healing within your words, or just an outstretched hand. The Lord gathered together those of us who were in the house of the Lord yesterday for the purpose of encouraging us to take the message back out of the church to the masses that are hurting just like we were pre salvation. We forget what it was like to have no hope.

I had the opportunity to lead a young woman to Christ yesterday at the altar. She was shouting before I got the scripture out of my mouth. I’ve never experienced someone so excited and ready to meet Jesus. My heart fluttered and my fingers fumbled through the pages as she and I traveled along Romans Road together. Oh my stars! What an exciting day. She met Jesus and found hope, I met a new sister in Christ and found happy!

Today, regardless of the circumstances in your life, your path will likely cross someone who needs to see the hope of Sunday in you on Monday. That message you got yesterday… at least I hope you got it… needs to go out. The preacher gave you some seed to sow today; plant it and watch it grow!

 

Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration

Say “Da” to God

3 Guys

I love watching the reach of my blog. It fascinates me to think that anyone (outside of family and friends) would read what I write, and yet they do! I love that I’m seeing prophecy played out through me, and with the help of technology the Word of God is going across the earth. Whether or not I ever know those who read my blog face to face on earth doesn’t matter, although it’s cool when I do, but if they are a child of God I’ll meet them face to face in Heaven.

I’ve watched over the past few weeks as Canadians and Ukrainians have vied for position in the list of readership. My sister is a missionary to Canada, so I’m tickled that I too am a missionary of sorts in that land sharing the gospel of Christ from my kitchen table or sofa, in West Virginia, USA. But Ukraine was not on my radar until a few weeks ago and then all of a sudden the number of readers increased. A quick Google search of Ukraine lead me to an article on the website of Eastern European Mission seeking to raise funding for Bibles for Ukraine due to the increase in requests of public schools desiring to teach from it. Yes, I said public schools. The word “Da” is yes in Ukraine. They believe that giving the Bible to their children (saying yes to God) will change the future of their country. Imagine that?

2 Corinthians 1:20 ~ For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Faith in God can be summed up in one word, “Yes,” or “Da” if you’re in Ukraine. With that one word you receive all of the promises of God, enough promises to last you through eternity and more than you can ever imagine. God doesn’t ask anything other than for us to say yes to the gift of Salvation through the confession that His Son, Jesus Christ, was born of a virgin, died on the cross, rose again the third day and now intercedes on our behalf when we err in this life. That is far easier for me than believing we “exploded into existence,” especially since the earth and all that is in it bears witness of God, and from a very young child I’ve had pull on my heart toward Him.

If you’re from Ukraine, I’d love to hear how the gospel is making its way into your homes and what Jesus is doing in your life. It’s a shame the progressive nation of the United States digresses away from the Bible in public schools for fear of influencing children, and yet they’re embracing the influence of false religions. It’s not inconceivable that another country could be sending missionaries into our land.

Ukraine, I’m so happy that you are saying “Da” to God. America… the word is yes. Let’s do it and get our nation back on track!

Contact me through the comment box at the top of this page, or email me at talk2shari@gmail.com