Posted in Life Inspiration, Purpose

What Happens When when Fears become Reality in the Life of a Christian

Video Session of Beauty for Ashes

The following is “somewhat” as it was spoken from a Ladies Retreat at the Sandfork Church of God on March 26th, 2022

BEAUTY FOR ASHES LADIES RETREAT

At Sandfork Church of God

The Oil of Joy for Mourning

One of the very first calls I went on as an official reporter, for my very own news site was a house fire in Arnoldsburg. Two warnings went out from my husband the fire chief of Grantsville, “Be careful driving to scene, it was winter and there was a possibility of ice on the roads, and don’t park too close scene, you’ll get stuck. I heeded his warning on the roads, but as for parking… I’m not a fan of walking, especially in the dark and cold. It was 4 a.m. and 30 degrees. So against his advice, I parked on scene, there was plenty of room. Up until two more fire trucks from the west fork and and ambulance rolled in on scene. Fire hoses and electric lines were across the road, and just as David had warned, I was stuck. 

It took me about an 30 minutes to cover the story and then I could have left, but I was stuck. And in the valley of Arnoldsburg, the smoke from the house, and the ash and the soot  was hanging low because of the heavy air. It was very hard for me to breathe and as a heart patient I probably shouldn’t have been breathing so much of it in. But I was stuck. That was a good lesson to learn, but a difficult one to learn and hard to confess to David, but I did. Luckily I knew the fire fighters and when they finished their work, I asked them to help me back my car off the scene, and they did. 

When I began to prepare for this conference, that story was the first that came to my mind. Because that feeling of heaviness in the air, in my lungs and on my heart because of all the circumstances surrounding that night is still with me. 

There was more than one kind of mourning going on that night on that fire scene. The house was a rental, and the tenants were drug users. Serious drug users. Stoned out of their heads drug users. So much so that they didn’t even know a child was with them and had climbed out the window when the fire started. They lost their dog in the fire and all their belongings. I’m sure they were fearful of the future, the circumstances…law enforcement showing up.  A neighbor was terrified for her own home, with good cause. It was only a few feet away and the siding had already melted off. She had been afraid of the circumstances around this house for some time. And now her fears had become reality. 

So what happens in the life of a Christian when their fears become a reality? We mourn for losses that are not only death, but also life. Divorces cause mourning. For more people than just the husband and wife. The loss of a job, or money can cause mourning. It’s the end of an era. Happy or sad, it’s still an ending. Friendships, relationships, children growing up and moving away and cause sadness and mourning. And of all of that God is aware. And has experienced it Himself. Have you every thought about God’s children “moving” away from Him. How that must make Him feel. Even though God knows the ending, do you suppose He mourns?

My question for you is what are you mourning? And what fear has you concerned that it might become reality. There’s no shortage of things to fear. No shortage of thing to mourn. 

My text today is the first part of Isaiah 61:3. But I don’t want to take it out of context so I’ll read the two verses leading into it. Because they apply to our conversation today, and it really will be a conversation if you allow it. A conversation between you and God. 

That’s my prayer today is that it opens up a dialogue of conversation between you and Lord, which is why I am here today. I need more communication with God.

Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV

[1] The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; [2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; [3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

It was common in scripture for those who sorrowed or mourned to wear sackcloth instead of nice apparel and to put ash on themselves in sadness.Sackcloth and ashes were an outward sign of mourning, repentance, or abasement. It was a type of cloth made of black goat’s hair that was thick, rough, and coarse material. It was uncomfortable to wear, and later it was used as a sack. It was also used as an outward sign of mourning and submission. The ashes were an outward sign that signaled to everyone absolute grief, desolation, and ruin. 

Somebody was having a no good very bad day.

Ashes served as a reminder of where we came from beginning in Genesis when God formed Adam from the dust (Genesis 2:7), God tells Adam,  Genesis 3:19 KJV

[19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

 (Genesis 3:19). We understand deeply our humanity was formed from the dust, and to dust we will return when we shed our earthly bodies. Scripture says in Genesis 18:27

Genesis 18:27 KJV

[27] And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

Did you hear about he little girl who sat in church and heard the preacher quote this verse, but like many people she only tunes in to a few words in the scripture, but dust. She tugged her mom’s sleeve and asked, “God formed us from butt dust?”

But Isaiah said that the Lord was upon him, anointing him to preach good tidings, bandage the broken-hearted, free the captives and loose the prisoner, and to give the oil of joy to those mourning. That is a considerable difference than the ash and sackcloth. I fully believe there is a time to mourn. For your countenance to be sad and for you to grieve over your loss. When Jesus was at the tomb of Lazarus, He wept. Even though He knew what the end result was going to be, seeing the grief of His friends and understanding their human knowledge of death Jesus wept. It’s okay to grieve. It’s therapeutic to grieve and allow the human body to deal with the loss. But there comes a time when we have to move on. I doubt anyone who put on the itchy, rough sack cloth wanted to wear it any longer than necessary. 

I know people – – – and likely you do too, who have not moved out of the grief stage and they’ve been there for too long. We’re not meant to bear heaviness for too long. 

I know someone  who experienced physical abuse as a child,  And every time I would be in their presence they would bring it up. They’ll  immediately turn from a sweet personality to an angry bitter one. I would never make light of the sorrow of abuse, but when God has moved you out of that time, we need to move on.

That is not of the Spirit of God that keeps a person in a state of mourning. What the Spirit of God does for the child of God is replace the ash and sackcloth. For us this would be the oil of joy. Even when our fears become reality with new sorrows and heartache. 

Let’s talk about God’s Intentions

God appoints us, and anoints us to do what we’ve been called to do. I could not stand before you today and do what I do without God’s anointing upon me. Prior to having that I stood in front of a crowd and went into hysterical laughter, uncontrolled. 

In the 1928 Webster’s dictionary there are seven variances for the word “appointed.” The 4th of those i believe is our definition today, Appointed would mean – To purpose or resolve; to fix with intention. It gives reference to Acts 20 when the Apostle Paul had “appointed” himself to go afoot, not by ship.

Acts 20:13 KJV

[13] And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

He intended on going by foot. And just as Paul had appointed himself to go a certain way,  We too have to make some intentional plans for the direction we’re going to go in the tough times of life. The Lord has appointed a time for us to mourn. Things have happened in our lives that are not good. But he has not appointed us to mourn as the world mourns. Not as those who have no hope, but we are to mourn with the oil of joy, knowing that there is a better day coming! 

That is God’s intention for His children

I recently got into Doterra Oils and I don’t think think that everything in my life is a sign from God, but I have been fascinated by the uses of the oils and how oils fit into our lives spiritually. by his Spirit he “puts” comfort into the hearts of them, who through their unbelief refuse to be comforted; they choose to stay in mourning. Not what God intended. 

Let’s Talk about God’s Indwelling

God not only has intentions for His children He is indwelling in His children!

Another word would be Abide.

1 John 2:27 KJV

[27] But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Abiding is a two way street. He abides in you. Abide is to rest or to dwell, dwell within you, to be firm and immovable. That is how God in dwells in you. He’s not going any where. And it is Him that is going to bring you through those tough times in life, give you wisdom and truth for the day. He takes your sorrows and replaces them with joy, beauty for ashes, by comforting your through the Holy Spirit. 

That indwelling of the Holy Spirit is an amazing thing. God in you. I don’t think we fully comprehend that notion most of the time. The Creator of all the universe, is dwelling in His children. Abiding in His children. There’s another form of that word called “Abodement.” The fascinating thing about that version is it means “A secret anticipation of something future.” When I discovered that version, I was almost giddy.  Thinking about what God has in store for us! 

How many of you believe we are living in a time when Jesus could split the skies wide open and call His children home. We have that wisdom and that knowledge because God has made that mystery know to us. 

Colossians 1:26-27 KJV tells us

[26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

There it is again, that hope that God provides us by Christ being in us. We are the generation that is privileged to know mysteries that God reveals through His word. That gives us hope. So that when we have a loss here on earth, the Holy Spirit reminds us that there is something way out yonder, or maybe not so far out yonder that is going to make every grief and sorrow we have on this earth worthy of our going through it. And that is a reason to have joy, because we have been anointed by the Spirit of God that gives us wisdom that the world does not have. We are privileged! Glory to God

God has intentions for our lives, there is a purpose in every single thing we go through, He will be glorified

God is Indwelling in our lives, He has taken up residence so that as you go through it, so does He. There nothing you experience that He has not already experienced and is going help you go through it. 

The third point I want to talk about is 

Let’s talk about God’s instructions

the oil of joy for mourning; oil used to be poured on the heads of persons at entertainments and festivals, and at times of rejoicing; and so its not thought of as something for someone who mourns.  

I looked up in DoTerra Oil what would be considered  The oil of joy. 

Also known as “wintersweet” or “joy of the mountains,” Marjoram was known to the Greeks and Romans as a symbol of happiness. It’s Warm, herbaceous, woody and known for it’s calming property. 

Lavender is one of my favorites when I’m dealing with stress or anxiety, I’ll put a drop in my palms and then just breath it in. It’s amazing how that scent can cause the anxiousness in me to flee. 

But more so the effort I take to be calm and focus on something sweet and positive and it takes my mind to a place that I can hear God. I don’t know if it’s this way for you, but for me anxiety is loud. It consumes my mind and my heart and causes me to grieve and I have to be intentional to get it out of my life. For you it might be something entirely different that gets you into a place where God can speak to you and give you direction in your life. 

In Psalm 23:5 KJV a verse often read at funerals and in times of grief, it says:

[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

That oil is called “an oil of celebration such as when David was anointed King by Samuel.”, In Psalm 45:7 KJV

[7] Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Scripture is meant to point us to Christ regardless if it’s Old Testament or New Testament. Every single word is meant for the edification of the body of Christ to help us make it through these troubled times and encourage us. Not to grieve or condemn. Christ said  in John 3:17 KJV

[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

For me, grief is a form of condemnation. If I stay in a grievous state for too long I begin to condemn everything in my life. I keep getting lower and lower, and feel less and less worthy until Satan has me in a state of depression where it feels like I’m drowning. I don’t stand up here as saint Shari in the sanctuary. I stand up here a sinner saved by grace with lots and lots of flaws. There are days that I grieve.

I remind you that Grief is okay. For a while. It’s okay for many things in life. For a while. 

But if you have lost someone to eternity – Don’t lose sight that we are all temporary, and reunion day is coming, that thought will excite your soul.

If you have lost a friendship, marriage, relationship of any kind, Focus on the friend Who will never leave you nor forsake you, until God either fixes what’s broken or moves you on. 

If your grief is of unknown origin, I face that sometimes, I’m just frustrated with life, write those three points down: It is not my Lord’s Intention, I have the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Guide me Lord with Your Instruction. And with the wisdom of God you can come out of it. 

Remember that you are anointed with the oil of gladness, an oil that does not come from Doterra, or any other earthly thing; but comes directly through the Spirit of God. If you do not know if you have the Spirit of God in your life, let’s get that settled before we leave today. I am grateful for an opportunity to speak and hope that my words have encouraged your soul. But my greatest hope is that you have seen the joy that dwells in me that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. February 18, 1996 I had my first experience with the Holy Spirit. He began speaking to me and I knew I needed to do something. That difference has brought me such great joy, that I have to tell others of it. that’s why I came today to share the joy of knowing Jesus Christ. – Thank you for allowing it.

Posted in Uncategorized

Lead Me On Lord!

Below are the notes from my “not another manic Monday” Facebook Live video feed. If you’d rather watch the video, scroll down to the bottom of the page and follow the Youtube Link.

I’m not sure what has got me in the Christmas spirit so early this year, I’m usually a November 25th kind of gal, but I’m blaming it on the heart attack. I blame a lot of things on the heart attack, but this one may be closest the truth. I think I come to realize how precious holidays and holy days are.

So somehow or another, I tend to relate all scripture to Christmas, which is true as well, because scripture all relates to Christ, and Christ is Christmas. But this Christmas verse is found in the book of Psalm Chapter 16 and although it doesn’t have anything to do with Christmas, it will help you out on your Monday manic if you happen to be in that mode. And I happen to be.

Psalm 16:11

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

I am

Always Looking for Direction

When it comes to life it doesn’t matter how old I am, I’m still directionally challenged. And as a directionally challenged person who takes a picture of her car before I go into a store, I need more help than most. So I appreciate how God took care of the wise men by giving them a sign that could not be missed.

The star…

That star lead the Wise men to the place where the Christ child lay and then it stopped.

Matthew 2:2 has the Kings asking:
“Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.”

Matthew 2:9 reads … the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

That is my kind of signage!

And the bible is filled with historical information, but it’s also filled with today’s information.

I still rely on the word of God in some form or another, preacher, teacher and reading myself to finish this journey. I’ve found the Christ child and the Savior, now I’m trying to stay on the path until we meet face to face.

Part of that journey is that I’m

Always Looking for Joy

Psalm 16 tells us exactly where it’s at and to what extent we can achieve it. In His presence is the fullness of joy! But being in His presence doesn’t guarantee that result. After all, we have Him in our heart, and yet we’re not always happy if we’re honest. Sometimes, on the bad days we have to prepare for it. If we show up to a party with an attitude of dismay and discouragement, pretty soon the rest of the party is brought down with us. But if we show up anticipating the joy of the event, it’s a great day! Well, it’s a great day if we go into this week with an attitude of anticipation for what the Lord can do. One thing I’ve been learning myself lately is that the words we speak have more power than we understand.

If we say something like “I’m dreading this week, I have so much to do and it’s never going to get finished.”

Satan and his merry men will jump that band wagon and ride it all the way into Saturday. But if we speak the word of God over it, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

For thou Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour thou wilt compass him as with a shield.  – Psalm 5:12

Speaking those words causes my attitude to change and Satan to flee. The wise men knew the word of God was the way to Christ because within the word of God it was prophesied 700 years before the event. That proves the power in the word of God.

Micah 5:2

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting.

That prophesy foretold of the birth of Christ in that little city, long before the wise men were given directions.

God knows our destinations as well. Isn’t that great news! But it wouldn’t have been great news if the Kings had had the attitudes most of us have when God gives us directions. 

We doubt and fear because we don’t prove God’s words by stepping out in zones of discomfort. And we miss the joy of the adventure.

That’s what I want in November and December. I want to experience an adventure with Christ! And I can only do that by finding out what God’s word said and how it pertains to my manic Monday or terrible Tuesday, or wicked Wednesday that Satan would like me to experience.

I want victory over every day.

Always Looking for Pleasure

Who doesn’t want to please God? Pleasing God is following, worshipping and acknowledging Who His Son is and Where He is. The third part of our scripture said at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

1 Peter 3:22 tells us that Christ is on the right hand of God. But to understand that is to understand the symbolic gestures of Old Testament.

In Genesis 48, Joseph brought his sons to Jacob to be blessed,  but he got upset when he seen his father lay his right hand on the head of Ephraim because that was a blessing reserved for the oldest child and Ephraim was younger than Manasseh. So Joseph called it to his father’s attention, and his father replied, I know what I’m doing, leave me alone. Shari quoted bible.

So Jacob was basically saying that the younger son was going to be greater than the older. And as harsh as that seemed for Joseph to hear, it was prophetic. And He needed to hear it.

If we want the blessing of God, we have to trust that the Son on the right hand of God has our best interest at heart. But we’ll never understand that unless we get into a deeper relation with Him.

There was some serious relationship issues within the families of the bible. But if we want to experience the pleasures that God has for us in life, we cannot have relationship issues with Jesus Christ.

God didn’t send His Son to this world, to be taken for granted.

Before the heart attack I took a lot of things for granted. One of them was Christmas. That’s why, this year I’m starting early. I want to “experience” this season by having greater clarity and joy about my purpose in life. And I want a greater relationship with the Lord Jesus.

When I read the words in Psalm, it just leapt off the page at me like a Jack in the Box on Christmas morning. God’s verse to prepare my heart for this season.

It doesn’t matter if I’m talking about the Christmas season, or a season in your life that you’re going through. You and I both need the same thing. A deeper relationship with the Lord.

We can only have that if we’re prepared to invest some time.

We have to turn the television off, or the radio, or the computer. Whatever it is that is distracting us from this journey that God is taking us on in November and December!I’m excited about it! And I’m excited that you joined me today and I hope that you’ll let me follow you on your journey by messaging me and clueing me in on some of the things the Lord has been doing in your life. 

God Bless and I hope to see you next Monday at 10 am. on Facebook live. 

Posted in Bible Journaling, Life Inspiration

Don’t let the Enemy do a Victory Dance

Below are my notes for Not another Manic Monday published live on Facebook, Monday, October 29th. The video is below the written version. I pray you’ll join me on Mondays at 10 a.m. each week as I share in music and word what the Lord has laid on my heart.  – Shari

Our scripture for today’s devotion is 1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory though our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I get so tired of hearing the battles that Satan wins in the lives of our people. Not the people who are lost, but those that are saved. He defeats us through deception, discouragement and darkness.

Let’s talk about

The Power of Deception

One of my favorite pieces of journal art is the roaring lion I journaled in 1 Peter 5:8 where the verse reads Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.

You need to underline that in your bible “as a roaring lion. The devil is a faker! Jesus is known as the Lion of Judah. Satan wants to be lion, but he’s not. He walks around making noise, but he can do nothing that the Lord does not ordain. But we often hear the roar, and it stops our dance.

If Satan can incite fear or doubt in you by roaring in your ear that something bad is going to happen, or something good isn’t going to happen, he’ll do it, and we’ll buy it. Why? Because we give him a mane, when he truly doesn’t have anything more than a deceptive Halloween costume.

John 8:44 says that Satan is the father of lies, and yet we listen to him like he’s speaking truth.

He is the great deceiver and every time he makes us believe a lie he does a victory dance that should have been ours.

So what’s he been roaring in your ears. For me, he tells me every day that I’m forever going to be in the position that I’m in financially and physically. That’s my roaring lion.

If when we hear that roar, we’d imagine Satan in a cheap plastic lion mask, the roar would turn into a meow. Because that’s all the power he truly has.

The Power of Discouragement

It looks a lot like the power of deception, but discouragement is in the heart, deception is in the head because we try to reason with logic.  Discouragement, at least for me, is a heart matter. Satan uses the things that I’m passionate about to tear me down.

He’ll do it through other people who will make comments that just cut me to the core. Maybe it’s about my appearance, or my family, or a project that I’m working on and it immediately causes me to want to throw my hands up in defeat.

One of the ways he’s been tearing at me lately is through my grandchildren. Reminding me every day that they are exposed to some of the wicked things that my mind would never have imagined through a nightmare at their age. And their literally seeing it through television, Youtube, friends at school and other means of the media.

I feel powerless and discouraged. This is not a plastic mask demon, this is a real live demon messing in the lives of people I love. So how do I take back the dance that Satan has been dancing with discouragement?

I give them to God believing that He has sent the power of angels to shield and protect my grandchildren.

Hebrews 1:13-14 says “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent for to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

No angel sits on the right hand of God. Jesus Christ sits in that position. But, God, Creator of all has assigned ministering spirits to those who are heirs of salvation. Ha! That’s us!  It only took one angels in 2 Kings 19:35 to kill 185,000 people. I’m pretty sure, my grandchildren’s guardian angel can take care of a few middle schoolers wanting to harm, or infest my grandchildren’s minds with garbage.

I can’t be with them every day, but I can trust that God will provide the protection they need. I have to, else Satan will do a dance every time I worry.

The Power of Darkness

1 John 1:5-7 reads This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.

I witness it every day and would be a liar just like the scripture said if I didn’t acknowledge that good Christian people are exposing themselves to the darkness and pretend that it doesn’t affect them.

I was telling my teen class the other day about a time when the television was called “booger john” because people believed it to be evil. And that was in the days of Leave it to Beaver! Look what our minds are exposed to now. We truly deceive ourselves if we don’t think that everything we allow into our minds doesn’t affect us in either a negative or a positive way.

The news media has filled our minds with fear and deception and we’ve bought it hook line and sinker. We watch shows with sex and violence and those images are seared into our brains to be drawn upon when Satan wants to get our minds off godly things. I was sitting in church yesterday and a television show that I had watched (that’s geared toward children by the way) a marvel hero who, came into my mind, an ungodly scene that I should have never allowed into my mind, and Satan brought it up in church, or I did. I don’t want to give him full credit.

Who ever said the eyes are the windows to the soul, knew what they were talking about.

We have to fill our souls with more light than darkness.

Another quote says that knowledge is power. Well, yes but it needs to be godly knowledge, not all knowledge is good power.

We have to stay in the word of God and to weigh everything we’re told by scripture. Not just the parts we want to believe.

We cannot possibly make it through this life unscathed with just a Sunday service. Not to mention those people who don’t even attend on Sunday’s or they hit and miss. Satan has you in his cross hairs first thing Sunday morning and he’ll be dancing on your head by Tuesday afternoon like a chorus line if you don’t get some more word into you.

I’m glad you joined me today, but don’t let it stop here!

Devour the word this week and keep Satan from devouring you!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Life Inspiration, Not Another Manic Monday, Not Another Manic Monday Video

How to Spiritually Prepare for the Cold

THESE ARE THE NOTES FROM MY MONDAY, OCTOBER 15TH  – “NOT ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY” – LIVE FACEBOOK SESSION. SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM IF YOU’D LIKE TO WATCH THAT VIDEO OR ENJOY ALL THE PIECES I LIKELY FORGOT TO SAY BY READING THE NOTES 🙂

Get dressed, Put your shoes on and don’t worry about provision.”

That’s what I heard as I read Ezekiel 24 on Saturday morning.

I’d been struggling to get back into the reading of this book because it’s so tragic. Israel’s rebellion and punishment from God breaks my heart. It also heaps the guilt on me because I feel like Israel most of the time. The rebellion in my heart never seems to go away. I look at our country, and the shape that many of the people in our nation is in and I could easily go into depression were it not for the fact that I know the end of the book and I know I’m going to be okay, as well as all others who know Christ as Savior.

But what about the bad days that I’m struggling with more than reading Ezekiel. That’s where the scripture I read in the book of Ezekiel really helped out.

In chapter 24, the obedient servant of God, who’s doing his best to live a righteous life, loses his wife. God warned him in advance that he was going to take away the “desire of Ezekiel’s eyes.” That scripture proves the love Ezekiel had for her. But God tells him that he’s not going to cry, or morn, but he’s going to put on his turban and his shoes, and everything else in between I assume, and preach! And as he does, he’s not to worry about the provision of the people. God will take care of him.

That seems a tad harsh for me.

But it also helps me get life into perspective.

Prior to that verse in chapter 22, verse 30, God says “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

I sometimes feel that that is how God looks at America. But then I know better, because I’m in it. And He hasn’t destroyed us yet. Although I’m a failure sometimes, I also stand in the gap with the word of God, sharing the gospel of Christ and standing for Him, in the gap that has been created by a fallen world.

Yes, America is a mess. But let’s look at us individually. Those of us who are on this blog today, looking for hope and believing that we’re going to find it in the word of God.

Over the last few weeks I’ve had some terrible days. Days I physically did not feel like going on. I had to fight to move. Days that I failed my family and I failed God and I wasn’t really sure what was going on.

I have a feeling this may have been how Elijah felt as he preached judgement and wrath again and again and in the process of that he lost his precious wife; and God basically tells him to suck it up and get back out there.

How did He do it?

Wrap your mind

The tire that the Lord tells Elijah to bind around his head isn’t a steel belted radial. It’s his turban. A piece of fabric that protected his head from the elements of the day as he went out into the world.

We need that in a spiritual form that protects our minds from the elements of the world. Negative people and thoughts of our own and drag us into a mindset that’s unhealthy. Satan always makes us believe it’s worse than it actually is. 

Wow, did I need to hear that. All week I had been procrastinating some things I needed to do because I was sure it was going to be terrible. When I finally got around to it, it was fine. But in my mind I had convinced myself of the worst case scenario.

That’s how Satan works to knock us off our game and cause us to step out of the positions and plans that God has for us. Doubt and fear are never of God. He may warn us of things we shouldn’t do, but He will never incite fear. That’s a tool of the Devil.

So in order to bind our minds we have to fill it with words of encouragement. The word of God is a great place to start! But also godly music, and friends who speak life into you!

Shod your feet

That’s the second thing that God told Ezekiel to do.

Ephesians 6:15 tells us that part of the armour of God is to have “Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” Before that it said to have the helmet of salvation on. God’s word may change forms but it never changes the truth.

Just as Ezekiel spread the word by physically walking in the heat of the sun to get to the people of Israel, we can spread the word by walking in the power of the Son! S.O.N.

Perhaps an acronym for “save our nation.”

The Word of God speaks peace! My struggle with Ezekiel had less to do with the book, but rather had to do with my state of mind. I was allowing Satan to get inside my head and preventing me from sharing the gospel.

God’s third piece advice for Ezekiel was:

Feed yourself

At the loss of his spouse, there would no doubt be people that would want to help Ezekiel out. God warned Ezekiel not to rely on others for preservation.

The same is true with us. We cannot depend on someone else to feed us physically or spiritually. We have to take care of ourselves.

It’s why I listen to preaching multiple times a week. I feed myself the word of God through any means possible. I read the bible, I listen to preaching, I listen and sing gospel music. Things that feed my soul and encourage my spirit so I can encourage the people God puts in front of me.

Years ago, when I first got saved I claimed 2nd Corinthians 2:1-2 “But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me.”

I determined as a young Christian that I would sow seeds of hope and happiness, not seeds of despair and sorrow that I had witnessed so many other saints of God sowing by constantly telling the people around them how terrible life was.

I’ve not always been able to stick to my convictions, but I honestly do try. And that’s why this Monday live video is so important to me. I want to give you hope and encourage you for the day.

I feel that Ezekiel’s example, although sorrowful, is still a great scripture to hang onto today.

As the weather changes, we have need for a turban, or toboggan as the case may be, sandals have been replaced by boots and hot soups are soothing to the soul on these cold days. Let those serve as a reminder that God has you covered too!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Life Inspiration, Not Another Manic Monday, Not Another Manic Monday Video

Why Our Conversations with God are Lacking

Below is the video link as well as my notes for the “Not Another Manic Monday” Video Blog published October 8, 2018. Tune in  live every Monday at 10 a.m. on Facebook as I share what the Lord has laid on my heart to encourage us for the coming week. 

VIDEO NOTES:

To begin with, it’s hard to begin a conversation with

  • Someone we’re not familiar with or perhaps may not even know.
  • Someone we’re angry with (if we’re honest)
  • Someone we’re afraid of, or
  • Someone we don’t understand.

It’s sometimes helpful if we have a conversation starter.

Prayer needs are obvious conversation starters. I used to think I was prayer warrior until I realized all my prayers started with “Lord help me.”

Who wants a friend who only comes around when they need something? Don’t get me wrong, God wants to hear everything we need. But He’d like to have some talk time with us just for the sake of getting to know Him better. Not hearing just hearing about our problems.

1 Timothy 2:5  says “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Conversation Starter

So if by way of a conversation starter you heard God ask “Why don’t we talk more often?” How would you answer?

Which one of the excuses would you have, or perhaps another one. But be honest with yourself and ask, what causes me not to have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you fear Him?

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.”

So let’s break that verse down.

If God hasn’t give us the spirit of fear, who has. Easy question to answer. Satan loves it when you won’t talk to God. Because he knows without a good relationship with Jesus, God can’t work in your life to the fullest extent. So he whispers lies in our ears to keep us apart and a way from a three fold promise.

The Power of God. The Love of God and the Strength of having a sound mind. Power to make it through any problem we’re facing. Love, not condemnation which Satan wants you to have, and a sound mind, meaning that you worry and stress less. Is that not something we all desire?!

So take the time to have that conversation with God today. What’s coming between you and Him?

Tell it to the Scapegoat

Anything that prevents you from having a conversation with God is a sin. Even if you don’t view it as a sin, it is because it’s keep you apart from your Creator.

In the book of Leviticus, an Old Testament ritual was that the priest on the Day of Atonement would take two goats before the people at the temple. The first he would kill which symbolized the blood sacrifice that Jesus would make in the future. The second goat he would release into the wilderness, symbolizing that the sins of the people were carried away.

I love the scripture which says “As  far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Everything that causes you apprehension with God, is gone. You can visualize it on the scapegoat, running into the wilderness never to return.

What an awesome way to visualize our sins! Running away from us.

The last point for today is to have a

Tell it to Jesus

It’s a conversation that I had last night in the preparation of this morning’s video blog. I needed somethings to go away. I had to get very honest.

I’ll share those with you, because I need to get them out in the open and perhaps your struggle is similar.

  • I feel every burden of my family on my shoulders. Everyone’s. And I most always think that it’s my fault.
  • I don’t ever feel that I measure up before God or man and that I’ve failed everyone who loves me.
  • I feel that my value is tied to my pay. Which for someone in the ministry, (not a paid ministry) that makes my value “0”.

That may or may not be your issue. But something probably is that keeps you and God from having in depth conversations.

I hope that today you’ll take the time to talk to Jesus. Tell Him the truth about why you and He don’t talk as much as you should. And let’s start this Monday on the right foot, getting closer to our Lord.

God bless ya!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Life Inspiration, Not Another Manic Monday Video

3 Steps to a Great Day

I love being live on Monday’s! But what ever the day is you’re tuning in, I hope that his video serves as a word form God to encourage you and help make your day a little sweeter. Tune in every Monday at 10 a.m. to my “Not Another Manic Monday” Vlog and please share this with your friends! For questions or comments, send me a message or find me on Facebook by searching for The Jesus Chick!

Posted in Life Inspiration, Not Another Manic Monday, video

A Jealous God

I love being live on Monday’s! But what ever the day is you’re tuning in, I hope that his video serves as a word form God to encourage you and help make your day a little sweeter. Tune in every Monday at 10 a.m. to my “Not Another Manic Monday” Vlog and please share this with your friends! For questions or comments, send me a message or find me on Facebook by searching for The Jesus Chick!