UNRIVALED

“Sometimes called the "Nonpareil," meaning "unrivaled," a fair way to describe the unbelievable colors of the male Painted Bunting. This species is locally common in the Southeast, around brushy areas and woodland edges.”

I love the picture of this bird and when I first saw it, I didn’t believe it could possible be real, but then I looked it up. Sure enough, it is as beautiful as the posting I saw on FB. Even more amazing is the name by which it is often known - nonpareil - "Having no match or equal." I thought immediately of the unrivaled beauty of my Lord.

I love the majesty of God’s creation, and every time I see something so lovely – sunsets, sunrises, flora and fauna, fish swimming in the coral reefs, fall foliage, painted Zebras, colorful birds, and oh so much more – I have this vision of God, paintbrush in hand, putting the minutest details on every thing He created for us to enjoy. I love to paint, so that is probably why I see this particular image. 

One day when my nephew, Jon, was only 2 years old, he and his momma came to visit me in Hawai’i and we took a ride around my favorite side of my island. Without fail, the Ko'olau mountains take my breath away, and I mused, out loud, 

“Oh I want to paint those mountains!” and Jon replied, as only a 2-year old can, 

“Will you paint trees on them?” 

He took me quite literally – and thankfully we cannot, nor do we need to consider actually redoing God’s majestic handiwork. We should, however, always take time to enjoy it - and to thank God for gracing us with such beauty.

“Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky and they will tell you; or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of these does not know the hand of the LORD has done this and in His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10

THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD

In the throws of this pandemic I’ve sensed the Lord encouraging me to lay hold of truths I have put on the back burner. Oh, I have not forgotten these truths, but neither am I laying hold of them, and herein lies the foundation for anxiety, fears, speculations and strongholds of the enemy running amuck and strangle-holding even believers, when our rightful place is in the safe, sure, impenetrable Stronghold of our Lord.

Fear and isolation are two of Satan’s most-played fiery darts, and why? Because with these two, mankind can be immobilized and/or driven to absurd manias. Our flesh and blood is told its only options are fight or take flight, and while this might have valid applications, these are not the only options for the people of God. IT IS TIME to shut these voices up and tune our heart, our mind and our ears to the voice of our victorious Lord. Our God’s promises are yes and amen, and they are always dependent on HIM fighting our battles. Battles belong to God because only God knows specific strategies necessary to take the unseen enemy down. God’s word reminds us our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12),  and He also reminds us the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians. 10:4) IT IS TIME to remember this is a spiritual battle, and our God has not given us a fight or flight mentality, rather we are to stand, and having done all, to stand firm when Satan rears his ugly, defeated head!

I sense an urgency for the people of God to take our positions in the midst of this pandemic, to put on and take up the weapons of our warfare, to stop listening to voices that are hell-bent on pulling us down into the muck and mire, or at least keeping us in deep trenches. It is time to lift our eyes to the Lord who is our help, our shield, our defender and THE weapon of our warfare.

OUR GOD – FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT – AND OUR POSITION AS THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD ARE THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE.

It isn’t our faith that shields us, but the fact that God has given us faith as a shield in this and every battle. We lift up declarations of faith, then stand and watch as God extinguishes all the fiery darts of Satan.

We don’t fashion a belt of truth for this battle, we simply declare HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIGHT. Jesus, The Word, became flesh and dwelt among us, died on Calvary’s Cross so that we might live and breathe and find our being in Him, in His resurrection power. Jesus is our TRUTH, our intercessor, our Victor, soon and coming King! He is our belt of truth; His Word holds us altogether. We must read and commit it to memory, so we have the Words of Truth at hand when Satan spews out his diabolical lies. It is God’s truth that sets us free in the midst of the battle.

There is no one righteous, no not one, the Bible tells us, and that same chapter in Romans (3) defines our breastplate as the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. As we take our stand, Satan sees JESUS, risen and triumphantly leading us into victory.

We should follow the guidelines set out by our various government agencies, because God tells us to and because we love and care for the safety of all the one anothers in our world, but that does not negate His mandate for us to stand in the resurrection power of Jesus, covered by His blood, appropriately dressed for the battle raging all around us; STAND fully equipped with all God has granted us in Christ Jesus, and watch our God battle on our behalf, on behalf of the world and all peoples whom He created and loves.

There is a huge enemy, affecting every one of us in ways too numerous to mention, and just as the CDC and every other agency is joining forces to fight this pandemic in the flesh, we need to join forces as the people of God under the banner of God’s almighty love. We need to know, in the depths of our innermost being, and we need to declare that the weapons of our warfare are mighty and powerful, fully capable of defeating every attack of Satan, even this pandemic which he is using to isolate mankind, to drive daggers of fear into hearts, to raise every kind of suspicion and mistrust. This battle is not flesh and blood. This battle is much larger, and more sinister than this world can imagine, and this battle belongs to the Lord who has equipped us with weapons of warfare that are mighty and powerful to tearing down every stronghold! We need to know what they are and, having done all to stand, we need to stand firm in HIM. Here are just a few of our weapons…

OUR SALVATION is our mighty weapon. The blood of Jesus Christ is our covering and protection.

THE TRUTH – not all the hyperbole prevalent today – THE TRUTH found in God’s Word, is our mighty weapon. KNOW IT AND USE IT!

THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT, leading and guiding us into all truth, is our mighty weapon. Stop the thought-talk, shut off the television, and LISTEN to the Holy Spirit, who reveals the Father’s heart to us.

OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE PRAYERS, sweet incense coming before the throne of God, is our mighty weapon. CALL SOMEONE TODAY AND PRAY, TOGETHER. Start a prayer vigil over any one of the available ‘social media’ venues. Or join some already doing this.

THE INTERCESSION OF JESUS, seated at the right hand of God, is our mighty weapon, so enter into way more conversations with Jesus than with others about the dilemma we are in.

THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTHS AND MEDITATIONS OF OUR HEARTS will either be weapons of mass destruction, or mighty to the tearing down of strongholds! Speak peace. Speak comfort. Speak joy. Oh God, may our words and meditations be acceptable to You.

OUR GLOBAL WORSHIP – on FB Live, or our own newly created TV channels, or YouTube live, or any other way we are gathering together as the Body of Christ, is our mighty weapon. We are not alone. We are not isolated. Church doors may have been forced shut, but it just means we get to be connected in most unexpected and highly effective ways these days.

OUR ZOOM, etc. FELLOWSHIP is our mighty weapon. Don’t sit home isolated when you have the opportunity to join others. Who would have dreamed God would radically redeem social media platforms for His glory and transform online office conference call venues into fellowship halls!!

The weapons of our warfare tear down strongholds for us personally, for one another, and indeed for this entire world. I’ve listed just some of our artillery that readily come to mind this Sunday morning April 19^th 2020. I know you can name even more. But we gotta do more than know them. There is an urgent need for us to really lay hold of the fact we do not fight this battle; it belongs to the LORD, and He has equipped us with weapons of warfare which are mighty and powerful to the tearing down of strongholds.

There is a physical pandemic ravishing the world, no doubt about that. But the real battle is not flesh and blood, and WE KNOW the enemy has already been defeated by the Blood of the Lamb. So, lets SUIT UP! SHOW UP! And STAND UP together, equipped with every weapon in God’s arsenal, and under the banner of God’s love, let’s lift up a mighty victorious shout as we exhort and encourage one another to hold fast the hope and high calling we have in Christ Jesus. Let’s sing and shout the victory for the honor of Jesus, our resurrected Savior, through the power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit, for the hope of the world, and for the Glory of God. IMUA!

May His Kingdom come; may His will be done on earth just as it is in Heaven.

Amen and amen,

Sistah Sue – just one among many in Christ’s mighty army.

And, having done all to stand, WE STAND!

IMUA PSALM

IMUA!  PSALM FOR MY OLD AGE:

The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the Lord is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no 

    unrighteousness in him.     
Psalm 92:12-15

Lord, thank you for this Psalm’s encouragement today. There is a propensity in our world to dismiss those who are old, to marginalize and ignore them. I am thankful for and drawn to people like Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Elizabeth, Joshua, Caleb – those who, in their old age, bore the holy mark of Your anointing on them as they continued to trust you for fruitfulness well into their old age – even when it seemed ridiculous and scary.

Like them, I am considered old. In fact, I have been for a decade or more – at least in the mindset of our world. Even in our churches I have overheard the rhetoric that young people need to be front and center, leading the charge for Your glory – strongly implying those older need to fade quietly away into the shadows. Young pastors no longer look to wisdom of the ages, and I fear we are smack-dab in the times where tickling people’s ears is more desirable than establishing deep roots. My heart aches when I hear such talk.

I appreciate this Psalm for its reminder to keep bearing fruit in my old age; to remember I am still full of life, more than capable, more equipped than ever before to declare Your greatness, Your steadfastness, Your holy righteousness. I am capable because of all You’ve poured into me all these decades, and because You have anointed me to flourish, to bear fruit, to be relevant even in my old age!

Yes, I am old – older than I’ve been before, BUT younger than I will be tomorrow. Today You call me forth from the doldrums of inane world views and, indeed, from my own though-talk, to walk upright and strong, to go forth and be fruitful! For the honor of all You’ve grown and established within me, I accept the challenge and the calling, O LORD, my Rock, my righteousness, my source and my supply, my joy and my anointing!

IMUA!
Move forward in strength

smcs 2/6/2020

It’s an age-old debate – are works necessary for our ticket into heaven? Some forms of Christianity make it a huge issue. You can even do something on behalf of someone else to ensure their entry past the pearly gates. Others debunk that as Old Testament – under-the-Law theology.

James, chapter 1 gives a road map for Christian living.

Rejoice when you encounter various trials and let them perfect you.

If you lack wisdom, ask God, who gives it generously.

Rejoice in God’s perfect plans and designs for you personally.

Remain steadfast under trial.

Don’t be deceived. Every good and perfect gift comes from God, the Father of Lights.

Be quick to hear; slow to speak; slow to get angry. Anger does not produce God’ righteousness.

Receive the implanted Word, which is able to save your soul.

Be doers of the Word, not just hearers who,
in actuality, deceive themselves.

Bridle your tongue!

Visit orphans and widows and keep yourself
unstained in this world. 

This is pure, undefiled religion before God.

Living the Kingdom of God on this earth will require doing as well as being. It isn’t that the doing saves us, but it does prove God’s righteousness overshadows, fills motivates and sustains us. The proof, an old adage says, is in the pudding – one can only judge the quality and character of something after you have tried, used or experienced it. I cannot say I live for Jesus if I have not done so, nor will the world experience God’s true love apart from the way we, believers in Jesus, live out God’s Kingdom here on this earth.

James 2 dives in a bit deeper. Now it isn’t about the things I do to gain the character and heart of God within my own soul. Now it is about how God’s love is accomplished through me.

Showing partiality to the rich and slighting the poor is not just wrong; James calls such evil thoughts. He makes quite an indisputable case – it is the rich who oppress; it is the rich who will drag you into court with little provocation just because they can. It is the rich who do such things that dishonor the very name of Christ, the name by which believers are called…Christians. Showing partiality is an I’ll scratch your back because I know you can scratch mine mindset. God’s love constrains us from that kind of evil thinking and living.

James says fulfilling Jesus’ command to love others as you love yourself means we fulfill the Royal Law, and if we show partiality to the rich, slighting the poor, we are committing sin and are, therefore, convicted by the law as transgressors (the law imposed under the old covenant). The Royal law, on the other hand, is the law of liberty ushered in by Jesus, whose actions are merciful rather than judgmental, and Mercy triumphs over judgment. The Royal Law is best demonstrated in how Jesus lived and died. Even from the Cross He cried out, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do! Jesus did not slight the rich. He ate in their homes, counseled them in the night, and, I dare say, opened their spiritually blinded eyes - but neither did he show them partiality. 

He made abundantly clear what the Royal law is in His infamous Sermon on the Mount . . .

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Here is the crux of the debate over faith and works. . . 

Believing in Christ is not proprietary – even the demons believe and shudder!  Our world wants a demonstration of Christ’ love, grace and mercy – not just empty hyperbole. True faith in Jesus is faith that is action-packed, and our faith is completed by how we live Christ’s Royal Law toward those around us. 

This reminds me of another newer adage – You complete me. As we live out the love, grace and mercy of Christ, we are being completed by Him. We are not saved, but sanctified – blessed, purified and made holy – by what we do with what we believe. It is not debatable, but simple Truth:

The body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead – lifeless; empty.

smcs / 12/31/2019

BASHIRAH, THE GLAD TIDINGS CAMEL

Merry Christmas everyone! 
I am sharing one of the Christmas stories I've written and illustrated, complete with a whimsical song young and old seem to enjoy. It is copyrighted but not published yet, and I hope you will enjoy and share it freely.

This is actually the first in a series of 8 children's Christmas stories I wrote for my grandchildren, and it premiered at my family Christmas gathering in 2008. I just finished the illustrations this year so it was time to share it again.

Bashira, the Glad Tidings Camel, is excited to take you along on his journey to Bethlehem. May the Lord Jesus, the reason for this amazing holiday, grant you peace and joy this Christmas.

With much Aloha!  Sue Sargis

So goes a verse in the well-known poem we sing at Christmas, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” written in 1962 by Noel Regney and his wife, Gloria Shayne as a plea for peace and a return to human civility, sanity and dignity during turbulent time in America. It’s a song that could have been written again in this time of world history. The wealthy get wealthier, all the while fearful of the next stock market crash, while the poor get poorer. How should we live, especially those of us who know the amazing grace of God and the gift Jesus brought to earth over 2000 years ago?

It’s a haunting question, especially at Christmas when giving is clearly on our minds, and oh how the hype can crowd out the true spirit of giving. Does the subtle fear of not having enough cause a hoarding spirit to prevail? James 5:1-3 warns us from the grave to love people and love God out of compassionate, giving hearts, or corruption and corrosion will eventually consume us.

Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

Woe! What a strong indictment. Corrosion happens to silver when something comes in contact with it that breaks down its composition. There is no known natural substance that can destroy gold, but James is not speaking of the natural. His indictment is about the heart and the spirit with which we relate to one another in this world. In Matthew 6:19 Jesus tells us…

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

And previously in James’s dissertation (4:1-3) he says:  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

What and where exactly is my treasure, and how am I preventing spiritual corrosion? Where is my heart?

I checked out a website, globalrichlist.com, which shows one's personal rank in wealth in our world today. You put in the country you live in and your annual income – that’s all. No gimmicks. I learned that my meager social security benefit puts me in the TOP 3.20% RICHEST people in the world! OUCH! But it isn’t about our world wealth status, is it?

The Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-20) wasn’t living a nonspiritual life simply because he HAD wealth – but rather because he chose his self-sufficiency over following Jesus. Treasuring Jesus, most of all, changes the trajectory of our heart and causes us to see, with the eyes of our heart, how to live out a life of blessing toward others on this earth. His instruction, rejected by the man who asked Jesus what good things he needed to do to inherit eternal life, was this:

“If you would be complete, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure {a storehouse of precious things} in heaven; and come, follow Me.” The man went away, scripture says, sorrowful because he had much wealth.

Caring for one another and following Jesus are treasures seated in heaven, rather than here on earth where corrosion robs us of the pure joy of partnering with Jesus for the sake of bringing the Kingdom of Heaven here to this earth.

There is another story about the condition of the hear which Jesus reflects on…

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Being wealthy is realizing the abundance in my life, living with the mindset of gratitude, giving freely and graciously rather than keeping, for myself, what I might consider meager finances, compared to the rich young ruler.

This holy Christmas season as I contemplate the life of Jesus – born in a humble manger, died a sinner’s death on a Cross so I might be free – will I live my life out of a hoarding spirit or out of my redeemed heart? One choice buries my treasures on earth where corrosion destroys even gold, the other is deposited in Heaven’s vast storehouse from which God’s blessings continually flow. For where my treasure is, there will my heart be also…

Said the King to the people everywhere, “Listen to what I say. The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night, He will bring us goodness and light.”

Jesus spoke to the people and said, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life.  John 8:12

smcs // 12/16/2019

HERE IS JESUS

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning; through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

Here is Jesus for all mankind to see and to know – intricately, majestically SEE; succinctly, intimately KNOW.

Here is Jesus – THE WORD, with God; the Word, GOD

Here is Jesus – from the BEGINNING, through whom all things were made. You, me, the earth and all its fullness. Without Him NOTHING was made that has been made. Animals, fish, plants, trees – every living thing CREATED by Him.

Here is Jesus – LIFE that ushers in LIGHT for all mankind. Illuminating the darkness, enlightening our vision so we can KNOW the hope He gives to all who would believe.

Here is Jesus – darkness cannot hide Him, crush Him, overcome Him.  because darkness can never overcome true LIGHT, true LIFE.

Here is Jesus – born as man in a humble manger,

died a sinner’s death so we could have eternal life,

seated at the right hand of the Father 

            interceding for you and for me,

                 soon and coming King!

Here is Jesus – come home.

May the Hope, Joy, Light, Life and Peace of Jesus be yours this Holy Christmas Season,

Merry Christmas,
Sue McCary Sargis (2019)