But God…

I am at a time in my life when stress wants to rule my days. But God doesn’t want that. He tells me in

James 1:2-4 that the pressures and troubles of this life have an eternal purpose: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

One phrase stood out to me as I read the above verse: “trials of many kinds”. That is exactly how I can describe my life today. I was contemplating the intensity of the spiritual battle behind my trials. Ephesians 6:12 reminds me that it is not the people, though they are tools in the hands of the enemy, but it is spiritual warfare between Godly and ungodly forces: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

As I care for my 95 year old mother, manage her care, watch my 6 year old granddaughter, and am involved in various Bible studies, the enemy of our souls does not like any of this because I attempt to live for God’s glory in all I do, as it states in Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

I have to guard against bitterness, anger, and losing my passion for serving my amazing God.  This quote was from my BSF [Bible Study Fellowship] study: “When routine dulls my passion or when I forget the eternal value of the tasks you entrust to me, help me to see my work through your eyes—as sacred and purposeful.”

The best way I guard my heart and mind is to remember what Jesus has done for me – for each of us.  

He came to earth and put on a human body – how confining that must have been for God.

He came and suffered but was victorious over the enemy’s temptations.

He came and walked and talked with people, and ate with sinners to show us His love, forgiveness, compassion, and so much more!

He came and willingly died the shameful death of a criminal on a cross.

He came and powerfully rose from the dead.

He came and visited many people before He ascended, proving He has the power to raise us from the dead and forgive our sins.

There is strength in my trials as I remember Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us.

There is strength to be victorious in my trials as I seek God, talk with Him and read His Word.

My trials are not more powerful than our living God! They may appear overwhelming to us, but God is never overwhelmed or impotent when we need help.

Remembering Jesus is profitable. Having a pity party doesn’t produce anything positive.

Remembering Jesus and helping others to remember Him is profitable.

Remembering Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life is profitable because He ignites His Spirit in me so that I can also rise above my trials and challenges.

Too often I fail to remember Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us, but God patiently envelopes me with His love, and leads me in repentance and restoration.

I am grateful to God that He called me out of the darkness of my sin, at His cost, not mine.

I am grateful to God for His daily mercy and grace.

I am grateful to God for His work of restoration in my life…it is lifelong and He is patient with me.

Are you struggling under the weight of trials and burdens? I would be glad to talk and pray with you if you want to reach out to me.

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want me to come alongside you.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

If you sit on the beach and watch the waves, you will observe that the waves can sometimes tend to “fight” with each other. Often undertows occur as the waters conflict with one another. Rather than having a peaceful experience, it becomes a very dangerous situation.

I think that sin is like that, and that we get caught in the wake of sin as our sin comes into contact with the sins of others. When this happens, the clash can become very dangerous. We can be pulled into sin that we find ourselves fighting against, but the pull to join in with the sin takes hold.

Consider the people who love Jesus and have been praying for a spouse. God leads two people together, they get engaged, and begin plans for their wedding. Their desire for purity comes under attack. 

One thinks that they can share a bed without being sexually active. The other wants to please his or her intended. Rationalization takes place. God’s words are pushed back as their sins collide and the undertow takes them down.

I know of an engaged couple who became sexually active prior to marriage. The woman thought it was ok because she shared the gospel with her finance. Her sin of neediness and his lack of a relationship with God ended tragically in a divorce years later. 

1 Thessalonians 5:22-24 states: “Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

Please note that the above verses don’t give us any avenue to go against God’s Word. Rationalization or any other tactic to convince ourselves that any sin can be committed without God’s judgment is a lie from Satan. 

Hebrews 13:4 states: “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

The above description of the unmarried couple would be a case of defiling the marriage bed. God does not intend for our bodies to physically connect, even without sexual involvement, prior to marriage. Such a couple would be fooling themselves. They are susceptible to premarital sex should this continue.

But God tells us to flee from such situations! Don’t be held a prisoner by sinful desires.

Are you and I being held prisoner by some sinful desire?

It might be pride revealing itself in narcissism. When this collides with someone else’s self-centeredness, there is trouble in the relationship.

God created us to be relational people. He created us to help one another resist sinful temptations. This is how we can have healthy relationships.

Galatians 6:1-2 states: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

1 John 1:7 states: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

These two verses provide God’s people with ways we can pray for ourselves and one another. 

For example:

Father, please help me to see my own sin so that I can help those who love you to walk in the light, as Jesus did and is our light. 

Father, please protect me from being caught up by any transgression. Please reveal my sins to me so that I can repent. Please bring someone who can help me. Thank you for your forgiveness because of Jesus’ shed blood that cleanses us.

Father, please help me be gentle as I seek to restore ____ to a right relationship with You. Please protect me from the powerful wake of _____’s sin, so that I don’t fall into temptation. You are all powerful and want to help us to walk in the light of Jesus.

Sin is powerful. But God is more powerful. 

What sin is tempting you now to rebel against God? Sin is rebellion against God, and there are always consequences, even if we are forgiven. When we lean into Jesus and help one another, we can sin less. We will never be sinless. 

Can I help you walk in the light of Christ? Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want me to come alongside you.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Hollywoodized may not be a real word, but I think it expresses my point – that we as followers of Jesus are influenced by Hollywood and that we need Hollywood to help us understand God’s Word.

Through the years there have been many productions about the Word of God. 

When you think of Moses and attempt to picture what he looks like, what comes to mind? Is it Charlton Heston? The production of the “Ten Commandments” featuring Heston as Moses was very popular.

I can remember a show that was supposed to portray Noah and the flood. However, Tubal-Cain snuck aboard the ark as a stowaway. Fallen angels even helped Noah build the ark, and then they got saved. Oh my …. Hollywood knows how to distort God’s Word.

What do you believe the Word of God teaches about such treatment of His Word? 

Proverbs 30:5-6 states: “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.”

Deuteronomy 4:2: “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.”

John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

God’s Word is an amazing gift from Him. It is Jesus Himself!

I believe, that any time we take any liberty with His Word we are on dangerous ground. Since God’s Word is living and active and Jesus is the Word, I believe that we should be careful to hold it up as holy. God states in 1 Peter 1:16: “for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

God’s Word is filled with more than we can ever fully digest in a lifetime.  Therefore, we need to spend our life “feasting” on His Word.

When we celebrate Thanksgiving by having a feast, we are excited. We take careful thought to plan what we will eat. We consider seating arrangements. We spend time decorating, etc. 

When God’s people are enthusiastic in the reading and study of His Word, His Holy Spirit makes it come alive in us! It is an amazing experience to have this deep interaction with our living God. He wants this for His people. He wants us to find ourselves enveloped in His love as we read His living Word. He wants us to have an understanding of who He is. He wants us to be encouraged, convicted, comforted, and so much more as we read His Word. 

But God doesn’t force us to spend significant time with Him. It is a choice we must make.

When we are Hollywoodized, it is tempting to shortchange the time we spend in God’s Word. After all, it is easy to think that watching it on TV is the same as reading the Bible. It is not!

If you spend time watching a TV show about the Bible, do you give equal time to reading the Bible?

I’ve heard people talk about how a TV program or some other production made the Bible come alive for them. I wonder, do we really need a production to make God’s Word alive for us? Can’t the Holy Spirit do that and more, as we read and consider God’s Word?

Have you ever spent time watching a movie rather than reading a book? After watching the movie, did you ever talk about it with those who read the book? The experience of the person who took the time to read the book would be deeper. Additionally, movie producers change some of the content of the book. 

Does the statement indicating “theatrical license” make it right to add or change God’s Word?

I believe God wants us to experience Him through His Word by the mighty power of His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is more than capable of helping us to understand everything God wants for us from His written Word.

The Holy Spirit is able to make the words of God jump off the page so that we can be abundantly blessed as we savor and feast on the Bible.

I am not looking for my experience with God to be Hollywoodized. I want it to be rich and meaningful by and through the power of His Holy Spirit.

I know this is possible because I have experienced this work of the Spirit in my life. He makes God’s words alive and meaningful to my daily life. He helps me to “see” the people in the Scriptures through His lens, not Hollywood’s.

What kind of experience do you want with God? Will you decide to feast on His Word, and allow the Holy Spirit to magnify the words of God for you?

You start by having a living relationship with the Lord Jesus. You can do that this moment if you haven’t already taken that step. You can express to God that you understand you are a sinner in need of Jesus’ work on the cross. You can ask for His forgiveness, and receive it! You can be born again – born anew! 

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk further about a relationship with Jesus, and how His Word and come alive for you.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

The back story to the above verse is this:

John 8:1-7: “but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. [Note Jesus’ desire to teach truth.] The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. [Jesus cannot be trapped!] But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” [This must have taken them completely by surprise. It was clear that the woman was guilty as charged. There were likely many witnesses in her community who could truthfully testify that she was guilty.]

But God, who sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, was willing to set her free from the shame and condemnation she deserved for her sin. [Of course, the man was just as guilty, but that didn’t seem to be an issue with the men who were charging her with adultery.] Jesus wasn’t and still isn’t intent upon holding us guilty. His purpose in coming was to set us free from the power and penalty of sin, and in eternity, from sin’s presence. He wants to clear our name. In His court, sin’s penalty is paid.

Jesus’ intention was not to condemn the woman, but to help her [and every person] to understand that His purpose in coming to earth was to pay the debt for everyone’s sin and its shame. Jesus’ desire is to take us from a place of shame [which is where our sin takes us] to a place of honor.

That place of honor can only be provided through Jesus’ work on the cross. His atoning sacrifice satisfied God’s just wrath against sinners – you, me and every person who has or will exist.

Jesus doesn’t need witnesses against any of us to testify regarding our sin. His Father and the Holy Spirit are sufficient witnesses to our sin. Our guilt is fully established.

Jesus sees our sinful behavior.

Jesus knows our sinful thoughts.

But God, our Creator, loves us so much that He provided Jesus as our Savior, Deliverer, and Redeemer. Through His shed blood on the cross, He imputes His righteousness to every person who accepts Christ’s sacrifice. 

We must acknowledge our sinfulness.

We must acknowledge our inability to do anything to pay God’s “fine” for our sin.

We must bend our knee to Jesus and submit our lives to His complete oversight.

Philippians 2:9-11: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

God desires that His people walk with integrity. The following verses from Deuteronomy 19:15-19 reveal the need for diligent work on the part of a judge to be certain that witnesses were honest:

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

Before we throw a stone to condemn someone for their sin, we must first look at ourselves. We must be certain that we have taken the plank out of our own eye, before attempting to deal with the sin of another.

Matthew 7:3-5 states it this way: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

When we see someone walking in sin, is our desire to help that person find Jesus and experience His freedom from sin’s penalty, or is our desire to heap condemnation upon him or her, just as the folks in the above John 8 passage wanted?

When we see another Christ follower walking in sin, what is our responsibility?

We must remember Matthew 7:1: “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

Matthew 18:15-18 provides further help for us in order to encourage each other to walk humbly with God: “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

The competitive, self-centered behavior of the men in the John 8 passage is a great example of what NOT to do when someone else sins. Those men were out for themselves. Truth was not important to them. Position and power were their god. God’s people are to have a merciful and gracious heart toward one another, and toward all who don’t have a relationship with Jesus.

May God’s people be those who care for others in the same way that Jesus cares for us.

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk further about addressing sin.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Humility teaches us to find rest in confession. Rest from the need to hide, the need to be perfect. We rest by saying, both to God and others, “I am not enough. I need help.”

—Hannah Anderson

When I read the above quote, I found freedom and rest in God. I am not ashamed to say that I am not enough and that I need help. 

I often pray, “God please help. I don’t know what to ask for myself or for ___, but You know what is best. Please help.”

There is a saying: “Confession is good for the soul.” That carries with it a powerful message. When we confess our sins to God, and then as necessary to people, we find great rest – rest from striving. 

As the above quote states, when we humble ourselves, through confession, we no longer need to hide.

Consider these verses from Genesis 3:8-10: 

“Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?” “I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

Do you sense the tension, the unrest in Adam and Eve as they hid from God? Adam’s confession to God started the restoration process their sin had created.

It is the same with you and me. When we sin, there is unrest, and a break in our relationship with God. Through Jesus we are able to be restored to a right relationship with God. It begins with the confession that we are not enough, that we are sinners in need of a Savior – the Lord Jesus Christ.

That requires that we humbly approach God with the confession of our sin, and our need for Jesus.

Walking humbly with God strengthens those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

The next part of the quote looks at the idea of us being perfect. Our human tendency is to think that we need to be perfect.  But God understands we are imperfect people who can only be perfected through the blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ. When we confront the lie regarding being perfect, we are free to confess our sin. This changes the direction we take in life. It begins the path of walking humbly with God, denying ourselves for the cause of promoting His Kingdom.

There is a great sense of peace and rest when we confront the lie of being perfect. We are freed from condemnation. God tells us in Romans 8:1 that “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The enemy of our souls wants to heap condemnation on us but God wants to free us, through Jesus, from those lies. When the enemy whispers to us words of condemnation, as God’s people we don’t need to listen or respond, but can confront the lies with the truth that we are covered by the blood of Christ.

This doesn’t mean that we can sin with impunity. 

Our sins do bring consequences. But Jesus paid the price for our sins, so we are not condemned by them. This is the heart of the Gospel!  This is why it is called good news!  It is great news!!

The words – “I am not enough, I need help.” are a balm to our souls. 

God wants to hear us say these words to Him!

This is the opposite message the world [those who have not bowed to Jesus] preaches to us. But God is greater than the world and He tells us that we are forgiven when we humbly confess our sins to Him and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

We cannot hear this message enough. I thank God every morning for the gift of His great salvation. 

I am grateful that He saved me – since I was helpless to do anything about my sinful separation from God.

I am grateful that His salvation provides me with more benefits than I understand, but experience each day. Ephesians 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

I am grateful that His salvation provides me with His mercy, grace, peace, joy, and rest. Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

I am grateful that His Holy Spirit marks me at salvation guaranteeing my permanent eternal destiny with Jesus. Ephesians 1:13: “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].” Amplified Version 

Are you encouraged by Ms. Anderson’s quote, or does it ruffle your feathers? One is the response of humility, and the other is pride. If you want the blessings of Jesus, and have not yet bowed your knee to Him, what could anything or anyone possibly offer you that is better?

If you are hesitant to accept Christ’s offer of rest, I’d like to talk with you.  Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

The absolute ultimate authority is God. You have the choice to accept that truth, or you can reject that truth….temporarily. 

The Bible tells us in Philippians 2:10-11: “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There is a future time when acknowledging the authority of Jesus will no longer be an option. This doesn’t mean that everyone will do it willingly, but the compulsion to bow before Jesus will occur for every person.

It will go better for you if you will acknowledge Jesus now as your Lord and Savior. This requires that we understand we are sinners, and only Jesus could remedy the chasm our sin created between God and us. This is a humble position. It is the first step toward God diminishing our pride, and through His Holy Spirit sanctifying us. Sanctification is the process of God’s Holy Spirit working in His people to develop Christ’s character in us.

It is amazing that our God loved us, even while we were [are] still sinners. Romans 5:8 states: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to take the penalty for our sinful mess!

Why would we not want to submit to His authority?

As I consider this truth, I am reminded that Jesus is the King of the Kingdom of Heaven. As King of the Kingdom, He has the right to tell us how to live. There is no better king than Jesus. He is the perfect King. We can live the best lives possible here.  In eternity with Jesus we will worship and serve Him without the sinful hindrances of this life.

As our King, Jesus challenges us to higher ground with Him. He challenges us to trust Him for all our needs. He wants to provide for our needs.

Matthew 6:33 instructs us to “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” What are the “things” that we will be given? Matthew 6:31-32 helps answer that question: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” God’s followers need to be different from those who are worldly focused.

 God’s people are to hunger and thirst for Him over anything else. Consider what Jesus states in Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Do you feel satisfied, or do you keep desiring more…a better job, a bigger house, a fancy vehicle, more clothes, more shoes, more ______? 

When we set our hearts on seeking and obeying Jesus, our desires change. As His Spirit works to change us, the desires of our hearts become increasingly Kingdom of God centered. The desire for more worldly pleasures and posessions decreases.

We are reminded in Hebrews 12:2 to be sure we are: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Since Jesus could find fulfillment and satisfaction in obeying our Heavenly Father, so can we.

When you consider that God is the ultimate authority, how does that impact how you want to live your life?

What steps might you need to take if your eyes are not fixed on Jesus?

Perhaps you need to increase time reading the Bible each day.

Perhaps you need to attend a Christ-focused, Bible teaching church.

Perhaps you need to get involved in some form of service for God’s kingdom.

Perhaps you need to join an in-depth Bible study.

Perhaps you need to increase time talking with God, and listening to Him.

The above are a few suggestions. You may have some other thoughts on how to fix your eyes on Jesus.

Given that our King gave His life for us, and is planning His return, what might we be doing to tell others about Jesus and His Kingdom?

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk about fixing your eyes upon Jesus.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Have you ever had someone say to you “I’m living the dream.”?

If you’ve ever heard someone say that, I can tell you that it isn’t true when they are still alive, because nothing in this life will ever compare to our being with Jesus in eternity!

I often attempt to gain greater understanding of what it will be like when I’m with Jesus, in person, forever.

It will be forever in the presence of our perfect God, our Lord and Savior. I don’t understand that now.

It will be a sinless experience. I don’t understand that now.

It will be without any interference from evil. I don’t understand that now.

It will be eternity with complete contentment. I don’t understand that now.

It will be with eternal satisfaction. I don’t understand that now – and no distractions when you pray and/or worship!

1 Corinthians 13:9 states it this way: “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete].”

My knowledge now is certainly “fragmentary and incomplete”. But God plans a time when everything will be different. He will fill in every blank I need to know!

This is why, for those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the best is yet to come. It will take place when His followers meet Him personally.

This may happen today, if He decides my work on this earth is completed; or it may take place should He return and we meet Him as He steps back into our world:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

The most important decision we need to make is to accept Jesus’ gift of salvation. It is the most urgent matter in our lives.

Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? Do you find yourself increasingly looking to Him, depending upon Him, and trusting Him with your life?

If you answer yes to these questions, what evidence [the Bible calls it fruit] is there in your life that you are the new person He has promised you are because of His gift of eternal life? 

Galatians 5:22-23 states that evidence of a new life in Christ will be found with these characteristics: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Please remember, we don’t accept Jesus and immediately bear all this fruit in any perfect way. In fact, God is working these aspects into our character on a daily basis, when we are His followers. I know that I am far more of each of these today than I was 38 years ago when I accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation. I expect to have even more evidence of the fruit of His Spirit with each day I live. It is not something I can work into my character. It is something He weaves into me as I walk with Him. It is especially during the hard times that I experience His transforming power.

Philippians 1:21 in the Berean Bible states: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

That verse has greater meaning to me today than it has ever had before. 

I’m here today because God has designated my days for His glory and honor. I am to be His messenger, not only in words, but also in action. When my words and actions combined portray the same message, then I am truly a stronger witness to the greatness of God. To me, that is what the verse means in the phrase “to live is Christ”. 

It means, He suffered, I suffer.

It means, He was encouraged and strengthened by the Father, so am I.

It means, He is resurrected and alive for eternity, and one day I will be also.

When I die in this body, I will then gain, for all eternity, everything else Jesus has planned for me, beginning with my heavenly home!  John 14:3 gives this promise from Jesus: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Every day that I, as a follower of Jesus, am in this world, I am have only the beginning of what it will be for me when I enter eternity with Him. But God sent Jesus out from His presence into this world to save us, so that one day we will live in the fullness of His presence.

Jesus left the best possible example for us. Therefore, I should be content now with His promises of my eternal future with Him. So being here now is because He still has work for me to do for His kingdom. 

I also realize I should never be angry with God for taking anybody out of this life who is going to be with him. After all, I do want what is best for others, and the best for them is being with Jesus. This is not a place we can “live the dream”. The dream of our hearts can only be fulfilled when we get to heaven with Jesus.

Please don’t miss out on the best God has for you. This could be the day of your eternal salvation. I would be glad to discuss eternal life versus eternal damnation. Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk about having a relationship with Jesus.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

I was considering the phrase, “a badge of honor”.

This is what I found online about that phrase:

“The Badge of Honour, accompanied by the King’s Certificate and Badge of Honour, is a civil award previously presented by the governments of British colonies and protectorates, and now by British Overseas Territories, to recognise loyal and valuable service by native chiefs and other non-European dignitaries.”

A recipient of the Badge of Honour would wear it with pride. I would hope it would be a pride based in humility, and other God-honoring characteristics.

What badge do you and I wear? What does it mean? Do we wear badges of self-centeredness or others focused? Do we wear badges of pride or humility? Do we wear badges of kindness or unkindness? Would others say our badge is mercy and grace? Perhaps other badges come to mind as you consider this.

Based upon God’s perspective, what character traits should His people wear?

I like how Micah 6:8, in the Amplified Version, depicts some of the badges of honor God’s people should wear: “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?”

In God’s perspective, what is good is to be a just person, a person who does not take sides based upon deception or impropriety.  But God wants His people to base decisions on His righteous standards. It is far too common today for people to have feelings of empathy that are not connected with truth, the truth of God’s Word.

In God’s perspective, His people are to diligently practice love. Again, we must be careful that our love for one another isn’t based on emotions, but is based in words and deeds as described in the Bible.

In God’s perspective, kindness ranks high. Kindness should be shown to all people. Luke 6:27-28 states: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” I am not saying any of this is easy. It is NOT easy. It is the working of the Holy Spirit in us. This is one way God confirms that we belong to Jesus, we are kind when otherwise we would be unkind.

In God’s perspective, humility is another badge of honor. I believe humility is foundational to all the other characteristics we should be wearing. Humility, as the description in the above verse states, means we set aside “any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness”. This is not natural for us, but Godcan make it possible in His people as we lean upon His Spirit, who enables us to deny ourselves as we follow Him. 

Matthew 16:24-27 states: “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”

As Jesus called people to follow Him, there had to be a decision to turn from everything that was comfortable and familiar in their lives. We turn TO Jesus, and He slowly and methodically changes who we are, and builds in His people a new lifestyle, a new character that represents Him.

Jesus is our ultimate “badge of honor”! 

We should be very proud [in a humble way] to “wear” His character. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Note that the new is here already, it isn’t a future tense. We must determine to “wear” the new character of Christ. 

We “wear” our new character by being those people described in Micah 6:8, and other Scriptures from God’s Word.

How might God have changed your idea of what is the badge of honor for His people?

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk about having a relationship with Jesus, so that He is your badge of honor. Please don’t let this moment pass without knowing for certain Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you may not have tomorrow to make that decision.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Jesus came to reconcile sinners to God. Since that was the reason He came and gave His life on the cross, when we are His followers, we should likewise work toward the goal of reconciliation. Reconciliation with Christ’s followers should be an urgent matter that we pursue.

Jesus set the example. He denied Himself. Jesus told us in Matthew 16:24: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

God has equipped us with the tools necessary to be His agents of reconciliation. Prayer is our greatest tool for reconciliation and restoration. We should eagerly work toward restoring broken relationships with other Christ followers.

Consider Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:1-19:

“In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.” Why was Daniel in exile? It was not because he had sinned. It was because the leadership and vast population of the Israelites had rejected and rebelled against God by worshiping and serving false gods. Idolatry ruled their lives. As God promised He would do, He sent them into exile. God’s purpose was to get the people to realize their rebellion against Him, and to turn to Him with true worship.

How did Daniel respond to the situation? Daniel prayed: “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.” Daniel didn’t resent the people whose sin brought consequences to his life. Instead, he humbled himself and sought the help of God, the only One who could help him. What consequences are you experiencing because of the sins of others? Are you and I following Daniel’s example, or are we rogue and building walls rather than bridges?

Daniel prayed: “I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.” Daniel confessed. His confession included himself, because he recognized he was a sinner. It wasn’t the same sin of idolatry that landed them in exile, but nonetheless, Daniel recognized he was a guilty sinner just like everyone else. He didn’t point fingers at others, without pointing to himself also.

Daniel continued to openly confess their unfaithfulness. Notice the inclusive pronouns he used in his prayer: “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.”

Daniel accepted God’s judgment for their sins: “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.”

Daniel pled for God’s mercy, not for their sake, but for the sake of God’s Name: “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

If Daniel could plead for the forgiveness and restoration of Israel, we should be pleading with God for the restoration of broken relationships within the Body of Christ, as well as with others.

How we pray will depend upon on how deeply we believe that we are all sinners, and that no one person’s sin is more grievous to God than another person’s.

Daniel found “equality” in the sinfulness of all Israelites. It was from that heart that he prayed for God’s forgiveness and restoration.

I am not saying we condone or approve of anyone’s sin, but that we love other sinners [remembering we are all sinners], and treat others just like we want to be treated. After all, isn’t that how God treats us?  He pours forth His love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. 

But God will also judge those who lack repentance. That is why we want to help each other walk uprightly with our great Lord and Savior.

As Daniel modeled, we need to exemplify repentance ourselves. 

Instead of being angry at other people’s sins, we need to remember that Jesus died for ALL SINS for ALL PEOPLE. We need to reflect on God and His great forgiveness. Forgiveness is the heart of God’s Good News, the Gospel!

I believe that we are too concerned about how someone else’s sin impacts us, rather than being concerned about how much the sin is impacting the sinner and the sinner’s relationship (or lack thereof) with God.

Are you more focused on someone else’s sin or your own holiness before God? When you see someone’s sin, does it break your heart, or puff you up because you think you are not so bad?

In the same way Daniel prayed, we need to bring our sin sick friends to Jesus. Not condemn them. Mark 2:4-12 provides the account of four friends who went to great lengths to bring their paralytic friend to Jesus. What was the first action Jesus took? It was to forgive the man for his sins, then He physically healed him. 

What makes the good news good?  The bad news that we are sinners makes the good news great news!

What might be holding us back from desiring to reconcile with another believer who is repentant? Reconciliation is two sided. Though it is an urgent matter for us, until it is important to the other person, we must pray and wait upon God to do His work in another’s heart.

Perhaps I can assist with your process of reconciliation with another? Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.  

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

How do you view others when they sin?

Do you get angry?

Do you look down on them?

Do you think they are no longer qualified to receive God’s forgiveness and your forgiveness?

Do you attempt to play the “my sin is not THAT bad” game?

Does your heart ache for that person to be right with God?

Do you extend mercy because you recognize the truth in this saying: “There but for the grace of God go I.”

Whatever my initial response is to another person’s sin, I need to quickly get myself viewing that person, and his or her sin, through the eyes of God. Why? Because God sent Jesus to die for ALL sin, not just those sins we consider heinous. ALL sin is rebellion against God. The cost to Jesus is the same for lying, murder, the murder of abortion, child abuse, gossip, sexual sin, unkind words, and every other sin you can name.

Let’s look at anger. Anger can be an initial response to someone else’s sin. What does God say in the Bible about anger? The AMPC version states in Ephesians 4:26: “When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.” There needs to be an end to the anger. When we let go of anger, then we are in a better frame of mind to help another sinner. Some interpret this verse literally, “don’t go to bed angry”. I believe that is a great interpretation. Have you ever gone to bed angry? How did that go for your night’s rest? For me it doesn’t go well. I’ve learned to talk with God about my anger before I allow it to settle into my heart and mind. I don’t want anger to find a comfortable place in me, because that won’t bode well for me. It will then spill over into all parts of my life. Then, another person’s sin has infected my life, and that is not worth the consequences.

Michael Tait, formerly of the Newsboys, recently admitted to multiple sins. His former Newsboys made a comment regarding the news of his sins: “the remaining members of Newsboys, Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips and Adam Agee, released a statement last week expressing “horror, heartbreak, and anger,”…”

Michael’s sins are grievous. But God challenged me. He asked me if I thought my sins weren’t grievous. Of course, my sins are grievous. I cannot try to rationalize my sins by comparing them to anyone else’s sins. I have to compare my sins to Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God. 

This perspective changes my reaction to the sins of others. It humbles me, and that is the best response I can have to the sins of others – humility. Remember, “But for the grace of God, there go I.”

As soon as I begin to judge, or continue in anger for an extended time, or look down on the other person then pride is having its rule in my life. Now who is the sinner to be dealt with? Me!!! 

Imagine it is you who has been slowly led astray by the enemy of our souls. One day you wake up and realize how far you have fallen from God. How would you want others to deal with you and your sin?

Should it be posted on social media and be broadcast to the world? 

According to God’s Word, the call to God’s people should always be a path towards restoration.

Is His restoration really our goal when addressing someone’s sin? Or is it vengeance?

We sin against God. Each and every one of us. Jesus is not indignant toward us. His words at the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”, reveals his love for us. God reveals His love for us through Jesus.  Through Jesus , we see the love of the Father for all of rebellious humanity. While we were still sinners, Jesus gave his life for us. 

Since I am still sinning each day, though I don’t want to sin [see Romans 6-7], I need to be very cautious in how I react when someone else sins. God calls me, and all his people, to a different standard. He has set out His standard in His living word. 

These are some of the ways in which God calls His people to respond to the sins of one another. We cannot lose sight of what Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, we are not fighting a battle against flesh and blood (one another) but against powers and principalities. 

What is the most effective way to deal with sin?  Prayer, seeking God. After all, He is the one who has the power to change us.  According to James 5:16, we should: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Why? “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

 What does our sin reveal about us? It reveals we are broken and need to be mended. There is only one way to be made whole again, and this is through Jesus.  We need to be made new in Christ. Only by the power of His Holy Spirit can that happen. 

Anger will never bring healing. God‘s lovingkindness and forgiveness bring healing. The gospel is a message of forgiveness and healing, healing of our relationship with God, and healing in our relationships with one another. 

What do our responses to our own sins and the sins of others reveal about what we believe the message of the gospel is all about? Romans 12:3 states: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”  I believe we would be far more effective for the gospel of Jesus Christ if we would respond to the sins of one another with brokenness.

What might you and I need to do to mend a broken relationship with a fellow Christ-follower? 

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk about these thoughts.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.