Unfortunately, in today’s society emotional ties, spiritual spouses, and office husbands are common failing among the body of Christ. In addition, these failings are ones that continue to destroy families and marriages. It is also something that is easy for anyone to fall into, unless they are vigilant. According to Bill Hamon, Christian International founder and author of Prophets, Pitfalls & Principles, “a ‘ministerial mate’ or ‘spiritual spouse’ [or office husband] is anyone a married minister (or any Christian person) allows to become a closer companion than his or her true spouse, especially when that person is of the opposite sex. . . . This kind of inappropriate closeness is dangerous because it usually leads to romance and finally sexual immorality” (29).
You may be single or married, but if you’ve ever shared your heart and talked at length with someone else’s spouse, and then felt that spark of excitement over common interests, then you were in danger of falling into the enemy’s trap and becoming emotionally tied to that person. Do not be misled; the enemy of our souls is out to kill our marriages, our children, and our ministries. He does not play favorites by only going after those in high-profile ministries, but he goes after every Christian.
Some ways to avoid this trap, according to Reeni Mederos, instructor of “The School of the Prophets” from The Warriors Cave, www.warriorscave.com is:
1. Your best friend should be your spouse.
2. Your best counsel should come from your spouse.
3. Any soul ties that exceed or are more influential than your spouse are trouble.
Shared mind + shared will or purpose + emotional tie = TROUBLE
4. The moment you feel a spark that is not brotherly- RUN from it as fast as you can!
5. Keep your priorities in order: God, Spouse, Family, and Ministry/Job
In addition, do not wait to address this kind of situation if you are struggling with it in your life. Get out of it. Change churches, change jobs, do whatever you have to do to protect yourself and your family. The longer you stay in the situation, the more likely you are to fall into adultery. Moreover, if you sense that your spouse is closer to someone else than you, then you need to confront him or her lovingly. And according to Bill Hamon, if your spouse responds correctly, and starts to adjust things and reconcile your relationship, then you have stopped the situation in time. However, if they respond with resentment and accusations, you may need to go to your minister and get them involved (30). Allowing your spouse’s relationship to develop further with someone other than yourself will just destroy your family. “Open rebuke is better than secret love” (Proverbs 27:5). But as in all things, go to God in prayer first and be led by the Holy Spirit. He will know the proper way to handle your individual situation.
Emotional Ties, Spiritual Spouses, & Office Husbands August 19, 2008
Divorce in the Church: A Crisis of Faith August 14, 2008
For an easy to read magazine article on the subject click on the link:
Excerpt:
“I opened another forwarded email from a friend, and to my horror it was news about one more pair of high profile ministers getting divorced! I ran to my phone and called the friend who had sent the email. ‘What happened?! When did this happen?’ I asked her as I was completely caught off guard and flustered at the same time. ‘I don’t get it, I just don’t get it. They can’t get a divorce. What about the thousands of people in their congregation, what about them? What about their kids?’ I asked. . . .”
Gasoline and Linen Cloth November 29, 2007
Weaving
moving
putting texture in
the air
holes, atoms
wrinkling, emitting
gases in the atmosphere.
both leave an impression
both are costly like gold.
one is fueled by fire
one is worn by the King
gasoline and linen cloth
the Holy Spirit and our Saviour
dancing,
everywhere.
(c) shari mcgriff 2007
Walmart: An American Icon October 12, 2007
“do more for less”
says the big red, white and blue
or the new shade of green for money
workers forced to live
in cement buildings
paying rent for a bucket and a bowl
no vacation, no day of rest
7 days a week is the slave trade
But that’s on the other side
of the water
here, where the flag flies
no full-time
no benefits
dragging towns into economic wastelands
for do more for less
do more for less
they do more work, more labor
for less pay, less insurance
less money for rent
less food
for their baby’s belly
distended for the bottom line.
Stockholders
do you sleep at night?
©shari mcgriff october 2007
The Times and Seasons of God September 9, 2007
The times and seasons of God are perfect
He knows what I do not know
If I am sent before I am ready
The voice of a stranger, I may follow
I choose to follow His voice
I choose to follow Him
I choose to wait until it’s my turn
And not force His hand.
When I am ready,
I am ready.
When I’m not,
I’ll fall.
The times and seasons of God are perfect
And I choose to wait for the High Call.
Rise Up, My Friend May 1, 2007
grief comes, and you sit.
and sit you must for a moment.
but only be waylaid for a moment
for your life is not over
and spring will come again.
rise up, my friend
rise up.
it is time for you to live again
you must fight for your life
it’s not your time to die.
take my hand
we’ll make this journey together.
come on, now
take my hand.
it’s not time for you to lay down.
get up.
live and love those that are still here
you are surrounded by love.
rise up and take my hand
and we will take this journey together.
(c) shari mcgriff 2007
Fallen Warrior April 11, 2007
oh, father
one of your warrior’s has fallen
one who laid their life down for the cross
temptation has overcome,
but for a moment
and fractured their very soul.
oh, father
send your comforting Spirit to them
redeem what has been broken
restore what the enemy has stolen
bring peace and wholeness to them again.
mend the wounds and the brokeness
pave over the path of destruction
with a road of crystal from the sea of glass.
oh, father
let them know we still love them
let them know we still care
show them You’ll redeem
You’ll restore the people left behind
and You’ll heal the fissures in their soul.
oh, father
show them that You will redeem and restore
what the locusts have eaten
show them that you will take the miry clay
from around their feet
and put them back on solid ground.
oh, father
show them how much you love them
and give them peace.
show them You can turn anything around,
but most of all Lord,
wrap your arms around them
and be their Daddy
as they cry themselves to sleep.
oh, father
bring them comfort and peace.
(c) shari mcgriff 2007
Snow and Son for Easter April 8, 2007
Snow and sun for Easter
My resurrection day.
As I bathe the states in My Glory
Be reminded of My Son.
His sacrifice has washed you clean
You shine like the sun.
The freshness of your spirit
Is crisp and clean as the snow.
Receive My gift
Of snow and My Son for Easter
For you sparkle like Him.
You bring freshness to the atmosphere.
Your purity changes those around you
And the coolness of your temperament
Refracts the prism of My Holiness.
Receive My Son and the snow
I sent you this Easter
Let My Glory bathe you in the diamonds
Of His reflection
As you kneel before the cross
And your sins are made white as snow.
Resurrection Day–April 8, 2007
shari mcgriff
Final Exams February 20, 2007
Here I am Lord, once again
Frazzled to the end.
Headaches a ragin’
Cappucino in the makin’.
Need joy, need peace,
need your Wind.
Weary in body
Frightened by exams.
Need your peace
and inspiration
at the end of my pen.
Copyright ©2007 Shari Christine McGriff
Kneeling at Your Cross–I am Free! January 24, 2007
Let me kneel at your cross
and see what I have done to you.
My sins are on your body,
you’ve been beaten to a pulp.
Your eyes are swollen,
your body is bruised and broken,
you’re bleeding on the inside.
Oh, what have I done?
There are huge nails in your hands, Lord
and nails in your feet!
You hang from them in such agony,
and I weep
uncontrollably.
Jesus,
may I kneel at your feet
and let the blood that is pouring out of you
fall on me?
My arms are outstretched,
pools of blood at my knees.
Drenched in your blood, as I am,
I am set free!
Covered with blood,
yet clean.
Your ribs can be seen through your skin,
a hideous sight to see.
Yet the sight causes me to love you,
love you even more,
than before.
Water pouring out of your side
like a woman giving birth.
Birthing a new covenant
of love and grace and redemption.
Oh, how blessed am I.
I am blessed that you loved me so much
that you’d be beaten and die
for me.
That you would be my sacrifice,
and cleanse me of sin.
At your death, Lord, I mourn.
At your resurrection,
I dance!
Because I am free!
Free and unburdened.
Free to be who you created me to be!
And free to come into Your presence
and worship
my God,
my Saviour,
and my King!
(c) shari mcgriff 2007
Silent, I sit January 24, 2007
Silent, I sit,
waiting.
Waiting to hear the internal voice of God.
How do others see this silence?
arrogant?
withdrawn, or shy?
They can not know the conversations
I engage in with my eternal
omniscient
heavenly father.
I am not distant.
I am engaging in intimate
discourse with my Father.
The one who loves me more than all others.
(c) shari mcgriff 2007
Abortion January 15, 2007
Abortion.
Abortion is a crime against women and children,
used by politicians and hate filled feminists
to push their greed and their agendas.
Abortion.
Abortion is a crime against all women and children.
Do not be deceived.
That child you are carrying is autonomous—
not part of your body,
they have a body of their own.
They need you to nourish them,
however, they are not a part of you
like an arm, a leg, or an organ,
to amputate as if you had gangrene.
That child is a person.
A person with needs.
If you don’t want them,
or you can’t take care of their needs,
then give them to someone who can.
For it is better that they have life with someonelse—
than death by You.
Abortion can ruin your life.
Your life will never be the same if you go through with it.
Ask the old women who have had them.
Ask them about their dreams.
Ask them about their nightmares,
and the screams.
Ask them if they regret it.
They will tell you it is the biggest regret of their life.
Then ask them, if they have children now—
and many will say that they do not.
Why did they not have children later,
when it was convenient for them?
They will tell you that their bodies were ruined by abortion.
And that their bodies can no longer carry life.
Abortion is a crime.
Abortion is a crime against all women and children.
Do not be a victim.
Do not buy the lies.
Should your mother have skipped having you??
Should she have chosen not to give you life??
No. Of course not.
You have a right to be here,
give your child the same right.
Let them live and grow,
laugh and cry.
If you can not keep them,
give them to someone who can.
For abortion is a crime against all women and children.
Abortion is a crime.
© shari mcgriff 2007
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| Proverbs 3:6 | Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. |
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| Psalm 139:13 | You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. |
| Psalm 139:15 | You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. |
His Favorite January 7, 2007
Treated as less–
invisible,
or just stupid.
Yet God is there
He knows who He
made me to be.
I am the righteousness of God
in Christ Jesus.
The head and not the tail–
Above only,
and not beneath–
someone’s feet.
I am loved.
His treasure.
A magnificient
creation.
They may not know who I am,
but the Creator does,
and He lives in me.
I am never invisible.
I am not less.
And I am not stupid.
I am a child of the King–
The apple of His eye–
And His Favorite!
(c) shari mcgriff 2007
2 Corinthians 5:21 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)21 He made the One who did not know sin (A) to be sin for us, (B) so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Deuteronomy 28:13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)13 The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward if you listen to the LORD your God’s commands I am giving you today and are careful to follow [them].
A Home (to my friends, Bill and Donna) January 7, 2007
A Home not built by
two hands–
But three.
The invisible hand of God,
Unseen by most–
Yet always present.
Always present and directing
the paths of the righteous
into His sovereign plan.
Holy is the Lord!
And Holy is His name!
And blessed is the home
built by three hands.
(c) shari mcgriff 2007
My Conflict December 7, 2006
All I desire is to spend time with You
Yet day after day,
I have to spend time with others, too.
I must fill my mind with worldly endeavors–
the ordinary,
the mundane,
earthly wisdom and knowledge.
Yet, I want to fill it with Your Words
Not others.
I am in the world,
Not of it.
I must partake of some,
Not all.
But my desire, O God,
is for You,
and You alone.
I want to live in Your house,
Forever.
I want to be in Your Presence,
Day after day.
This is my conflict.
You have called me to be in Your Presence,
To be salt and light–
A beacon of truth in the night,
To the souls who are watching–
The ones you love,
But who are lost to You.
Help me, O God,
To reconcile this conflict.
To walk in the spirit
And fulfill my calling,
To pursue knowledge,
And to pursue You.
Don’t let me forget You,
Or what You have done.
But help me to live supernaturally
In a natural world.
And to be in the world,
Not of it.
(c) shari mcgriff 2007
Accident of Birth November 30, 2006
You may think you are an accident
not planned–
with no purpose.
Parents young when they made you
didn’t want you from the first.
But your Creator
fashioned you in the womb
with great care and excitement.
Your hair, your toes, your quirks
were precisely infused into you.
He carefully
and skillfully
planned your blueprints–
your wrapping–
a gift,
A gift to this earth.
And this gift
is You.
Yes, life is hard
and your parents weren’t of your choosing.
But you are a gift,
a gift from the heavens.
A gift from above.
You were skillfully,
and meticulously crafted with a purpose.
You are a gift.
And it is time to unwrap the gift,
the destiny–
the purpose–
the problem you were designed specifically to solve,
and let the peoples of the earth
rejoice in their gift
and be blessed by you.
(c) shari mcgriff 2006
To the Woman in Adultery November 21, 2006
(I am praying that if you are involved in this behavior, and don’t know what to do, that this will give you some insight and direction as to what to do, and how to get out–Jesus loves you, and the life He wants to give you is so much better than what you are living.)
July 14, 2006
To the Woman in Adultery
It grieves me to see
How you’ve turned away
From our Savior, Our God
And our King.
The things we once shared
The experiences
The revelations
Have now become a mirage
In your eyes.
The Love we once shared
For the Lord
Has grown cold on your side.
The scriptures say,
What God has joined together
Let no man put asunder.
Let no woman separate.
But you my friend,
Need to wake up.
You no longer heed
The voice of the Lord
But follow the voice of a stranger
And the voice of your flesh.
What you are doing
Is not worth it.
It only brings death and destruction.
Your love has waxed cold
Your eyes have grown dim.
God has not abandoned you
But you have abandoned Him.
Friend,
God loves you so much
He sent His Jesus to die
For your sins.
You knew Him, once
Now, know Him, again.
Cry out to Him.
He will save you
He will set you free
From the bondage
You
Knowingly,
walk in.
It is not too late
But one day, it will be.
For tomorrow is guaranteed
To
No Man.
When Jesus met the woman at the well
It was revealed she had married five men
And the sixth man was not her husband
But an unjust man.
She was led into adultery
By the five senses
Sensual ness
The Lust of the flesh.
And the sixth man in the story
Leads to the complete annihilation
Of her walk with God
Her communion with Him.
The sixth man is
The fall of man.
My friend,
This woman is you
And you have another chance.
God has set before you
Life & Death
Choose life
Choose Him.
Pack your bags
And run
Run as fast as you can
For the high calling is still ahead
If you choose Him.
But if you choose
The unjust man
Your destiny will perish
As you will, My friend.
I love you too much
To not tell you the truth
But the children
You have following you
If they perish without Jesus
Their blood is on your hands.
You will be held accountable
So choose wisely, my friend
It is not just your life
In the balance
But the lives
Of children and men.
Your testimony of the Lamb
Has been trampled
As your integrity
Has been.
But you have another chance.
Jesus told the woman at the well
He wanted worshipers
Who would worship
In spirit and in truth.
But you have lied to yourself
You have rationalized the Word of God,
Saying you are married
In your heart.
This is self-deception
This is not true.
You are in adultery,
And you know this to be true.
And the adultery
Must end.
You must choose.
Choose Jesus.
He is the seventh man.
He is your new beginning,
Your second chance
To live the high calling
But there is a price you must pay
You must choose Jesus
And not the unjust man.
Choose Life,
My friend.
I know this is hard to hear
But it is only because I love you
That I can speak
What you do not want to hear.
Search your heart friend,
For what you know is true
Jesus is waiting
Just for you.
(c) shari mcgriff
The Harvest on the Street November 18, 2006
Drivin’ in my car
Passing gangsters on the street
Police tape blowin’ in the wind
I wonder who got beat?Just a mom in a minivan
Annointed with the power of heaven
Prayin’ in the Spirit
For the gangster
And God to remove the leaven.Let your Spirit come, Lord
Come to this street.
Let your Wind blow, Lord
Remove the chaff from the wheat.Use your sickle on the wheat
Cut it off from the street.
Bundle them with Your love,
Bring them to the feast.
(c) shari mcgriff 2006
The Consequences of Sin November 7, 2006
The consequences of sin
Though seemingly small—
May be mighty.
They may look short term
But carry a life sentence.
Yes, God can redeem
Yes, God can restore
But the consequences of sin
Are close at hand.
They may come swift
They may be delayed
The tremors are underground
Ready to tear your life apart.
The sinner can be forgiven
The sin thrown into the sea
But residue of an earthquake
Will always be seen.
The tectonic plates rub together
They may seem dormant for a time
But the shaking will come again
For the consequences of our sin
Is hiding underground.
Yes, God can redeem
Yes, God can restore
But guard your decisions, my friend,
Because the consequences of sin are mighty
And will shake your world apart.
© shari mcgriff 2006 November 6
To The Immigrant October 17, 2006
Immigrant
You came to America because you thought it was great!
It wasn’t made great by following Buddha
It wasn’t made great by following Mary.
This country was made great by following Jesus.
Its tenets are from the Bible,
The very Word of God.
Its founders dedicated this country to Jehovah,
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
And they dedicated it to His Son, Jesus.
Find out about Jesus.
Follow Him,
And He will make this country great,
For You!
© shari mcgriff 2006
