My True Face

There is nothing worse than being reminded of or being aware of the wrong you have done. There's nothing worse than having to sit in that hole of regret, shame, and self-hatred. No one likes to be told they are wrong, but more than that, no one wants to admit "I am bad."

Now, I know there is a flaw here. Like we have discussed before, the philosophy of mankind is not a matter of being good nor bad. But rather we are broken. We are capable of good and bad things; yet, those good thing will always fall short of the actual definition of "good" and those bad things will always out weigh the good.

So where is the hope?

Have you recently been reminded of your flaws, your failures, your short-comings?

I certainly have.

It's like that scene in Lion King 2: Simba's Pride where Kiara says: "You will never be Mufasa!" We, not only as Christians, but as humans, desire to be great...flawless...perfect but we never will be.

I am currently reading this book called Truefaced by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, & John Lynch. It's exactly what the title encapsulates-showing your true face. But it's also mainly about our "true face" being found in the identity God gives us through Jesus.

The thing about having a relationship with God, if you haven't discovered already, is that He flips everything upside down. What do I mean?

Matthew 10:39-Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my (Jesus) sake will find it.

Colossians 2:17-These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

John 14:27-Peace I (Jesus) leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Thus,

1.  We have all come to the realization that there is more to this life we currently live, but we have also discovered that "climbing the top of the success ladder" actually leads you to a deep, dark, empty pit. There then needs to be a surrender. A surrender of our expectations and our wants. It's a waving of a white flag so to speak, falling on your hands & knees everyday (sometimes every minute) crying the words "I can't do this."
2. What we really want are actual needs. And those needs are not money and fame. It is security and attention. We have all come to discover that no one (or thing) in our life will ever satisfy those needs 100% 24/7.
3.  Jesus gives you something no one (or thing) can ever take away. Not only what He gives you cover all of your needs, but His blessings are so abundant that they flow into defining our every want.

I am concluding my reading of the Gospel according to Mark and here we are again at Jesus's sacrifice. I caught myself saying either this week that "there is nothing worse than reading what Jesus did for me during a time in my life where I am so reminded of my short-comings." But the truth is, there is nothing more beautiful than reading what God did for me when I did not deserve it.

People often see me as a "goody-two-shoes." But those people are just the ones not in my inner circle. If they were, they would see a selfish, prideful, lying, sexually immoral person. I like to think that I am completely honest with people and that I don't wear a mask. But I am just like everybody else. There is nothing different about me. I am that person who in front of her friends shuns any media that incorporates sexual content, but behind closed doors reveals everything to strangers on chat websites. I am that person who is quick to correct a Christian found swearing, but here I sit in complete hate of another individual...often imagining physical abuse upon them. I am that person who encourages loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul & mind; but I am the person who struggles with re-occuring depression & painstaking loneliness.

I have hurt so many people...even in those instances that I thought I was only hurting myself. And often times, Jesus becomes just another person in the sea of faces of disappointment. 

Romans 5:8-But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If you're anything like me, too many times I rest on that last part and not the full sentence. I see myself as a "sinner" rather than "loved." 

In the book Truefaced, they make an emphasis on the fact that we as Believers are not "sinners saved by grace" but rather "saints who sometimes sin." 

How can this be? How can a saint sin? 

Well, it goes back to our misinterpretation of the word saint. Read Ephesians 2:1-10 

Galatians 3:26-27-So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

I was challenged by someone to say those negative things about myself out loud and pretend I am saying it to someone I deeply love. The goal was/is to come to the realization that you are your own worse critic and that if you would never say those words to another, you shouldn't to yourself. 

This may work with some people, but not for me. 

We did this activity in church a few weeks ago where we wrote down all those negative comments we or others say about us and throw them in the trash where they were eventually burned. We then picked up a card that said our "true identities" as per written in the New Testament. This activity was nothing new to me, but still impactful none the less. 

But why is it that here I am again battling to not cut myself over the guilt I have over who I am? 

You might not cut yourself, but maybe drinking is your go to to "feel better" or "forget."

2 Corinthians 7:10-Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

"That's why Jesus came...because of that...Don't hate yourself because you are a mess without Him. There is nothing that you can do about that. Just embrace that you have His grace, love and mercy." -my beloved friend, Brittany Jordan.

Click and listen to Jon Foreman 's "Your Love is Strong" and spend some time in your Father's presence. 

      

Pouring It Like Salt

Theological Definitions & Explanations for Us Simple Folks

• God=Author, Creator of everything, Designer, (Hebrew:) Yahwey, "Father", God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob; Spirit, neither male nor female, begotten not made, The Beginning & the End/(Greek): Alpha & Omega, Good, Perfect, One
• Jesus=Son of virgin Mary & her husband David, born by the Holy Spirit, "God's son", the Word, the Light, The Way, Truth, & the Life, fully-God & fully man (hyper-static-union), perfect, Teacher, Healer, bore the whole world's sin died (crucified) and came back to life on the third day (resurrected), is coming again to judge the living and the dead
• Holy Spirit=God's breath, portrayed as a fire or wind, lives inside Believer's, instructs, guides, reminds us of scripture, is our seal/guarantee of God's promise for heaven, will never leave nor forsake us
• Believer=an individual who has chosen to have faith in who Jesus as in relation to the Holy Trinity and what He did on the cross
• Holy Trinity=Father (God), Son, & Holy Spirit. Three in one. All different in the matter of functions, but same.
• Crucifixion= an ancient Roman tactic for criminals, where a person is stripped and nailed to a wooden cross in a public area left to die
• Resurrection=raising back to life after death. Jesus did this after three days just like He prophesied. This defeated the power of Satan and death. Everyone will receive a resurrection during the End Times.
• Prophesy=a promise, a fore-telling of what is to come. This has to be true 100% of the time. The coming of a Messiah for the Jewish Community was fore-told hundreds of years before Jesus came and Jesus fulfilled everyone of those "qualifications." Jews who believe this Gospel are called "Messianic Jews" because they believe the Messiah has already come (Jesus).
• End Times=end of the world/everything, details found in Isaiah, Daniel, Revelation and other books in the Bible, entails a rapture of God's people (followers of Jesus), seven years of tribulation ("hell" on earth), restoration of everything-a new heaven & earth, God reigns among His people
• Rapture=where at a time only the Father knows, Jesus will come and take His followers in a blink of an eye to heaven
• Jew=a born Hebrew (an ethnicity) or convert into this culture that follows the Judaism religion. God's "chosen people" before Jesus came and "tore the dividing wall" between Jews and Gentiles. Jesus was a Jew, born in Nazareth (Jesus was not Caucasian, with blue eyes and long brown flowing hair)
• Gentiles=everyone not a Jew
• Baptism=a submersion in water that symbolizes this individual has been "barred with Christ & born again". This comes after an individual has accepted Jesus as their personally Lord & Savior (thus, not when they are an infant). This does not save you nor forgives your sins.
• Confession=the telling of your sins. Catholics have "confessionals" where individuals sit in a booth with a divider and you confess to the priest your sins. The priest then tells you are forgiven after you do/say a specific mantra. But only Jesus can forgive sins & only Jesus is needed to access the Father. God knows everything about you already, no need to feel shame.
• Shame=feeling that something is wrong with who you are
• Guilt=feeling bad for what you did
• Prayer=talking with God. Consisting of admiration, confession, requests and praises. There is no wrong way to pray. You talk & you listen. There are no special words to say, but typically began with "Dear God or Father" and "in Jesus name, Amen"
• Amen="Let it be so"/ "it is most certainly true" 
• Devotions=a "quite" time with mediating on God's Word, prayer, or singing songs, basically you separate yourself/set aside a time to just be in God's presence, encouraged to carried out everyday, not a command but our hearts need it
• Salvation Prayer=that initial prayer you say confessing you are a sinner that needs Jesus and you accept who Jesus is/what He has done for you into you "heart". 
• Saint=a doer of God's will, we are all saints as followers of Jesus and it's all because of Jesus 
• Baby Dedication=something some church's do in which the parent/guardian of a newly born baby will stand in front of the congregation and announce the will raise this baby in the Christian faith 
• Denominations=different sects (sections) /branches in the Christian faith, all really break-offs from Catholicism & Protestantisms
• Christian=someone who believes & follows Jesus, is a "little Christ"; this name was given to the early Church by outsiders-before Believers just said they were "followers of the Way"; Catholics are Christians, but not every Christian is Catholic.    
• Christ=not Jesus's last name. Means "anointed one"
• Messiah=leader
• Yahwey=the most holy name of God. "I AM the I AM" said by God Himself to Moses. YHWH is Hebrew and the correct pronunciation is unknown due to not suppose to be spoken
• Church=(capitalized) is the body of believers in Christ Jesus. We are one family.
• church=(lower case) denotes the building we as Believer's attend for weekly services. Note the first church began in the book of Acts in the New Testament
• Scripture=the Word of God in the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible is the complete and only true word of God. It doesn't matter what translation you have; as long as you understand the main points. 
• The Holy Bible=a book of sixty-six books written by different prophets and followers of God with all the words inspired by God's Spirit thus it has the power to change hearts; constructed in the the form we now see it by some old guys years ago at this important conference thing...It is separated in two parts-the Old Testament and the New Testament.
• Testament=means promise. The Old Testament is about the old promise or covenants made with Abraham and Moses. Jews use this. Christians add the story of Jesus found in the letters of the New Testament. The new promise is found in the Gospel.
• The Gospel="The Good News". God sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins that whoever believes in Him will be forgiven and have eternal life; there is only one Gospel and it comes from the accounts of four different men: Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John
• Forgiven=(in God's view) only in/through Jesus are we viewed as clean, perfect & holy. God made the records straight between us & Him. He remembers our sin no more.
• Sin=missing the mark (an archery term), we all have fallen short of the commandments God set
• Commandments=more commonly known as the Ten Commandments, although there are hundreds of commands in the Old Testament. The Ten Commandments were the first and most sacred rules given from God to His chosen people-the Jews. However, this law is something that is "written on" everyone's heart. Thus, common sense. These laws though were only to show that we could never fill the gap between God and ourselves.
• Holy=set apart for God's use
• Sanctified= made clean
• Justified= made right 
• Redeemed=brought near
• Born Again=this is a spiritual awakening within the individual, a term used for when they accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior
• Lord=commander
• Savior=someone who rescues another from something
• Salvation=being rescued from something. Jesus saved us from the power of sin/ourselves
• Satan/The Devil=a fallen angel who is condemned to roam the earth until he is thrown into hell, temptor ,accusor, evil,deceiver, was the most beautiful angel but wanted to be higher than God
• Hell=where a soul of a person goes who has not chosen to believe and follow Jesus Christ, an eternity of torture, a place without God, burning fire, extreme pain and sorrow, a person choices this-God does not sentence you there nor is Satan the ruler of Hell
• Soul/Spirit="heart/mind" of a person, the unseen nature of an individual that lives forever, broken because of sin, made whole when untied with God
• Heaven=a place with God, where God dwells, for those who believe and follow Jesus, Jesus said he was preparing a place for us there, "mansions", "new bodies", & "new names", beautiful, glorious 
• Monotheism=believe in one God; Christianity is a monotheist religion
• Religion=a set of believes that constitute a specific tradition/way of life/culture, full of rules and regulations, is "cold", is man's attempt to make things right with God...Christians believe it is about a relationship not a religion 
• Grace=undeserving, unearned, never-ending, unconditional love given by the Father through Jesus to all of us
• Mercy=not giving you what you deserve, letting go of your punishment; the punishment for our sins was hell but Jesus redeemed us
• Love=(capital) God
• Trust=to lean into
• Worship=most commonly viewed as the service at a church that entails singing and teachings; it is a life-style/an everyday way of giving everything about you to God
• Praise=the songs you sing during worship
• Condemnation=a sentencing. God does not condemn us because He sees us through Jesus, but the Holy Spirit does convict us
• Convict=to make known that something is not right (we've all felt that feeling)
• Hallowed=Holy  
• Communion=a coming together to do a specific activity, in the church we have "Holy Communion" where the tradition goes back to the Jews exodus from Egypt. Jesus, however, in the New Testament said that the unleavened bread and wine were symbolic of his body and blood being broken/poured for all of man kind (talking about his crucifixion)-so we participate in this activity to remember/reflect                   

Halloween Shananagins

Halloween has always been a wishy-washy topic among Christians and their denominations. I am not exempt from that. However, we're talking about free candy here sooo there's that.

It is no doubt that Halloween has certainly transformed over the years. Nor is it a question that there are a lot of lies that come along with it...imagine that Hollywood lying to the public to get a quick buck?!

I don't typically watch scary movies anymore because they give me nightmares, but with this season of warm apple cider, colorful leaves, hoodies and scarfs-a horror film has to be thrown in there some where!...I know that sequence of things don't make sense, but when in life do we, as humans, ever make sense?

Tonight I watched The Possession (2012) and like most of the demon possession/exorcism  movies I've watched, they got it wrong. Terribly wrong.

Now, when I say this I am not saying it in the: "I know everything & I am absolutely right, you should listen me and only me" kind of way. What I am saying is this: read your bible. -implying the fact that most Americans own 1-3 Holy Bibles and only 20% (if that) actually reads them. 

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...even in matters such like this. Jesus is a radical dude, you should check him out in the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Jesus dealt with a lot of demon possession-Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:1-3, Mark 1: 21-34
 just to name a couple of instances.

So what are the characteristics of a demon possession? First let us define "demon." A "demon" or evil-spirit is none other than the 1/3rd of the heavenly angels that were given free-will and decided to rebel along with Satan. They were all thrown down to the earth until the appointed time of their destruction. Isaiah 14:12-15 Revelation 12    

From watching my video you will also learn that these fallen angels do not look like The Grudge (2004). But neither do angels necessarily look like that thing we put on top of our trees. Have you ever noticed that the first thing out of angels mouths were: "Do not be afraid; do not not fear!" Hmmm I wonder why? Ezekiel 10

So now we are to the "possession" part. This is were we, Christians included, have really messed things up. Personally however, I do think there is some connection between our physical/mental aliments to a spiritual warfare...this does not mean that a runny nose equals a demon running through your body.

Possession, from what we see in scripture, is more than this little symptom. Rather, it is something that is very detrimental to the individual, to their friends, family, community, and relationship with God. The demon, again through the stories we read in scripture, can be violent, loud and harmful. Yet, note they all know who Jesus is. James 2:19

And thus, is our answer in conducting an "exorcism"=knowing who Jesus is. Mark 3:10- 34

Some priest, Jewish guy, or preacher with a shady past will not be your answer here. Nor will burning incense or a special number of candles, holding a crucifix and a Bible. No "holy" water nor "holy" oil. None of things are needed. Only Jesus is needed and your faith in Him. 

Check out this one time that the disciples tried healing someone Matthew 17:14-20.

What happened? What did Jesus say? What did He do?

Did this mean that His disciples were unable or unfit to combat the spiritual warfare? No, not at all. In fact fighting these things were/are encouraged: Ephesians 6:10-20

Their issue was a matter of faith...but note not the faith in themselves, but faith in who Jesus was in relation to them and others.  And what does God say about our faith? Read Matthew 17: 20 again.

Does this mean that when we don't get the results we wanted that our faith wasn't strong enough? No. We must remember that we do not see the bigger picture like the Author and our ways are not God's ways. God's thoughts are higher than ours. I know this sounds a lot like "oh it's God's will for this to happen"...but many people have perverted this concept as well. It is not God's will for your kid to have cancer or your husband to have died in that horrible accident. No, not one bit does God take delight in pain and suffering. That is Satan. He hates everyone.

But getting back on topic & concluding our matters-What does everything we have discussed tell us then?

1. Satan is real and active
2. Demons are fallen angels and angels look nothing like we imagine they do
3. Angels & fallen angels can be found anywhere Hebrews 13:2 (did you see the first story of exorcism took place in a synagogue?!)  
4. They can take over a human body and animal bodies 
5. Jesus is more powerful than Satan's dominion
6. Faith (relationship with Jesus) is all that is needed to overcome a possession
7. This faith can come from anyone who is in the demon's presence
8. Demon's have names (Do you know the only two angel's names listed the Bible?=Michael & Gabriel)
9. Satan/demons know God as well as yourself
10. That means, know your stuff girlfriend!
11. Thankfully, as Believers the one who is in us (The Holy Spirit) is greater than the one who is this world (Satan)  

If I Do Not, the Rocks Will

Scripture says that if I do not sing out, praise, shout for worship to the Creator of everything that the rocks will begin to instead!

Well, I am praising our God today and everyday! For what a marvelous God we have! Yes! Our God!

For as David Crowder, a well-known Christian artist, sings: "God is near to each one of us!"

Oh and how our God loves! Yes! How our Designer loves each one of us! Do you not know, have you not heard, or seen?!

In the beginning God created. God created everything; and everything was good.

That included you & I.

Free will is good.

Free will lead to us using our own minds, our own personalities, our own talents, our own imagination...and this pleased God.

We are created in our Designer's image.

Our free will also lead to us deciding to follow God's will or not. It was and is always a choice. Let no one tell you different!

God's will was laid through commandments that showed us exactly how perfect God was....and how we could never be.

However, this was not to shame us. This was a revelation! Something that should never be forgotten.

But God wanted more than your acknowledgment, God wanted/wants your heart. Why? So you're a captive? No. Because God knows your a captive to this world of creation that never satisfies.

So, God came down. He walked, breathed, & lived among us. His name was Immanuel. Jesus.

Jesus, perfect yet fully man, took all of the world's sins to make us right with the Father.

How good is our God?! Our Savior?!

He does not say sinner or wretch or condemned. He says saint and lover and friend.

His grace sets you free. You are free.

Don't you by pass this truth today or any day. You are God's.

Discover who Jesus really was in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

God does not lie. God keeps the promises made. That includes never leaving or forsaking you. No matter what. No matter where you are.

Oh! Isn't this joyous and exhilarating!

I can't keep from singing! From dancing! From weeping with pure joy! That through Jesus I am forgiven.

Say it with me now: I am forgiven.

I am forgiven. And God loves me.

Ask for God to prove this to you today, this minute.

Seek & knock and the door shall be open.

God never fails.

Yesterday, today, tomorrow...God is the same.

Yahwey.

What a lovely name. The name above all names, my brothers & sisters!

Backseat Driver

Dramatic, much laughs
Wrestling with making turns
Passions never stop

Youth, you bring much youth
Teaching others without words
Jesus guides you now

Left or right decides
Giving up the wheel is rough
Who's ready for love?

Unknowingly stop,
In this rain & fog we're caught
Yet connected, yes.

Languages are not
But a concept of burdens
Yet a solid prize

You're eyes reveal all
Brightest blue like all oceans
Swimming in great songs

Roads are high & low
Blazing cross-country we know
Friendships will not die

Time is awaiting
You & I are a drive-by
Can we make it pause?

Longing to know this
Making something out of clay
Or is it too late?

Feet on gas pedals
Rubbing on a new highway
Warn me about risks

Stop & mediate
Repeats are forbidden, friend
Want & need more time

A bend comes around
Leaving you to make a move
Images will fade

Grace outlasts stories
Everyday in His presence
Note that this will work