Running its course.

Running its course.

I stood in the bathroom staring, as the last few drops absorbed into the cotton ball. I started to take the polish off my nails when a sorrow found me from out of nowhere and my eyes began to blur as unwanted tears filled them. I looked at the empty bottle of nail polish remover and remembered the day over two years ago that I rushed out to CVS and bought it.

The memories came back to me like a warm bath, soaking into my being with comfort and then easing out as the water turned cold. It was Mardi Gras weekend and we were heading to a friend’s house for their annual party. She, had a friend over and we had spent the morning buying crazy colored make-up to dress the part. I had bought a gel nail polish in a funky purple, but I had no idea how to use it and desperately needed it removed before the party. She laughed at my nails, thankful that she had not done the same thing. I watched as she squealed with excitement as I came home with a hair straightener and went right to work on her hair. I still see her and her friend laughing while they took duck-faced selfies for Instagram fame, before we left for the party.

The tears flowed as I used the last of that much needed polish remover and with it so the memory faded. As more time passes, less of her remains in the home, just boxed up memories and an unused room.

Remember Your word to your servant; You have given me hope through it.

This is my comfort in my affliction: Your promise has given me life.

Psalm 119: 49-50

When she was younger, I began the privileged journey of becoming her, Step-Mother. The Lord made me this promise, “I give her to you, not from your womb, but to your hands.” I never believed that I was meant to take the place of her birth mother, but that I was blessed with a daughter through a blended circumstance. As with an unfortunate multitude, our blended family was or is haunted with angry from the past. The relationship between the parents is rocky and never without argument and disagreement. The result is a daughter that we, the every other weekend and 4 weeks a summer family, has not seen in over 2 years. Hate poured from her lips as she made her choice and left us trying to be a family with a part missing. The subject has become the white elephant in the room during the holidays as we stare at an empty stocking or cringe when our youngest ask if he will ever see, Sissy again. We avoid the answer and change the subject, hoping his unanswered question will go away, not really knowing the answer to give.

For me, the memories go through cycles of prayer. Some days I pray with a thankful heart, knowing my God has this and He will keep His promise to me. Other days, I find myself angry and asking God why He would allow this to happen to us and, demanding to know, when it will be corrected. Then, there are, the shameful days when I try to guilt, God into answering my prayer…. Thankfully, as time has passed, I hold to His word and pray more for her than myself, knowing, that my God has this.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding…

Proverbs 3:5

This week I was struck with a terrible stomach bug that lasted 5 days. I found myself praying that God take it away and heal me immediately. I heard Him say that it had to, run its course. As I began to feel better, I started to think about a virus running its course and all of the prayers for “unanswered prayers”. Are they unanswered or is God just allowing them to run their course? I prayed three years for a new job and now I am happy and glad that God was patient in putting me where I am, instead of hurriedly answering my prayer with one of the many I applied for. God knows best. I could reference all of the familiar bible stories with people that waited years before prayers were answered, but if you are like me, and you are waiting on God to step in and take the wheel, you probably don’t want to be reminded of how long Abraham and Sarah waited to have a child. Right?

Just remember, your prayers are never unanswered. God is letting this run its course until His will is done, not yours. I know that my family will be whole again, God made me a promise. This will pass and our family will be stronger because of it. One day that stocking will hang full and, Praise God, when it does, that quake your feel, that shout you hear, that unexplained picture falling off the wall, will be my family rejoicing, as we see God’s hand answer our prayer.

Father God, I praise you for protection during storms in life that seem endless. For giving us Your Word to remind us of Your tender mercy and perfect answers. I pray for all of the blended families struggling to get along and for all of the Fathers and Mothers that miss their children. Give them peace in knowing that You have this; it just needs to run its course. Your plans are better, Your will is unshaken, and Your timing is perfect. Amen.

Love them where they are.

Love them where they are.

Years ago I was having a conversation with a woman about a family member of hers that had chosen to work, instead of staying home with her children, like she did. She went on to say the reason this family members grandchildren were now divorced or having babies before marriage, was due to her decision to work. I looked at this person and said that I too had a child of wedlock and that I had turned out just fine and that I was sure her granddaughter would too. She looked me straight in the eyes, put her hand to her chest, in true southern woman fashion, and said, “Rhonda, I had no idea you were that way.” I just smiled and walked away. I don’t know that we have had a conversation since.

I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.

Romans 1:14

Why is it that people refuse to see all sin as sin and choose to believe that somehow their sin is less harmful than that of others? It always makes me sad when I hear of a young unwed girl that no longer comes to church. We often don’t see her again until she is either married or after the baby is born. The human race, in general, seems to be that way with sin. We judge the sin that we choose not to partake in, forgetting the sin we hide in our own house.

I was not attending church when I was pregnant with my oldest son, but I was judged by this world. I had a good friend that was all of a sudden, no longer such a good friend. Her daddy didn’t like her hanging around me any longer. I saw her parents in the grocery store when my son was around 2 years old. Her mother spoke kindly to me and ask if this was my son, her father on the other hand, looked at my sweet boy and said, “Is that is?” He then walked off, with his wife not far behind. My feelings were hurt but I didn’t let it phase me, nor did I allow the woman above to phase me.

We must learn to love people where they are in life. We all believe different things, we were all raised differently, and we are not all of the same culture. Like Paul said, he was obligated to the Greeks and the Barbarians, we are obligated to all people.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.

For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The Righteous will live by faith.

 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness

Suppress the truth.

Romans 1: 16-19

 Paul reminds us that God’s salvation is for all who believe. It’s not for a select few, it is for everyone. Yet, we as sinners ourselves, seem to believe that person must clean up their life before the gospel can be shared. We are quick to judge someone for the way they live, the color of their skin, the way they dress, the size of their body, the job they work, the addiction they give into, the way they speak, and the list can go on and on.

We, as followers of Christ, must learn from Paul and realize that it is not our job to judge but to spread the gospel to all who will listen. Let God work on their hearts. Remember, God’s word will not return void. It may be Heaven, before you know the impact sharing the gospel had on that person, but it will not return void.

Let’s go out this week and show love, respect, and God’s word, into this lost world. Help heal the hurt that people are feeling with God’s love and leave the judgement, for the only one that can.

Father God, I thank you for your Word. I thank you that it will not return void. I lift up each person reading this that you will let them see with the eyes of love instead of judgment. Forgive me for judging others and treating them different. Allow me to be the hands and feet. Amen.

The Creator

The Creator

Several years ago I worked with a young man that would take his lunch during my lunch time and come into my sanctuary and start conversation. At the time I felt he did it to annoy me but now, having time to reflect, I realize he was searching. The TV in our break room, only showed news channels, which led to many political conversation. The conversation he liked to engage in more than any, was around my relationship with Christ. I believe he was searching for truth, unwilling to accept Christ. One day he ask a question, that anyone that has a relationship with Christ, can expect to get, at some time in their walk.

Do people that have never heard of Christ, go to Hell? I didn’t completely understand the question. He elaborated and ask if people in a remote village in Africa never met a missionary, do they go to Hell for not accepting Christ? If so, how can a loving God send a person to Hell that never had the opportunity to hear of Him?

I was stumped. How do I answer that question?  

For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the

creation of the world, being understood through what He has made.

As a result, people are without excuse.

Romans 1:20

The next day, I shared, Romans 1:20 with him. He looked at me and said he would have to think about it. He never engaged me in conversation about my faith again. I was shocked and hurt that I had given him an answer, he had no response, and he never brought it up again. I don’t know what happened to that young man. I left the company and heard he did too.

For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their

thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be

wise they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal

man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

Romans 1:21-23

I love to sit outside in the mornings and listen as God’s birds sing a chorus of praise. I like to watch as the squirrels and chipmunks scavenge around for food. I don’t even mind the occasionally rabbit in my garden. I like to see the way their little mouths never stop chewing as they watch me to see if I going to get too close. I have never doubted that these things were created. I often think that God’s artwork is shown in the early morning sky with colors no artist can replicate. The moon, when it is bright and full is a marvel as I look up at night and the sun, no matter how hot, is always more beautiful coming up over the ocean. Still, I know that all of that is created. I worship the Creator and I have never doubted His authenticity. I have, however, run from him. Searching for happiness in places I had no business and believing that He had no love for me. In all of days of ignoring the Creator, He never ignored me. He was there with me each time I stumbled and fell. He showed himself to me through protection, healing, providing when I was in need, and of course, in all of the wonders of this earth. Reminding me that He was still loving me, even when I rejected Him. When I ran to my Savior, my blessings became more abundant and at times, I am overwhelmed with the love and mercy He gives me. I see those around me refusing to worship the Creator and giving into things created. It makes me sad when I see them blessed and they don’t recognized where that came from. Instead, believing they were in the right place at the right time. I think, how much more He would give, if you would just believe.

Pray for those that worship the created and not the Creator. Show them Jesus with love, not judgement. Remember our Saviors conversation at the Well, when he loved the Samaritan woman where she was. He is the only Judge, we are His vessels.

Father God, in a world with so much hate and destruction, where the color of a man’s skin can determine the love that others show and the uniform a man chooses can bring death with no reason, I pray. I ask your protection for those that serve us and I pray those persecuted, for no reason other than the color, you gave them. I pray we all see each other as your children and love the differences in all. I pray for love without judgement. I pray that we care more for the life than the lifestyle. Bring us to our knees, Father, bring us to the foot of the cross to ask forgiveness for killing each other, for hating each other, for only witnessing to those we deem worthy. My God, My God, I cry out to you for this lost world, believing you can open the hearts of the lost and turn our eyes to you. Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven. Amen.

Unchanging Love

Unchanging Love

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He

 removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:12

As I got out of my car, my Aunt approached. She told me, that she had already told my Grandparents the news I had come to tell them. I stood there with her, looking toward the Gazebo where I had spent much of my childhood, playing, laughing and talking on Sunday afternoons. My boyfriend and I found out the day he left for Army basic training as I was standing at MEPS, in Charlotte, NC, with tears in my eyes as he was waiting to leave. The Doctor called to confirm what the little pink line had already told us. The next days were a blur as I was left to tell family, alone, though not by his choice.  My Dad took the news okay, as I ask him if he wanted to be a Grandfather, too ashamed, to just tell him I was expecting. My boyfriend’s family was easy, as they had opened their doors to me and allowed me to live with them until he returned from Basic. My Grandparents, were something different. With them, it was as if I forgot that I would have to tell them too. I felt like it would change me,  from the well-loved little girl that used to watch the red caboose with my Pawpaw, in Belmont, to an unlovable,  unwed 20 year old, expecting a Great grandbaby.

My Aunt walked with me, slowly, telling me that the hard part was done. She also said something I have never forgotten, “Good girls, get caught.” I didn’t completely understand that until years later. I realized that I did have options, though none of them ever entered my mind. This baby was mine and he was my responsibility to take care of. I walked in the square, white gazebo and sat down in a white wooden chair facing my grandparents, swinging the in the porch swing. My Mawmaw was looking down at her feet, as she often did and my Pawpaw looked me in the eyes with all the love of the man that had on several occasions,  raced with me to the railroad tracks, me in the front seat, standing up, with, only, his strong arm for protection, to make sure I saw the red caboose before the train was out of sight. No judgement showed in his eyes, just perfect unchanging love.

 As a father has compassion on his children,

So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows

What we are made of, remembering that we are dust.

Palm 103:13-14

I imagine that is the way our Savior looks at us when we fail. If we all could love the way my Pawpaw did in that very moment, without judgement in his eyes, without hurt or disgust, just love. How much more would our lights shine in this dark world, if we could love in that way. A few years back we had a need to talk to a counselor with my son. The counselor ask him if he thought he was loved and he said yes. I know my parents love me, no matter what I do. I remember thinking we must have done something right, because even through the storm, he knew he was loved. Much like I did, many years before, in that little white gazebo.

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4: 7-8

It is hard, at times, to remember that all sin is equal in the eyes of God. It is even harder to watch a follower of Christ fall and sin and love them where they are. That is exactly what God wants from us. To look into the eyes of His people and love them where they are. It is not our job to change them, it is only for us to love them and show them the light of Christ. I saw true love on that hot summer day in August, as I listened as my Grandparents loved me, where I was. They treated my son with the same love they gave me and they were proud Great Grandparents when he made his debut in to this world. Just, might I add, as the rest of my family. The shame I felt as I went to Doctor appointments’, still baring my maiden name, was not due to anyone in my life, it was my own shame.  There were people that shunned me but honestly, that is a whole other blog. We must remember, that God is love. Unfortunately, due to man and his failures, the world does not always see God as love, they instead see Him as judgement, shame, and hate. We can change that image by loving people, not after they are clean, but where they are.

Hatred stirs up conflicts,

But love covers all offenses.

Proverbs 10:12

Wise words to live by. Somedays we just have to bite or tongues and show love because as we are reminded in John 15:13,” Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That friend was Jesus Christ and He laid down His life for all men that we might know of His unchanging love.

After my Pawpaw passed, I drove to Belmont, parked and sat in my car waiting for the train to pass. No trains went by that morning and finally, tear soaked and exhausted, I put the car in drive and drove home. I’ve seen trains, even cabooses, but since that day I have not parked and sat to wait. I pray for trains in Heaven, so that when I am reunited with my Pawpaw, we can watch one together. I hope he puts his arm around my waist, and we just watch.   

Lord, I lift up those in need of a reminder of your love today. Send me, Lord, to love someone that needs to see your light. I pray I hold my tongue of judgement and just love them where they are. Amen.

Sunrise/Sunset

Sunrise/Sunset

The last day of our trip I made my way up the stairs to the smell of coffee and quiet chatter. I poured a cup of what makes me smile in the morning and made my way to the balcony I had shared laughter with my family for the last week. My Father, Uncle, Sister and two nieces and one nephew shared the porch. We stood or sat huddled under blankets and sweaters on a cool June morning as the Outer Banks took a beating from Mother Nature’s breath. The winds were so strong, as I turned my mug to drink of God’s gift of coffee, the liquid flowed from the cup and onto my arm, immediately cooled, but unable to stand the wind force and stay in the cup. The ocean looked angry as white caps shown as far as the ocean met the sky and the beach could not be seen for the furry of beating waves, farther up the coast than we had seen all week. For only three minutes we watched the perfectly straight line at ocean and sky as the color orange became more prominent over the clouds until at last, the brilliant orange dot made its appearance. I watched as a flock of Pelican’s began flight, just as the sun crest the earth, as if they paid homage to the Creator.  We stood listening to children ohh and ahh as the sun slowly rose and within minutes was full circle, too bright to continue watch.  It struck me that somewhere, someone else was watching the sun disappear over another horizon. One man’s sunrise is another man’s sunset. The beauty of it hit and has stuck as my favorite moment with my family.

For my days are like a shadow that lengthens, and I wither away like grass.

Psalms 102:11

Many stories were shared over that week. Some bigger than they actually were and others just as they had happened. We talked of loved ones gone with laughter instead of tears and reminisced of days gone by. One evening, as my sister, brother, and I worked without instruction to clean the kitchen, my Dad just watched with mist in his eyes. I wonder, at that moment, did he see three grown children with families of our own, or three young siblings, laughing together? So is life, as one generation rises, another begins to set. Both are just as beautiful, yet the morning sunrise brings promise of a new day as the setting sun brings only memories of a day that can never be repeated.

Your Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;

Your rule is for all generations…..

Psalm 145:13

Even now the nostalgia from the past week rushes over me as I listen to, Simon and Garfunkel on my IPhone, repeating the words of, well remembered songs, from Sunday morning vinyl. My Sunday mornings were full of the Ventures, Beach Boys, JD Sumner, Elvis, and many more. Late one evening, while on vacation, we played pool in the game room and sang, Bridge over Troubled waters. I realized that those Sunday mornings were entangled in all of us, no matter how far we each had strayed; we were all part of each other. We all shared, our childhood memories, with our own, next generation.

Therefore the Lord God said: “Look I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;

The one who believes will be unshakable.

Isaiah 28:16

Cornerstone, is define as a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two ways or an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based.  This is the foundation for followers of Christ, in that Christ is our cornerstone. Much is the same in a family. When my Pawpaw, passed away, I remember feeling shaken. Like a part of the family layer had been removed. The wonderful truth for believers and hope for nonbelievers, is that our Cornerstone, is a sure foundation and when we believe in Him, we will not be shaken. With family, when the head is gone, it can take time to find your footing and come together. Sometimes these families are blended and mixed together, other times, it just takes the Prodigal child coming home.

Whatever it is in your family that you call the cornerstone, I pray that you always find happiness together. Don’t allow storms, death, or long distance to shake your family foundation. Find time to come together as one and get to know each person. Don’t wait, 20 years, like my family did. I know that my Pawpaw would have loved to sit back and watch the madness that took place last week as we all came together on the Outer Banks. Pray for those lost to you and know that God has a plan, offer forgiveness where it is needed, humble yourself even when you are the hurt one, and take time to just sit back and watch as your family unit shares generation after generation of pieces of one another. Sing off tone to family favorites, stay up too late with the kids, eat ice cream at 10 pm, because it’s there, and bite your tongue when something bothers you. Most of all, hug the one that needs it the most, lay your head on the shoulder of a loved one and don’t pull back when they hold your hand. Wipe away tears as you share a memory and listen to someone else’s version, instead of sharing, what really happened.

Lord, thank you for a family with an earthly father that is a cornerstone. Though he is not perfect, he loves each of us. He worked three jobs to support us and always tried to do what was right. He loves us through our failures and brags on us in our accomplishments. I pray for the father missing their child today, I pray for the child missing their father today. I thank you for the men that have been fathers to the fatherless and I thank you most of all for my Daddy. Amen

Happy Father’s Day!

Why would a Loving God....

Why would a loving God….

How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to You about violence and You do not save?

Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrong doing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing and the conflict escalates.

This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.

Habakkuk 1: 2-4

The lobby was packed full of customers on a busy Friday afternoon. This was before Wi-Fi connected at every store and direct deposit was required by most every employer. Customers still walked into the bank to make deposits, open accounts, and apply for loans. I sat with a man, trying to make heads or tails of his checkbook, patiently, I helped him as the clients piled up. Once we were done, I started to stand to hurry him from my desk and help the next customer. He remained seated and began to talk about his wife. My wife, he said, is the one that always handled the bank book, but she has been sick and I’ve had to take time off from work to take care of her, he explained.

This man smelled of many cigarettes smoked over many years, his skin was like leather and his hands showed hard working years with callouses upon callouses. He wore a well, worn plaid shirt with an equally well, worn pair of jeans. His hair had not been cut in a while and he shook a little as we talked. He began to tell me of his wife’s illness and how there was no hope of her recovering. They were in the final days and he had left her side for a little while to refill her medicines and get things to make her comfortable. I began to shuffle in my chair, not sure what to do. We were in the middle of the lobby and others were impatiently listening to our conversation as he spoke of his wife like we were the only two there. He began to look past me as he spoke, no longer speaking to me, just speaking. I listened until I could no longer make the others wait and stood. I told him I would keep her in my prayers and patted his arm.  

It was at that moment his thoughts came back to the lobby and he ask me a question I could not answer and one I have never forgotten. I still hear his broken voice, “What am I going to do? She’s the only woman I have ever loved. “With that, he turned and left. I found it hard to swallow and made my way to the next couple that had been waiting. My eyes filled with tears and I apologized as I looked away for a moment and made time to watch him leave.

Have you ever been ask, how could a loving God allow bad things to happen? If you haven’t, just wait, you will. The Profit, Habakkuk, ask God these question. Why Lord, How long Lord? All questions, I myself ask when the storms roll in. How long Lord, will you allow this oppression. Why, God, do you allow the wicked to prevail? It seems that we are not the first to ask God these questions.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,

against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

I do not have the answers you seek with this with this blog. I do not know why one woman can bear children, while another cannot. I do not know why people die young, and others live to be 100. I do not know why bad things happen to some and others seems to have a golden life. I can tell you that this is not our permanent home. This land we live on is the Principality of the enemy and he will stop at nothing to make followers of Christ miserable.

 The enemy uses others to come against us. Try looking at the person causing you pain as a person being used by the enemy. That will make you pray for that person a lot differently. I had a Pastor, tell me stop envisioning the person hurting me, as flesh and start seeing that person in a way that would cause me to pray for them. Now when I pray for someone coming against me, I see them covered in a dark tar, choking them and preventing them from seeing the light. The tar represents the evil spilling out over them. I being to pray that the Light break through the dark, thick, tar and allow them to be used as vessels of the King, not the enemy.

Why do bad things happen? Look at the scripture. Bad things happen because we fight against powers, rulers, and spiritual hosts in wickedness. There is a lot going on in the heavenly realms. God’s forces are surrounding us to protect us. When I go through a storm, I try to remember how much worse it would be without God’s hedge of protection around me and my family. There is a reason for everything we go through and a testimony waiting to help another.

I encourage you to read the book of Habakkuk. It is a great read that goes through a conversation with God.

Lord, I lift up those asking you, why? I pray for those that seek answers for the bad things that have happened in their lives or the lives of those around them. I pray as they seek answers, they find peace in knowing that you have already won. Lord thank you for the opportunity to minister to others. May these words touch someone, today. Amen

The Samaritan Woman. Part 2

The Samaritan Woman. Part 2

“How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” she ask Him.

For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.

John 4:9

I have a great circle of girlfriends. We laugh and cry together. We share each other’s burdens, without judgement of each other. I know I am blessed with a circle that most women long for. I trust some with everything and others I trust with some. The things I share with some, I don’t share with all and over the years the level of confidentiality has shifted and changed. A few years ago a friend of mine confessed sin from her past. I don’t want to bring the specific sin into the blog, because I have learned, that all sin is sin. In the eyes of our Savior, He died for sin, all of them, and each stripe he took was no different, therefore no sin is less or greater.

The sin she confessed was shocking to me. It was not one that I could imagine her going through and being uncomfortable with the confession, I immediately felt I, too, needed to share something personal in my life. I felt silly as soon as the words were out of my mouth and sat unknowing what to say next. She really didn’t need me to say anything, as she told me the circumstances surrounding it. When her story was finished, she ask me if I thought less of her. No, I told her. I did however feel extreme grief for my friend and what she had been through, the mask she wore to hide the shame of a sin, long forgiven by our Savior, and that we live in a society where followers of Christ have to wonder if other Followers will think less of them.

Now many Samaritans from the town believed in Him because of what the woman said when she testified,

“He told me everything I ever did.”

John 4:39

After I gave my life to Christ, I realized that my shame had become my testimony. I still feel shame when I remember an event from my past or when a consequence from my past rears its ugliness. Being forgiven doesn’t mean we forget the sin, it means God does. It also doesn’t mean that the enemy won’t try to hurt us with shame long forgiven. I wish that we all could as easily remove our mask as the Samaritan Woman did. After meeting the Savior, she showed no more shame, she went to the people, she had just been hiding from, and not only told them about meeting the Messiah, but she testified, that He told her everything she had ever done.... In other words, she was no longer ashamed, because the promised Messiah had offered her eternal life.

For it is contained in scripture:

Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and

  the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!

1 Peter 2:6

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people

For His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out

of the darkness.

1 Peter 2:9

A chosen race; we are chosen by God into a royal priesthood. Jesus called us out of the darkness and into the light so that when we believe in Him, we can never be put to shame. That is not to say that this world will not try to shame us. The enemy will fight us and try to make us feel less than we are. The enemy wants us to hold onto shame because he knows he can’t have us. We have a ticket to Heaven and he doesn’t like it. He doesn’t want us to share the Good News because he wants to take as many as he can with him to eternal Hell. Don’t listen to the lie of the enemy. As Christ followers, we don’t have to be ashamed.

I cannot tell you how many times I have shared a shameful story only to see relief as someone shared their painful story.  Your pain may be exactly what a lost person needs to see in order to find their way out of the darkness. The lost need to see us as who we are; sinners forgiven by grace. When all we show is a mask of perfection to the lost, they are too ashamed to set free the shame that binds them to the darkness. It’s not their sin, that binds them, because we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, it is their shame, which prevents them from accepting the path of forgiveness.

Take off your mask! Testify about how God saved you and brought you out of the shame you once had. Find a group of friends that you can laugh with until your belly hurts and cry with until no more tears will fall.

Father, I thank you for my girlfriends. All of them! I have been blessed with girlfriends in each walk of my life and I thank you for that. I life up the person reading this right now that wears a mask to hide the truth. Put someone in their life, right now, to help unmask the shame. Amen.