Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.
Can you believe these temperatures? I have actually put on jeans because it is too cool for me. Haha. Did not see that coming.
One of the neat things about social media is that you can have fun with your picture. There are these games that you can play that are “What are you like in animal form, good and bad?” “If you were a bird, which one would you be?” “What is your spirit flower?” The list goes on. Well, last night I played a couple, and the ‘glamour’ shots that they envisioned for me were hilariously beautiful and totally not happening at all at the same time. Haha. I love seeing what the AI algorithm thinks of my picture in these different scenarios. It is fun. But … anyone who knows me … the true me … knows that it is completely false - A mask.
This mask is meant for humor and enjoyment. Unfortunately, there are other masks out there that are for hiding the dark that lives in our lives. We have this unique way of portraying ourselves in a positive light so that no one will know the true darkness that hides in the shadows of our steps. It is not until we light the life-giving candle of Jesus Christ in our lives that we can shed our masks.
There are many umbrellas that we all walk under throughout our lives. The enemy is in many, if not all of them, to some degree … even the one held by Christ. Stick with me here. Through our lives, we are guided by circumstances. This is the catalyst for that. Because of that, I did this. He said this, so I replied that. And so on. Circumstances and scenarios drive our steps. In that, we put on masks to make ourselves look better than we truly are. I go to church; therefore, I must always be happy, and nothing is ever wrong in my life … Mask. If I show distress of any kind, then the person I am trying to lead to Christ will run away … Mask.
The enemy is constantly whispering his logical explanations over each step we make. Common sense explanations that truly hold water for thought. Making it seem as though the mask is the very thing that we need to keep up appearances and do God’s will. He makes very compelling arguments. Meanwhile, the mask is creating a lie. By keeping our troubles in the dark, we set those up around us for failure. Our struggles, our honesty, our transparency … that is what allows for the Light to shine out the darkness. Our ability to allow others to see the deepest truths of our lives is what will show them how we are still standing … because of the Love of Christ and our faith in him.
The enemy would have us believe that if Jane knows about what I did ten years ago, she will tell the pastor and the pastor will not allow me to volunteer anymore because I am a bad person. If Jane knows what I did, I will be the gossip point for the whole community, and my reputation will be ruined. If Jane finds out my secrets, she will walk away from me, and I will have no one. If Jane … (fyi…I do not know anyone named Jane…fictional name for this purpose) The enemy will convince me to bury our secrets to protect ourselves. Sometimes in that protection we end up building barriers which in turn end up as lies so that no one knows. Those lies compound and create even bigger issues.
This is not a call to stand on the street corner and confess your every sin of life. This is not a call for you to invite disruptive people into your life. This is a call for you to remove the mask of darkness, allow the Light to be your reflection, and when those secrets surface … face them head-on. “Yes, that was me then. But not anymore.” Once you do that and stand on it, darkness will no longer have any power over you. Today, I encourage you to find the mask that you are hiding behind and remove it. Your face is beautiful in the light of His love.
Be blessed.
**The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. – Romans 13:12
Can you believe these temperatures? I have actually put on jeans because it is too cool for me. Haha. Did not see that coming.
One of the neat things about social media is that you can have fun with your picture. There are these games that you can play that are “What are you like in animal form, good and bad?” “If you were a bird, which one would you be?” “What is your spirit flower?” The list goes on. Well, last night I played a couple, and the ‘glamour’ shots that they envisioned for me were hilariously beautiful and totally not happening at all at the same time. Haha. I love seeing what the AI algorithm thinks of my picture in these different scenarios. It is fun. But … anyone who knows me … the true me … knows that it is completely false - A mask.
This mask is meant for humor and enjoyment. Unfortunately, there are other masks out there that are for hiding the dark that lives in our lives. We have this unique way of portraying ourselves in a positive light so that no one will know the true darkness that hides in the shadows of our steps. It is not until we light the life-giving candle of Jesus Christ in our lives that we can shed our masks.
There are many umbrellas that we all walk under throughout our lives. The enemy is in many, if not all of them, to some degree … even the one held by Christ. Stick with me here. Through our lives, we are guided by circumstances. This is the catalyst for that. Because of that, I did this. He said this, so I replied that. And so on. Circumstances and scenarios drive our steps. In that, we put on masks to make ourselves look better than we truly are. I go to church; therefore, I must always be happy, and nothing is ever wrong in my life … Mask. If I show distress of any kind, then the person I am trying to lead to Christ will run away … Mask.
The enemy is constantly whispering his logical explanations over each step we make. Common sense explanations that truly hold water for thought. Making it seem as though the mask is the very thing that we need to keep up appearances and do God’s will. He makes very compelling arguments. Meanwhile, the mask is creating a lie. By keeping our troubles in the dark, we set those up around us for failure. Our struggles, our honesty, our transparency … that is what allows for the Light to shine out the darkness. Our ability to allow others to see the deepest truths of our lives is what will show them how we are still standing … because of the Love of Christ and our faith in him.
The enemy would have us believe that if Jane knows about what I did ten years ago, she will tell the pastor and the pastor will not allow me to volunteer anymore because I am a bad person. If Jane knows what I did, I will be the gossip point for the whole community, and my reputation will be ruined. If Jane finds out my secrets, she will walk away from me, and I will have no one. If Jane … (fyi…I do not know anyone named Jane…fictional name for this purpose) The enemy will convince me to bury our secrets to protect ourselves. Sometimes in that protection we end up building barriers which in turn end up as lies so that no one knows. Those lies compound and create even bigger issues.
This is not a call to stand on the street corner and confess your every sin of life. This is not a call for you to invite disruptive people into your life. This is a call for you to remove the mask of darkness, allow the Light to be your reflection, and when those secrets surface … face them head-on. “Yes, that was me then. But not anymore.” Once you do that and stand on it, darkness will no longer have any power over you. Today, I encourage you to find the mask that you are hiding behind and remove it. Your face is beautiful in the light of His love.
Be blessed.
**The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. – Romans 13:12
Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.
Can you believe these temperatures? I have actually put on jeans because it is too cool for me. Haha. Did not see that coming.
One of the neat things about social media is that you can have fun with your picture. There are these games that you can play that are “What are you like in animal form, good and bad?” “If you were a bird, which one would you be?” “What is your spirit flower?” The list goes on. Well, last night I played a couple, and the ‘glamour’ shots that they envisioned for me were hilariously beautiful and totally not happening at all at the same time. Haha. I love seeing what the AI algorithm thinks of my picture in these different scenarios. It is fun. But … anyone who knows me … the true me … knows that it is completely false - A mask.
This mask is meant for humor and enjoyment. Unfortunately, there are other masks out there that are for hiding the dark that lives in our lives. We have this unique way of portraying ourselves in a positive light so that no one will know the true darkness that hides in the shadows of our steps. It is not until we light the life-giving candle of Jesus Christ in our lives that we can shed our masks.
There are many umbrellas that we all walk under throughout our lives. The enemy is in many, if not all of them, to some degree … even the one held by Christ. Stick with me here. Through our lives, we are guided by circumstances. This is the catalyst for that. Because of that, I did this. He said this, so I replied that. And so on. Circumstances and scenarios drive our steps. In that, we put on masks to make ourselves look better than we truly are. I go to church; therefore, I must always be happy, and nothing is ever wrong in my life … Mask. If I show distress of any kind, then the person I am trying to lead to Christ will run away … Mask.
The enemy is constantly whispering his logical explanations over each step we make. Common sense explanations that truly hold water for thought. Making it seem as though the mask is the very thing that we need to keep up appearances and do God’s will. He makes very compelling arguments. Meanwhile, the mask is creating a lie. By keeping our troubles in the dark, we set those up around us for failure. Our struggles, our honesty, our transparency … that is what allows for the Light to shine out the darkness. Our ability to allow others to see the deepest truths of our lives is what will show them how we are still standing … because of the Love of Christ and our faith in him.
The enemy would have us believe that if Jane knows about what I did ten years ago, she will tell the pastor and the pastor will not allow me to volunteer anymore because I am a bad person. If Jane knows what I did, I will be the gossip point for the whole community, and my reputation will be ruined. If Jane finds out my secrets, she will walk away from me, and I will have no one. If Jane … (fyi…I do not know anyone named Jane…fictional name for this purpose) The enemy will convince me to bury our secrets to protect ourselves. Sometimes in that protection we end up building barriers which in turn end up as lies so that no one knows. Those lies compound and create even bigger issues.
This is not a call to stand on the street corner and confess your every sin of life. This is not a call for you to invite disruptive people into your life. This is a call for you to remove the mask of darkness, allow the Light to be your reflection, and when those secrets surface … face them head-on. “Yes, that was me then. But not anymore.” Once you do that and stand on it, darkness will no longer have any power over you. Today, I encourage you to find the mask that you are hiding behind and remove it. Your face is beautiful in the light of His love.
Be blessed.
**The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. – Romans 13:12
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