| Hello: |
| I am not certain that you are aware of the great joy that I get as I read letters and notes from those I love - as you reply to the Devotionals that come flooding my heart. There is nothing comparable in my life that brings such excitement ... as knowing that you are "touched" at times, by the reading of another persons heart. Especially cuz I have made it a point to share reflections with you during this season of my life. |
| And what a season it has been! |
| Seth and I were working on profiles for our Hotmail Accounts this past weekend and I had to think of something "personal" to share, but not too personal to have Internet quacks buggin on me. Aside from the usual hobbies and quotes suggested --I thought of something interesting to write; that I actually treasure and hold dear. And that is, |
| "I love taking people back... |
| With honesty." |
| Dropping mouths, and making you nod like ... "I can't believe she said that." |
| Honesty. Cool thing ey? |
| I also love being able to write just about anything here, knowing that you all are from all over the United States and other countries and don't know who on earth I am using in my examples. Unless of course you know them too. Which is very rare. |
| I thought of something just now that I should say. . . |
| If telling you something personal about me or something I witnessed, or experienced ~ helps to bring about truth. |
| Then by all means, I will share it. |
| Honesty. |
| Tremendous tool used to carve out deeper caverns of our heart to hold more treasures in. |
| It's something we all seldom see despite our claims. I hear people all the time say stuff like, "I am honest and open" or "I say what's on my mind." |
| Well, I just don't see it. |
| We, as a people, love to avoid connecting with each other. Yet, we are thrilled when we do. We love to hide behind masks of what we wish we were. I tell myself, "be as transparent as possible so that I am NO Stranger to myself at the end of all this "existence thing." Now, I got you all wondering what on earth I am gonna say next, Huh? No Worries today friends. I'll be good. But, I did want to say that I noticed we all love to avoid taking "things" to the table of discussion. |
| Even when we know we should. Even among family and dear friends. |
| You know exactly what I am talkin' about. "Awkward moments" we later regret. We all sit in each others company and an issue is right there starin' us all in the face and we go on like nothing is happening and everything's all right. And when someone walks out of the room, we whisper and talk.; And make matters worse. Not too long ago I had a moment where I was privy to sit in the midst of such an event. I just watched. And Listened ... And decided ... what kind of person I want to be. Who I actually am already, but the scene so reinforced my position. I witnessed a person go from being a great friend, always helping others, fun to be around, kind, tender, loving, life of the party ... To being every negative thought imaginable. |
| Diminished to dirt. |
| Anyway, as I watched and listened to people trash one another; the whole experience made me say, "I want nothing to do with the uncertainty of a "fickle character". |
| Be firm and stay put. Don't let the wind blow me. Nor the wind of gossip. Gabbing and talking about people. |
| Does it somehow make us feel better and bigger about ourselves? I have actually seen and heard people love and praise someone one minute, and then ... BOOM! Talk about them like trash in another minute. It happened to the King too. One week, people were acknowledging who He IS as He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey being praised as King of Kings on Palm Sunday, and the next week: these SAME folk were yelling, "Crucify Him" Geez, I would persnally like to resign from this part of humanity. |
| And for why? |
| May I please? |
| OK. you get my drift. I am setting you up for next month. |
| This devotional topic hit me when I caught my son telling a lie. Well, it didn't hit me at the moment, I was too ticked off to hear anything productive.But later, as I sizzled out... I saw a little kid with chocolate all over her face nodding "no" when mother asked, "did you eat the cookies"? She insisted she did not. Mother asked again, "Are you sure you didn't eat the cookies?" "No Mommy, promise, I didn't." Mother then walks the little girl to the bathroom where the crumbs still lay all over the tile then lifts her up to the mirror to display the evidence all over her tiny face. Now, faced with the fact that, "I am busted," the little girl sticks her bottom lip out. No sorry, no apology, no repentance. Just pouting. Hoping to shift the subject of lying to "feeling sorry for me." Rather then discussing the lie. Did you ever notice how we all think that we are "born" innocent? I find that rather ironic since we have to teach our children, "Don't lie" "Don't steal" "Don't hit Johnny when he doesn't share his toys." "Johnny, share your toys." Why is it that we automatically do "wrong" and have to be taught to do "right?" I found a scripture that says, "we are BORN in sin and shaped in iniquity"... I kinda don't like that one, but it is true. I can't just pick & choose what about God's Word I wish to like or believe. We are all born needing. We are all born "missing" something. And if, in fact, we can attain our perfection on our own -- then Christs' coming was in vain. And God breathing Himself into a virgins' womb, to come here for our redemption was all for naught. So, the purpose of this messege is not a complete tell tale of Honesty, but rather a realization that we need to be honest with ourselves enough to see our need. And honest enough to realize that we are so easily blown about by circumstances. If going to church were enough then God would have breathed out buildings. |
| But He didn't. |
| He breathed out Jesus. |
| The perfect God-man came to live and identify with us. To spiritually do more for us than all the libraries of the world can teach let alone one written message can contain. Let this season be different. Let your spirit rise above the hoopla and reach for the real messege of it all. May you allow Christ to reveal Himself to you. |
| (To those of you who shared the most memorable days of my life, as we walked the streets of Jerusalem a year ago. . .Hang in there! And shine before all men ... so that they may see Him through you, and because of you. Birth faith in the hearts of others by touching their inner soul and lifting them up) |
| Ain't life grand? |
| Just Tell It Like It Is. (You Can Pull Your Foot Out Later) |
| Christmas Season |
| ps I didn't even have to wipe up the cookie mess myself. Mommy Love does that automatically. |
| Okay. Gotta go Love & Light Mary |
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