For me it was vanity (leading to a slew of other things).
For so long I depended on my appearance to carry me through the valleys. In the moments of isolation and darkness I could make myself beautiful and feel, for a moment, all right. Every hair in its place, the latest fashion worn well. I was able to fit in with the elite based on the package I presented. Walking the walk and talking the talk I manged to hit the bottom looking fabulous.
1 John 2:15-16
Do Not Love This World
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
Learning how to look in the mirror and understand what I see, not being the girl I once use to be, is odd. My hair is cut off and the color is grown out. My frame is thin and slender. What held me together, all plastic and glue, has been melted away by what He made new.
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2
When I came to the box my mother had kept, I opened it slowly understanding what I would get. A glance into the past of a person that had died, pieces of history I had all thrown aside.
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
One flimsy envelope held all the answers inside. Fitting in the palm of my hand I looked down and cried. What joy overflowed as I praised Him on high, for delivering me from hell and through to the other side.
The picture I found was where it all started. Being pretty is nice, and having things is okay. But when you make it your world, it keeps you far-far away. While living in this world and being a part of it, you don't know the Truth until you are saved from it.
5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:5-7
It was all a lie. Moments of doubt, a pretty face masked by fear. Being leashed by the devil I was truly deceived. Had I known it wasn't normal to be on an emotional roller coaster inside, I would have submitted sooner to become His precious bride.
Working hard at being better, only falling back on sin. Doing enough good is immeasurable, because I always failed in the end. Good can not be measured.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Perspective in a photo. A photo for perspective.
[My senior high school photo]
Looking at the picture I found, we laughed together--the big guy and I. Laughing because of how blind and lost I was. How blind and lost we both had been. We kissed and gave praise for my deliverance.
30 As he took them outside, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They said, “Put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your family will be saved from the punishment of sin.” Acts 16:30-31
Made Alive with Christ
2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:1-10
I am bound for the Kingdom, won't you come with me?
Halleluiah. Amen.
1 comment:
Wow...thank you that was beautiful
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