“Hardly anything else reveals so well the fear and uncertainty among men as the length to which they will go to hide their true selves from each other and even from their own eyes.”
― A.W. Tozer
― A.W. Tozer
It’s Sunday morning...
Time to put on her church face...
Phony smile...fake responses
“I’m good...doing fine”...
Instead of
“I’m broken...please pray for me”...
He’s driving home from work in rush hour traffic
Time to hide behind the mask of indifference...
Nonchalant attitude...spine of steel
Thirsting for one drop of grace...
While surrounded by a sea of mercy he can’t see...
She picks up her Bible and moves the chair back in place as the small group comes to an end...
Quick hugs and well wishes are passed around as feet travel to the door...
A choked sob is muffled behind hands tired and trembling...
Heart fragments fall to the floor as faces turn and
hands of grace gently gather the shattered pieces...
A circle of prayer, unbroken...
except for the fearful one...
the anxious one...
The one with the duct-taped halo, who believes she has nothing to offer...who fears she is too broken herself...who knows that the second she enters into that ring of mercy and grace...
Self-made walls will crumble as tears spill
and she will become
REAL...
So many fears...
So much worry
What if...
What if they know?
What if they see...
the real me?
What if they find out...
I don’t have it all together...
Who in the world are we trying to impress?
and
Why in the world are we trying to do that?
Perfect people are pretend people
And who wants artificial...
when you need the real deal?
God loves me
The struggling me
The hesitant me
The mistake-making me
The REAL ME...
Jesus loves me
enough to stretch out His hands on the cross
and then
to stretch out His hands daily
to carry my heavy burdens...
ALL of them...
Even the unnecessary burdens of
pride and pretense...
So I can be free
to be
the real me...
Grace covered
Mercy washed
Peace filled
Glory bound
Are you tired of pretending?
Are you ready to get real?
Jesus is the real deal
He is offering you His rest
Take it
and find
perfect peace...
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens,come to me and I will give you rest.Take the yoke I give you.Put it on your shoulders and learn from me.I am gentle and humble,and you will find rest.This yoke is easy to bear,and this burden is light.Matthew 11:28-30 CEV
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8 thoughts:
Awesomely wonderful post Karen. That is what it is all about! The realness of Christ which in turn transforms us in time. Thank you for sharing. If we let Him. Blessings.
you will never know this side of heaven , how much I needed this ...
AMEN & Blessings Karen... It was a long time for this inspired writing to post forth from you (or for you to have the time)... but as always, well worth the wait!
I think I have always been REAL (yeah right?) but I'm a needy person (lol). I love that JUST BE REAL was your first comment!
I also love the opening quote of A.W. Tozer, that must have inspired this well written piece. I think I'm the one after "except"... I'm sure you can guess... but out of that brokenness pours forth compassion for others, and all we endure can be turned around for God's glory.
JESUS sure is the REAL DEAL!
So many clever points... thoughts and questions that make examine my self... my real self. If you can get close to that one,they may let you in to see... most of the time it's a protective guard. For me, I'm guilty of laying it all out there... and then you can decide if you accept me with all my flaws and problems, or not! But with Jesus,
you can't hide and you are accepted. I always wonder what prompts this from within you... or others like you that have the gift of writing that touches others.
I've taken it and I have His peace!
He carries my burdens and I lay them all down once again today...
Praising Him and ever so thankful.
Love and peace...
Peggy
Brilliant Post, thank you. It is hard to be real, but may Our Lord help us to be.
God Bless - Nita
Beautiful, heartfelt thoughts. Thank you so much for sharing from the heart.
I love this post! The truth will set you free, and whom the Son sets free, is free indeed!
Wonderful post sister! You always strengthen my faith by your posts!
Blessings to you!
Cherie
Karen, this was inspired. I have often heard it said that Jesus was God with a face. And it's true. He was exactly who He said He was - the Son of God. He never pretended - He always brought us the Truth that would set us free.
The masks we wear do not come from Him. They are products of the lies of the great deceiver - the one who would fool us into thinking that we have to hide our true selves.
No, the REAL DEAL died for those true selves. And in Him, we can bear our souls and take off the masks that keep us from each other and from Him.
GOD BLESS!
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