Mirror, Mirror

 

My YouVersion Bible study last week was called, "Daily Jewels- Aligning Your Crown As A Daughter Of The King."  The description for the plan said, "Look around. In the midst of chaos, there is always a jewel to be found. Daily Jewels is a 7-day devotion that calls you to boldly align your crown as a daughter of the King. Join me on a treasure hunt to discover the extraordinary jewels hidden in the ordinary places."

 

I thought Saturday morning's was outstanding.  It was called, "The Dreaded Mirror."   The author wrote, "I have made a habit of using the words “fat, ugly, plain, old, and gross” when I see what is reflected back and there are just some nights I don’t want to face it. You can basically say, “I beat myself up.” "  She continued, "The feeling of wanting to be invisible consumed me, until God showed me in Genesis that “We were created in His image.” I read that scripture one day and the Lord gently said, “Stop bashing me.”"

 

This reminded me of a Bible Study Les taught more than a decade ago.  I blogged about it and decided to re-post the entire thing:

 

Les taught a really good Bible study last Wednesday night. "God's Image versus Self Image." He brought out so many points about how our self image is based on family or friends or Hollywood instead of remembering that we are made in God's image.

He challenged us to look in the mirror first thing each morning and say to ourselves, "YOU are made in the image of God." I've been trying to remember to do that each morning. If I remember I am made in God's image I'm going to do a better job taking care of myself. Les and I had a really funny exchange as we were getting ready for church Sunday morning:

Les: What do you see in the mirror?
Me: Bushy eyebrows...
Les: Uh!! (with much eye rolling and shaking of head)
Me: Well, that's what I was looking at! I know, I'm made in the image of God. I guess God has bushy eyebrows...

What a difference it makes when we aren't trying to look like the latest rising star or the thinnest runway model or the tallest basketball player! We all have days when we would rather not even look in the mirror. On those days when you're looking at eyebrows that are bushy, or hair that is flat, or a figure that isn't what it use to be, remember:

You are:

• Made in the Image of God
• Chosen by God
  
• A Child of God
• An Heir of God
• A Joint-Heir with Christ
• A King and Priest Unto God
• The Apple of His Eye

Feeling better, now?

May the Face of God Shine Upon You

I got a call last Monday from my dear Tennessee friend, Lori Long.  She was just calling to check in and we enjoyed catching up.  Before long our phones were on speaker as Les and Doug joined the conversation.  As we were saying goodbye, Les said, "the Lord bless you and keep you."  I piped in with "and make His face to shine upon you!"  Les looked at me a little questioning.  "It's in the Bible!" was my response.  Not only is it in the Bible, it was part of my Bible reading this morning.

Numbers 6:22-27 says:
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 
And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. 

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible says:
The priestly blessing is appointed as a solemn form to be used by the priests exclusively, and in this function their office as it were culminates. God Himself provides a formula, through which from time to time, as His people by obedience place themselves in true and right relationship to Him, the authorized mediators may pronounce and communicate His special blessing to them. It was a Jewish tradition that this blessing was given at the close of the daily sacrifice.
The structure of the blessing is remarkable. It is rhythmical, consists of three distinct parts, and mounts by gradual stages to that peace which forms the last and most consummate gift which God can give His people.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee - The second clause here, as in the other three verses, defines more closely the general tenor of the preceding one. The singular number, which is observed throughout, indicates that the blessing is conferred on Israel “collectively.”

Make his face shine - This is an enhancement of the preceding benediction. “The face of God” imports not merely God’s good will in general, but His active and special regard. With the “face” or “eye" of the Lord accordingly is connected alike the judicial visitation of the wicked, and His mercies to the righteous.

Lift up his countenance upon thee - especially direct His thought and care toward thee. Through such loving providence alone could the peace of God in which the blessing closes be given.

Put my name upon the children of Israel -  pronounce My Sacred Name over them in blessing them. God will give effect to the benediction pronounced by the priests.

I especially like the Pulpit Commentary on verse 25:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee. The "face" of God is his personality as turned towards man, or else turned away from him. His face hidden or turned away is despair and death; His face turned against man is destruction and death; His face turned upon man in love and mercy is life and salvation. It is to the soul of man what the blessed sun of heaven is to his body.

It may be raining or snowing where you are today.  The world as a whole seems gloomy and dark.  But the face of God still shines.  In the darkest times and darkest places, let His face shine on you!

What Do You See?

My devotional from a few days ago really had me thinking..

Down in South Georgia, a little family of sharecroppers struggled to make ends meet. They never seemed to have enough to go around, but one year they planted at just the right time, the rains were plentiful, and the market conditions were right. After they gave the landowner his share, they paid their bills and had a little bit left over. They decided to buy one thing the entire family could enjoy, and after shopping through the dry goods catalog, they selected something they'd never owned before: a mirror. 

When it arrived, the husband, wife and children gathered round, and unwrapped it together. The wife looked in it first, and then the husband. Each child took a turn, down to the youngest named Willie - a small, deformed child whose mouth was misshapen and scarred.

He stood before the mirror a long time before he turned to his mother. "Did you always know I looked like this - different from the others?" She said, "Yes, Willie." He said, "Momma, you mean I always looked like this, and you loved me anyway?" She said, "Yes, Willie. I love you because you are mine. You belong to me." 

Isn't it a relief to know God has always known us, with our shortcomings, our flaws and sinful ways, and He loves us anyway? We were sinners when Christ died for us - not "cleaned up saints." He loves us because He gave His Son to die for us.

Mirrors can cause a lot of problems.  Some, like Willie, see their imperfections and wonder how anyone can love them.  Others see the beauty that God has blessed them with and think they are superior.  What really matters is how God sees us.  We are each unique, designed by His hand.  As His child, remember, you are:

• Made in the Image of God
• Chosen by God
• A Child of God
• An Heir of God
• A Joint-Heir with Christ
• A King and Priest Unto God
• The Apple of His Eye

 He loves you because you are His.  You belong to Him!

Who Are You?

There have been two stories in the news recently about people who want to be someone they are not.  Bruce Jenner, now calling himself Caitlyn, is claiming for all intents and purposes, "I'm a woman."  Many articles now call him a "her," even though he has not undergone sex reassignment surgery.

The other is Rachel Dolezal former NAACP leader who has claimed to be African-American.  Her parents came out last week stating that she is actually Caucasian.  Dolezal admitted to participating in “creative nonfiction” in representing herself as African-American.  “I definitely am not white... I’m more black than I am white. So on a level of values, lived experience, currently, I mean, in this moment, that’s … that’s the answer. That’s the accurate answer from my truth.”

Both of these people claim to be something they are not because that's what they want.  "The accurate answer from my truth.”  That is what the world would love for us to believe but "my truth" in these cases is a lie!  Romans chapter one tells us exactly what is happening:

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

I'm sure most of us have had times of questioning who we are.  Hopefully not to this extent and coming up with these bizarre answers, but still we come up against our own self doubts.  It can happen in just about every stage of life starting with those tough middle school years.  We go through high school and early adulthood trying to find our path and maybe that special someone.  There are the early marriage years, raising babies who become teenagers.  There are the empty nest years.  Or maybe a time when you step down from one area of ministry as others step up.  It's easy to ask, "Who am I? Where do I fit?"

As a Christian, someone who knows their God, there is an answer.  It comes from a message Les preached several years ago.  If you're struggling with who you are today, look yourself in the mirror and say "I am...

• Made in the Image of God
• Chosen by God
• A Child of God
• An Heir of God
• A Joint-Heir with Christ
• A King and Priest Unto God
• The Apple of His Eye

That's not my truth, that's THE TRUTH!

Mirror, Mirror

Les taught a really good Bible study last Wednesday night. "God's Image versus Self Image." He brought out so many points about how our self image is based on family or friends or Hollywood instead of remembering that we are made in God's image.

He challenged us to look in the mirror first thing each morning and say to ourselves, "YOU are made in the image of God." I've been trying to remember to do that each morning. If I remember I am made in God's image I'm going to do a better job taking care of myself. Les and I had a really funny exchange as we were getting ready for church Sunday morning:

Les: What do you see in the mirror?
Me: Bushy eyebrows...
Les: Uh!! (with much eye rolling and shaking of head)
Me: Well, that's what I was looking at! I know, I'm made in the image of God. I guess God has bushy eyebrows...

What a difference it makes when we aren't trying to look like the latest rising star or the thinnest runway model or the tallest basketball player! We all have days when we would rather not even look in the mirror. On those days when you're looking at eyebrows that are bushy, or hair that is flat, or a figure that isn't what it use to be, remember:

You are:

• Made in the Image of God
• Chosen by God
  
• A Child of God
• An Heir of God
• A Joint-Heir with Christ
• A King and Priest Unto God
• The Apple of His Eye

Feeling better, now?