Tuesday, July 21, 2009 – Week 6
…Of the Weeks:
Song: “Do You Realize?” –The Flaming Lips
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Verses: James 5:13-18
Hey guys!
Sorry for this late edition of the Monday updates…I had a pretty busy weekend with a family picnic and a music festival. It was all super fun but I neglected to write this email update. I will make this one short and sweet because I want you guys to do some of the talking back. So if you could reply back to me this week, I would love it so much!
1. The event
2. How deep the Father’s love for us…
3. me
4. you
1. Let’s keep praying for Love Revolution itself and for the people involved in the planning. Right now, I myself am feeling worried about how fast November is coming, but I know it’s because I haven’t been spending enough time praying and planning and coming to the Lord. Please pray fervently for Love Revolution this week and then hand the baton to God, giving Him our full trust and listening ears.
2. So, like I told you last week, I’ve been re-reading I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Josh Harris. Last week in my reading, a quote by Randy Alcorn got me thinking again. The quote read, “Character is what you are in the dark when no one but God is watching. Anyone can look good in front of an audience or even in front of their friends. It’s an entirely different thing to stand naked before God, to be known as you truly are on the inside.”
I’ve been doing so much self-reflection and examination lately that this quote really got to me. I know my character contains so many inconsistencies. It’s easy to have a well of patience when I am talking to someone I’ve just met or someone I want to make a good impression on or even my friends, but I know I don’t give my parents that same well… I revert to an automated attitude of annoyance and impatience. The same goes for serving. I easily serve my friends, my campers and co-workers, even my extended family, but it is not always my first instinct or desire to serve my parents.
In reflecting on all these things, I pictured myself standing naked before God. A lone spotlight shines on me- the only light in a deeply dark room. I am ashamed, cold and afraid of judgment. Many, many lashes are striped across my flesh representing all the darkness within me that no one sees: selfishness, egotism, pride, anger, shutting people out, cruelty, evil thoughts, lust, pessimism, malice, greed. Though the lashes are fresh, I don’t feel any pain. My sin mars me but I am numb to it.
It feels worse than being ridiculed by a crowd because at least their remarks tell you exactly how they feel, but you don’t know how angry or ashamed or sad God is. You don’t know how it feels. You just know how overcome you are with negative emotions.
Then Jesus is there, stepping out of the darkness and covering you with a thick black cloak, almost like the blankets draped over people just pulled from a burning building.
He has covered your shame. He has given you warmth. He has remedied the vulnerability.
But it doesn’t stop there. He removes the cloak from you and as your hands shoot out reflexively to cover yourself up, you realize you are fully clothed again and you notice your lashes are gone. There are no scars to remind you of the once numerous wounds, there is no trace that you were ever touched.
And you look back at Jesus and see He has put the cloak around himself and as you realize what’s happening you put your hand up and yell “No! Stop!” but the cloak drops and your cry is too late. Jesus stands there naked, covered in your scars.
He turns to you and gives you a look as warm as a summer day. He softly says, “Because I love you, my child.” And you just know it’s the truest thing you’ve ever heard.
3. So that’s where I am-- knowing I need so much more growth, but aware of the healing power that comes from our Savior. Please pray for me this week if you get a chance. I always feel myself going in and out of a steady walk with Christ.
4. I love you guys. Please let me know what’s going on with you and if you need any prayer.
That’s all for this week.
Thanks for reading.
lovelovelove,
Jeanette
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