May My Heart See...

Its not very popular today to be real.   I mean “FAKE” is really where it’s at.   From fake eyelashes to diamonds, “fake” is pretty “normal” for today.    Fake is also something I grew up with.   I mean, I was trained in fake.   You NEVER told people how you really felt, or who you really were.   You could say that my persona was FAKE. Until I met Jesus Christ, that is.   Well, actually I didn’t totally realize “fake” stuff til I knew Him for a while.   Cause He is Truth, you know – the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.   Now, it is my prayer that I am NEVER fake, never false, N-E-V-E-R. “What you see is what you get” so to speak. Really?   Do I really want that?   YES – I can answer that with a resounding YES!   The same Bible Study leader as the wife at home. The same mom as the neighbor.   The same legal secretary as the shopper.   I want to walk the walk not just TALK the walk - I want to be REAL – inside and out – all of me – R.E.A.L. God’s Word is full of verses a

Did you know that we are held “captive” and it’s a GOOD THING?   Yep – stick with me here.   You and I are held captive, or “captured by Grace”.   I think that “captured by Grace” is an interesting concept, don’t you?   I mean, really, what DOES that mean? Capture is defined as “to take captive, seize or to gain possession or control of.”   God, by grace, has taken us captive, taken possession of our hearts, our souls, our lives and indwells within us.   We belong to Him.   We are His property.   His chosen.   H.I.S.   Captured. Grace, as an acronym, is G od’s R edemption A t C hrist’s E xpense.   So “captured by Grace” is God’s work for us – His loving, total work for us through the sacrifice of His Son.   His beatings, His torture, His hanging on the cross, all of it, for me, for you.   Just thinking about that gives me the Holy Ghost bumps! Babop and Grandma Niebur This being “captured” makes me think about my heritage.   The faith of my fathers, my ancestors who pa

I can’t do it.   I’m not capable.   I don’t have it in me.   I’m sorry, I just can’t.   I’m not going to pretend anymore that I can, cause I can’t. I am talking about me not being able.   I’m not able to write this blog.   I’m not able to be patient in traffic.   I’m not able to be self-controlled (and a million other “not ables”).    This is not like me at all – humbling confessing OUT LOUD that I’m not able.   I don’t want to be vulnerable here and let another take control but I’m sorry, I JUST CAN’T DO IT! I LOVE to be in charge and I LOVE “doing”.   I also hate to be vulnerable.   Doesn’t that mean “weak”?    Opposite of strong – nope, that’s not good – nothing good can happen when I’m vulnerable, can it?   I can’t give up, I just can’t.   But I’m finding I HAVE TO.   It’s the only way. And the older I get, the more vulnerable I have become, the easier it gets to admit things like this out loud or in other words, give up.  Give what up?   Me, my way, my control, my

Happy new year!   Did you ever wonder what that statement meant (or am I thinking too hard again?) – “I hope you are happy in the new year”, right?   Well, I like “make it a new one!” better -   what do you think?    A brand new year to start brand new !! “New” meaning bright and fresh . Sounds good, doesn't it? II Cor 5:17 says "Therefore, if any man (woman) be in Christ, (s)he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV) and the New Living Translation says "What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!" THAT SOUNDS WONDERFUL! But how? How does it happen? I'm "old" (just sayin) !   I mean it takes willpower, doesn’t it?   A great quote I have on a sign at my desk says:     If you want long-term change, then you must focus on: §          A whole new mental paradigm §          A whole new pi