Category: Beneath The Paint

The trial you are in is the conception of the testimony you will own. Your testimony is birthed when you use it to help others overcome, and to help yourself through the next trial. The power of your testimony flourishes into triumph every time you share it.

You own your testimony – share it to triumph.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:2-3

“…you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Revelation 12:11

My father died in 2005. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and given a year and a half to three years to live. But God saw fit to take him home within a couple months of his diagnosis. The suddenness of his death left me stunned – I knew he would not live much longer but still it surprised me when he died. A few years later, I opened the box where I had placed some of his belongings.

I pulled out the old worn cardboard envelope. My hands went over the surface, anxious to look at what it contained. As I scanned the documents with not just my eyes, but with my hands and with my memories, I realized that the life this envelope represented here on earth had been reduced to what now lay on my lap. I caressed the leaves of papers and the old and worn photos of a life long ago. I thought of God and his eternalness. That though I held a sheaf of something that would fade and become dust, the life went on to see the throne of the King. The life bowed at the feet of the Father and the Son. The lips had to cry out to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. There is the eternity for that life. Not what the envelope contained – not what this world reduced the life that lived to. The true measure of forever, of eternity, is standing before the Lord or being hidden from His face, His favor and His grace.

Read 1John 5:1-13

• Where will you spend your eternity?
• What about your friends and other family members?
• Do they know the Truth?
• Who will go and tell them? Will you? Pray for boldness!

Lord, give me boldness through Your Holy Spirit to proclaim the truth of Your Word to those who have yet to believe. I pray that You prepare the unbeliever’s heart and anoint my lips to speak with the authority given to me by Jesus Christ. Help me to be a bold and effective witness for Jesus to all my friends and family members, and yes, even to the stranger. Above all, may I minister the Gospel of Jesus in love. Love – not as I know it – but as You show me. May all those that don’t know You hear there are only two places to be for eternity – with You or away from You. May they choose You as their Lord and Savior. In Jesus name, amen.

I have this really big trailer – but no truck to pull it. It is full of things – some I put there and some I allowed others to place in it. Some things are mine, others were never mine, but I put them in the trailer anyway. Some things I wanted to take out, but I never got around to it. Sometimes I waited in vain for someone else to remove those things, but they never did.

It is my baggage, nonetheless, regardless of who put it in my trailer – it is my baggage. I imagine myself leaning forward, my legs pushing hard against the ground, as I struggle to move forward. The trailer is heavy and burdensome. It takes both hands to pull and every ounce of the strength in my legs to push. It takes all my energy – all my strength to drag it with me. It steals those things and more from me.

Sometimes, I decide instead of pulling it on the path I have constructed, I will pull it no further. Since where I am there Christ is. I leave it with Him. And I take up His cause, for His burden is easy and light. But inevitably something draws me back to it, and I end up getting the trailer and reloading it with some of the same stuff and I toss in new stuff.

Read Hebrews 12:1-2

• What things have you picked up during your lifetime?
• How do those things encumber (weigh, hinder, stop) you?
• Do they keep you from living your life for Christ?
• What are some ways you can begin to let go of those things?

Partner with someone in order to help each other let go of the baggage that weighs you down and keeps you from having endurance to run the race – pursue God.

Lord, help me recognize those things in my life that You never intended for me to tote around and help me to dump them completely. Lord, help me to not pick up those things that are better left to the side of the road I travel. Help me to keep my eyes on You and not look at what’s around me here on earth. In areas that I am weak, please give me Your strength to overcome. Help me not to pick up other people’s offenses and issues, but to come along side and help them let go of things You don’t want them carrying. Lord, help me to let go of those things that steal my time and energy. I pray for the strength and perseverance to leave those things behind and move forward holding onto You. I thank You for Your mercy and strength. In Jesus name, amen.

I must lay down who I am in order to become the person I want to be. Some things I lay down easily like discards in a hand of Go Fish. They slide off of me like velvet on gold, just falling away. Other things are harder to lose. Stuff clings to me like Gorilla glue – it just won’t break the bond. It’s like a suitcase that’s seen better days. I set it down only to find myself walking around that case as unconsciously my hand wraps itself around the handle, and before I realize what I’ve done, the case is back with me. Some things won’t shed so easily – like a favorite pair of jeans – broken in to my perfection but torn and tattered to the log in your eye. I try to lay myself down, to pick up the person I need to be – but the current me won’t cooperate.

Read Romans 7:1-25

Paul is author of at least 13 books in the New Testament. He started life as Saul – a persecutor and murderer of Christians. An encounter with the Lord changed Him and his life forever. Yet He struggled with doing certain things he did not want to do; and not doing things he did want to do. We should take heart here – even this great man who actually stood in the presence of Jesus struggled. But let that not be a license to continue to sin but let it be a starting point for us to battle against our own worldly desires.

• What thing are you doing that you are having a tough time laying down; or what thing are you not doing that you should be doing?
• Find someone to confess to – a believer that will not share your admission.
• Join in prayer with at least one other person to be able to overcome in this area.
• Seek godly wisdom – do you need to leave some friends behind right now?
• Do you need to make new godly connections until you have strength in this area?
• Make a list of things you need in order to have victory in this area and a reasonable timeline to complete the list.
• Does your list line up with biblical reasoning?
• If so, begin to take the step on your path to overcoming!

Lord help me to overcome the obstacles in my life that prevent me from having victory! Send like-minded people to help me and let me be a help to others struggling with laying down the old person and taking up the new person You called me to be after believing. Help me to remember that you called me to be in fellowship with other people so that iron will sharpen iron.  Give me wisdom to know how to personally overcome in this area and give me endurance for the race.  I give You all of the praise! In Jesus name, amen!

As I go through each day, I pick up another piece of clothing – something I should leave be, but I don’t – clothing meant for the world – not for me. I should be living in the world and not be the world. But the very thing that I don’t want to do, I do; and the thing I want to do, I don’t. So on comes the world’s clothes, worry about tomorrow, worry about today, worry about things that are not in my charge, finances, children, husband, family, friends, anger, manipulation, other sin-things, business, work thoughts, Martha thoughts, shame, humiliation, self-centeredness – I could go on and on.

When I want to get in His presence, I can barely see or focus outside of all these things I have donned. So one-by-one, I strip off yesterday, tomorrow and later. I come bound, but I leave free…until tomorrow.

Sometimes I feel that only when I truly am in a place of worship can I totally let go of all the cares of this world. I resolve to do better, but I find myself picking up each piece and donning it yet again.

Read Matthew 6:25-34 and ask yourself these questions:

• What do I worry about most often?
• How does worry change me?
• How does worry change others around me?
• What Scripture can you find to help you lay down worry in this area and give it to the Lord? If you need help finding Scripture relevant to your situation, ask another believer.
• Confess your worry to someone you trust and ask them to help you by praying with you and ministering His peace to your worry.

Lord, the world is filled with people and things I could worry about. Help me to increase my trust in You so that I will leave my worries each day – moment by moment – with You. Give me the strength to take everything I am wearing not of You and shed it like a coat. Help me not to pick them up as I move through time, but help me to lay them down once and for all. Give me the conviction to give each problem and care as it surfaces to You, leaving myself unencumbered to worship You and serve those I come in contact with – all to Your glory. Give me focus to see the eternal things and not the things that will fade away. In Jesus name, amen.

As Christians, we know that we are called to be ministers in the Kingdom of God here on earth – some to millions, some to thousands, some to hundreds, some to one. We all have a purpose beyond ourselves in this Kingdom.

We are all ministers, we are all senders, we are all sowers, we are all water bearers, and we are all reapers in this magnificent Kingdom on earth.  Too long have we believed the lie that ministering is for someone else and not for us individually. Too long have we walked out of an encounter with Most High God Almighty, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and allowed the most subtle covert thought, feeling or words to push us back to the old worn mind set that this is not for me – it is someone else’s responsibility – someone with more training – someone with more experience – someone else – anybody else. We must push beyond the thoughts of the enemy that everything about witnessing – about sharing Jesus – is for someone else.

Read Matthew 26:16-20

Verse 17 says some doubted.

Do you ever find yourself doubting that the responsibility of sharing the gospel is not for you?

If you are having trouble in this area of your purpose on this earth, find a bible study, a book, a video or other material on your charge as a Christian. Commit a time each day to working through the material. Join with other believers to encourage and build up one another – strengthening one another in this area. Go on a mission trip to share the Good News – even if it is local to your city. Whatever you do, don’t stay where you are in sharing your faith – grow!  I like to say that staying in place with knowledge is aging – but learning is growing.  Grow – learn – to share your faith.

Lord God, help us to remember the encounters we have with You.  Let them not wear off like stale perfume, but let them permeate us so thoroughly that any thought or words that rise up contrary to Your truth are banished into dust beneath our feet.  Let us be perceivers of the truth and also perceivers of the lies no matter how covert or overt they are.  Let us be encouragers to others in the faith – that all our words and thoughts would be ones that encourage and not discourage, would be filled Your truth and not lies, would be life and not death. Let us take the Gospel of Jesus everywhere with us – willing to share with anyone even if only in deed. Help others to see Your light in us and not shy away from sharing You with others. Give us boldness coupled with joy and love for Your Gospel! In Jesus’ name, amen!

I love salt! Several of my friends with medical issues have had to give up using the salt shaker. I don’t know how I would survive without salt. I have several containers in my home – it is as important as toilet paper – I just can’t run out of salt! Maybe you are like me and love what it does to food; maybe you are like some of my friends who have had to give it up; or maybe you never liked extra salt (although I can’t image that). Salt is necessary and vital to our bodies.

Salt helped to keep the Israelites alive as they journeyed for forty years through the wilderness. To a culture without refrigeration, it cured and dried meat; to a people without antibiotics, it helped with infection; to a discerning palate, it enhanced flavor; to a person without money, it was a valuable commodity to trade; sacrifices were seasoned with it; and it was used in pottery.

We tend to think of salt as seasoning, not life-saving as the Israelites viewed it. Salt, in the right proportion, enhances the flavor of certain foods. Yet when there is too much salt, the flavor of it overwhelms the food and results in it no longer being pleasant to the tongue or the stomach. Too little salt, and there is no evidence of its’ existence.

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells us we are the salt of the earth. As Christians, we are called to be salt to the world – seasoning – spice – enhancer of life – even, life-saving, leading to the Life Savior. To fill that role, it is necessary for us to hit just the right balance of our witness of Jesus Christ in just the right places – If we are not a good reflection of Jesus in us, we are displaying too little salt; If we attempt to beat unbelievers into submission with the Word, we are displaying too much salt.

Lord, help us to be salt to the world in the right proportion for the current situation. Help us to assess the circumstances correctly that we might shake out just the right amount of Jesus in us to attract our acquaintances, friends, loved ones and strangers to You. You know the heart of everyone – help us to be Your hands, feet, and heart here on earth in the perfect quantity. Thank You for saving me – help my life lead others to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

We are Christians in the resistance
We resist the mediocrity of operating in the grey area
We resist doing whatever it takes to succeed
We resist knowledge that raises itself above Godly wisdom
Instead, we embrace integrity,
We embrace doing the right thing even when no one is looking
We embrace God’s foolishness which is wiser than any man’s and
We embrace the end that is justified by the means

Did you really hear that? I did NOT say the end justifies the means. I said – we embrace the end that is justified by the means. In other words, as Christians, how we get to the end matters. The means, the way we go, the things we do, matter in our lives.

In our personal walk with Christ, we are in a constant state of sanctification. The process is not complete until the day we die. Some of us are further along than others. Some of us revisit the same issues over and over again, struggling to overcome and walk free of those things that bind us. God walks us through sanctification. He will point out things that are not pleasing to him – those things that do not reflect His character, His traits, so that we will grow in our Christianity becoming a reflection of Christ in us.

Unlike school, these sanctification “classes” are not taken in a particular order. As we walk the path of sanctification, we must remember that not every Christian has taken the “classes” we have taken; and similarly, there are “classes” others have taken that we have not. We are all imperfect Christians with our shortcomings manifesting in different ways. As the Lord points out those things in our lives he wants us to leave behind, he gives us a level of conviction – of knowing what and when something needs to change. Left unchecked or unacted upon, that loving conviction can fester into condemnation. Once condemnation settles in, we may try to run from God, not only in that area, but also with our entire lives. If you find yourself not wanting to read the Word, spend time with God, go to your church home or socialize with other believers, you may want to ask yourself if there is a conviction that you have not dealt with in your life that has possibly turned into condemnation.

Read Romans 8:1-14

The first verse is often quoted in part – “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,” but the second half is left off… “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” We are told by Paul in this passage that we received the Spirit when we believed in Christ, but we must also act in that Spirit – making Spirit led choices – and not act according to the desires of our flesh. If we do act according to our flesh, he says we will die. Conviction and sanctification go hand in hand.
Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I experiencing conviction – a knowing – that I must change something I am doing or not doing in my life?
• What are the steps I need to take to act upon that conviction?
• Am I experiencing condemnation about something that is causing me to run from God?
• What can I do to be restored to a right relationship with the Lord?
• Do I need help with these steps?
• Where can I find help? A friend, a pastor, a counselor?
• Will I commit to change?

Lord, help us know when we need to change, give us the wisdom to know how to proceed, the stamina to act and the perseverance to stick to it. Thank you for your faithfulness – help us to remain faithful! In Jesus name, Amen!

He loved us when He decided to come to earth
giving up His Heavenly nature to take on a mortal stature
He loved us when He taught us, walked with us, healed, delivered and forgave us.
He loved us when He served us and allowed us to serve Him
He loved us when He wept in the garden and
He loved us as He willingly went with the guards
Knowing His end was upon the cross on a lonely crowded hill
He loved us as He was beaten and tortured

He loved us – we know –
Because He didn’t give up when most of us would have
Because He didn’t call legions of angels to His rescue
Because He didn’t disappear from the brutality of His captors
to reappear in safety miles away

He loved us when He stayed

He loved us as He paid our price
He loved us when He breathed His last and
He loved us as He held the keys to the dungeon of Hades and death
He loved us when He left the tomb empty
save for the clothing that bound Him in the humanness we call death

He loves us as He intercedes for us to the Father
He loves us as He prepares each of us a place

And He loves us – we know –
because in the beautiful truth of the gospel we find
He did all this so that He could spend all of time with each of us

Yes, Jesus loves us.

In the vast expanse of the many seashores – there are zillions and zillions grains of sand. The action of the ocean moves the grains – sometimes loosening and moving them to a different location – sometimes packing them in tighter and tighter – layering more grains onto others. Yet in the multitude of that sand – one grain stands out to His eye. He notices its coming in and going out. He notices the journey that grain takes – He notices the route – He knows the end – where the final resting place will be of that single special individual grain of sand.

You are that grain. God sees and knows the journey you are on. He knows your coming in and going out. He knows where you are headed and where you have been. He knows your end – your final resting place. He knows your epitaph. He knows your eulogy. It is one of joy because you will then be with Him in heaven. The journey, the path, the route, forgotten as you explode into heaven’s throne room to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Lord, thank you for intimately knowing us; and caring about every detail of our life here on earth, no matter how big or how tiny. You died for us so that You could spend eternity with us – let us never forget how important we are to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.