Taking Off Our Masks

I was at the doctor's office today. Believe me, the doctor's office is not a place you want to be if you want to stay healthy! There are a lot of sick people there! Many people had on masks. I am not sure whether they were trying to protect others from their illness or to protect themselves for others illnesses.

I started thinking about how we all wear masks at one time or another. We try to cover up who we are so others won't see the real person. We are trying to protect ourselves and others from the truth about ourselves. We are afraid to let others see us for who we really are. But if we put the mask on around others, we become the perfect people that we want others to think we are. We are the perfect parent who never loses their temper with their child, is always ready and willing to drive their child anywhere they want, always ready to coach the team, bake the cookies, take care of sick children, whatever they need! We become the perfect spouse - ready to do anything for the one we love. We become the perfect employee - ready to perform any job that our employer wants and with a smile on our face. We become the perfect neighbor - ready to help our neighbors, cook a meal, loan a tool. We become the perfect church member - ready to serve on any committee that we are asked, always present at every church service and on the front row! In essence, with our masks on we become the person that we think God wants us to be.

What happens when we take our masks off, when we are home alone or when we think no one is looking? Are we still so loving and kind? Do we still perform our jobs with a smile on our face? Are we still patient and loving with our kids? Are we still there for our spouse? Do we show love to our neighbors? Are we still so willing to help them out in any way they need? And are we still so devoted to our church family? Do we serve on those committees with the love that Christ wants us to have or do we complain about all the time it takes?

In other words, when we don't have our masks on, are we the people that Christ would have us be? Are we loving and kind to others? Do we thank God that we have a job to go to and that pays the bills? Do we thank God every day for our families - our children and spouses - no matter how frustrated we may get? Are we faithful to our church and church family? Do we praise God everyday for our church family? Do we live the life that God wants us to life? Do we thank God everyday for His love and faithfulness?

Lord, help us to be the people you want us to be everyday with our masks off! Let us show others who we truly are - the godly people you want us to be - everyday. Help us to live a life that You would have us live so that we don't need to wear any masks! Help us show You to others by the way we live, the words we speak, our actions - all without masks! Let us let your light shine through us.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 13-16

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

Happy Father's Day to all of you fathers out there. This is kind of a sad day for me. My dad passed away two years ago and I still miss him terribly. But when I think about it, I always have him with me. I have a lot of my dad's traits which is really interesting because he was not my biological father. But he was my Dad. And he influenced my life more than he will ever know. I have tried so hard to be the kind of daughter that he would be proud of.

One of the biggest ways my Dad influenced my life was in the way he showed his faith and, more importantly, lived his faith. He was a true Christian man and one that I was proud to call my Dad.

But even though my earthly father is no longer here, I know that my heavenly Father is always with me. He walks beside me every day, through good times and bad. And when I feel like I can't walk anymore, He carries me. He never leaves me. I can celebrate everyday because I have a Father in heaven!!

Thank you, Lord, for the dad You gave me. Thank you, Lord, for being my heavenly Father. I am so grateful that because of your love that one day I will be with You and my dad and mom again!

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16

The Perfect "Christian"

I have a friend I want to tell you about. We were friends for 17 years. He was a true friend, always there to share the good times and the bad. He never left my side. In all the years I knew him, he never said a bad word, never drank or used drugs, never gossiped, never lied. Sounds like I am describing the perfect person, a good "Christian", doesn't it? In fact, I am talking about my dog, Barkley.

We need to realize that being a "Christian" involves more than refraining from evil. It involves an active pursuit of doing good. And furthermore, no matter how "good" we are, we are not Christians until we come to a relationship with Christ and obey the gospel.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

HOW GOD SHOWS HIS LOVE

Martha, a 26-year-old woman with ALS needed help. When a group of women heard about her, they jumped into action. They began to give round-the-clock nursing care. They bathed her, fed her, prayed for her, and witnessed to her. Martha, who had not receivd Christ as her Savior and couldn't understand how a loving God could let her get ALS, saw his love in these women and eventually became a Christian. She is with the Lord today because 16 women, following Jesus' example, personified God's love.

I am blessed that I do know the Lord. Sometimes I wonder why I have the disease I have but I do know that God has a reason and that one day I will be healthy again - maybe not on this earth but certainly in heaven.

I try to give to others whenever I can. The problem I have is accepting help. I have a friend whose Sunday School class is trying to help me during the holiday season. While I am so grateful, it is so hard for me to admit I need help - either physically or financially. But I think we are supposed to give help whenever possible and receive it when given. God has placed these people who want to help us in our lives and if we deny the help then we deny giving them the chance to fulfill God's grace.

Jesus is no longer with us in His physical body - He now sits at God's right hand in heaven. So, if God's love is to be embodied today it must be done through Christians. Is it being done through you?

"I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."
John 13:15