What is missing in so many churches and fellowships today?
True transparency.
Without it, we lack the true blessed fellowship God intended for us to have. We can go no further into relationships or experience the full growth in our spiritual walks because we close the door to the body of Christ around us and do not give them permission to come in.
People are hurting and need healing and that will not occur if we are too busy 'doing church' or portraying ourselves to be 'perfect'. For some time I have wanted to make this very clear---that even though I run a blog with beautiful pictures on it expressing the beauty of the rich Christian home, I will honestly admit that life doesn't always look like that realistically. Sometimes I fail horrifically! YES! It is okay to admit that we don't have it all together because that is what it is all about. Not pointing to how great we are or how we've figured it all out, no----but instead, being honest and REAL. We don't have it all together, we don't know it all or DO it all.
We are weak and we need the Lord.
We must be saved from ourselves and because of that we have a Perfect Father in Heaven who sacrificed His only Son for us. If our lives reflect anything of the Lord it is in spite of ourselves. If my children grow up to live for the Lord it is in spite of me, for surely sometimes I believe we do more damage than good!
Let's throw off this pseudo-Christian image that we think we must imitate and put on the true cloth of fellowship. We are sinners saved by a holy God. He is exalted in our weaknesses. Without Him we can do no small thing. With Him we can do many great, miraculous things. Lives can be changed by witnessing and unleashing the awesome power of transparency. But we must remember that the glory is all His and we must never, ever try to steal it from Him.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
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14 comments:
That was so well said.............
The "true" Christian is hard to see in all the perfect actions being played out. I am not perfect I am a sinner and I need Jesus to save me so that I may share the Good news. I feel blessed to have found your blog.
God Bless You
BettyJo
41f, married mother, of 2 Child of God, sinner in need of grace
I also have to say that this was an excellent message and very well worded.
You have a beautiful blog and it is just fabulous.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving week.
In Him
Page
I recently found your blog, I think through Jess's link to your post with skirts/dresses.
What an excellent post. There are times in Christian community that someone admits they don't have it all together and that is always the person I want to know. They are real, authentic, unafraid to say that they, too, are a sinner in need of a gracious Savior.
And what a good reminder to all of us to be transparent, and to say so: we are imperfect, weak, utterly wretched without God.
Thank you.
~Stacy
What a wonderful post....and that is no surprise! I have long enjoyed your blog and am a frequent visitor. I always feel relaxed as I read, and leave inspired to make my home more peaceful and beautiful! As a matter of fact I have just started my own blog and would love to link to yours from it, if you would allow me to do so!
Diane
Amen to today's blog!! Your honesty is so refreshing and very much appreciated!! Thank God that He is in control and not us!! Let us not distract others from knowing the Lord because we are too busy trying to put forth this "perfect" image of ourselves for we will only be wasting our time. You wrote just what I needed to read today!!
Good timing! Sunday's sermon was about the importance of transparency to community: it keeps us helping AND humble in very real ways. Our "little valley" church tends to excel in this area because we have so many new believers: it seems as if newer believers are much more inclined to admit to junk in their lives because they are freshly aware of the glory! May we always embrace the fresh realization of His heart.
Finding you beautiful site was a wonderful discovery. Your words have been a wake up call to me as I see where I have been compromising in my life. Thank you for being a Godly mentor - even to the ends of the earth.....well, Australia then :)
May God use your words mightily! God bless.
What a blessing it is to be married to such a Godly, warm, and transparent little cuddle-cake! :)
Steve Fuentes
PS - Love Ya June!!!
grace recieved ,grace extended -been thinkin bout that lately-great post-lovely help-thank you
well said, I sense u are real and thats why I continue to read yr blog! much happiness!
Hi,
I love visiting your site and being challenged and provoked in my calling as Wife and Mother.
I love the beautiful pictures on your site! Who is the artist? And where can I find some of these beautiful paintings?
Thanks and God Bless your Ministry!
holyromers@hotmail.com
Well said. The facade of religion is exactly what Jesus was usually bothered with when it came to the Pharisees. I don't see how it has changed much over the years, only now the Pharisees aren't only Jewish but Gentile as well, if you know what I mean.
Great thought provoking post!
Becca in WI
This is so true! I know I have actually 'scared' people off because I'm "too transparent". I don't think sharing the reality of my life is a bad thing. I don't give inappropriate details, but I refuse to sugar coat things.. because when God comes through.. it's big! :)
Amen! I recently embarrassed myself with a comment I left on another blog. It's sometimes hard to remember we're all flawed and need God's grace as much as the next person.
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