You Say/God Says

You say: "It's impossible." God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired." God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me." God says: I love you. (John 3:16 & John 13:34)
You say: "I can't go on." God says: My grace is sufficient. (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out." God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it." God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able." God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it." God says: It will be worth it. (Romans 8:28)
You say: "I can't forgive myself." God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage." God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid." God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated." God says: Cast all your cares on ME. (I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I don't have enough faith." God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)
You say: "I'm not smart enough." God says: I give you wisdom. (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone." God says: I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews13:5)

criticisms

just a thought ...

the negative criticisms that we have toward  ourselves often draw the same criticisms from other people.

How do you see yourself? 

Red (Poem)

18+ poem. This isn't the type of things that i usually write about but i was in a different mood so this is what came of it.


Black shoes, Red dress and belt.
Out in the world selling the best seller.
Encase you haven't heard, sex sells.
My story doesn't matter, I'm out selling tail or selling
myself whatever self entails.

His eyes always says spare me the details
and lay on your back, flat no, here, here's a pillow it's better...
for me anyway or bend over that way, I can't see the shame on
your face.

Red learned to escape with a little coke-weed...
hopefully, this won't take too long.
A need to feel free mentally escaping into
Guilt Freedom from this money game she plays
accenting her body in men's faces, they can't turn away...
She learned to lure their visual her way, control.
sons, brothers, fathers, uncles, husbands, they all play a
role, if they could love *her* a few moments those few
moments make her feel whole, complete, a person, she matters
as a matter a fact she never means to attack their visual
but she needs their attention, she was never paid attention to.

Hanging on to unforgiveness creates in us the necessity to build and maintain a facade.

Hanging on to unforgiveness creates in us the necessity to build and maintain a facade.

Jesus wants us to be totally honest, transparent, believable and consistent. He wants the transformation of our inner being to be so complete that what we show to others is who we truly are. We must be willing to be washed clean inside and out. Otherwise, we are but a superficial reflection of God's love, filled with impurity behind our facade.

Whenever we remain unforgiving, we become like the Pharisees who demanded compliance with the letter of the law, yet held intolerance and self-righteousness within their hearts.

Luke 11:39-40 ESV And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. (40) You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?

Both in action and in attitude we must be transparent, allowing God's love and grace to permeate our entire being. Purity within and without invites others to know us without reservation. Unforgiveness lodged in our heart creates a false, fleshly protective wall that separates who we really are from the image we project to the world.

♦ We don't want people to know our innermost thoughts and motivations so we erect barriers to keep others from getting too close

♦ We don't invite others into fellowship with us for fear they'll see the truth of our family life.

♦ We avoid telling stories on ourselves because we have to maintain an image of having it all together.

♦ We are afraid to go to a counselor because we know we will be confronted and have to deal with issues that may be painful.

♦ We can't risk or be spontaneous because we have a need to keep everything under control.

♦ We can't adventure because we're insecure if asked to move outside our comfort zone and risk things we aren't sure will work.

♦ We don't trust others to love and accept us if they really knew who we are.

Building facades such as these to protect our unforgivenesses means that we are living a lie. That puts a terrific amount of stress on us--stress which will eventually take its tole in alienation from others and from God, breaking the unity of the kingdom. We must not use the security of our own salvation experience to excuse that part of us which remains unregenerate.

John 4:19-20 ESV The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. (20) Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."

1 John 1:6-7 ESV If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

If you're blessed by what's been written here please purchase Choosing Forgiveness by John & Paula Sandford and Lee Bowman