Hmm..., I guess you are all picturing a soldier in army gear. Interesting train of thought, but that, is another story. The art am referring to, dear reader, is not restricted to an elite few. It is a skill we have all acquired.
Why do humans struggle to hide their faces and shade their eyes and glove their finger-prints?
While all creation displays its uniqueness like a flag on the ship’s mast for all to see and all to deal with (accept).
The Zebra is as proud of his stripes as the donkey is of his lack of them.
Cheetah exhibits her spots, speed and agility to show she is different from the leopard who climbs up tall trees for the same reason.
Elephant parades his weight like the whale and never tries to lose it. I never saw a giraffe stooping her neck; she stands as tall as she can.
Which cactus ever mimicked a rose?
Interesting to note, God gave each of these the ability of camouflage to achieve certain tasks (mostly temporary) – escape an enemy; pounce the prey. Yet, they always stay true to themselves. A chameleon, for example changes when on the hunt or in flight but under normal circumstances is her own colour.
We are so hell bent on hiding our true identities that we don’t know who we really are. It’s only in the innocence of childhood that we express our authenticity without remorse. We put on honesty like a crown, and if anyone has a problem with it, the problem is theirs. Parents are always scolding the kids for being blunt. A lot of the time the honest truth is not the nicest thing to say. So, in an endeavour to avoid stepping on the all too big human toes, we tip toe around the truth and bite a persons back.
With time we fabricate a set of lies that define us. A personality we coin our own, which is at best, a mask. Well, I think we just can’t handle rejection. If someone rejects your mask, you can always get another disguise. But what happens when you display your uniqueness like a flag on the ship’s mast, and it is not accepted? Where do you go, how deep does that burn, knowing there is nothing more you can do to gain that approval or better that image? Many people, after experiencing such a great disappointment early in life, crawl into a cave, a shell of sorts. They hide their true self far inside themselves to protect it from hurt. Unfortunately, protection from hurt is the same as protection from love.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Clint - Shine
SHINE:
I was looking for to hide
Somewhere safe to reside
A peaceful place to stride;
A silent laid back pride.
So I chose to be a church mouse
To busy myself behind the scenes
Becoming a shadow in God’s house;
But I couldn’t escape my sins.
The mask I wore was airtight
But it didn’t help my sight
I still saw what God saw;
A man looking for a bend in law.
The whole world knew I was good
Nobody really understood
I was a white washed tomb;
A devil in an angel’s womb.
But now I accept to shine
To claim what God calls mine
To make the word my spine;
To stand up for what I believe in.
Dear reader, I urge you from the depths of my soul to rise up and shine Jesus, the light of the world (text emphasis Ephesians 6:10 - 20).
Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” … 13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to with stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand”
Knowing this, why do we live our Christian lives as if our greatest peril is being rejected or accused by people? Don’t you consider that even your own flesh is used against you? Our vision is so narrow, it’s sad. How can you sit admiring you sword all day, while the enemy is busy planning attack strategies?
Train! Learn to swing your sword, learn its capabilities, which fighting style you like best. How to fight what? God doesn’t grant you victory if you are not prepared to win.
You can’t step on the battle field with a rusty sword and expect Goliath to drop dead! You can’t win a war by staying on the defensive. It’s great strikers that win games; great defenders can, at best, hold the other team to a draw. And my God doesn’t share trophies. A draw is a fence sitter, a lukewarm meal that is not acceptable to God. The best defense is a good offense, get up and step on the enemy.
Have you considered the dragon that so eagerly searches to destroy you before you share your testimony as he couldn’t get Jesus? Revelations 12:17. From the moment you decide to keep the commandments of Jesus, you are at war, pick up a weapon.
It ails me deeply to know we are hanging around waiting to resist the enemy’s advances and it turns my stomach to see we are not even ready to withstand a punch.
Jesus is our refuge but the church is no hiding place.
I was looking for to hide
Somewhere safe to reside
A peaceful place to stride;
A silent laid back pride.
So I chose to be a church mouse
To busy myself behind the scenes
Becoming a shadow in God’s house;
But I couldn’t escape my sins.
The mask I wore was airtight
But it didn’t help my sight
I still saw what God saw;
A man looking for a bend in law.
The whole world knew I was good
Nobody really understood
I was a white washed tomb;
A devil in an angel’s womb.
But now I accept to shine
To claim what God calls mine
To make the word my spine;
To stand up for what I believe in.
Dear reader, I urge you from the depths of my soul to rise up and shine Jesus, the light of the world (text emphasis Ephesians 6:10 - 20).
Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” … 13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to with stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand”
Knowing this, why do we live our Christian lives as if our greatest peril is being rejected or accused by people? Don’t you consider that even your own flesh is used against you? Our vision is so narrow, it’s sad. How can you sit admiring you sword all day, while the enemy is busy planning attack strategies?
Train! Learn to swing your sword, learn its capabilities, which fighting style you like best. How to fight what? God doesn’t grant you victory if you are not prepared to win.
You can’t step on the battle field with a rusty sword and expect Goliath to drop dead! You can’t win a war by staying on the defensive. It’s great strikers that win games; great defenders can, at best, hold the other team to a draw. And my God doesn’t share trophies. A draw is a fence sitter, a lukewarm meal that is not acceptable to God. The best defense is a good offense, get up and step on the enemy.
Have you considered the dragon that so eagerly searches to destroy you before you share your testimony as he couldn’t get Jesus? Revelations 12:17. From the moment you decide to keep the commandments of Jesus, you are at war, pick up a weapon.
It ails me deeply to know we are hanging around waiting to resist the enemy’s advances and it turns my stomach to see we are not even ready to withstand a punch.
Jesus is our refuge but the church is no hiding place.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Clint - A Free Candle (About Me)
I am here to enlighten, to shed light in a darkness and to illuminate parts of us that we would rather suppress. It is sad that we who can see have not shone light that others may see too.
There are many things to be told. Mine is just but one voice, who I am should not be your concern judge the fruit, and honour our Creator - God above the creation (us).
Matthew 5: 14 - 16;
You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamb and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
Candles exist to light up dark places. Unfortunately, the shining destroys them; at least, thats what we see.
What we don't see is the candle's essence rising up and being set free form the solid physical state to a free gas. Then it is elevated to exist as a free entity no longer bound to the candle stick body. It leaves the candle stick melted and shapeless and old.
We assume that the candle exists only as a stick of wax... but it truly exists as light and escapes as vapour.
A free candle is about losing myself for the enlightenment of others. Just like the candle stick, my body will wither away and dust. Doesn't matter if i am lit in a closed room under a bed or am on a pedestal. I wish to shine in the darkness I am in and hope that my expression will bring you at least one step closer to God.
There are many things to be told. Mine is just but one voice, who I am should not be your concern judge the fruit, and honour our Creator - God above the creation (us).
Matthew 5: 14 - 16;
You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamb and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
Candles exist to light up dark places. Unfortunately, the shining destroys them; at least, thats what we see.
What we don't see is the candle's essence rising up and being set free form the solid physical state to a free gas. Then it is elevated to exist as a free entity no longer bound to the candle stick body. It leaves the candle stick melted and shapeless and old.
We assume that the candle exists only as a stick of wax... but it truly exists as light and escapes as vapour.
A free candle is about losing myself for the enlightenment of others. Just like the candle stick, my body will wither away and dust. Doesn't matter if i am lit in a closed room under a bed or am on a pedestal. I wish to shine in the darkness I am in and hope that my expression will bring you at least one step closer to God.
Clint - See Without Seeing
Who can understand what a blind man sees?
For he sees without seeing, yes very clearly.
You say he's blind, yet he sees your mind,
he knows more than you do about your kind.
His imagination knows no bound,
yours is limited by what you see around.
Since he can see none ill,
only through his ears can he swallow swill.
He knows no beauty that is skin deep,
for he sees with his soul as you do when asleep.
He appreciates the true essence of beauty
That lies beyond the flesh; embedded in personality.
He lusts not after flashy jewels and gems,
for he has narrowed the gates to his soul.
He thirsts not for inanimate wealth
his greatest value is his own health.
The one you see as seeing not,
sees much more than our sort
for he sees without seeing
not only seeing is believing
We have been blinded by our sight. We have been deceived into thinking that we are bodies that have souls and spirits, when in truth, I am a soul that lives in a body and I am immortal. This lie has shifted our focus to please the body above the soul. The things we claim to need, we can live without. Nobody knew he was poor until they told us what they defined riches to be. Until we saw spinners on car rims, we never needed them. Until we heard people boasting about the lifestyles of the rich and famous, life was simple and we were happy.
A happy family used to be the sign of wealth, productive land that could sustain your basic needs, a home. Now, its in having more cars than you need, being recognized by people you will never meet. Having more money than you can spend... Oh and it doesn't matter how this wealth is acquired, as long as you have it, you are a star, an Idol. Everybody wants to be you or be with you.
Your soul is not at peace and you think that acquiring more wealth is the solution, the answer is in acquiring the true wealth. Finding your true worth begins in the realization that you are a soul living in a body and you will continue to starve unless you feed your true self... The riches will never be enough, you will never be satisfied and your thirst will never be quenched.
Rev 3:17 - 19
"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
"I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
For he sees without seeing, yes very clearly.
You say he's blind, yet he sees your mind,
he knows more than you do about your kind.
His imagination knows no bound,
yours is limited by what you see around.
Since he can see none ill,
only through his ears can he swallow swill.
He knows no beauty that is skin deep,
for he sees with his soul as you do when asleep.
He appreciates the true essence of beauty
That lies beyond the flesh; embedded in personality.
He lusts not after flashy jewels and gems,
for he has narrowed the gates to his soul.
He thirsts not for inanimate wealth
his greatest value is his own health.
The one you see as seeing not,
sees much more than our sort
for he sees without seeing
not only seeing is believing
We have been blinded by our sight. We have been deceived into thinking that we are bodies that have souls and spirits, when in truth, I am a soul that lives in a body and I am immortal. This lie has shifted our focus to please the body above the soul. The things we claim to need, we can live without. Nobody knew he was poor until they told us what they defined riches to be. Until we saw spinners on car rims, we never needed them. Until we heard people boasting about the lifestyles of the rich and famous, life was simple and we were happy.
A happy family used to be the sign of wealth, productive land that could sustain your basic needs, a home. Now, its in having more cars than you need, being recognized by people you will never meet. Having more money than you can spend... Oh and it doesn't matter how this wealth is acquired, as long as you have it, you are a star, an Idol. Everybody wants to be you or be with you.
Your soul is not at peace and you think that acquiring more wealth is the solution, the answer is in acquiring the true wealth. Finding your true worth begins in the realization that you are a soul living in a body and you will continue to starve unless you feed your true self... The riches will never be enough, you will never be satisfied and your thirst will never be quenched.
Rev 3:17 - 19
"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
"I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)