Transparent or Fake-O?

"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"How are you?"
"I'm fine."

Cathy Baker shares with us, "The dialogue between myself and a young woman sitting beside me at church on Sunday continues to swirl about in my mind and conscience.

Neither of us were fine that morning.

Tears were wiped from her face more than once while her husband gently patted her leg. My pain wasn't as obvious but it was still there. And yet we both put on our fake-o happy faces and took the easy way out.

Fake-o:1 Transparency:0

I'm not saying we should spill our hearts to anyone and everyone, but if I could have a do-over, my response would be I'm struggling this morning and I'd appreciate your prayers.

 Only hours later, God graciously gave me that opportunity and this time I didn't scram to find my mask. Instead, I shared openly with the women in our life group.

As it turned out, my transparency prompted another woman to share a similar struggle. We closed in prayer, opening wide the channels of our souls to receive God's restoration power.

Fake-o:0 Transparency: God only knows

No doubt about it. The cost of transparency is high. It can be messy, scary, and risky -- but its rewards will be measured throughout eternity.

How will you choose transparency over fake-o today?

Posted 11/7/12 by  cathybaker.org

Used by permission

"If I can help some wounded heart,

If I can by my love impart

Some blessing that will help more now—

Lord, just show me how. —Brandt

 

The kindest thing you can do for another

is to show him the truth."

 

Our Daily Bread

10/21/11

"It is no secret what God can do. 
What He's done for others, He'll do for you.
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.
It is no secret what God can do. —Hamblen

We are Christ's 'letters of recommendation'
to all who read our lives."

Our Daily Bread
11/4/12

 

"A grateful attitude strengthens our witness to unbelievers."  Charles Stanley 

 

Ps. 107:31  "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
 



Tomorrow’s post: The Church, God's Womb Upon the Earth: Prayer Note #91  Dutch Sheets

Today's treasure truth: If you are “born again”, you are blessing the Lord at all times and continually praising the Lord w/ your mouth. (Ps. 34:1)

Our thought for today: Either we are functioning from love, or from fear.

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