A New Reputation

Simon, a Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his house and reclined at the table.

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating there, so she came with an expensive alabaster jar of perfume.

Yes, a woman with a bad reputation brought a jar filled with perfume, maybe she knew…

A good name is better than perfume, (Ecclesiastes 7:1a)

As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance. (Song of Solomon 1:3, 12 NIV)

She poured out costly perfume, on the feet and head of The One Who’s Name is above all other Names, but yet…was accused by the religious leaders of being a glutton, alcoholic, devil worshiper…yes, by the Pharisees, who were all about how they looked to others.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

He couldn’t see…he did not have eyes to judge.

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. (Matthew 7:1-5 MSG)

Then Jesus turned it around and showed him how it felt to be picked apart. And how to have eyes to see.

Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke-Acts 7:36-39, 44-48 BOOKS)

But the Pharisees never learn…

That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!”

Even so, this did not stop Jesus from loving the one in front of Him.

He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:49-50 MSG)

Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women love you!

Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. 2Cor 2:14-15 MSG

And then Jesus gave her a new reputation…

“Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Lost, Then Found

Been thinking about the prodigal son, his father and brother…

Why wasn’t the older brother happy that his younger brother came back?
When the Father was so overjoyed, and filled with compassion…he ran to meet his son, hugged and kissed him? He put a ring on his finger, and killed the fattened goat for him?

But the older brother would not even go out to see him? He focused on the mistakes his brother had made…and he was mad at the Father for celebrating. What was going on with the brother? Was he jealous? Did he have control issues? Did he feel threatened…even though as the oldest,
he still had 2/3rds of the inheritance coming to him…?

Maybe, it was an indication,
that he was just like the pharisees…
the judgmental rule-based spiritual leaders,
the keepers, teachers and experts of the law…
the ones Jesus was talking to…
that had just said about Jesus…
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Could it be that the brother was like them…and truly did NOT love his Brother…OR understand the heart of a Father?

There is enough love in God for all His children…
if someone sins and comes to repentance,
and then God promotes them…
even though you have been faithful the whole time…

Don’t have a bad attitude.
Don’t get mad at God.
Don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
Be happy, joyful, full of compassion, love and forgiveness…
because what was once lost…has been found,
what was once dead has been made ALIVE!

That is the heart of the Father…
Yes…
that is the Kingdom of God!!!

Worth

“You don’t know your worth.”

This sculpture, Walking Man, or L’Homme qui marche, is the most expensive piece of art to ever sell at auction, want to know it’s price?  $104.3 million.  Tell me, do you think it is it worth that?

I am an artist, so I love original art, and I certainly don’t.  But, someone did.

The other day I was with the Lord, and I was asking Him why I always do this one very foolish thing that causes me to get hurt over and over again.  This is something I have been doing all my life it seems.  God just said to me, “you don’t know your worth.”

I have been thinking about that, since He said it to me.  What does that mean?   What is my worth?  And how can I know it?

As a child, I grew up not loving myself.  The family I came from did not know how words could wound a young child, especially someone sensitive like me, so I began to hate myself at a very young age.  The curses spoken over me became part of me.  Deep inside I did not believe I was worth much.  I remember saying many times. “I hate myself.”

Recently, the Lord set me free from the lie, and now, I am extremely sensitive to anyone that makes me feel bad about myself.  It is amazing how different I feel now.  But, I guess, even though I now love myself, coming to know your worth, is something I have to realize, comprehend and learn to walk in.

What makes something of value, or worthy?

Cost.   They cost a lot.  The sculpture above was bought with a price, a very high price.  Once something gets a price in an auction, its worth is established.  I was too, when Jesus died for me.  God must have thought I was very valuable to send His only begotten Son to die for me.  You know the old saying, “you get what you pay for.”

Rare.  Valuable things are rare.  Hard to find Antiques, or historical artifacts are so precious because time has taken so much from us.  They give us a glimpse into the past.  They have been preserved.  God says He looks to and fro for someone to bless; someone with a heart after His, He says they are rare.

Purpose.  If something does something that only it can do, then it is worth a lot to the person that needs it to accomplish what it was made for.  There are tools that have been created and designed by the medical field that keep people alive, to the patient receiving it, it is priceless.  God said He made us with a purpose in mind.  Maybe we are the only ones that can fulfill that purpose.

Unique.    I was thinking, I am too, there is NOT another person like me on this earth. No one has the same fingerprint, or face.  I am a true original.  The Mona Lisa is priceless, but I can get a cheap copy for hardly anything.

Personal.  Some of the trinkets I value most are those that are very personal to me.  Gifts given to me by those I love, or mementos from special occasions.  Those things cannot be recreated, or replaced.  The memories they carry with them are too precious.  God says we are like that to Him, that He knew us before He created us.  That He has our name written on the palm of his hand.  He knows how many hairs we have on our heads, and his good thoughts toward us are more than the stars.  Wow.  That is pretty personal.

Trustworthy.  There are many things and people in my life that have come and gone.  But that one thing that remains and is always there for me becomes very valuable to me.  That one trusted friend is like pure gold.  Tried and true.

Precious.  Gold, diamonds, and rare gems are precious.  They have to be sought out, mined for, and panned for.  They can’t be found just anywhere.  People lose their lives for these things because the potential of reward is so great.

Love.  My family, dear friends and pets are some of the things that are the very most valuable.  We love them, and they have loved us.  God calls me His daughter, and He has loved me more than anyone ever has.

Now that I have meditated on it, I can see I have great worth.  Not because I am all that…but because I am His.

He chose me, He knows me intimately, He bought me for a great price,  He died for me, He calls me family, He sought me out, He loves me, He created me unique with a purpose and there is only one of me!!!!!

That is so amazing isn’t it?!!!!    I have worth!!!!!  And if you are His, you do too!

As I Love Myself

 

Recently I have realized, all my life, it seems I have “tried” to make people love me. My family, boyfriends, friends, people at church, employers…etc. It was really bad, and rooted deeply in a fear of rejection and self hatred. A lot of times I would end up in abusive or co-dependent situations. Available for them all the time, even if they were not available for me; forgiving them over and over when they treated me wrong, instead of establishing healthy boundaries to make them stop. I gave and they took.

The desire to be loved was greater than the desire to take care of myself. I would put up with horrible treatment, so much manipulation, for the sake of “loving the other”, just so I would be “loved” by them. The fear of rejection was too much to be able to let them go. Finally, I realized the sad truth is, they never really loved me…if they had, I would not have had to work so hard to earn their “love”.

God has done and is doing a deep work in me! I finally can say I truly love myself, and I know that it is ok if people don’t love me. It is a gift to be rejected. I also am letting go of relationships with people that make me feel bad about myself, threaten me with rejection, or attack my character. I know I am a good person. I am not perfect, but I am certainly not evil. So, I am willing to be rejected by them, to make room for the ones that will TRULY love me as I am.

True believers are people of LOVE.

One time, Jesus’ family had come to “straighten” him out after he had been casting out demons. Others told him his family was outside waiting on him. Jesus said, “Who is my family? It is those that do the will of the Father.” He did not have to answer to them, He was submitted to God.

The bible says, love others, as you love yourself. I finally got it. I deserve to be loved too. Therefore, my heart needs to be guarded, and protected. I am valuable, and I am not to throw my pearls before swine. It doesn’t make me selfish, it makes me wise.

I matter to God too and I am lovable.

Puffed up? Proud?

Remember…while knowledge makes us feel important, act arrogant, be prideful and puffed up, it is love or charity that strengthens, edifies and builds up the church.
1 Cor 8:1b

That means sometimes you can be right but completely wrong…all at the same time! God KNOWS everything, yet He humbled Himself and came here, and CHOSE to die for us!

Being puffed up is just insecurity manifested. Jesus did not have to prove Who He was…He was so secure…He was willing to be weak that we might be strong. To be judged wrong that we might be made right in Him! To die that we might live!

And remember…we are a family, there is no need to compete for God’s approval. He loves all of us the same, even the puffer fishes!

Love is not proud, it is secure enough to be humble.
Love is not arrogant, thinking more highly of herself and less of others that they think are weaker.
Love is not conceited, unwilling to associate with certain people because they are just not where “they” are.
Love is not puffed up, full of knowledge, a knowledge that has to correct everyone and prove how right they are.
Love is not vain, proud of his abilities, anointing, looks, eloquence, or wisdom, but gives God all the glory, knowing apart from Him, they are nothing.