I am Cleansed 1 John 1:7,9 by Susan L.

  Verses five to nine in 1 John are a clear depiction our calling as followers of Jesus.
  "Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
  I read this verse backwards because it struck me that it is an Alpha and Omega moment. Beginning is the end, the end begins. Reading forwards and backwards is like unravelling the warp and weft in the fabric of our Christian calling.
  By knowing Jesus and embracing Him as Lord, my foundation is in the love of Jesus Christ. Brotherly kindness follows because I cannot do otherwise. Brotherly kindness is godliness because I have been called to love others just as God loves me. (There is room for growth here.)
  Godliness, the love of God and for God, grants the ability to persevere. Perseverance enables self-control. Self-control is the open door to knowledge because I've allowed God to guide my life, to show me, to grow me into the knowledge of Him. (One step at a time, sweet Jesus.)
  Knowledge, knowing His heart, means living a life of virtue is blessed with all the help I need to make it so. All because of faith.
  Faith is love.
  What does it meant to live a virtuous, or love filled life anyways?
  I have to thank my Catholic brothers and sisters for the following on-line list of how living virtuously can eradicate sin in our lives. (changingminds.org) I used my own verbs.
  1. Humility wipes away pride. 2. Kindness squashes envy. 3. Abstinence subjugates gluttony. 4. Chastity (I'd like to add chivalry to this) diffuses the power of lust. 5. Patience usurps anger. 6. Liberality shatters greed. 7. Diligence protects against sloth.
  I am so thankful God is a God of grace. Forgive me, Lord, for my sinful ways.
  Even so, there has been much growth and many changes as the wages of sin are slowly being cleansed from my life. It's an ongoing process because sin has some slippery tentacles. I give thanks that God is in my life so, one day, sin will be utterly eradicated. More than anything, this is my heart's desire because once that happens, I will be the woman God called me to be.
  Hmmm, you know something? Right now, this very moment, I am who He asks me to be!
  "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." 1 Pet 1:2

I am Clean by Susan L.

  "For I (God) will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you." Ezekiel 36:24-26
 
  There's another verse assigned today as well.

  "You are already clean because of the word which I (Jesus) have spoken to you." John 15:3

  You are forgiven.
  Why?
  Because you asked.

  Simple. No ongoing rituals of washing. A single Baptism into Christ is sufficient.
  There's no atonement. No hard labour. No act on this earth that could earn God's grace.
  It's a forever gift.
  Letting go is the challenge because there's an enemy who delights in rubbing our noses in our mistakes, our sins. He delights in holding us back by using weapons of shame, blame, guilt and self-loathing. His sole purpose is to keep us separated from God. He'll do anything to make that happen. Besides the shame/blame route, he will place temptation in our paths and laugh when we fall.

  You are forgiven.
  Why?
  Because you asked.

  Because God loves all of us so incredibly much that He sent His Son to the Cross.
 
 
 

 

 
 

 

Affirmation #52 by Susan L.

  "I am clay in the potter's hand." Jeremiah 18:6

  I recently used an air dry clay to make some ornaments for an indoor fairy garden. These mini-landscapes are all the rage right now so ready-made accessories are rather expensive. Besides, the challenge of making something out of whatever is handy is a favorite past time.
  I decided to try and sculpt a fairy in a sitting position. She's all of two inches high and ended up with fat legs and a rather ugly face.
  Her translucent wings were cut from a clear plastic, fast food container then painted with veins of gold. They got glued on once she was dried and painted.
  The body began as a fat, short sausage. I used scissors to cut the clay, dividing it into body and limbs. I needed to use water while manoeuvering them into place. This kept the bends smooth and prevented the clay from cracking as it was folded. The joints, hands and feet were shaped with the help of a toothpick.
  To give her feminine curves and a neck, some of the clay was carefully scraped away.
  Shaping facial features on a soft lump of clay the size of a cultivated blueberry was difficult. I kept squashing her nose! Ergo, she is far from beautiful.  :)  It's okay because she ended up having a character that is outside the box of fairy normalcy. (Another smile.)
  The whole exercise of miniature making was rather humbling. Adult fingers aren't conducive to working on an itty-bitty scale. It has me in awe of the people who do the original sculptures for any manufactured plastic or resin miniatures.
  Throughout this process, this scripture came to mind. It's one of my favorites and as I mused on my own artistic efforts, I imagined the great Sculptor working to shape and mold me into something that is perfect. (Not there yet!)
  "Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord, "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!"

  As I copied the scripture, it made me realize that I have an influence on the shaping of others. I need to be mindful that my hands are hands of tender care, grace and compassion.
 
 

Heaven's Own by Susan L.

  Today's affirmation is, "I am a citizen of heaven." Philippians 3:20
  I am...not I will be.
  So that means now. Not tomorrow or after the Lord takes me home. Now.
 
  (A long pause.)

  There's no dress code. No secret language of social status. No prejudices. No class entitlements.
  Come as you are and be welcomed.

  It's not complicated. There's no red tape. No forms to sign. No dotted i's or crossed t's. No court appearances. There's no judge deciding who is worthy or unworthy to receive this honour because it's meant for everyone. 

  I have done nothing to deserve this honour. I have done nothing to earn it. I have not paid for the privilege.
  It's a gift. It's the happily-ever-after promise held in trust long before the Lord was invited into my life and heart.

  "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved." Phil 3:20-21


  
 

I am Circumcised Spiritually Colossians 2:11 by Susan L.

  I've read the various scriptures about circumcision many times but have never taken the time to investigate the historical context. Thanks, Singing Waters, for adding this to the affirmation list. Thanks again, Google, for being a source of reference.
  It's one of the key scriptures that unlocks a mountain of understanding about other scriptures.
  Circumcision is the Jewish ritual of removing a male's foreskin when the boy is eight days old. It is done because, according to Jewish custom, "this human act marks the completion of the human body. It teaches that spiritual, emotional, ethical, and moral perfection requires human effort. God cannot do this." (Chadabad.org)
  Now I understand why Jesus says we have been circumcised in Him! It's all part of the New Covenant His life and death and eternal life brought into the world. His covenant overrides the power of the laws given to Moses.

  I'm curious, is this another reason why, historically, Jewish women are seen as less than because they have not undergone this rite of completion?
  Bat Mitzvah's are a twentieth century invention. It's the female version of a Bar Mitzvah where a boy becomes a man through ceremonial readings. The Bat Mitzvah rites still hold to a lot of traditions that exclude women from the religious practices given to men based solely on gender. For example, women cannot read the Torah, the Jewish holy book, in front of men. Just wondering how these attitudes percolate through society in general. (Google has a lot of information about these rites of passage.)
  How have these attitudes percolated through Christianity?
  Sorry, I got off on a bunny trail there...
 
  I can feel puzzle pieces falling together. (Grace! Grace! Grace!)
  Jesus isn't gender specific in His declaration of circumcision. A woman can be circumcised in Christ just like a man can be the Bride.
  My goodness! He turned the world upside down, didn't He?
  In Christ, gender is superseded by personhood, by the value of my, our, being.
  This new knowledge drives home a further understanding of the lengths God went to for us. This understanding is already helping me see His Word differently.
  Sooooo, what does all this mean? It means I am, we are, complete, redeemed, whole, washed clean by the Blood of the Lamb. It's a done deal. Fait acompli. Signed, stamped, sealed and delivered. Amen!
  There's nothing I can do or say that will ever change this.
  It's another, "Wow!" day!
  "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Col 2:13-14
 
 
 

I am Chosen 1 Peter 2:9 by Susan L.

  It's a sunny spring day. The excited kids in gym class line up in the schoolyard, happy to get this extra time outside. The teacher struggles to get the class to settle down then appoints team captains for the day. They begin the slow process of choosing their teammates for a game of soccer. One by one, the more athletic ones are chosen. The best are greeted as royalty, the average with high fives, until there's one person left.
  They aren't good runners. They are far from being a good soccer player. Maybe they are last because they look a bit different or dress a bit differently. Whatever the reason, they aren't wanted by either team so have ended up being assigned by default. They join the rest of their team amidst groans of despair, turned backs and assumptions that their team would be the losers. All because of this last person on.
  I don't know if this team selection method is still used in schools today. I hope not. It's terribly cruel.
  I've been the last person standing, waiting, hoping for someone to pick me...want me...

  Whew...writing those forgotten experiences has stirred up some old hurts! But I will say, these early wounds explain a lot about the choices I made later in life. It's another facet of understanding revealed. Thank You, Lord!

  It's in stark contrast to why Jesus chose me or why He calls any of us to His side.
  It wasn't because I had anything to offer His team.
  The world's hierarchy of worth like the pedestal placed sports superstars, beautiful actors, or even brilliant minds has no place in His domain. I'm not saying these wonderful, talented and gifted people have no place in His kingdom. God's playing field is a level one. They need His Son as much as anyone. He wants them, too, more than anything!
  The devil has a grand time using everything we do or say or believe against us because he wants to make sure we never feel worthy enough for Christ.
  That makes it extra special, His choosing us because in His eyes, we are worthy no matter what our station in life is. Doctor, homeless, white, black, man, woman, married, divorced, tea totaller, living with addictions, famous, infamous, angry, joyful...this could be a long list. Seeing as I am a human, I am bound to miss someone. God won't because we are all worthy.
  Worthy enough to sacrifice His Son for.
  Worthy enough for that same Son to die for.
  Worthy enough to forgive, encourage and strengthen.
  Worthy enough to bless with a Guide for life.
  Worthy because His Father predestined us before the dawn of time for a wonderful, beautiful, relationship with His Son.

  I've used the term divine inheritance to refer to the many gifts God has given to me. I'd never thought of myself as Jesus' divinely willed inheritance...
 
  Chosen.

  Wow.

  "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." 1 Pet 2:9-10

  I invite you to choose Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour. He is waiting with delighted anticipation because He chose you and only you long ago.
 
 
 

Body Image by Susan L.

  "For no one ever hated his own body, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church." Ephesians 5:29
 
  Sticks and stones will break my bones,
  But names will never hurt me.

  I have no idea who penned that gem. All this sing-song admonition did was encourage me to feel weak and stupid and inadequate because being called bad names does hurt. Terribly. Most of my flashbacks are rooted in instances of verbal violence, not physical violence.
  Childhood taunts, "Fatty, fatty two-by-four..."
  Teenaged cruelty and being the butt of jokes like having a tack put on my chair in Geography class. Ha, ha, ha. I laughed when I felt like crying. (Lord, I think we need to talk about this because I can still see and hear the kids in the class laughing at me. I can feel the waves of shame flowing through my veins.)
  Rejection.
  Abandonment.
  Betrayal.
  My body, my gender, the first building block of identity, has been used against me. I confess I hated it. I hated that it was inadequate. I hated the vulnerability, the powerlessness. I hated that femininity predestined me to live according to unspoken, gender specific social rules. I hated that I have a solid frame and muscular build and would never have a ballet dancer's physique...
  Most of all I hate when this body of mine kidnaps my mind. A flashback has no warning.

  This is the most revealing blog I've had in a while and even though there's been much healing, it's a long journey. I wonder, am I still angry at those who taught me the "rules"?
 
  God forgive me...yes.

  So, here's the million dollar question, "If I can't love me, how can Jesus?"
  Here's the million dollar answer, "Because His Father loved me first."

  All of me! Lumps, bumps, and sags. Anger, bitterness, rage, un-forgiveness, resentment, the whole ugly package which, praise God, is being healed and refined and forever changed thanks to the indwelling of the Spirit.

  Thank You, Lord, for Your love because only an indwelling Love can lead the way to something far better. Forever. Lead me beyond the anger to a better place. Cleanse me of the self-loathing and shy insecurity that is still part of my life.
  Shape me, mold me to be more like You.
  Open my eyes to the beauty in others and myself. Help me see Your children with Your eyes and Your love for all of us. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!
  "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Eph 2:4-7