Traditionally the technique of Kintsugi is used to repair
china with a mixture of lacquer and powdered gold to a
beautiful effect, creating pieces that are far more
interesting than before.
Let's Be Honest, No More Cover Ups!
There seems to be a great gulf fixed between many pulpits and congregations and an even greater one between believers in Christ and the lost. The enemy has been very successful convincing people that the pulpit is such a holy place that we can never measure up to the person behind it or the Lord Himself. The person who stands to minister hopes no one will ever know their weaknesses. It's a perfect lie from satan. Therefore, it can be tempting for
pastors and churches to hide in fear of being real, forgetting the ground is all level at the foot of the cross. Ironically, why is it when you hear a pastor or leader even slightly mention that they have any kind of a problem, hope rises in the hearts of the listeners, encouraging us that we are not alone in our battles of life?
I believe it's high time for the body of Christ to be real, not only about our victories, but also our struggles. If honest, for many of us our struggles outweigh our victories. It's time we also become a safe place for the world to tell us where it hurts. This is where healing begins.
Many who have read my writings say what I write is transparent and down to earth. They see the treasure it carries comes through an earthen vessel. I believe transparency slays our giants. That's the power of being real.
Jars of Clay
"If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to
do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us - trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us - he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!"
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 ( Message Bible )
Be Real and Be Healed...
* John Newton, author of Amazing Grace stated, "Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Saviour."
* Our brokenness and imperfections actually attract Jesus to us. That's why He came.
* "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has anointed me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Luke 4:18 (KJV)
That includes all of us.
MINISTRY UPDATE: Please pray and come join us.
Harvest Christian Fellowship - August 2nd - 10:30am
8707 Indian Springs Rd. - Frederick, Maryland
Contact: Pastor Justin Thomas 301-662-0206
Timely Message
The Lord knew what was coming and my traveling to churches would become limited, if not impossible, at least for a season.
