2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
“Shame on you!” A small, yet extremely hurtful phrase. Some of us may have heard this growing up. Some of us may still be hearing it now. Maybe we’re not the ones hearing it, but the ones saying it. Shame on you for going there... for doing that... for talking to him or her... for dating them... for doing what you knew you had no business doing. Shame on you!
This past weekend was really interesting and eye opening for me. I came face to face with a part of my past, and at first, I didn’t know how to take it. I didn’t know how to respond. I didn’t know how I felt about it. It was a part of my past that I was ashamed of… something and someone I’d rather just forget. But what if that’s not God's plan? What if God's plan is to constantly remind me of where He brought me from? Am I really willing to face my past over and over again? Even if it’s for God's glory? How can I let go of the shame that I have attached with that person and my past? Minister Carter reminded us that God's grace is for EVERYBODY. Just because I might not like a person or situation, doesn’t mean God is going to stop having grace for that person. They wake up with brand new mercies each and everyday, like I do. What makes me so special? Why do I deserve God's grace and mercy, but not them? This is how we need to look at our situations. We all have dirt. We all have things that we are ashamed of... things we have done. But that's not the end of the story! We know Jesus! He is forgiving! He is loving! He is caring! God will use our dirt, stories, and testimonies (now matter how bad they might seem) to bless somebody else! So get that SHAME off you! God has planned your life out just the way He wanted it to be. The good and the bad. The ugly and the beautiful.. Take it and run with it! Tell your story and claim your God given title back! You are worthy, you a beautiful, you are handsome, you are a winner, you are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. Know your God given worth. You are special! “Shame off you!”
“God, we want to say thank you for the experiences you have allowed us to have. Good and bad. We want to say thank you that you didn’t see fit for us to stay bound by sin. We want to ask that you allow all of us to see our worth, and see ourselves the way you see us. God I pray that we can all be more kind and loving.. We can love the way you have instructed us to love. I pray that we keep our eyes on you, and look towards the future. I pray that we all touch someone with our testimonies. I pray we are willing to help and fight for others the way you need us to. God we love you and thank you. Amen.”
By: Min. Bria Bradley
