The Masks We Wear.....

THE MASK I WEAR

Don't be fooled by me.
Don't be fooled by the face I wear
For I wear a mask. I wear a thousand masks-
masks that I'm afraid to take off
and none of them are me.
Pretending is an art that's second nature with me
But don't be fooled, for God's sake, don't be fooled.
I give you the impression that I'm secure
That all is sunny and unruffled with me
within as well as without,
that confidence is my name
and coolness my game,
that the water's calm
and I'm in command,
and that I need no one.
But don't believe me. Please!

My surface may be smooth but my surface is my mask,
My ever-varying and ever-concealing mask.
Beneath lies no smugness, no complacence.
Beneath dwells the real me in confusion, in fear, in aloneness.
But I hide this.
I don't want anybody to know it.
I panic at the thought of my weaknesses
and fear exposing them.
That's why I frantically create my masks to hide behind.

But I don't tell you this.
I don't dare.
I'm afraid to.
I'm afraid you'll think less of me, that you'll laugh
and your laugh would kill me.
I'm afraid that deep-down I'm nothing, that I'm just no good
and you will see this
and reject me.

I idly chatter to you in suave tones of surface talk.
I tell you everything that's nothing
and nothing of what's everything, of what's crying within me.
So when I'm going through my routine
do not be fooled by what I'm saying
Please listen carefully and try to hear
what I'm not saying
Hear what I'd like to say
but what I can not say.

It will not be easy for you,
long felt inadequacies make my defenses strong.
The nearer you approach me
the blinder I may strike back.
Despite what books say of men, I am irrational;
I fight against the very thing that I cry out for.
you wonder who I am
you shouldn't
for I am everyman
and everywoman
who wears a mask.
Don't be fooled by me.
At least not by the face I wear.
-----Author unknown -this has been published in many publications.


Ok so why did I post this now? Because all to often we women (me included) hide behind these masks. I know this because I do it sometimes. You ask how are you as you walk on by and I automatically respond with good, fine, when in reality I hope you'll notice that you'll really look at me and see that I am not fine that I feel all alone in this crowd of people ( and I have to believe that I am not alone in this!). Are we so busy with ourselves that we can't see that there are others out there hurting? I have been reading this book Outflow and I have to say I am soo selfish sometimes, I look at my life and sometimes think why me when in reality I should be asking God how will you use this? Help me to see these people around me the way you do. I sometimes pray that God will give me God shaped eyes so that I can see them as He does and not with my human eyes. Ok so why did I write all this and what does it have to do with wearing masks? I guess I am trying to say that we (me especially) need to look for those oportunities to reach out to those that are around us, to really look and see them as God does! My challenge to you this week is to pray that God would place someone along your path that you can help, in some way, and then help them! (Crazy I know) Post on here what came of that! I promise I will!

Luke 9:24-25 (The Message)

23-27Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God."

Jesus Christ looks behind every facade. He looks at your heart. That is the difference. You do not need to pretend in front of him. With him, you do not need a mask anymore. People see what is before their eyes but the Lord sees the heart.

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina

Save the Date: One in a Million (January 6, 2010)

Ladies you asked and we listened! Starting January 6th we will have a new Women's Bible Study with a twist! The same study will be offered at 9 am and also at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer. This is a DVD based study with a workbook (cost is $12).
Join us as we explore the Israelites' journey through the wilderness in her newest Bible study, One in a Million. Priscilla Shirer encourages participants to fully engage in the abundant life God has waiting for those who will allow Him to take the lead in daily living. One in a Million is an opportunity for you to experience your deliverance from strongholds, to conquer your wilderness living, and to claim your God-given inheritance. To reserve your workbook Contact Vicki Bowman(facilitator): cevsbo@cox.net or 858-3671 Want more information check out the video below:

Strength for the Storm

I recieved this in my e-mail today and I know I couldn't say it any better! We all face storms in our lives, some of us are in the midst of a storm right now but let us not lose hope, we have a God who Love's us so much that He is not going to let us drown! I hope that this daily devotion from Girlfriends in God will speak to you!


Strength for the Storm

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
James 1:2-3 "Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow" (NLT).

Friend To Friend
When golf balls were first manufactured, their covers were smooth. Golfers soon discovered that after a ball had been roughed up a bit they were able to get more distance out of it. Manufacturers then began producing golf balls with dimpled covers. Life is a lot like that. It takes some rough spots to make us go our farthest. It takes some storms to teach us that God is faithful and will provide the strength to stand firm.

The Apostle Paul knew all about storms. As a fully devoted follower of Christ, Paul was despised, slandered, mistreated, abused and poor. He had every right to be angry and distressed but instead chose joy. "We own nothing, and yet we have everything" (2 Corinthians 6:8-10 NLT).

I never fully understood the amazing truth behind Paul's words because I had never really lived their truth - until 1995 - when I found myself sitting at the bottom of a deep, dark pit. Clinical depression, the psychologists and physicians called it. The name was irrelevant to me. All I knew was that it was the most hellish place I had ever been and I had absolutely no idea how to escape. I was paralyzed and totally helpless - the perfect setting for a miracle! Sitting at the feet of Jesus, stripped of my human efforts and impotent plans, I discovered the life changing truth that He did not come to eliminate the storms in my life. He came to fill those storms with His presence. I was not delivered from that pit until I was first delivered in that pit.

The highest joy will come through the greatest pain. The greater the pain, the more we are forced to search for and cling to the hand of God! That only happens when we choose the right attitude toward pain. Here it is: "Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow" (James 1:2-3 NLT).

When was the last time you threw a party to celebrate the trials and storms in your life? Hurricane parties are common practice in South Florida where we lived for many years. Knowing that the loss of electricity was likely, we would empty our refrigerator, inviting neighbors and friends to join us in celebrating the fact that the storm had come and gone and we were still standing. God's ways are higher than our ways and most human reactions are in direct opposition to the paradoxical ways of God. Honestly, there are times when what He has asked me to do simply does not make sense - to me - and there we find the problem. Faith is a matter of blind obedience, not human logic. At the heart of every storm is victory, just waiting to be claimed. The words of James offer the perfect perspective for every life storm.

As I mentioned earlier, I can't sew a straight seam, so when my sister began doing needlepoint, I was duly impressed. One day, she pulled out her latest project, a small Christmas pillow. It was beautiful! "Turn it over," she said. The back was a mess of knots and mismatched thread going in every direction. Then the thought hit me. We question God, asking why life is such a mess, railing against every emotional "knot" and questioning the circumstances that don't seem to match our lives. I can almost hear Him say, "Yes, but you should see it from my point of view. It is beautiful!"

As women and daughters of the King, we have a different point of view for every life experience. It is a manger, a cruel cross, an empty tomb and eternity itself. That viewpoint changes everything. It makes our hearts sing and our souls dance with the truth that we can always count on His joy in us to face the storms around us! It is the reason we do what we do.

What storm is raging in your life? What step do you need to take in order to exchange your strength for His? Your Father stands ready to meet you in your darkest hour. He longs to wrap His arms around you until the winds die down and the waves are stilled. Surrender. Yield to His presence and power. Celebrate the storm that dashed your battered life on the shores of His unyielding love and praise Him. He really does provide the strength and power to endure every storm.

Let's Pray
Father, my life is such a mess! I am tired and frustrated and can feel the edge of the darkness closing in. I'm desperate for You, Lord. I'm lost without You. I feel like a piece of taffy, being pulled in a thousand different directions. No one seems to understand, Lord, but You. So I come to You right now with my broken heart, hands open and holding nothing back. I sit at Your feet and wait for the storm to pass. I love you, Father.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Storms are a reality of life. It is not a matter of if a storm will come - but when it will come. We can try running from storms or pretending they don't exist but the only effective way to deal with the storms of life is to make sure God is in the midst of each storm with you. Turn to Him. Invite Him to take up residence in your storm. He will still the waves and calm the seas ... and be with you.


Like this devotion you can get one daily in yor e-mail go to: www.girlfriendsingod.com for more information.

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina

Things you Learn at Game Night....

Since I have blogareha (according to Heather)I thought I'd post about Last nights Game Night!

Ladies Game Night was so much fun! We started off the night with a game of Upset the Apple Cart. We learned that 4 of us married men older than us, 3 of us have lived in another country, 2 of us like to pick blackberries,and only 1 of us married our High School Sweetheart. Oh and Heather is a brat! ( but, I still love you Heather)
(Hiding from the camera)


We palyed Spoons:

Nertz:



And Board Games:


Sorry if you weren't able to make it! Next Women's Event: Women's Christmas Luncheon Saturday December 12th 11:30 -1 p.m $5 suggested Donation Ticket Sales Start this Sunday!

Have a Beautiful Day!
Christina

Women's Retreat!

Calling all FBC Ladies, looking for a few Amazing Beautiful Women (that's you!) to consider (That means Pray about) forming a team to bring the Women of FBC and Augusta a retreat just for them! If this is you, comment here or contact Christina Cox ohmommaok@yahoo.com

Ladies Game Night!

Calling all FBC (Augusta) Ladies: Just a reminder Friday night is Game Night! Bring a Snack and a 2 liter to share! We will provide the games! Come out for a Night of food, Fun, & Fellowship with other women! Questions? Contact: Christina or Heather

It's not what she said it's how she lived!

Ok as I sit here I am washing a final load of clothes as I will be on my way tomorrow morning to a weekend Women's Retreat, I was thinking about someone very special in my life, my Aunt Teresa. She is who lead me to my Relationship with the Lord. Without her I would not be here today. Anyway I thought I'd share a little about that. It was through her death that I really saw her faith in God. You see she had Lupus, and had been sick for a very long time. In fact the last few months of her life she was bedridden, barley eating or doing much of anything, except praying. She kept a notebook, prayer journal, she would write out her prayers, that I would later read after her death in 1999. Through her death she remained faithful and never cursed God for her pain and suffering, I am not sure many could do this. The last two years of her life, were the hardest for her physically but she endured continued to pray (mostly for others) and showed us (her family) what it meant to Love like Jesus loved. While reading some of her prayer journals and her bible, I began to feel like I had finally found what I was looking for, and it was then that I saw that Jesus could be in my life to. Now don't get me wrong I was a "good" person, lived a "good" life but I always felt like something was missing, but could never quite figure out what it was. You see My Aunt never forced Jesus, or church or religion on us but she lived the life! It was through the way she lived her life that brought me to a relationship with Christ. And now 10 years later I am growing closer to God each day and trying to share His Love with others (using the pain of my past to help others), thanks to the Life of one Brave, Beautiful Woman. Who shared God's Love with you? I look forward to the time I will be able to see her again, and Hope she knows how much of an impact she had on me. I hope we will all remember that we to have a chance to change lives the same way, just by sharing the Love God has for us with others! So will you do it?

Have a Beautiful Day
Christina