June 2, 2009
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Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall
The Awesome Lord of me has been speaking to me about mirrors lately. He has been giving me insights into how we see ourselves and how that affects our self image, the way we feel and behave. The mirrors in my house are different. My favorite mirror is the one on our old dresser. It slims whomever it sees. The one on the wall in our room, on the other hand is more accurate and always says “lose it baby!” We have one mirror upstairs that is very distorted. It has bothered me from the first day I saw it, but others (the males) didn’t seem to care. The Lord has put it on my heart to replace it with one that doesn’t distort.
I cannot really speak about mirrors without acknowledging the fact that we are also mirrors. We are supposed to mirror our Creator, but we have distortions which give out a distorted image of Him. He is so gracious. Yet we know from His Word that we are His workmanship. He is the potter and we are the clay. He is the machinist and we are the machine. Our job is to present ourselves, in faith, resting upon His altar where He “alters” us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and offering praise with thanksgiving to the only One truly worthy of our praise.
While on this subject, I must also remind myself that the offenses of others are offenses to me because they are mirroring back to me a distortion or flaw in myself. This should automatically direct me back to the Creator, for repairs or alterations on His Altar. We are to strive to enter His rest, not strive to change ourselves. Therefore there will be no boasting in His presence because He is the one who did the changing. But He is such a gracious gentleman that He only works on us when we allow Him. (However, He loves us so much that He does arrange for things in our lives which help make us long for His involvement in our lives.) Another thing I have come to know, is that He likes to work on us. He “likes us” as well as loving us. So I say, climb up on that altar and rest in Him, while He alters you.
Feedback please… discussion table is open… may I get you a beverage?
Comments (12)
My experience has been that HE was working on me from the beginning. I see His had in my childhood, who I married, and even when I became a Christian. The wife and I were ‘saved’ on the same day. It was a great day for me. Everything changed. He is Sovereign. Some sins fell off the instant that I was saved. Some like stopping smoking took longer, but we quit smoking by the end of the first year. Like I said, some sins dropped off like flies. Then there were those other ones. A few have only dropped off recently–45 years! Some seemed so ingrained. I lost track of the confession numbers. I learned that some sins were just not going to drop off, but they finally did. I don’t know why it took so long.
I am kind of depressed in away lately. I have been able to put away some long term sins recently. I then realized how much pride that I had. Then I saw that I really was not all that important. I use to strive to be important–my flesh.
So now, nothing has replace these ‘good’ losses. I don’t feel the joy of the Lord. He has changed me for sure, but I am not very joyful. I am not without sins to work on, of course. I still complain too much.
My read on your post today—We do mirror the Lord in our lives. We should be better Christians
frank
This is all so true, and you used the mirror as a reflection of ourselves so very well!! Love it. By the way, I’d like an iced tea—–or maybe since it is only 52 degrees here, a nice cup of HOT green tea would be lovely, thank you very much!!
I have a thing about mirrors. Not that I want to see my image in them, but I love all the light they reflect. Our house is fairly dark inside, so my walls have lots of mirrors instead of pictures. Actually, mirrors and decorative crosses of all sizes. Since our house is also tiny, the mirrors are not as “busy” on the walls as pictures would be. Keep our adult grandchildren in your prayers. Some of them are making wrong decisions, which they KNOW are wrong. Today’s world is a very tempting place for our young people—no matter how well they have been brought up. It is amazing the differences even within one family. Lots of praying going on!!
I may rant with long posts on my blog but I usually keep my comments brief. With that in mind I’ll just say, there are two ways to spread light…… by being the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
@ANVRSADDAY - Yes, because to HIM you were always His child. He is outside of time and so He always saw you as His. It is so awesome that you witness to this changing rapidly when you first surrendered your life to Him. I believe the quick change like that is possible because we have yet done nothing to be able to credit ourselves for this change. He gets all the credit for it.
The thing I did not address in my mirror post is the fact that we have a real enemy who can also distort how we see ourselves. He is so deceitful and clever that he can place a thought in our mind and make us think it is our own… and then he condemns us and we feel like rubish and sink down low. Boy do I personally know this routine…. but even though I have been victim to this creep many times… when I see him, I get angry and react in the name above all names and he flees.
This is what He said to me: Be of good cheer, giving thanks for all things (not just things you like), all things, especially those things you despise. It is an act of the will an act of obedience, not dependent on feelings. And this act of obedient actually frees God’s and to move and work in amazing ways to change everything, even my feelings. Gosh I love Him! PS I hope it doesn’t sound like I am preaching to you… you are a wise man who God uses and therefore the enemy would love to decommission you. Blessings dear brother!
@mimiwi - Yes, I will join you in praying for the younger generation in your family. I feel a sort of closeness to you because we have shared over the years. Lord bless you dear sister.
@thundertigers_1 - yes, so true, being a light is a slightly different topic. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…etc”
And the quote that is embedded in my heart: “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” I am sorry I do not remember who originally said this so I cannot give credit where credit is due. Thanks for reminding me about being a light! 
@AuntieKathy - Thanks for sharing. I appreciate you doing that.
frank
you are deep today. I get that way sometimes. most of the time I just put one foot in front of the other and do the best I can.
Lately I’ve been thinking about how I can look at you or say Frank aboe and love you just the way you are and see how good could love you but with myself I’m the hardest on and if I can love you and my fellow man then surely I can love myself as a human and imperfect as I am.
@Jillycarmel - Deep, huh? It helps make up for all the many, many times I am extremely shallow.
I think being critical of oneself is good to a point, only if it is accurate; if it serves to keep one humble and dependent on God. I can so easily get so down on myself that I become useless. It was very freeing when God showed me He does not want me to be ”me centered” or me focused, but rather “others centered”. I see you do that very well. I would like to be more like you.
Kathy, it was good to hear from you. I rarely get on Xanga anymore (just don’t have/take the time) but it’s always a blessing to me and my wife to read things you have posted of what the Lord is doing /showing in your life. Add me sometime as a friend on “facebook” (Randy Crow)
Sara Groves wrote a song called “You are the Sun”…. it touches on some of the same thoughts…
You are the sun shining down on everyone
Light of the world giving light to everything I see
Beauty so brilliant I can hardly take it in
And everywhere you are is warmth and light
And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I cannot be a light unless I turn my face to you
In answer to the question NO ONE answered, “Yes please. A Latte would be nice.”
(Interesting post, by the way.)
@blogmom - I would love to have a latte with you and make it for us too! I must be kind of emotional cause your “Yes please. A Latte would be nice.” comment made me cry. Not a bad thing…. just made me miss you too much, and made me sorry we live so darn far apart. PS Actually Mimi did request a cup of hot green tea, above. She is a sweetie. They have a son named Jeff and another named Greg. (no Thad tho’