JosephJames – GCU Events

BEING TRANSPARENT?

What is being transparent? Clear | Thin | Translucent | Cellophane | Crystal-clear

When we set up a lamp, we usually place it up high so it can light up the maximum amount of space. Sometimes, we place a lampshade on it so that we can tone down the amount of light directed at our eyes.

So, if we have the Light in us, how do we maximize it’s effect on those around us without overpowering? How can we help others see the goodness of the Lord in our lives? Is it just preaching or yelling the Word to them and telling them what and what not to do? Is it telling them if they don’t do certain things that they are going to hell? I believe, Absolutely Not. Not that there’s not a time for sharing this and in some instances it might be needed to save someone from impending disaster, but definitely not blanketed. We need to know our audience, and the Holy Spirit is the One who does.

1 John 2:27 “But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do].AMP (So if you sense fear or control coming through someone and you don’t have peace about it, walk away, don’t listen to them. Pray and ask the Lord to show you the truth. He will. Even the devil used a few words of truth and then twisted and tried to lie to Jesus. Search for the truth yourself and you will find it.) When I found this verse, it set me so free and took away a lot of fear.

Some just blurt out you must repent, then add something along the lines of hell, fire, and damnation. It’s not that what they are saying is wrong. My case in point, is this. It’s His goodness that leads us to repentance. Does saying all of that stuff show them anything about His goodness, or rather judgment? Rather than love, it instills FEAR! You have to FEAR GOD is what it is saying. Jesus said that God is our Father, loving and compassionate…

He also shares that His Perfect Love drives out ALL FEAR! I’m a bit confused here! So is everyone else, but it’s what folks are taught, so that’s what they do, and they drive away the very ones He wants to touch with His love.

Now, we have folks out there at the mention of the word, “Christian” they go ballistic, saying things about us they don’t even know personally. It’s what they heard. This happened in New York City to a friend of mine until they talked more to them. You see, these Christians allowed these folks to taste of His Goodness and love. Everything changed! Like in my previous post, sometimes we need to Just Keep Talking!

Wow! I really wasn’t going to go there. So, what does this have to do with BEING TRANSPARENT? Everything! Those who pronounce God’s judgement on everyone else do those same things and that’s why so many are called hypocrites and rightfully so, but not everyone.

TRANSPARENT is being Crystal Clear so His LOVE can be seen through us. It’s touchable, taste-able, smell-able, feel-able, in short it’s real and can be experienced! If folks could experience His Love through us, they’d come running to Him and many do. Part of that comes from us being TRANSPARENT in at least a few areas.

I was having a conversation with a author friend of mine who has just written a book about her life. She said there were things that she thought she’d never share publicly. I shared that there is so much freedom that comes to us when we are transparent. When we write our story from our perspective, people see why we did what we did, what we learned, and where we went from there. Everyone makes mistakes! Everyone has a past they don’t like! Everyone also gets judged by those things they did or didn’t do, so we, above all, understand. So, let’s extend some grace and mercy if we’re able. Sometimes it takes a while to forgive, but it’s not an emotion. It’s a choice. Once we make the choice, the Lord can work out the healing and emotional part.

BEING TRANSPARENT! One thing I found out about writing my wife’s biography and sharing my own story in it and on my podcast series, WHAT’S YOUR STORY?, is that the more I shared the more free I became. The more closets I opened inside of me and let the Light shine through, the more the fears inside scrammed, fled, vamoosed, vacated! The more of His Love that filled those places! He redeemed them, healed me, and removed the pain. I started becoming a whole person for the first time in my life. What is this called in a nutshell? Repentance! Which road to repentance would you rather have? Through Fear of Hell and Damnation, or meeting the One Who is Real Love, letting Him make you whole in His timing, and with Him walking with you every step of the way knowing you’ll never be alone again? I know which one I’d rather have and that’s how I help others. Listening to the Holy Spirit and then following His lead.

So, are we Opaque or are we Transparent? I’m guessing that most of us are somewhere in between. I wrote a song called, SOMEBODY’S HERO, and it goes into this. Who is out there watching our lives? Our winning and being transparent in the failures too, will help them win, too. Some of those closets inside need a tremendous amount of Love before we will even dare to go near some of those doors. Trust me, I’ve had a bunch! We don’t want to get hurt again! We don’t want to trust again! Sometimes, we just don’t want to try again! Did you know that it’s okay to not be okay? Chill! Relax, and take some time for you to breathe. It’s okay! It’s easier to run again after you get some rest and refreshed.

I was down in Town Green Park, here in The Woodlands, Texas, yesterday playing some of my songs and the birds were in the trees behind me trying to out sing me. They did and it encouraged me so much. Two young teenage ladies came over to talk to me. One played the guitar and the other the piano. I was privileged to encourage them a bit. I told them how the birds sing about His goodness. The wind that blows through our hair is His hand gently touching on us and gliding through our hair. The mountains and seas boast of His Majesty. The sunrise and sunsets are just ways to show He’s always with us including the stars and the moon. Everyday, I’m greeted with Him talking to me. I feel His Presence and Peace. It’s all tangible, and then the physical realm makes it even more real.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord, then let His true love change us through and through until we are that bright shining light that can help others navigate through a dark and broken world. Imagine yourself on a high cliff with the wind blowing towards you. It’s the feeling of flying. I filmed one of my songs on the edge of a cliff in Garden of the God, Colorado Springs. The name of the song is I’M GONNA FLY. Check it out! Fly! There is Hope! There Is Love! We have a Destiny & Purpose! Dare to be Transparent so that others can see that you’ve made it through some tough times, too! Above all, DARE TO DREAM the dream He wrote about in a book He wrote for you in Heaven. Psalm 139. It’s all yours for the taking! Simply ask Him each day to show you what He’s written on your page for that day! No worries! He’s got this!

Blessings and favor in your journey,

Joseph James