"Let Me Make You Clean"

This picture came during a period of time when I was faced with a scenario that was confusing and hurtful. I was going back and forth between indulging in bitterness and fighting against it.

The Picture
My mind filled with a picture of a mud pit. Jesus was sitting on big rock on a grassy bank, watching me. I was in the pit. He quietly sat there, inviting me to come out; offering to wipe away the muck and hold me. He was simply letting me know that I didn't have to stay in that place.
June 11, 2009

Apparently, there's something God has for me to learn from mud. The message in this picture is about grace, about how getting free of sin/bondage requires our choice to walk away from it and about how Jesus gives us his own strength and purity for our cleansing and freedom.

I suppose this picture could also be called "Coming To Our Senses." It captures the heart of God toward us when we take steps away from sin toward Him. To begin with, Jesus is there. He waits on the bank for us; not forcing anything but simply waiting for us to choose Him and live in the freedom of obedience. When we come to our senses and crawl out of the mudhole of... (fill in the blank -- maybe it's bitterness, fear, pride or anger), it's obvious where we've been. If we've chosen sin, it always comes out. Not as obviously as muddy clothes, but in the kinds of thoughts we think, the attitudes we nurture, words we let out, actions we take or don't take.

Yet, Jesus is there. As we move toward him, he responds to our willingness by enfolding us in his own strength and purity. He wraps us up and holds us close, allowing our mess to get all over him. He knows the reason we're dirty is because we chose sin. But he also knows that in this moment, we chose Him and are believing Him. As we do that more and more, we live in more consistent freedom. He is the source for becoming and staying clean.

Responding
What thoughts does this trigger for you? Are you in bondage to anything? Is there an area of failure you're tired of and want to be free of? Are you willing to be humbled before God and crawl out of the mud and live on His terms?

There is freedom in admitting our neediness before God, whether we've just entered into relationship with Him or have walked with Him for decades. But to enjoy that freedom, we need to get out of the mud.

"Even in This, I Am With You"

This picture came in response to the pain of someone close to me. There was much hurt in her past, and she knew that some of it remained unresolved and still very painful, even after the passing of decades. My heart hurt with hers, and this picture filled my mind.

The Picture
I grew up on a hog farm, so what filled my mind was an image of a big, muddy, stinky, gross hog lot. Enough adjectives to communicate a GROSS place? :-) It's not nice, "clean" mud you'd play in, but hog mud.

There's a woman with boots on, knee-deep in this mud. The mud is the symbol of the build-up of hurt and brokenness that has touched her life, whether by her own doing or done to her by others. She can't move because the mud is too deep, and the suction is stronger than she is. Left on her own, she'd stay in that spot and never be free inside.

But she's not alone -- Jesus is there. He's got boots on, too, and he's knee deep in the mud right beside her. Steadying her, holding her up, giving her strength to take little step by little step toward getting out of the mud pit. His presence and strength leads her to freedom from the brokenness of her past.
February 2009

Responding

Do you feel like you're stuck inside or feel powerless to break free of a painful past or present?

Each time you try to take a step forward you nearly lose your footing because the mire is thick and the suction that pulls at your feet is too strong. But you are not alone. In this foul place where your depest hurts and strongest doubts lie, Jesus is there. And he is strong. Not losing his footing at all. He holds you fast -- allowing you to pass through it so you can see it all for what it is and see Him for who he is. One who loves you.

The treasure in this picture is the assurance that Jesus is with us in everything; that His strength is ours in suffering, in difficulty. Whether it's stuff that's been done to us or it's of our own doing. You fill in the blanks.

As you draw near to Christ, he guides you to deal with what still has you in bondage. I heard it said this way, "He loves us exactly as we are, but too much to let us stay that way." He doesn't spare us from difficulty, but he's there in it with us.

God wants us see our trial for what it is so we can see Him for who He is. Perhaps you're in a season of confusion and wonder when clarity will come. Or you were wounded deeply and the memories you've pushed aside are pressing in. What is it for you?

Jesus loves us by entering into the messiness of our lives. While he's there for each of us individually, his design for his followers is that we'd put on some figurative rubber boots and do the same for each other. To enter into the mess of the people around us. What does that look like? It's about being there, loving, offering a steadying hand by speaking words of grace and truth and receiving that steadying hand other times.