Truefaced Guidebook

2007-06-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

Week 7 Chapter 6
Read in your book page 117. Then think about specific times that cause you pain to think about. This chapter is about healing, please don't skip this.
Write down in a list three
Sin or Offense Against You then Pain and Consequences
1.
2.
3.

Question 2. Number these steps of forgiveness in the order you think will bring the healthiest long-term resolution.
___ Forgive the consequences of the act done against you.
___ Distinguish between forgiving and trusting your offender.
___ Tell God what happened to you.
_1__ Admit something happened.
___ Seek reconciliation, not just conflict resolution.
___ Forgive the offender (when he or she repents) for their sake.
___ Forgive the offender for your sake.

Question 3. Read page 118-119.
Revisit the three sins or offenses you mentioned in question 1. In what ways (if any) did the pain you felt then distort life and cause you to make unhealthy decisions later ?

Questions 4 - 10. In the following questions, we'll share the steps of forgiveness( check this order with what you wrote for question 2).
I will write the correct order . After each one I suggest that you journal a little bit about why this would be the order and how it affects you. The actual book questions are basically that.

2.
6.
3.
1.
7.
5.
4.

After the DVD experience we will answer these questions together in our group.

Forgiving questions

1. Describe a time when admitting something was done to you was critical to your healing.

2. What makes it difficult to admit something was done to you ?

3. Describe ways forgiveness has healed you from sin done against you.

4. Why do you think it's crucial to forgive others for the consequences of their actions against us ?

5. You can invite others in your group to suggest a new question for you to answer.

2007-05-30T00:14:00.000-07:00

week Six : Freedom (pages 98-106) Chapter Five : The Sweetest Gift of Grace : Repentance (pages 99-116 Truefaced Experience )

Question 1. (read Truefaced page 111 and remind yourself how trust attracts grace.) Then read Truefaced page 99 the last paragraph , especially.

What a great image for what repentance feels like! Try your hand at defining repentance with a similar word picture:

If we're........

then repentance is........

Question 2. read Truefaced pg 99 again. When we don't know how to deal with our sins, we will try to hide it. That's why The Room of Good Intentions turns into such a masquerade ball ! It's dress-up time ! We know what we've done.....we know what we do. And no amount of sadness, striving, or penance has done anything but compound our sadness. What we really need is a way home. We've been told to confess our sin, but we don't like that answer. We want to do something ! Besides, we've confessed our sin a thousand times before, and what good did it do?

For several chapters, we've looked at alternative ways to deal with our sin, all ultimately ineffective. From those chapters and from the quote above, what are some of those ways ?

Here are three more ways to deal with sin:
* Remorse- Bitter regret or moral anguish arising from repentance for past misdeeds.
* Mortification- A feeling of shame , humiliation, or wounded pride.
* Penance - A voluntary act of humiliating your self in order to express sorrow for sin.

Why are all of these ways ultimately ineffective?

Question 3. Read truefaced pages 101-102 (the part that describes a scenario that many of us know so well when we try to manage our own sin.)

Does this approach to sin management sound familiar to you ? Has there been a time when you tried- really tried- to end a bad habit or stop committing a reoccurring sin, but you failed ? If so, describe it.

Has Truefaced given you a new hope?

Why?

Question 4. Read Truefaced pages 100-101 Willpower is no power, segment.

Why do you think attempts at sin management ultimately fail?

How are you left feeling when sin management fails............again?

Question 5. read again pgs 100-101 about what is our goal.

We believe that the only effective way to deal with sin is repentance. What makes repentance a gift of God's grace instead of an act of my own willpower?

Why is it effective when other strategies are not?

Explain.

Study the passages below to discover the Bible's view of "sin management" and human willpower versus the powerful gift of grace in repentance. Note what you think is important from each passage:

*Isaiah 64:6

*Luke 18:14

*1 John 1:7-2:2

Question 6. Read pg 103 first paragraph.

To repent means to admit to myself , to God, and to selected others what is true about me- the whole truth. You can be shamed into repentance or dragged into a sort of repentance at the end of a guilt trip or an act of self-humiliation. But those are never the tactics of grace. Grace invites you to receive repentance as a gift. In the process, grace-powered repentance actual resolves your sin, and thus sets you on the road to maturity. Here are five things that are true when grace produces repentance. These are five beautiful truths!

Truth 1: Repentance is about trusting -not willing.

Truth 2: Trusting God attracts grace's power to transform us, as we repent.

Truth 3: Trusting God with ourselves allows us to receive unconditional love and feel safe enough to remove our masks in repentance.

Truth 4: The safety we feel inclines us to stop defending ourselves, and it opens our hearts to God instead.

Truth 5: Every act of repentance depends upon an act of redemption.

Select one of these truths and explain why it is a revolutionary way for you to see repentance.

Select one of these truths and explain what makes it such a beautiful gift for you to receive.

Question 7. Meditate on the apostle Paul's words to Titus, describing what happens when we walk off the well-worn path of Pleasing God and start walking down the road of Trusting God.

In the book they have used the translation from the MSG Bible.
Titus 3:3-7

In this Scripture , underline everything God does to resolve our sin issues for us, then circle everything we do to resolve our sin issues for ourselves.

Meditate on these truths for a moment before continuing.

8.By now you know that people in The Room of Good Intentions hold radically different assumptions about how to handle sin than those in The Room of Grace. The environment of the first room actually inhibits repentance, while the second one releases it. Notice three specific inhibitors of repentance. (Truefaced , page 106)

Consider three factors that can interfere with your move to repentance: isolation, pride and wrong motive. According to the authors and your own observation, explain.

Why isolation inhibits your repentance.

How pride inhibits your repentance.

How wrong motives inhibit your repentance.

Now list two things that can lead you to repentance. ( see Romans 2:4 and 2 Corinthians 7:10-11)

9.Resolve striving to please God begets a pride that keeps us focused on our own "power" - which is not a power to write home about. In contrast, repentance that comes from God is outfitted with otherworldly power-potency secured by Jesus' death and activated by his resurrection. Repentance is formidable against sin only because of actual power- the power of the Cross. Our words or religious techniques have nothing to do with it. The power in this gift reminds us of the power in the ark of the covenant, a power so mighty that the Hebrews dared not come in contact with it. The same power that resided in the ark is the power in this gift. But now, God invites us to come near his grace - wrapped power. (Truefaced page 107)

What is more likely to inhibit you from opening the gift of repentance: isolation, pride, or wrong motive?

Explain.

Being aware of this weakness is a valuable insight.
Pause to pray about it, inviting Grace to focus her awesome power in disarming your isolation, pride, or motives.
Pray Romans 2:4 and 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 into the voids of your heart. Anticipate tasting how sweet repentance really is !

10. One day this woman stands near the door, waiting for the next wounded soul to stumble in so she can be one of the first to tell the new story of this gift.....a gift"used quite routinely in the community". When failing strivers stumble into a community of grace, safety, and vulnerable repentance, it radically disrupts their game plan. Suddenly, they are face to face with a real, tangible option of sweet freedom. And the ongoing environment of the community tells them that they have not dreamed up this way of life. As the community treats them as they have never been treated before, their confidence grows that grace can support the full weight of their sin. (Truefaced, page 109)

From the paragraph above, how can living in a community of grace affect someone? Underline several effects.

If you really believed that "grace can support the full weight of [your ] sin, "
what would you do about it?

Repentance Questions

1. Have you experienced a time when repentance failed in The Room of Good Intentions?

Explain.

2. Have you experienced repentance working when it was about trusting, not willpower?

Explain.

3. What does it look like when people try to manage their sin?

4. When did you experience " freedom" as a result of personal repentance?

2007-04-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

Week Five Chapter Four (read THE SUPREME GIFT OF GRACE: LOVE )

question 2 I answered in my book. Here is the list written in the book. We are to reflect on each item and decide is something we feel we need and to what degree.
From I don't need this at all -Nice but Not necessary-I want this-I need this-This is an important need- This is a critically important need.
a.vacation
b.Increased income
c. Less stress
d.Better physical fitness
e. To be accepted
f. affirmation from peers
g. advice on a decision
h. Someones counsel on a personal struggle
i. Attention/listening from spouse or close friend
j. Time alone with God
k. Deeper connecting/communication at home
l. Help overcoming an unhealthy addiction.

question 3 I wrote out the scriptures that support the truth that God meets my needs and posted it on the blog that is titled simply Truefaced.
click Truefaced and scroll to March 11

Why did God create us with needs ?

How does it feel when told by someone that they do not need your help ?

What happened to the concern, compassion, and love that motivated you to offer your help in the first place?

What does this tell you about the purpose of having needs?

Did someone step forward to help meet that need?

Describe how that felt. How did you respond?
question 4 (page 83)
The question refers to step three (page 87 Truefaced) and asks us to consider similarities in our lives to Ricks.

Question 5. On step four: I let you love me. ( page 89 Truefaced)
As I read the pages of the book I also took note of the footnotes, and then I went to the back of the book and found scriptures to go along with the thought.
Here on step Four I found the most important part has not been overlooked by our Truefaced authors, the scripture passages to look up are Eph. 5:21 And, according to verses 18-20, it is evidence of a Spirit-filled life. I quote from the back of the book and now I quote from the book where the foot note has been placed at the end of this sentence. Learning to let others love us on their terms is part of what it means to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. footnote 13.

The degree to which I let you love me is the degree to which you can love me, no matter how much love you have for me.....We cannot let another person love us unless we trust the person. People who are unable to trust will never experience love. Ever..........Many people who deeply want to be loved are not loved, because they won't turn that doorknob of Humility ---"trusting God and others with me." They stand out in the cold, outside The Room of Grace, in pain ( and blame) because people don't love them..... The people God wants to use to love you deeply and to meet your needs stand right on the other side of that door. Turn the knob. (Truefaced, pages 90-91)

Question 5 According to this quote , and from your own experience:
(a) Why do you think it is so difficult for some of us to let others love us ?

(b) In order to receive your love, I must trust you. Agree or dis-agree? Explain.

(c) In order to receive your love, I must be humble. Agree or dis-agree? Explain.

(d) Who is receiving your love?

(e) Whose love are you receiving?

Question 6. Step five states: I let you love me on your terms-not mine.

Do you have a friend who struggles with a weakness that is one of your strengths?

The book gives some examples. I suggest writing down some of your strengths and then answer the question.

What initiative do you sense God nudging you to take to love this friend by meeting his or her need ?

Now think about someone you close to you----someone you love.
* What are one or two of this person's current needs or weaknesses?
* What are one or two practical ways you might meet those needs or come alongside to strengthen those weaknesses ?
*How will you handle potential reluctance to your offer of love?

Question 7. On to step six : I am fulfilled when I experience love.

Try to identify one current pain or longing that you are dealing with. Don't fret over its "size." No pain is too big or too small. Just summarize it here.

You may be feeling discouraged at this point, wondering where these ideal friends of yours are. Maybe nobodies lining up even to think about your needs, much less rushing to meet them. Perhaps the last couple of times you dared mention a need, you were disappointed. Read these verses and summarize the encouragement they give you to rely on God's love for your fulfillment:
Deuteronomy 7:7-9
The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people:But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he [is] God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Deuteronomy 33:12
[And] of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; [and the LORD] shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

2 Timothy 2:13
If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Question 8. And finally we reach step seven: I am now able to love others out of my own fulfillment.

Having our needs met by receiving the love of God and others is not just about "feeling better"
; it's about fulfillment . To fulfill means " to meet the requirements of , to satisfy." When the requirements of our soul---our needs-- are met, it satisfies us. This fulfillment produces inward peace, contentment, and healing for our wounds. As our wounds heal, we can turn away from them with a fresh passion, confidence, and love for others. ( Truefaced, page 95)

What are the "requirements" of our soul? What do you think it might look like for you to receive the love of God and find those requirements satisfied?

Question 9. ( Read pages 95-96)

Narrow your focus from the millions down to the handful of people in your sphere of influence who have yet to meet the King of Love. How does your life right now move or cause them to experience love ? Explain.

2007-03-25T05:41:00.000-07:00

Chapter Four Week Five in the Guidebook pages 80-94
Today we will be on page 80 (Guidebook)
question 1. (read Truefaced, pages 83-84)
What are your early memories of receiving human love?
When I was taught how to read.
Of receiving God's love?
When He showed me an answer to a very troubling problem, in His word.
In our book it talks about Don's family. I thought Don was blessed to have a way to articulate how he saw the love of his family. I am sure so many of us can identify," Arrogance packaged as teaching, control disguised as protection; manipulation wrapped as concern; exploitation marketed as opportunities." Maybe not only in our natural family but how many times the people who become like brothers and sisters to me, have had these same characteristics.
Are your memories of receiving love from others (either in early life or more recently) more like Don's version? No. Explain. I think I shut down to receiving love some where , way back when ? I just didn't want to be loved , but of course what I really wanted was to be loved right. I just had given up. Then I opened up to God's love. If anyone can love right, it would have to be Him. It has changed my life. You now find me on a journey of hope that will give me a new nature that will be able to let others love me again. (As you will notice in my earlier writings, I have a big problem with saints that sin. Their sinning does affect their ability to love right. I will have to get over it. Just give me time. )

2007-03-08T01:27:00.000-08:00

week 4 Accepting Others Questions
3. What might it cost you if you did what you think you need to do?
What will it cost me to change my motives ? Allowing the Holy Spirit to keep that object in the forefront , realizing that this need exists and still not pull back from God, this is a price. Truth costs something.

Now I will watch the closing video for week 4. The opening one was very inspirational. The book has just seemed to bring me deeper understanding as well. All the while these days that I am doing this, I am not being a grace giver. There is something about truth though, you see it for yourself, you see it for others. Rather than judge yourself or others you have to accept that God is the judge.

2007-03-07T04:50:00.000-08:00

week 4 After watching the video : Accepting Others Questions
1. What is your greatest concern in accepting people in The Room of Grace who you know still sin? (You will think of specific people but please don't mention names.)

This really is a tough question to answer here. Behind my mask , the truth is I fear that if people are not warned, "don't sin, God doesn't like it," they will go to hell.
So it makes it very hard for me to welcome others into grace. It makes it impossible in fact.
There are times when I seem to be able to do a little bit better job. Times when I am confronted with a person whose sin is much like mine, that I have received grace for. I can give grace more easily and freely here.
But those myriad of sins that I have committed and still commit. Those sins that I imagine God is just putting up with. People who commit those sins I do not welcome into The Room of Grace. Those people only get reminded that they have sinned, and I am putting up with them.

question 2. What do you think you need to do differently in these relationships?
How can you change your actions to imitate God's actions in your relationships with Christians who sin? (Remember, motives lead to values, and values lead to actions.)

Now the first question, I would answer, that the answer seems simple enough.
For every person whom you are around who sins, imagine that you to do this sin and receive God's grace for it. (Not so easy, and not a plan that seems to be working by the way. This has been the plan for quite a while now.)
The second question intrigues me.
Actions, I thought it was putting confidence in actions that got me into the room of Good Intentions in the first place. But it says motives lead to values and values lead to actions. So what they are saying is that your motive behind the values will lead to a different kind of action than the kind I use to do.
I guess the right answer here is, change my motive. Maybe ask God to help me see just really what is my motive. My motives must be what has been tripping me up. I thought they were good but I can tell you just as near as Sunday afternoon they were not producing the actions of someone who ushers someone into the Room of Grace.

2007-03-05T09:35:00.000-08:00

Week 4 PAGE 67 Question 10 (read in book pages 74-75)

Why do you think maturity is critically important for having influence in God's kingdom ?
My definition of maturity is being well on your way to understanding the "Goal" as laid out in our book. So you may need to read your book before you read this post if you haven't already.
The influence I want to have in God's kingdom is to bring others into His kingdom and help those who are wanting to walk in the fullness of His kingdom .
Having laid that foundation for you , maturity is critically important because if you are not maturing, you just are not in the game.
You can say, "I am reading my Bible everyday, I am being a doer of the word the best I can, I am praying everyday for God to help me." You can be going around and around in a circle that never ends.
I know in California there are steep mountains. As a child it would intrigue me that instead of just going straight up a mountain, up one side and down the other like a roller coaster, the highways would wind around. Sometimes it would seem that we were winding around to the other side of the mountain, then we would go back the other direction, climbing up higher and higher. Then at some point our winding road would start winding downward.
You can try to get over the mountain however you like, but at some point you have to say, "I am going to go on."
What I do not know is if it can be pushed on you , to do so.
A child, actually a baby, you carry that baby around, you give it milk, you take care of it's needs, if all things are working for that baby as God intended sooner or later it will get where it can take the sippy cup and give itself it's milk. Sooner or later it will learn how to walk. It will learn how to go to the bathroom, it will start taking care of it's needs.
Usually someone takes the time to help them hold the sippy cup. Someone helps them strengthen their legs by holding their hands and practice walking. Someone gives the needed instruction for using the bathroom.
To many times I think well meaning Christians act as if you should "get it" just by how long you have been a Christian. On the other hand just how do you instruct them to grow up ?
To me that is the call that Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and John Lynch answered when they created Truefaced Experience. It is the manual for growing up in Christ Jesus. You might have found another way over the mountain, but this is mine.
Basically it is learning who you are . What is your identity in the Lord Jesus Christ and your destiny, the Kingdom of God.
Why is immaturity critically dangerous ?
I would say that the most dangerous part of being immature is the damage the devil might get to do. Jesus is our Shepherd and He takes care of His sheep, but if you do not understand that you are His sheep, under all circumstances, you may not know to call upon Him when you need help. That could put you in a very dangerous position.

2007-02-18T18:16:00.000-08:00

pages 65-67Week 4 questions 9
How has this impact of those rooms affected your identity ?
You know what , I will have to say that I still see myself acting out of a room of hidden-ness.
I am braver now to be myself, but mostly I am braver to be open about my Love for God.
This could be because I have been trying to go along the best I can without any other pilgrims committed to going this journey too.
I don't have a group. Not this kind of group.
I attend a support group, (just recently found by the way) of women whose aim is to allow the Holy Spirit reveal to them that God really does love them.
Is it possible to be coming out of one room into the other ?
I know that eventually I will be able to show my true face to others. I will feel safe and protected. I will be able to view others as saints that still sin. I will feel honored when others let me in on their struggles and pain. I will want to protect and help others. I will feel God right here, maturing us. (Emphasis on "us" [mine] ) This is from the room of authenticity.
I still am aware of experiencing these other feelings found in the room of hidden-ness. Only all of these things are less. As though they are being slowly erased from my life with a slow pencil eraser. Lighter and lighter they become, some so light now that I can't remember the last time I reacted like that, but I remember that I did.
Saw others through a grid of shame, blame, and anger
Competed with others
Felt condemned and unacceptable
Hid my real face from others
felt guardedness and deceit
saw others as sinners trying to be saintly
felt embarrassed or helpless when others shared their struggles and pain with me
wanted others to fix their flaws themselves, or else get professional help
felt we were performing our way to God
felt fear prompted by the words, "What if they knew?"

Describe a time when you found grace in a person or in a group that allowed you to shed your mask and be authentic about who and what you really were.

There are some persons that God has graciously allowed to come into my life. When I am real , and the real me is not always nice, (are you shocked ?) they are able to look at me as a saint that still sins.
I am anxious to be able to be that kind of a person back to the whole world.
However, I do not know that they can achieve this grace giving to everyone. Probably not.
Back when about the only place I could allow myself to go beside church and work was the library. The librarian just seemed always glad to see me. I don't know how that happened. Surely she thought I was someone else and was making a mistake. Anyway I always enjoyed the patient way she helped me with my questions and I thought she was a saint. Then one day a young teenage boy did something not quite the way she thought he should. She was not kind about the way she let him know about the rules of the library. I guess she could give grace to me , but not to the teenage boy. Maybe that is how it is with everyone, but those working towards true sainthood try to make that circle of people we can give grace to , larger all the time.

2007-01-13T05:53:00.000-08:00

week 4 questions 8 (pages 64-65)
we are to read pages 69-70 in our book Truefaced Experience.
Write down ways you can tell when you are in an environment of grace.
A grace filled environment is one in which people realize you could do better but for some reason, maybe beyond their understanding, you do not. Yet they respond to you as though you did do the right thing after all.
What is it that gives us the confidence to approach a holy God in our unholy state? (See Hebrews 4:16)
The fact that He says He wants us to draw nigh unto Him. I know there is no way that I can ever be holy as He is holy, (in my own strength) , yet I accept that He gives me the benefits of being holy and approach Him.
What is it that gives us the confidence to remove our masks before Him? (see 2 Corinthians 3:18)
To know that His likeness is transformed to us as we come before Him in an unhidden state. We must be open to His Holy Spirit. It says it plainly to me here. If I think I earn His presence by doing some good thing , I surely quench the Spirit. It is after this meeting of the Spirit that we are able to do good, not before.

2007-01-01T19:06:00.000-08:00

week 4 questions 7 (cont.) page 63
Pages 65-66 in the book Truefaced Experience gives an analogy of talking to God across a lake. How does that "lake" describe your present realitites ?
In the story "the lake" represents "my sin". The truth is that I can not make the sin go away. It is there. It is suppose to be gone, no, it is that I have been given the same privileges as if my sin was gone, because what Jesus did on the cross for me, is my righteousness.
I want my sin to go away.
I realize I can not make it go away.
I want my sin to go away.
I do not want to continue to sin.
Not because I am worried about whether God will still like me or not.
I want my sin to go away.
It is still there. It is less there than it was, but it is still there. Sin that is less there is bumping into sin I did not know was there. So now a whole big pot hole of sin has to be blotted out. And before it can happen, I have to remain faithful.
That is, remain to have faith, in that it is Jesus Who died on the cross for my sins. Not that any work I can do will help remove this sin.
I must trust God that I am who He says I am. It feels like patience. It feels like , I must have patience. The truth is, I must have trust. I must trust God, these next 5 minutes, I must trust God , this next hour, I must trust God, through the night and when I wake up in the morning, the plan is , to trust God. I trust Him to work on my sin issues. I trust Him to be somehow removing this filthy cesspool of sin . At the same time I want to accept, that it is okay to enjoy the same benefits as one who has no sin. This is what Jesus did for me. He sinned not so that I could be treated as good as Him.
What great love He has for us.

2006-12-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

week 4 Questions 7 (page 63)
Do you feel that God is disappointed with you somehow ? Explain.
It is my goal to hate the sin but love the sinner. Just how well I will actually do will be evident in these following days. Try as I do , I still project that God will be disappointed with me if I do not love the sinner.

2006-12-04T07:50:00.000-08:00

week 4-question 5 (pages 60-61)
After reading page 62 in our book , and considering the short excerpt, we are to as ourselves this question.
In what way might your words reflect pride instead of humility?
Thinking of your self as a low life really does not line up with God's Word. If you assess yourself as sludge or less than what God says about those who believe in the redeeming power of Jesus , it is pride talking. Pride is saying, I know better than God. He said I am redeemed but I'm not. Humility says I know He has a greater power than I even know of. If He says, I am redeemed, then I am.
question 6 (page 61)
False humility is just one species of pride, and it creates an unhealthy portrait of who I am. And how I see myself deeply influences my identity. So when grace paints a portrait of me, what does it look like?
Grace says even though my actions and my attitudes do not always line up with God's word, I am forgiven. I am given the gift of being treated as though I did not sin, with God's blessings. This grace is often times hard to receive. I would rather earn His friendship, but I learn over and over, I will only fail. The only things I am able to do that please Him are those things I could not do in my own strength and have failed at a thousand times before. However, when I received His grace , His spirit was also loosed to empower me and then I was able to act upon His word as He intended me to do all along.

2006-11-07T08:03:00.000-08:00

question 3.Humility believes that I can trust God to teach, direct, and protect me. Humility also believes that God has provided others in my life to do the same. This is part of a quote from the book. From this quote , what are several things you discover about humility ?(Truefaced guidebook)

I discover that if I really believe God loves me and has my best interest in mind for me , then I must trust Him. If I do not, I am two-faced. I am saying, "sure You are a loving God, but You forgot about me." It is a stretch to have to know that the complications and problems you have been dished out were in fact not ignored by God , that He saw it. That He loved you . Because it is to far of a stretch to go there, I must go where I can. I must go to my present day problems and say, "He loves me. I will trust Him that these problems are not being ignored by Him, and He loves me." As I do that more and more I find it easier to stretch backwards into my past , and believe , He loved me then. I can not re-do or change my responses to what happened in my past, but I can prepare to be ready with new responses for the future. I am humbled because I can not do this without His help. I can not figure out how to respond to the people and situations myself. Because I do believe He has allowed all of these things for my good, I must trust Him to show me the way, His Way.

question 4. Trust says I will accept His grace for my sins, I may find that all the while I was responding to a situtation it was sin, but His grace is sufficient for me. If I have some idea that I will do as He wants perfectly , I have no need of grace. It is humbling to know we must always need grace. (my comments )
Read 1 Peter 5:5-7 in your Bible , as well as from the Message below:
And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for-
God has had it with the proud,
But takes delight in just plain people,
So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God;
he is most careful with you.

I read that a prominent evangelical was exposed recently for buying drugs.
For some reason my heart went out to him. I felt I knew what had happened . But for the grace of God, there was I.
It seems all to right to use stuff to keep myself going. Where does medicine stop and drugs begin ? When is it not alright to keep putting stuff in our systems so we can function ? Am I putting on airs if I must drink this coffee or take these herbs to function ? Yes, I am. (Am I any better than him, if I think I must have these things or else ?) Of course I manage to stay away from breaking any law of the land by not buying illegal drugs. But do I manage to not break , any law of the land ? All of the time ?

My answer is that I am a recipient of grace, of course.
However, it has come to my understanding that if this was fully true, I would not still be doing these things. However, I am . So am I not covered by grace ?
No, His grace is sufficient for me.

It becomes a tangled web-like snare that I see the enemy would like to use to once again pull me down into the slew of despond. However, I struggle to gain a foot hold so that I can climb out . Not only for myself but for others who are caught up in compulsions and struggle with addictions.
I say, "I am in the process of receiving grace." Once fully received, then no, I will not need those things anymore. However, today I am looking intently toward my saviour. He loves me and He is always there for me. He did all that He did so that I could have grace. I will not deny the grace of God , and say, "I must be a better person first." I will receive the grace of God today.

What part does humbling yourself play in eventually reaching the place God has for you ?

What are the results if you depend pridefully on your own efforts and opinions? (Truefaced guidebook)

2006-10-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

Week four , chapter three Grace Works.
Question 2. Page 58-59 We have a chart to fill out. (One good idea to buy the book!) I will just share what I got out of doing the chart.
Sometimes people scoff at taking the time to do simple things , such as this chart. However, I know any better way to get to the thoughts that are behind the actions and emotions we feel. When you write it out, this is what I trusted/believed.....This is what my actions were. Then , this is what I believe/trust now that I am in the Room of Grace, this is what my actions are.
It really helps. In fact it was exactly the help I needed today, to help me see that it is a habit to go back to the Room of Good Intentions. Just like breaking any habit , it may not come naturally, I may have to make a conscious effort to believe what God says about me, rather than rely on what others say about me. A good habit to change ! And very freeing. God sees me as His creation, His clay. He certainly is not going to be down on the unfinished product !

2006-08-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

Introducing the Tool :week 3 Connecting tool Question 1. Which unresolved sin issue breaks your intimacy with God most often or most deeply?

How has working strenuously on that sin issue to achieve an intimate relationship with God left you frustrated, defeated, or even despairing?

Question 2. According to the biblical truth expressed in Truefaced, what is God's answer of hope for you ?

Will you commit to this answer?

Which of the following most threaten to move you away from that answer of hope for this unresolved sin: your theology, your key relationships, or your commitments to a leader or others in the Room of Good Intentions ?

2006-08-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

WEEK FOUR : After reading the chapter Grace Works the questions begin in the guidebook in the chapter titled Safety.
Question 1. Describe a time when someone else's humility brought out compassion and grace in you or a time when some else's pride rebuffed your grace.

This is basically saying, I give grace. If you read the question carefully , the question is put forth as to, "You, grace giving individual, how goes it with your giving grace ? Do some resist you, because they are proud ? Have you found it easier to give grace to a humble person, who is willing to receive it?"

Quite a question , really. Do I give grace ? For the extent I can receive grace, I do. My own humility and pride issues are always a concern. I can hardly keep up with how others are doing on receiving the grace I give them. I mean to tell them by my words and deeds , that they are forgiven. That if they do indeed believe that Jesus is the son of God and that He has taken the punishment for their sins.

That revelation : that we are sinners and in need of grace is in fact one big step. You can not say, "I do not sin, have not sinned, will never sin, thus this grace is a waste." We , human beings, are born in sin. We all need grace. Grace from the beginning, grace today, grace forever .

It has taken me a long time to get over the elder brothers in my life. I did not know that there were people who would be as the elder brother in the story of the prodigal son that Jesus shared with those who wish to enter the kingdom of God.

At the same time it is taking time for me to not be an elder brother. To find the same footing that Jesus stood on when He stood sharing the good news to a fallen world. He did not condemn , but He did not say ,"continue to sin," either. A balance one can barely find in one's own life. I find I must come humbly before my Lord and receive His grace constantly. I find I must , hear from Him daily. The evidence of sin still abounding in our lives is a direct reflection of our not hearing His voice.

This Truefaced Experience book is really about getting where you can do just that, hear His voice, for yourself, not through other people.

2006-08-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Connecting Experience Question 2. When you have tried to get out of The Room of Good Intentions, did others try to stop you ? Yes . How did that make you feel ? Sad . I realized that it may be a very lonely road called Trusting God.

Question 3. What does it cost you to connect what God says is true about you with how you actually live ? Everything. The EVERYTHING answer is not required of you all at one time. However, there is a knowing of where we are going with this, thus I gave the answer EVERYTHING.
How do you do that ? First you take a good look at how you live. As the Holy Spirit reveals to you different aspects of your life , rather than hide, you stand still . Rather than try to fix what He has shown you, you stand still . Rather than go to your friends and say, " I have this horrible problem , can you fix it ?" you stand still . (Do not mis-understand this, we do need each other in this process of change . At least it would be helpful if there is another person around. What you expect of others is the point here.)
You stand still and listen for the truth about how you have been living to come to your ears and heart . Then you accept that God loves you, just as you are, right there, just standing there.
If you find it hard to accept then you remember what He has told you : John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave........His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life. You decide , am I a "whosoever"? You decide "do I believe"? When those two decisions have been made then you decide if you believe that God loves you, standing there.
I tell you this standing is very important. Yes, of course you are eventually going to take a step, but where you are standing before you take that step will mean the difference between success and failure. Success being a step down the road of trusting God and failure being turned back into pleasing God.

2006-08-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

IDENTITY Now for the "connecting" experience. After we have heard the short segment on the DVD we now form small groups (like you and one other person) . What I did on the last chapter was ask the LORD to bring someone in my life that I could discuss these questions with. Hearing another person's perspective is so valuable. I am sure you understand by now, this is not a Bible Study. This is a learning experience about ourselves and our relationship with God. It is a Bible Study in the sense that together we find in God's word, is what we've been doing "really what He wants." For me the beginning scriptures that we studied will forever have an impact on me. The story of Cain and Abel , and realizing , when I come to worship Him , I am not coming with some offering that I hope sounds good. I had even gotten good at letting the HOLY SPIRIT tell me what would sound good and look good. I don't want to quit that part of worship. I do now feel that I come "In Truth" because I come thankful for what was done for me. Really thankful.
Question 1. When you are struggling with "believing" what God says is true about you, what causes you to stay trapped in The Room of Good Intentions and what frees you into The Room of Grace?
What could cause me to stay trapped in The Room of Good Intentions is :
Unbelief....and Rebellion....and Unforgiveness, Bitterness and Resentment.
I like taking a good look at myself. It really keeps me where I need to be. Remembering , but for His Grace and His Grace alone, I would not be where I am today.
Which room takes sin most seriously? The Room of Grace because you do not enter that room until you have seen your sin for what it is.

2006-07-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Question 10 a. In a conversation between John and Bill we see there are two possible ways Bill could respond to John's need for certain issues to be resolved. Response 1 suggests yes let's get to work on those issues. Response 2 says, "I hope you never , get to completely solve those issues.
Which of these two "roads" represents the road less traveled by? Why do you think it has meant all the difference in John's maturing?
What a gift to be supported by someone who is going to say, "Life is about constantly needing Jesus for strength." I will have to admit when I see certain issues rise up in those around me I am sometimes anxious for them to get those issues resolved. However, I am learning to be more Christ centered. I am learning to encourage them to seek Jesus for strength and not be discouraged because the issue still remains to be dealt with.
Question 10 b If we are not called to deal with our "stuff" by striving to change ourselves for the better, then how are we to deal with it?
By learning how to let Jesus see it. (first step) Once I get there the next steps have been easy. By faith acknowledge that Jesus already took the punishment for that sin. (second step) Receive that He is willing to give me grace for that sin, even if I do it again. (third step) This is somewhat harder because I like to think I won't do it again. However, do any of us know we won't sin ? It is our hope of righteousness that is given us that gives us the hope we will not sin. Still I feel I must be ready to receive His grace should this issue come up again. I have this idea that Jesus asks to be able to wash my feet. If I can say "yes" I can receive grace.

2006-07-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

Question 9 part 2. Gal. 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you,[doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith ? According to this passage , why is it foolish for you to strive to change into being godly ? What is God interested in?
God is interested in the work He can do in you. It is not what can we do for Him but what will we receive that He did for us. The old exhortation :"What would Jesus do?" just really gives the wrong idea. Like if you know what Jesus would do, then you should do it. But how? In your own strength? Jesus of course abides by the laws, so one could look to the laws and say ,"this is what Jesus would do." To be sure , you would be correct. What Jesus wants however, is for us to hear His voice. To know His voice when it comes to our ears and faith to respond. It may throw everyone else off. Oh there are those onlookers to see how you are doing, abiding by the law and all. Suddenly , there you are walking on water. "Hey, you can't do that ." They say, "Haven't you heard about the law of gravity?" I know I went off into another kind of law. But sometimes that is how it looks to people. You must abide by these certain laws that I know Christians stick to. Yet , you have heard the voice of Jesus say, "come." So off you go. This can cause loved ones a lot of distress. They fear for you. They fear for what your actions may cause them. I know what it is like for them, because I was one of those fearful people for a very long time. Then I learned to hear the voice of Jesus. It is well, it is well, with my soul. And it will be for their souls too, just as soon as they hear from Jesus .

2006-07-03T05:36:00.000-07:00

Question 9. Accepting what is true about me . Look at this word "accept" . The look at the word "strive" . These two words .
I guess if I do not put down what the question was about, those who do not have the workbook won't be able to make sense of this.
Let me just say this, today at church our speaker said something radical. He said, "we are Christ." When we minister to one another we should be able to so as Christ would. Some people get a little defensive when you say stuff like that. They act like you think you are something special, not someone who has learned humility and to receive the Grace of God.
But our workbook says this, If we refuse to enter the Room of Grace , we will constantly be striving in the Room of Good Intentions. We will strive to change into something we are not yet: godly. Well, these guys are on the right track, because if you strive to become godly rather than receive god like attributes you will never make it. Of course that is where that fake it til you make mentality started . Someone said, you should act like Christ , but you couldn't so , you also couldn't let them know you couldn't so you began faking it .
However, there is another twist to this . Some have become so sure they can't be godly they don't even try to let the life of Christ show through them. They have become convinced that it was all a dream that they could never live and just settle for the hum drum existence of mediocrity.
God did not call us to be His sons and then expect us to sit on our hands all day. He did not pay such a great price for us to have life and life more abundantly and then say,"okay, you don't have to take it ." Well, that is wrong, He did to say that , because He gives us a free choice. We can take it if we want or we can refuse it, and say,"Oh, I am not good enough for You to be so nice to me."
The answer to the question (in the book )is: He does these things in our lives not because we strive but because we trust Him to do them in us.
Gal. 3:5

2006-06-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

Question 8. This question has to do with "trust". As I thought about this question and wondered how to answer it I looked up the definition for trust, just in case I had misunderstood what it really meant. Basically it means faith . The question asks can you think of a time when you trusted yourself only because it was too risky to trust in anyone else ? I do not think the author of the book is trying to persuade us to put our trust in people . Perhaps he is trying to help us realize that to trust ourselves is not safe either . Realizing that might bring us closer to the reality of being able to love one another as our selves .
Realizing what methods I use to hide my true self is an adventure . Realizing that the person I have been hiding was loved by God all along makes this adventure grand . Realizing God must love all those other people out there hiding from Him too gives me something to think about .

2006-06-10T05:38:00.000-07:00

Question 6 (The questions do not appear in order. Just scroll down to the ones you are working on. ) If you are not trusting in God to bring you to maturity, who or what are you trusting to get the job done ? What difference would it make which identity you live out of ?The first question really makes it evident how ridiculous it is to try to do anything but trust God . Right now I can see this not only applying to my own growth but to the growth of others whom I care about . There is nothing to do but trust God that they will be brought to maturity . I have a new identity in Christ. They have a new identity in Christ. I can encourage them to believe that they are who God says they are . I can not take over and do it for them.
The difference is : one identity I am so grateful to be able to do -the other identity I was always trying to do .
Question 7 Why do so many people say the right thing, but then live the wrong life ? So many people talk like they have taken the road Trusting God but in reality they are still on the road marked Pleasing God . Many never understand or live out what it means to be "in Christ Jesus".
I am so glad the authors put two reasons here. Many do not understand . Many do not live it out .
Understanding comes from the Holy Spirit . The letter killeth but the Spirit maketh alive . However, even that understanding can be hindered . Take the gift of tongues for example . I received this gift on night as I was in my prayer closet (that means praying by myself) and simply saying words of praise to our Father in heaven . Suddenly the words were not understandable in English . The next day I felt different . I had a desire to read His word more and a desire to know what His will was for my life . I was glad for this new "power" to understand His word . However, I did not know that I could keep going back and having that power renewed daily ,on a day by day basis . Consequentially my life was limited to a mixture of Pleasing God and Pleasing Men (because men knew how I was to please God ) . What I did looked good . Bible Study and helping others . It really looked good. When I really started making strides towards knowing God and not pleasing men it did not look good. In fact Christian people really did not act as though they wanted much to do with me . My life was a lot harder than it had to be though . I was striving towards knowing God without the aid of the Holy Spirit really flowing full force in my life . I quenched the Spirit , I grieved the Spirit, and unfortunately I did not know of the power of the Holy Spirit . I hope it is not counted against me as denying His power . Now that I am awake and go daily for a drink from the Holy Spirit , books like this give me the understanding I need and I expect to live out what it means to be "in Christ Jesus".

2006-05-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Question 1

As we examine our questions about motives today, I would like to add another example. Our book gives the example, if we're motivated by money, we will value lucrative careers and people who can help us make money. It will influence us to pursue certain education, experience, and jobs. We get the word motion from motive; our motives ultimately determine our actions. God designed us this way.
My example : If we're motivated by power , we will gravitate towards ways to have power. We will want people and jobs that give us power. We will want to pursue ways that will help us feel in control and have power.
As I realize that sometimes people are mistaken by thinking that doing things Jesus' way will provide them with more money. I wonder if I have thought Jesus' way would give me more control ? It won't of course, however that is not the point. The point is that we are talking about our motives ,thus learning what human quality about ourselves keeps prompting us to put up those masks, rather than be real.
I think that we place into motion those things that seemed to work for others . If it seemed that anger worked as vehicle to gain power for someone in our childhood perhaps we are inclined to want to use that same vehicle now. Even though we know it to be wrong and not God's way.

2006-05-06T15:44:00.001-07:00

3. (cont.) What does trusting God have to do with what we "give" to Him? I want to make a / here and say, "give/or do for " Him. Because most of us view what we do for Him as giving and some of us even think it possible all we do ,could be for Him. What that has to do with trusting is ; if we are giving it to please Him then we are like Cain, but if we are giving it because we trust Him, that is we trust that we do not have to win His favor , but that we believe we already have His favor. We are giving an offering of thanksgiving then, not an offering to make up for what we did wrong then. We are believing that our wrong deeds are atoned for already. Perhaps before Jesus died it was faith in the atonement of the sacrifice. However, Abel must of saw that it was not his work of bringing the sacrifice that made the atonement but that it was a work of God. I think I have the right idea but I am not sure I am getting this across right. If you have a suggestion feel free to comment.
4. I read each of the scriptures here and all of them bring in a very good point. Jesus says, we can trust Him because He will never leave us or forsake us. Matt 28:20, Acts 18:9-10, Romans 5:6-8, Hebrews 13:5 .
5. Hebrews 11:5 -6 Tells us that you must have faith to please God. Enoch must of trusted God for his salvation just as Abraham must have . See how very important it is that we trust Him for our righteousness and not try to earn it ?
As you reflect on your life, what significant event or experience stands out to you as a moment when God was saying (whether or not you heard him at the time), "Trust me" ? What was the specific issue he was addressing ? What were the long-term results of your choice?

Stuff like that is pretty intimate so I do not know that I want to share any of those events with you . However, I would encourage you to take the time to ponder this question and think, when could I have trusted Him , and I didn't . Or when could I have trusted Him , and I did. The times that I did not trust Him, I now really regret. The good news is that He has , or will bring up those similar types of opportunities again and this time I'll have the chance to say "Yes, I will trust You." God is gracious and He never seems to get tired of giving us second chances . Just wait awhile, your chance will come. Some of those events that came that I did not trust Him , the first few, (several times) it came by I really couldn't even see what was going on. Like Cain, I was giving my offering, "wasn't it good enough ?" So I would go back and try to make my offering better. All the time He was just wanting me to trust Him. Now things still do not go smoothly for me all the time. (Ha, Ha, I bet you knew that.) Only , now that I am not wasting a bunch of time trying to fix the offering, I am getting a better idea of what is going on. He is there, somewhere in the circumstance. That is what I look for now. Somewhere He is there , and His ways, I will come through the situtation with a better understanding of His ways.

2006-05-01T21:59:00.000-07:00

Here we are talking about Cain and Abel. It occurs to me life is not much different today. People often seem to make it their business what kind of worship or offering you give to God. They compare and seem insulted if it doesn't line up to their idea of what it should be. You know, all I want to do it worship Him , in spirit and truth. I really do not care what everyone else does. I wonder why it makes a difference to them what others do ? Is it going to make them look bad ? I do not see why. Trusting God is the key here. That what you are doing is what you are suppose to be doing.
4. Going to skip ahead to the verses for study : Matt 28:20 Goal (trusting God for what ?) To obey Jesus in everything He commands.Means (How to reach the goal)To trust that Jesus is with us always. Acts 18:9-10 Goal (trusting God for what?) To have strength to speak for Jesus in hostile arenas. Means (How to reach the goal) Trust that Jesus is with us.Romans 5:6-8 Goal (trusting God for what?) To be rescued, to avoid death. Means(How to reach the goal) Trust that while we were yet sinner's He died for us. Hebrews 13:5 Goal (trusting God for what?) To be content,not greedy. Means ( How to reach the goal) trust that He will never leave or forsake us.

2006-04-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

Questions 1-2-3
UNRESOLVED SIN .... As it has turned out , I have one of those. However, I am not here today to tell you about it. Rather I felt like encouraging myself to deal with it. Some sins really make you look bad, or keep compelling you to wear a mask . Then some sins, probably no one would know, except if ........Well, maybe this doesn't happen to you. There are those times nagging way back where I tried to forget . On those unusual days that I remember, I would "think, what made me do that ?" Usually I would feel so uncomfortable about it, I couldn't wait to forget it again. Then as I began receiving God's grace for my sins I began to get braver. So this last time I remembered we were on this subject of unresolved sins. So I plan to approach this subject . Only I think that is what this book is about. To help us approach them with encouragement, that we are forgiven and given grace. It is our reluctance to accept this forgiveness and grace that keeps us from being all that Jesus says we are. So our next chapter to read is To Please or to Trust ?
The Guidebook has titled this Identity. For those who know me already , I have just put on the I will be very helpful mask. I just helped you match up the different titles, so you wouldn't get mixed up. So after you have read the chapter (helpful, helpful me) the first question is: we are asked to reflect on some early motives in our life.
a.what was your inner desire as you were growing up?
b. what things did you enjoy and value?
c.how did your choices reflect your motive and values?
d.as you entered adulthood, identify your:
Basic Motive (What I believed was true....):
Basic Values ( It was important to me that.....)
Important Actions ( so I decided to........)
2. The question here reminds me that if I just give attention to the sin in my life, try to act like a policeman, or even a detective ( in my case) Ha, like I am on a case ! I could get back where I use to be. Not really being with the LORD but trying to please the LORD. I need to be with the LORD in order to receive His help with this unresolved sin, so I pray that I will keep things in perspective. Do I have to over do, to make up for what I know to be there ? No. Do I need to hide ? NO. Can I say, "Lord , be merciful to me a sinner?" Yes. Can I look for His hand of mercy to be extended to me ? Yes.
3.Think about Cain and Abel. What do you think Abel's choice represented an act of faith, but Cain's didn't? (Hint: What do you think the two brothers believed?)

2006-04-24T00:02:00.000-07:00

Time To Meet In A Group Now according to the book , a group would be two or three people. If you do not have at least one grace giving friend ,pray that the LORD will bring that person into your life. Rather than stall , go on. Read the questions for group discussion and answer the one you pick . Many of the Psalms sound as if David was talking to himself. Guess we can do that too.

2006-04-21T01:55:00.000-07:00

Question 7. Reread the sobering story about Sharon at the end of chapter 1. As you read, underline (and then summarize below) phrases that describe :
Sins committed against or by Sharon
Sharon's involuntary responses
Inevitable effects in Sharon's behavior or heart

These are questions that I hope you will take time to answer for yourself.

Question 8. After reading page 29 we are asked:
How does unresolved sin keep us from maturing?
What does a "nagging sense" look like?
Who should we tell about our unresolved sin? Why? Who should we not tell ? Why?

The last part is very important here. Somehow just a show and tell attitude is not what is required here. And it is not needful to tell a lot of folks about your "sin". The Bible tells us to guard our hearts. I know some folks that seem to think if I tell you about my bad past it will make it alright. Some folks I have talked to about this mask taking off book have mis-understood what this is all about too. I too go on sometimes about the sin I see , when my mask is off. Really , if we are to stay on target as far as this online study is concerned ,
I ought to talk about the various ways I see myself putting up a mask.
Thus together we can learn how to stop it.
These questions are important to answer for the reason that one needs to see the reason why you are wearing the mask(s) in the first place. First we talk about evidences of there being a mask. If you want to do as JESUS would but it doesn't come from your heart with joy, a telltale sign of mask wearing. Now we talk about how come we started doing that anyway.
I think an unresolved sin is a sin that you just have not ever been able to see that while you did it JESUS loved you.

2006-04-17T20:08:00.000-07:00

Question 5 (cont.) Ps 38:4-9,Ps 40:12,Ps 51:1-6 Are more passages for us to read. Describe a time when you finally listened to your guilt and took steps to admit your sin to someone you hurt. How did you feel to have your sin resolved ? There was a time when I was bitter over the sin someone else committed. When I confessed my sin of bitterness and my desire to repent I felt great peace. I did not have to say , I forgive you for your sin because that was not my job anyway.
Question 6 The book talks about how we respond to other people's sins and asks if we typically, fight, get angry or hurt back? Do you flee, minimize, rationalize, or spiritualize the hurt away ? You might think to take the time to answer these questions really not important but they are. Here is the reason why. Each one of these responses is a clue to your hiding patterns. You will need to to explore how you hide from truth to be able to discern how to quit hiding from it. Also how you respond to uncomfortable situtations is what prompts you to put on the mask. You know that you have side stepped the issue. Gotten it to a place where it does not hurt so much, but now you have to act like a Christian. So you do. A lot of times it sounds like we are encouraged to do that very thing from our friends and Christian mentors. Some have an idea that to act righteous will bring forth righteousness. Just do it. The better way is to learn that Jesus is there when you are hurt and even if your first impulse is to respond badly ,even when you do respond badly He doesn't leave. He doesn't say, " I saw that anger flare up when she insulted you." And then take off. He is willing to stay right there and let you say, "I am sorry for the way I behaved. Would you please show me what repentance looks like." The quicker we come to Him with our bad behavior the better. He died for us to live a life filled with righteousness , why would He decide to leave because you messed up? He knows your heart. I believe for every heart that love for Him was planted at the time we were formed before the foundations of the world, He looks at the love that will come to birth in our hearts and stays. Never leaves us or forsakes us.

2006-04-17T01:31:00.000-07:00

Question 5 (cont.) Psalms 32:3-5 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me:my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.Se' lah I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD: and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Se' lah. I can't make that squiggley line above the e but I was told that Se' lah means , think of that , or ponder that. Yes, ponder that, that thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. True conviction leaves a door open for forgiveness. Condemnation visits me often to see if I will let it in. Sometimes in my effort to keep condemnation out I resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit. If I want feel the sweet rain waters from the HOLY SPIRIT I need only to come, just as I am. Tell Him what I know I've done. Receive, what He will give and move on.

2006-04-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

For those who are just looking in every now and then but not ready to buy the books yet I found a link that I thought you might like. This link takes you to newsletter links that have interesting articles about the Truefaced Experience. Not the book, the experience. Kind of like what I am doing only much better. So you might just want to click and read.
http://www.leadershipcatalyst.org/newsletter.html

2006-04-08T05:59:00.000-07:00

5.(cont.) Unresolved sin is always buried alive ! The word buried is so relevant here. Covered up so I can forget. Somehow our minds convince us that if we can forget about it , it won't hurt us. Only our minds betray us, it is a lie. Because every time another situtation of similar responses from either you or the others involved, the memory is pricked , the pain yells you need to bury me further. Then, when you start on a journey to uncover those buried sins, your mind tries to convince you to leave it alone. "It will hurt to bad !" is the lie my mind feeds me. For years I have studied the goodness and grace of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST . My mind has to listen to the truth . It's lies are exposed now for what they are. Another reminder from my ever reluctant mind says, "Condemnation, remember him, if you read these scriptures , he might show up. " Again my mind is a big fat liar. Because there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus and He will only light the way to my repentance , not make me suffer and wallow in the guilt of it. This is what Jesus came to do, take away our guilt and shame. So I head into the scriptures listed in our book under : According to biblical writers what does guilt feel like ?
Ezr 9:6
And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
I was embarrassed the other day. Mostly about what I thought the other person might think about sins exposed. It is uncomfortable to live without a mask. Because I was mostly struggling with not re-hiding, and acting as though I do not sin, nor have sin . I imagine this embarrassment is not really the conviction of the HOLY SPIRIT but my flesh still trying to convince me this is a bad idea. Ezra sat astonished that the people had become so uncareful and were not obeying the laws God had laid out for them. He was not even the one who had committed the sins but his people had.

2006-04-01T04:01:00.000-08:00

Questions 3-4-5 ....3. I feel betrayed . The book brings out how this is how many living in the land of "doing just fine" often feel betrayed. It is strange that it takes so long to realize why and whose fault it really was. I have to constantly remind myself not to look back but to be glad I have good future ahead if I keep going the way I am now. That is , learning how to enter the room of "trusting God" rather than "pleasing God." When you felt betrayed how did you respond or resolve to protect yourself? I won't let anyone "pretend to love me" . I did it so long I forgot how to let God love me too. It was a sad way to cope. Being angry and bitter towards those who faked their Christianity and judged and were critical of me has only caused a mess that I have been hiding under various masks . However, I am now learning how to take masks off so the fresh wonderful breeze of the HOLY SPIRIT can come and heal these wounds. I even announce my anguish and dislike of His will. He and I know it is there in my flesh . I pray,LORD be merciful to me a sinner. There is nothing else that I need but His mercy. There is nothing else that I expect, now, for I believe Him now. I trust.
4.This question deals with that time when I use to seek for answers in self help books and religious formula books. I now know God will never be put in a formula. Although He never changes He allows Himself to be to us as He chooses not as we choose. I try to come to Him expecting "anything" . They say to name one issue from this list that it is as if you are holding together with bailing wire or duck tape. I know what they mean, and it is so. I still have those areas that I have been holding together. Just recently I decided to admit , to someone I just needed their help with something that she and I know I can do, but just can not be able to do. I have been holding it up, telling myself I can not have any fun til I do it. Still , with ample time and even a help from God to keep my computer running I still can not do it. The list is :weaknesses - limitations - needs - self-protection - unmet expectations - imbalance between my character. I think this issue would be under "weaknesses".
5.After years of feeling betrayed by others and then learning how to unburden myself from that I can tell you I have more energy and a much better quality of life. Feelings are a reflection of our thoughts. When our thoughts line up with God's word our feelings will follow, in time. It takes time . Just how long is relevant to when the HOLY SPIRIT makes real to your heart the word you are meditating on. This can come as quickly as you open your heart to the HOLY SPIRIT which is really what this mask taking off is about. The masks quench the SPIRIT .
When the HOLY SPIRIT can speak to you about repentance then the HOLY SPIRIT can also speak to you about good things. Joy in the HOLY GHOST is not just a cliche' .

2006-03-19T21:16:00.000-08:00

we begin on week two in the guidebook AUTHENTICITY
CHAPTER ONE in the TrueFaced book
1. Which of these masks do you recognize from your "wardrobe?" Describe a recent or typical time when you have worn one of these masks.
As I go down the list I could tell you a time I had used everyone of these masks. Under other masks I could give lists of ways people hide from love called hiding patterns, from Hiding From Love by Dr.John Townsend. What I think I should stick to is the word "recent".
Here I am doing this class on line, Maybe the "I have the answers " mask would apply. All mask-wearing is a product of pretending something to be true in our lives that our experience denies. Truefaced page 32 .

2. And we live in a family sending this unspoken message: "I prefer that you be who I want you to be rather than who you are, if it's all the same to you." (Truefaced ,page 32)
This happens around Christians a lot. I just assume that they would rather I be who they want me to be rather than who I am so, on that assumption I put on the mask.
I really do not like myself. So I have to pretend.
I know a person who does not like himself. He pretends to like himself but he and I know , he does not. When his mask slips and he lets it be known for real, I try to be accepting. It has made me more aware that it is hard to be yourself if the yourself you are doesn't fit in with what people "at church" think a Christian should be.

Years ago I went to this church that really captitalized on knowing people "wanted to fit in." There was a real sense of community, a lot of misfits who all found this one church, and this guy, who called himself a pastor, led us all around telling us to do Christian things. Now, I really had a real to life relationship with Jesus, but here was this church who taught, works , works, works. Because we were all caught up into being what Christians ought to do , he could lead us around like dumb sheep. The thing that saved me is that I had this relationship, a real thing. I called it praying through. First the Holy Spirit showed me that I had worshipped peoples opinion of me. Then in time the Holy Spirit showed me that the church I was attending was wanting me to worship them. It woke me up. I left.

The author's foot note 9 on page 32 says James 1:22-23 Jam 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Jam 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: Jam 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
It is important to be a doer and a hearer of the word. The whole word. When I attempt to do the word in my own strength, or act as though I am doing the word but really am not, I am deceiving myself. though. Worshipping people's opinion of me is a lust. Jam 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jam 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. All of James chapter one is good to dwell on because I realize the author of James knew about temptation and he also knew how to over come it. Being honest about what the HOLY SPIRIT shows you about yourself probably has something to do with that. Being HONEST with God.
I just seem to handle temptation better one on one. My being open and honest here comes from the HOLY SPIRIT inside me .