You're Beautiful to Me

For the depth of God's forgiveness It's more than you can see

For those of you who follow me, you know recently I did a book review of the book “The Roar Within” by Brent Henderson. Well, since Brent had another book available and since that one was so well thought out and the truth within was the truth that many of us have missed our whole lives I purchased and have just finished reading “Into The Wilds, The Dangerous Truth Every Man Needs To Know”. The major thrust of Brent’s mission has been to wake up men to the reality of who they are in God’s Kingdom.

He explains the reason so many men have no desire to be in a fellowship with Christ’s Church. Mainly because so many preachers and teachers have a convoluted view of sin, repentance, and who the One is that renews our minds.

The following is from Chapter Four: Flaming Arrows. Brent likes to use the Message Bible which is a modern easier to read translation. What I’ve read from it, I don’t see any major issues that change meanings so terribly that you end up with a contradiction, so let’s go on…

“He was a killer from the very start. He couldn’t stand the truth, because there wasn’t a shred of truth in him. When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies. (John 8:44 MSG)

Jesus makes it clear that Satan is the father of lies, and that when he whispers to us, he fills us with lies.

1. Have you ever had an unhealthy thought that suddenly “burst” into your head? Where do you think that thought came from?

2. If Christ in you, and He is your true identity, did that unhealthy thought come from the real you? Did God cause you to think it? If not, who else?

3. When you had that unhealthy thought, how did it make you feel? Ashamed, condemned, conflicted, lustful, guilty, afraid or something else? (Write down the unhealthy emotion created by that thought. It’s vital that you identify how that thought made you feel, as we will soon discover).

4. What we think shapes how we feel and act. What unhealthy actions came out of having the emotion(s) you just identified? (I am reminded of an statement I read sometime in my past and used to have stuck on the ceiling over my head in my bedroom: “Sow a thought and reap an action; sow an action and reap a habit; sow a habit and reap a character; sow a character and reap a destiny.” This is the truth. Think about it. C.L.)

5. What were the consequences from your unhealthy actions? In Ephesians 6:16, Paul states, “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

6. What do you think it means to “take up the shield of faith”?

7. Many men I’ve spoken with believe taking up the shield of faith means “trying harder.” What actions do you take to thwart the arrows/lies of the evil one? (For example, going to church, praying more, confessing your sins, memorizing scripture, getting baptized, cast out the evil one, getting involved in a small group, etc.) How’s that working for you?

Those are all good things, but they have very little to with extinguishing the flaming arrows of the evil one. Romans 12:2 tells us that we are to renew our minds so that we can be transformed.

8. Who’s job is it to do the transforming? Whose job is it to do the renewing?

The enemy’s lies are incredibly predictable. He always likes to cause us to keep us thinking about past or future events. I want you to try something for a second. Try to have an unhealthy emotion. The only stipulation: you’re not allowed to think about something from your past or of the future.

GO!

You weren’t able to conjure any unhealthy emotions where you?

WHY? Because God wants us to stay in the present, with Him. He instructs us not to fret about tomorrow (future worries) in Matthew 6:34, and He’s assured us that He’s forgiven us of our mistakes and sins (past regrets) in 1 John 1:9.

If the enemy can keep you feeling worthless through shame, fear and condemnation, he can keep you stuck in an unhealthy state. Part of untwisting the lies and renewing your mind is finding the advantages in difficult situations.

At this point Brent goes on to have you do some soul searching using questions and answers based on disadvantages and advantages… If the above section of his book has caused your curiosity to be raised, I highly recommend “Into The Wilds”. Like I said in the previous book review, I’m not much into reading paper books, but the understanding that Brent has of WHO does WHAT in our lives is as valuable as gold. And his ability to get you to see that, is an amazing talent that he has been gifted with. I highly recommend both of Brent’s books for you men. Both are still good for women to read because it reveals a lot about what a man is and where his real worth should come from.

I will continue with this. I grew up listening to Don Francisco songs and always admired the way he brought the stories of the Bible to life. I teared up the first time I heard 'Adam'. Listening to the heartbreaking cry of God, in the garden, as He is calling out to His children who are hiding, consumed with fear and shame. And to this day He is still calling out. We should run into His open arms crying "Here I am, I'm yours".

Don Francisco has the fantastic ability of taking stories from the bible and turning them into songs that tell the story. If you haven’t been blessed with hearing Don before, well, be blessed now. When I was reading Brent’s book this song came to my mind. And there are so many more, but this one stood out..

“Beautiful to Me”

Crowds were in the streets that day
When Jesus came to town
All the synagogue was there
And more from miles around
So, I asked Him home to dinner
Just to see what I could see
Of this famous local Prophet
From here in Galilee

And I don't know just how that woman
Got into the room
But you couldn't miss her gaudy clothes
And her strong and sweet perfume
She went straight to Jesus' feet
And stopped and stood right there
And then cried and wet His feet with tears
And dried them with her hair

Now of all the women in my town
None was more well known
For the flagrant scent she'd left them
And the wickedness she'd sown
But He didn't move to stop her
It seemed this Prophet couldn't tell
That the woman who was touching Him
Was the kind they'd buy and sell

And I had no idea
Just what this Jesus planned to do
When He said, "Simon, there's somethin'
I need to say to you"
So I said, "Teacher, if it's on Your mind
Then tell me what You will"
But as He began to speak to me
The room grew quickly still

He said, "Take a good look at this woman now
In spite of all her fears
She's kissed me, and anointed me
And washed my feet with tears
She's honored me
And you've been only rude to Me instead
You gave no kiss of greeting
And no anointing for My head

And her sins were red as scarlet
But now they're washed away
The love and faith she'd shown
Is all the price she has to pay
For the depth of God's forgiveness
It's more than you can see
And in spite of what you think of her
She's beautiful to Me"

Well, my anger flamed to hatred
I wanted nothing more
Than to take this Prophet by the throat
And throw Him out the door
To act like God forgiving sins
And then speak so to me
As itinerant from Nazareth
And backwards Galilee

But instead, I sat and trembled
Shaken to the core
The woman still was weeping
As she knelt there on the floor
Jesus turned to her
Said, "Your chains have been released
Your faith has saved you from your sins
Rise and walk in peace"

Your sins were red as scarlet
But now they're washed away
The love and faith you've shown
Is all the price you have to pay
For the depth of God's forgiveness
It's deeper than the sea
And no matter what the world may think
You're beautiful to Me

I know that it isn’t my job to try and convince you to believe this way or that, I’m just relating some of my life and what has happened to me in these recent months. As I sat in the front seat of my car listening to one of my own recordings my Father touched me and has been doing a wonderful job of renewing my mind to be one who sees reality from His point of view. One from the spirit of The One who dwells in my heart rather than the one who was controlling my flesh.

Just remember, no matter WHAT anyone else thinks of you, you are beautiful to Him. And that is all that really matters. GOD LOVES ME! C.L.

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