A definition of Transparency -having a picture or design that is visible when light shines through it.

Transparency is a word that is feared by so many. They see it as the path to isolation and judgment.  Wearing a mask, living a charade; thinking you are the only one with that issue, that pain, that weakness. Making transparency an area where once again the enemy uses the almighty weapon of “fear” to mask the truth and stifle the light, keeping us in the dark unable to see the reality of our condition.

This is a lie straight from the mouth of the enemy into our thoughts and emotions.  Satan does not want you to know the truth about transparency; that by its very definition sheds light on something to show it’s true picture.  The truth about transparency is just the opposite of what we have been tricked into believing.  It will bring freedom to your spirit and also shine light for others to see that they are not alone.  Hope will be born.

God gave me a vision recently on the truth about transparency. He gave me a vision of being in a very deep, very dark, dungeon like hole; feeling dusty, grimy and isolated.  He then whispered, all you need is light on the matter, and as I lit a small match that I found in my pocket I began to see the shadow of others that were there with me; I was not alone.  In fact, as I span the light around this dark dungeon I began to realize there were thousands right there with me.  All of us, trapped by our own demons and feeling alone and lost in this deep dark pit. As the light began to shine and the truth began to be revealed others there with me also lit a match and as the room was illuminated by the accumulation of each individual light we began to realize the truth and see our true condition and realize we were never truly alone.

God’s grace is as vast as the ocean; the supply is never ending.  Once the truth has been revealed and this grace has hit you like a tidal wave with the force to push you out of the pit you found yourself in; the desire to share with others the freedom you have found is overwhelming.  His spirit truly does speak through you into the lives of others!  The more broken your life is the more cracks there are for the light to shine through.

Matthew 10:20 ” For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

Over this past year as I have taken steps, mostly through this blog, to become completely transparent several things have transpired in my journey.  I have found that a true freedom has been obtained and the illusion of chains that were holding me down in the pit I found myself in were loosened for good. Within this new freedom and the transparency of my life there has been the breaking of generational curses.  I have found that I am not alone in the mess I have made of my existence but upon my transparency the door was cracked for others to feel bold enough to step toward the light and begin the journey to freedom themselves.

John 3: 19 ” And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

I would be lying if I told you that my transparency did not come with any consequences;  not everyone will see the light as a beacon of hope.  There will be some who reject your truth or try to crucify you for it.  But know you are in great company.  Jesus himself was crucified for speaking the truth and being the light of the world. Yet that did not snuff out the light, it only made it more brightly illuminate the pathway to heaven. The  light of the word cannot be put out.  It is the truth that we walk in when we choose to be transparent and allow the light of the almighty God of the universe, to shine through the broken pieces of our existence.  We then reveal to those we share with, that grace abounds all the more today and everyday. Illuminating the illusions from the enemy; shining light that makes the true picture transparent. Lighting the way to the narrow path that takes us straight to the arms of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:12  ” For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6

Whenever you feel unloved, unimportant or insecure, remember to Whom you belong! Scripture says that we are predestined to adoption as sons and daughters of Christ.  So, no matter what life has thrown your way, no matter what bad choices you have made, no matter what storm you may be currently facing; even so come… come to the foot of the cross where true surrender takes place and the fountain of grace flows endlessly.  Come be washed by the redeeming, all-powerful, life flowing stream of his amazing grace!; Where his blood ran red and our sin washed white.

When we focus on our flaws  our perception of who we truly are is distorted and disfigured. Like a shattered glass we feel broken beyond repair.  Even so come… Only His eyes of love tell the real truth.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made. He adores you and longs to call you His! Wonderful, beautiful is what He sees. He is turning the tattered fabric of your life into a perfect tapestry.

Remember the passion and desire you felt the first time you fell in love with someone?  They could do no wrong in your eyes, you could not wait to see them, everything about them made you smile, your every thought was on them, you could not wait till you could see them again.  This is only a glimpse of the kind of adoration God has for you!  He delights in our seeking Him.  He cannot wait to meet with us each morning and to hear our prayers throughout the day.  He desires a personal and intimate relationship with each and every one of us who chooses to come to his throne and accept the gift of grace.

Pursue your God the way he daily pursues You!  He is calling you out of the darkness and into his light. He is singing over you.  He is calling oh sinner come home, come home!  So no matter where you have been or where you are currently headed it is never to late to turn around and run into the arms of your beloved savior.  He is calling you now; even so come my dear child, come.

“‘Still, if you set your heart on God and reach out to him, If you scrub your hands of sin and refuse to entertain evil in your home, you’ll be able to face the world unashamed and keep a firm grip on life, guiltless and fearless” Job 11:13-15 (the message)

Unveiled – revealed to public knowledge or scrutiny; made evident or manifest.

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is , there is freedom. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3: 17-18

When we hear the word unveil, we most often attach negative feelings to it.  We tend to think something being unveiled is revealing secret information that will bring a person down and make them pay for what they have done.  Shining an interrogating, guilt producing, self-loathing spotlight on their condition as to bring them to their knees and put them in their place.

Unfortunately,  many proclaimed Christians are the first to pull the veil and throw the stone of judgment and condemnation.  This is exactly what I expected to be the result of my transparency.  When I found myself in the midst of an affair,  I fell at the foot of the cross to surrender my life to the control of someone greater than myself. However,  I also felt the need to make secrecy a condition of the deal.  God could fix me and fix my marriage but no one and I mean no one needed to know the darkness that had been in my life; that would remain a secret between a woman and her maker.  God honored that request for 13 years. A little over a year ago  the veil was lifted and all was made evident.

One evening after completing our devotion, Bryan turned to me and ask if I had ever cheated on him.  I was so angry that after all of this time the truth was going to be revealed, but of course, I had to speak the truth.  I then found out that my husband had cheated on me also.  We kept  God as our anchor and began the painful yet freeing journey of reconciliation and true healing.  I came to discover that through this transparency a wall that I didn’t even realized existed was torn down between us. For the first time in 26 years of marriage we were able to feel true, unconditional love and what becoming “one” truly meant. The veil that separated us as husband and wife had been torn in half; although the tear was painful at first, it produced a freedom that allowed our love to truly grow and blossom into a genuine bonding of two souls.

The enemy would like nothing more than for us to remain behind the veils of shame, regret, guilt, secrecy or fear.  From behind these veils, we never truly grasp the true message of Jesus Christ; that He came and walked on this earth; a man choosing to give his life as a sacrifice for our redemption and healing from the brokenness in our lives.  His death on the cross tore the veil that separated man from the Holy of Holies, making access to the throne available to all who choose to accept and enter in! “Then behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split” Matthew 27:51.

Why then do we continue to allow the enemy to hang a veil between us and God?  A high price was paid for the tearing of the veil; do not allow the blood of Christ to be shed in vain.  Proclaim it as the all powerful, healing, redeeming source that it is! “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1:7  Become unveiled and let the glory of the Lord shine through the broken pieces of your life! ” And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” Revelation 12:11

I have not become transparent with my life because I have no shame or regret. Those were a very real part of the process of healing and restoration.  Because of true repentance that comes from a heart of remorse and regret, I have received and better yet, truly understand the meaning and power of God’s grace. It is from that place of being immersed in grace, that I arise with the desire to defeat the enemy and no longer allow him to keep me down or keep me silent.

To be unveiled is not to have stones thrown at you for the wrong that is in your life; that is a lie straight from the enemy. To be unveiled is to be set free!  It is to see yourself as God sees you! It is the lighting of the candle called “your life”, that through its brokenness can bring hope and life to those who are still behind the veil and chained in the darkness.  Be the beacon who lights the way to the Savior; the one and only source of life and life more abundant.

GOD HAS CHANGED MY STORY!

From an abused little girl who became an adulterous wife;

into a redeemed, restored and healed woman with a new identity;

a restored and redeemed marriage;

and a history that has become His story of the power of His unfailing love, mercy and grace!!

I have a new identity as a daughter of the King!!

” For you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9