Friday, November 21, 2014
Last day to Enjoy Pre-Registration Special – Wednesday
Colossians 2:13-14
“Then God made you alive in Christ, for He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”
Did you ever read The Scarlet Letter?
I read it in high school. The story is about a woman caught in adultery and forced to wear an obnoxious letter (“A” for adultery) on every piece of clothing. The intent was to bring shame and embarrassment. All would see and judge. She was discarded from society, family and friends. She was forever labeled “damaged goods.”
I read it in high school. The story is about a woman caught in adultery and forced to wear an obnoxious letter (“A” for adultery) on every piece of clothing. The intent was to bring shame and embarrassment. All would see and judge. She was discarded from society, family and friends. She was forever labeled “damaged goods.”
Sadly, in ministry I see a modern day version of this movie more often than not: women wearing their own invisible scarlet letter.
How do I know this? After all, its easy to put on some makeup and do our hair all pretty and wear trendy clothes to hide it. Yet a former scarlet letter wearer that’s living in freedom can spot another letter wearer quite easily.
I used to wear my own scarlet letter. However, because I plugged into the God through Jesus and I’ve learned what the WORD says about Scarlet letters – I don’t wear that thing any more! It makes me so sad to see women who continually wear their letters – when they don’t have to!
How do I know this? After all, its easy to put on some makeup and do our hair all pretty and wear trendy clothes to hide it. Yet a former scarlet letter wearer that’s living in freedom can spot another letter wearer quite easily.
I used to wear my own scarlet letter. However, because I plugged into the God through Jesus and I’ve learned what the WORD says about Scarlet letters – I don’t wear that thing any more! It makes me so sad to see women who continually wear their letters – when they don’t have to!
Perhaps it’s the scarlet letter of: D = divorce or depression; drunkard; B = Bankruptcy; A = adultery, addict, abortion, abused, abandoned, abuser; F= fornicator, etc… ; Name it ______________
Often, a woman doesn’t even realize she’s wearing an invisible scarlet letter. Yet it comes out in her countenance; her perception of herself and others; through her eyes; through her fears; through her decisions and lifestyle.
Sadly, the natural tendency is to label ourselves “damaged goods” when we’re wearing the invisible scarlet letter.
When we do… we begin to live with renewed passion and purpose! I know this from personal experience!
Our speaker at one time wore the letter, “t.”
Sadly, the natural tendency is to label ourselves “damaged goods” when we’re wearing the invisible scarlet letter.
Yet what does God say about these invisible Scarlet Letters?
The Word says He wants to:
- Make us ALIVE in Christ!
- Forgive ALL our sins. (not just the ones we perceive are forgivable – but ALL of them!)
- Cancel the record of the charges against us! Never to bring them up again!
But there’s only one way for this to happen: through the cross of Jesus!
It requires going to God and doing life His way. It requires accepting HIS way of being right with Him – Jesus. It requires giving Him permission to lovingly and gently deal with our stuff at the root.
When we do… we begin to live with renewed passion and purpose! I know this from personal experience!
So does our speaker for the luncheon on Friday.
T = Trafficked…
Abbi Tengalia,
Founder and Executive Director ,
Transforming Hope Ministries
Our speaker at one time wore the letter, “t.” Yet Jesus rescued Abbi. Part of her rescue (and mine) required allowing God, the Redeemer, the Restorer; the Healer; and the Forgiver – to direct her path. This was a commitment of week after week, month after month, year after year of saying YES to God.
This doesn’t mean that her life became easy and she lived happily ever after. After all – she’s now a single mom with a child born from the experience of life in the pit.
Yet Abbi wears her scarlet letter NO MORE. She knows she’s forgiven and she’s living the new life of purpose God has for her and her precious child!!!
Are you wearing an invisible scarlet letter?
You don’t have to if you don’t want to. Take that thing off, girlfriend.
Be encouraged! God delights and is able to give your life a new purpose! Even if your life or the life of someone you love is a train wreck … God is able to forgive our sins, cancel the record of charges against us and make us alive to His purposes!
For more on taking off the Scarlet Letter:
Click on study for a sneak peak
Click HERE to order
For more on Friday’s Luncheon – Click HERE!