Tag Archives: true colors

Watch ~ Five Minute Friday

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“Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:24 (NLT)

Watching for True Colors

Our two older grandsons were here for a visit last week. I’d planned activities to do with them every day. One of my favorites was something my grandma did with me when I was young.

While visiting grandma at her lake cottage, she’d send us out to gather Queen Anne’s Lace blossoms. Returning with our bouquets we’d find glasses filled with water lined up on the table and food coloring waiting for us. Each would choose a color to add to the water and then we placed our flowers into the glass. That’s when for me, the vigil began. 

As hard as I tried, I couldn’t keep myself from almost immediately stopping at the table to look for changes in my white blooms. I’d watch for any little sign that something was happening. Grandma would remind me to be patient and I’d truly try. But, my anticipation often got the best of me. 

I’ve learned that six and eight year old boys don’t share the same excitement as I had way back then….but that’s ok, I kept watch for them.

My floral activity wasn’t a total loss. The boys were actually interested in the process of it all. Quite a discussion was held about the why’s and how’s of the white flowers turning red, green, and yellow. This MiMi and ole teacher was pleased that they already knew that the stem carried the water to the leaves and flowers and that in nature, that is how a plant is nourished.

You know, it’s the same for you and me, really. As Christians, Christ, the Living Water inside each of us also supplies everything we need. And I’m realizing that nostalgic flowers aren’t the only thing I’ve been watching for change in; I’m keeping my eyes peeled for any little sign that my “colors” are different than they used to be too.

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

So, what does old life gone, new life begun look like? Bright hues shining in dark times. Cool tones while under pressure. The longer Christ lives in us and we in Him, He will perfectly color our lives. We should become a living palette of every shade of love to those around us and beyond.

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. We love each other because he loved us first.”
1 John 4:16-17a, 19 (NLT)

I don’t know about you, but for me the vigil has begun. I’m taking a good look at myself  for changes that paint a picture of Christ. I sure hoped they’d come more quickly…. I know God (and grandma), I’ll try and be patient but, the anticipation sure is great!

Joining with the wonderful writers at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com to write to the prompt “Watch” this week. Click over to read more!

Day 16: Delight

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31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Day 16: Delight

It’s “leaf peeper” season here in the mountains and that’s just what I’ve been doing. What a most delightful day just sitting outside and “peeping” at the leaves. Golden yellow, bright orange, and deep red are replacing the green of just a few weeks ago.

Did you know (I was just reminded thanks to my very smart hubby) that the bold fall colors now adorning the trees are always present in the leaves? It’s only when the green producing chlorophyl begins to break down because of shorter days and colder temperatures, that the green fades giving way to the vivid autumn shades hidden within.

Did you also know that our true colors are waiting to be revealed too? We can be a little “green around the edges” in life thinking we can hang on in the world by our own effort, that we know  all we need to get by, or that this is as good as it gets and that’s enough for us. This way of life is bitter and short!

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

Just as chlorophyl deteriorates to expose the brilliance within, so must our “old self ” fade away. When we accept a life in Christ, His bold, bright light shines in and through us, revealing what God knew was there all the time. 

As in nature, showing our true colors is a process but, day by day, season by season, we will begin to look different to those who take a “peep.” Christ’s bright light and a bold love will show through. And when God looks upon us?

“For the Lord takes delight in his people;”
Psalm 149:4a (NIV)

True Colors

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“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’ ” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)

True Colors

A year ago, I sat in this very chair at my hair dresser’s. It was the last “normal” thing I did before our worlds shrunk to the size of our homes. For the next months the real color of my hair slowly became more and more evident. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror resulted in a double take and stopping for a closer look, left me asking, “Who is that gray-haired lady staring back at me?” The longer it went on, the more the pandemic revealed the “real” me.

“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” Proverbs 27:19 (NLT)

I’ve heard it said, maybe you have too, that it’s usually during the worst of times a person’s true colors show. We’ve certainly been going through that kind of time, haven’t we?  All the changes, restrictions, disappointments, and unknowns certainly could expose someone we don’t recognize. When catching my own reflection, there’ve been times I was blue as sadness crept into my days. Shades of envy green grabbed my attention when others were gathered with family and I couldn’t be. It wasn’t hard to see that I also attempted to keep a white-knuckled grip of control on normal life as it seemed to quickly slip through my fingers. Maybe you’ve felt like an emotional chameleon, too.  True colors of my heart? Probably so, but thankfully not permanent ones because like the Psalmist, we can cry out:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NLT)

As you might have guessed, I’m not ready for others to see the natural color of my hair quite yet. Thankfully, my friend and hair stylist can now cover it up for me! So, what do we do about those true colors that creep into our hearts that we don’t want to show the world, either? Thankfully, Jesus’s red blood covers and transforms those!

“And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:21-22 (NLT)

Much has changed between my visits to cover up the gray. Things we never imagined could happen have now become part of our everyday; but, I was reminded as I sat in my hair stylist’s chair, that there IS something we can count on to always remain the same: Jesus and His work in us. (Hebrews 13:8)  Even when our (my) hearts become tinted by the circumstances around us, what a comfort to know that, in His hands, they become a palete of True Colors He uses to create a masterpiece in each us. And this one? We WANT to display to the world!

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

I did a lot of reflection as I sat in that chair this week, knowing all that had happened in a year! I love when God sends me a lesson that I need right at the moment I need it! I pray that it will encourage you, too.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support of being here reading my random thoughts. It means more than you know! C~