The Truth

John 14:6 (NIV84) - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. “



Above the clouds from airplane. Photo property of Carla Cooper. All copyrights claimed
Photo by Carley
Do you ever wonder about your own belief system?  What I mean is; how do you know that what you know as reality is actually ‘The Truth’?  What is the foundation for what you ‘know’?  Is it your own judgement?  How do you know that you can trust your own perception?  If your reality is a deception, then it is not possible for you to be aware that you are being misled.  It is only by being outside of that experience that you can see the whole picture.

I suffer from Bipolar Disorder and Major Depression.  I do not try to hide that because it is not something to be embarrassed about, despite the attitude of a large percentage of society.  A cancer patient would not be ashamed to have to go for chemotherapy, just as a diabetic would not be humiliated to have blood sugar levels out of whack.  They may be scared, frustrated, angry, or any number of other emotions; but there is no need for shame.  They did not ask for these health issues.  Mental health issues are the result of physical issues within the brain.  It is not a choice, a sin, a crime, a weakness, or a character flaw. 

During the worst of my bipolar episodes, confusion often will set in.  I start to doubt many things.  My trust in anything and everything goes out the window.  I have even doubted and been confused about the circumstances that I see happening around me.  This is a terrifying place to be; especially when one feels alone in the world, which I often do.  This is a misperception, of course, but at the time it is as real as the trees, the sky and the wind around me.  I argue that it is true.  It is not until the incident is over that I am aware of what is genuine; that I have many people who love me.

I read an article recently by a newspaper that has a mission to tell the ‘Truth’; yet all the articles within are anti-Christian / anti-religious and they very proudly support sinful living.  What do they base their evidence of ‘Truth’ on?  Mine is based on the solid Word of God.  Through all of the confusion that I have suffered there is one ‘truth’ that I have never doubted even for an instant.  This is the fact that Jesus is The Truth.  He told us that “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me “.   Sometimes I wonder; whose reality is more clouded?



~~ Dear God ~~ Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus so that we may be with You in Your glorious kingdom.  Please do not let me ever forget this reality.  For all those who have not yet seen the veil lifted, please show them the Light so that they may be led out of the darkness and see the Truth.  In Jesus name, AMEN.




True Colors

~~~ Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.


Color Wheel. Free source internet photo. No copyrights claimed
Free source photo

A friends status message the other day read, "If you want it, get it. If you dream it, believe it. The sky's never the limit. So go on, show the world who you are. Don't be afraid to show your true colors. I love it". Awesome thought, isn’t it?! I mean, it’s inspiring, uplifting and encouraging. If you were in need of reassurance and a friend said this, you would think this friend must be special to give you such a boost.

Well, my first thought; seriously, was 'Dear Lord, please don't let me look at life or the world this way'. Nowhere is God included in this thought. It's such a relative way of thinking; which is redundant thinking. To reach “the limit”; one needs to know what that limit is. Who has defined “the limit”? Have I decided how high I am going to aim? What makes my definition any more valid than others? Why do others opinions matter at all? What makes me, or others around me, qualified enough to make such decisions? This method of selection will not get you “air borne”. What is ‘right’ for one is not ‘right’ for another. This way of life leaves you living alone with no support because other people are living in their own worlds, not in yours. It leaves you without any possibility of expansion, variation, or change; because you can only go as far as your own limits will allow... and you do have limits.  Everyone does.  It means we are human.  Jesus said “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). He is the only one who is qualified to make any decisions on limits. Granted; God gave us a free will, and a brain for common-sense, and He expects us to use it. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things”. But that is not the most important part of that message.  In today's relative-thinking society the thought stops there.  The problem is that this is not the whole message.  To stop there would be like watching the first half of a movie and not the 2nd half and claim that you saw the whole story.  The other half of that is “though Christ who strengthens me”. You cannot fly without a plane. You cannot reach the limits of your life without God.

See, I only 'want it', if God wants it for me. I only want to 'get it', if He wants to give it to me. I only want the 'dream' in my heart if it's in His plan for me. I only want to 'believe it' by putting my faith in Him, and not in anything or anyone else. Without Jesus, the sky is the limit, and even then it is only if you are able to aim that high.

I do dream of showing the world who I am. So, who am I? I am a child of God who desires more than anything to be more and more like Jesus. The person who posted this status message was extremely nasty to me once, in another ‘lifetime’. So much so that I had nightmares every night for months because of what they said to me. I hope that the 'colors' that this person is so proud of showing is never the colors that people will ever see in me. They are dark and dreary colors. I want my world to be colored only by the hues, in the saturation, that are inside the heart of Jesus. I am proud to show my bright, beautiful true colors because they are becoming; more and more every day; to be a love, heart, and passion that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be proud of.





~~ Dear God ~~ Please make Your Will known to me in every situation. Open my eyes to see it, my ears to hear it, my mind to accept it and my heart to receive it. Let all my thinking and my decisions be in line with Your plans for my life. Make the colors of my heart so bright and beautiful that others will see Your grace and glory shinning from within me. In Jesus name, AMEN.




The First Post

Number One Candle. Free source internet photo. No copyrights claimed
Free source photo
Well, here I am.  After weeks of working to set up this site and problem after problem causing me to have to start from scratch several times, I am ready for the first post.  My first thought was, what should the number one post be about?  I did some research; and got answers such as 'who you are, what is your story, and why are you here', among other things.  Sounds like common sense after you have been given the answer, doesn't it?  Then I started thinking 'but that's the basic information in the About page'.  Why would I want to tell you the same things twice?  Ah, but it's not twice because here and now I get to tell you a little more detail.

First - Who am I?

Since I started going to the church I attend 2 yeas ago, I have learned, for the first time, exactly who I am.  One of the first times I went there they gave me a bookmark that told me who I am.  As a matter of fact the title is "Who am I?".  Since then I have come to understand that I am royalty.  I am a daughter of the King; a child of the living God who created the universe.  See, according to God's Word, I am:


Second - What's my story?

In a nut shell my story is this: I am a sinner.  I am someone who messed up so badly and got myself into such a mess that only God, Himself, can get me out of it.  I needed help to bail me out of my dire circumstances, so I called on my Father.  I did that after years of not being close to Him or listening to anything He had to say to me.  Kinda 'nervy' now that I think about it.  After all, He had every right to send me away.  He had every right to walk away from me and leave me in that dark prison; and to find my own way out.  

This well known poem by Carol Wimmer sums it up nicely:


When I Say that "I am Christian"

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting “I’m clean livin’.”
I’m whispering “I was lost,
Now I’m found and forgiven.”

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my
mess.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner
Who received God’s good grace, somehow.


Third - Why am I here?

God has called each of us to praise Him and to share His Word.  I'm here to tell you my story, but I'm also here to tell you that God wants to do the same thing for you that He did for me.  See, even though God has every right to walk away and leave me in prison; He did not do that.  Instead, He bailed me out of hell; literally.  The good news is that we do not have to stay in prison.  He sent His only Son, Jesus, to pay my fine.  Our bail has been paid and the judge has thrown out the case.  Jesus died for me; defeated death and hell; and brought me back home.  Awesome Father, huh?!  I am going home and He has this awesome place already and waiting for me to live with Him.  That is so cool! 

This great gift does come with a catch though.  That is, you have to willingly accept it.  You do that by asking Him to forgive you and then inviting His Son, Jesus, into your heart and allow Him be your Savior.  Then you have to believe, have faith; and follow Him in every thing you say, think and do. 

God wants you to know that He thinks you are awesome!   He loves you so much and He misses you so badly that He does not care how terribly you have messed up.  He just wants you to live with Him forever.  He wants to live with you every day in this world.  He wants to be part of your life, your home, your family, all your decisions... everything.   

If you have never invited Jesus into your life before; you can do it now, right where you are in front of your computer screen with this prayer. 

~~ Dear God ~~ I want to know you personally.  I know that I have done wrong and I am sorry.  I am willing, with your help, to turn away from my sins and turn to you.  I believe, Jesus, that you died and rose again for me.  Please come into my life.  I receive you as my Saviour and Lord, as best as I know how, right now. AMEN.

Once you have prayed this prayer from your heart, contact a local bible-based church in your local area and speak with a pastor and tell him / her about your decision. They will help guide you in your next steps.

If you did say this prayer from your heart for the first time because of something I have said here, than that is why I am here.



Here's a video with people like you and me reciting the poem "When I Say that I Am Christian".  Afterward there's a song.  Enjoy.