Who Are You? Renamed - Dan Pursley (John 4:4-30)

The spit-upon
are nameless
shadow puppets
hugging the wall.
They lurk at the edges
of our vision,
flickering dimly.

Yet the Rabbi
made eye contact
and spoke 
life in metaphors
confusing
and inexplicable.
"Identify yourself" 
is the moment of truth.
She does not flinch
but names herself
as fallen.

He opens the door
to her understanding
by reading her
brokenness,
then stuns her further
by offering His hand
and
a future.

The spit-upon
became the daughter
of the King -
head held high
she rejoiced
and called all
to meet the One
who renamed her,
Beloved.

Why Do We Hide? Tim Knipp - Who Are You #3

Who Are You? A Mercy Channel (Tim Knipp)

Lying ideas circulate
and breed
more lies.
Couched in psycho-jargon
and hissed
in hungry ears
ideas shape us
and
misshape us.

Self-serving
inflates egos
and distorts reality.

God's mercy overflows,
transforming our
crooked souls.
 He blesses us with gifts -
not to adorn our mantels
with shining trophies -
but to equip us
for service.

Lay down your rights.
Surrender
to Him who lavished
mercy on you.

Become a channel
through which mercy flows,
your specialness
a conduit.
So open up.
Open up.
Let it go.

Feel His pleasure as you
give it up.
Give it up.

Rom. 12:1-8