NO SHAME ON YOU

I am not quite sure when I became aware of its presence but I realize now it had been with me a  long time...a really long time. It was a nagging, heavy feeling that stuck to my heart, and one that couldn't easily be shaken. I tried to lose it you know...several times, but no matter where I tried to leave it; I always found it again. I felt like a little person carrying a big weight, but I didn't know how to get it off my back. I was pretty sure others could see it too because when I walked into a room, I could feel the pressure of their eyes, and my face would flood with the color of a squished tomato hurled at me from the crowd. Thats what it felt  like anyway. Squished...squished with insecurity.  I felt naked and ashamed even with my clothes on. Fear seemed to tip toe into every situation creating an atmosphere of mistrust, and  a need to cover up. Layers couldn't hide it.  Panic lived in my chest, as I tried to avoid the presence of shame. It demanded punishment. A voice said, "Shame on you."

Shame majors on killing intimacy. It causes us to run from God, and others. It seeks to hinder your life and leaves a residue of inadequacy, and self hatred. It feels like someone has you by the throat as it seeks to silence your voice. Shame will cause toxic relationships and separate families. It creates an atmosphere of fear in our lives and the sense of unworthiness. Embarrassment sinks in and we draw back from chancing trust. It hinders communication, and the filter is self loathing. Guilt causes the feeling of the need to punish and so shame bashes our identity, and handcuffs our spirit. Like a prisoner, we feel trapped. The soul cries to be free.

I will never forget her. She was a beautiful girl that I met in a mall. We met because she worked in one of my favorite stores. She had lovely ivory skin, and was dressed in professional black. She was very intelligent and full of conversation. She told me about all the new things to try. In this store they bring out the product you are interested in and they will wash your hands with it. Hoping to show case how wonderful their soaps are; in hopes that you will buy the product. I chose the rose scented wash, that she told me was filled with thousands of crushed rose petals. She grabbed her silver bowl and poured the warm water over my hands, and my spirit dropped. As the water trickled down my arm , and she rubbed the thousands of petals into my skin... I saw them. Hundreds of scars. All up and down her beautiful ivory arms. Deep scars. I had never seen anyone with that many cut marks. The smell of the rose petal soap was mixed with the feeling of grief. I could barely hold back the tears, and even now when I think of her...I cry. I knew that the voice of shame was speaking in her life. Her face and arms are etched in my mind. Shame demands punishment. The soul longs to be clean from the feeling of guilt. As I write this I think of Jesus....

 “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” (Solomon 2:1) 

 He was a crushed rose...

Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

The smell of roses come again to my senses, as I think of His body that was broken for this girl and for you and me. The rose washes over my soul...and its scent is love.

I see Jesus, at the edge of a massive sea with the shackles of lies that lock away our potential and peace in His hands. By His compassion, He carries them. With a mighty throw, He hurls them deep in the hungry waves.They sink far away from us. 

Micah 7:19 "You will again have compassion on us; you 

will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities 

into the depths of the sea."

How do we over come the feeling of shame in our life? 

The opposite of shame is honor.  Honor is a place of grace instead of disgrace. 

Today, I pray that the scent of a rose will come into the room of your heart. That you will see Him there  in the face of the shame you may feel. No ugly guilty feeling can stand in His presence, and the battered spirit will find joy and rest. I pray that you will know that His love covers and washes away all guilt. He takes hold of all the lies that seek to squash out your life, and hurls them far away from you. It is by abundant grace that we overcome shame. It is a place where we learn to give, and receive grace generously.  It is a place where we are able to accept the unconditional love of God.His love brings honor and not disgrace. It is by his grace that we can look shame in the face, and tell it to leave our lives. It is seeing yourself and others through the eyes of Jesus. Fear does not get to win in your life! You are blameless in His sight. NO SHAME ON YOU! 

Do you smell the Rose...