Confessions of an Un-a-sha-med...

Picture the scene if you will. Bakersfield, hot July afternoon. A young girl sits calmly in a call center lunchroom. She doesn't bother competing with the 500 other employees for the one microwave in the building on her thirty minute lunch break, so as she sits relaxing, she appears to be reading something. A stranger walks up. And with a boyish grin he says, "Hey. What are you reading?" The girl, shocked that someone has taken the nerve to enter into her most quiet and sacred place of solace looks up. She slowly flutters her lashes up towards the chiseled face. She gazes into those slightly warm chocolate eyes and says "Oh, its a self help book. I need a lot of help." 

*CUE forehead slap*

The stranger says "Oh. Cool," and walks away. The girl groans, "Ugh, great job," she thinks to herself. This was not the sexy and mysterious answer she was going for. But then, even worse than the embarrassment comes the shame. What is the reason for this shame? Well, I'm glad you asked. 

See, the girl had actually just gotten back not two days before from an amazing week at camp. A week where the theme was "Unashamed." For an entire week her and her students had studied what it means to live unashamedly for Christ. They'd studied the gospel. They'd done the quiet times. They'd even sung the jazzed up "Go tell the world" songs. They'd come down from the mountain refreshed, renewed, and spirits restored. And this girl was at peace. This girl was ready to take on the world. This girl had purposefully packed her devotional in her purse, just so she could do it on her lunch break. 

So why is it when the stranger asked "What are you reading?" had she replied a self help book instead of "Actually, its a bible study on the Armor of God. I'm currently studying about what it means to put faith in action."? 

This girl couldn't give an answer. She was shocked that those words had even popped out! They were so easy to her. She didn't have to think about it. And just like that, an opportune moment had passed her by. 

But I guess thats how sin works. Its not hard to sin. Its very easy to actually. But continually renewing our minds, continually choosing to put on the full armor of God in defense of the enemy and his attacks, continually choosing love and peace over circumstances and emotions, and continually deciding to live unashamedly-that takes the effort. 

"according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death."- Philippians 1:20. Wow. What challenging and powerful words to live by. Lord help me to make this true in every aspect of my life. 

But lest I leave you without a conclusion to this tale let me follow up and end the scene for you. Lets focus back on our two characters shall we? For every good storyteller knows you cannot leave your audience hanging. Or they get really mad and write you nasty letters. What of the boy? He stole a candy bar from the snack cart and was fired two days later. As for the girl? She continues to do her bible studies in the lunchroom and is praying and preparing for another opportunity. She also continually prays for courage to invite a few of her coworkers to church with her. Choosing daily to live unashamedly and asking for repentance when she fails. And so the war wages on.....