Naked and Unashamed

by Nicky

This song has really been impressed on my heart and I really feel like God is leading me to share it and not write anything about it. I hope it ministers to someone.

If I could just sit with you awhile
If you could just hold me
Moment by moment til forever passes by.

If I could just sit with you awhile
If you could just hold me
Nothing could touch me though I'm wounded, though I die.



I went to a youth camp at Taylor University in Upland, IN called Super Summer. This was one of the songs we sang at the worship sessions. I can't remember the woman's name who recorded it, but it is copyrighted and recorded.

By Nicky


The following lyrics are to Life Uncommon by Jewel from "Joy: A Holiday Collection" (her Christmas CD). To view the complete lyrics, click here.

i've heard your anguish
oh! i've heard your hearts cry out
we're tired, oh! we are weary
oh! we aren't worn out
set down your chains
'til only faith remains
set down your chains

Chorus:

and lend your voices
only to sounds of freedom
oh, no longer lend your strength to that
which you wish to be free from
fill your lives with love and brav'ry
and we shall lead a life uncommon

there are plenty of people
who pray for peace
but if praying were enough
oh! it would have come to be
don't ever let your words enslave no one
and the heavens will hush themselves
to hear our voices ring out clear
with sounds of freedom
sounds of freedom

This song is on a Christmas CD, but it has been my heart's cry for the past few days. My heart has been crying out to God, because I am tired and I am weary, but I am not worn out. I need to set down my chains. God has shown me that the reason I am so tired and weary is, as the song says, I am lending all my strength to that which I wish to be free from.

I want to lead a life uncommon. I want my voice to be free and my heart to be unfettered. I have been praying for freedom, but if praying were enough, it would have come to be. I'm going to have to do a little work too. God isn't just going to pull me out...or is He? I can't grab His hand while my hands are full of chains. Maybe I just have to set down my chains, then He'll grab me and pull me out. Does He have His hand stretched out and I just have to grab ahold of it? Hmmm...sounds easy, but letting go is harder than it sounds.

I want to let go of the chains and be free. I want my voice to ring out clear with the sounds of freedom. I want God's glory to fall.

Lord, I want you to redirect my strength. I want to drop the chains that have been enslaving me. I am dropping all of them right now as you have asked me to do. God, I want to grab onto you like Jacob did. I am not seeking a blessing, but I just want to grab ahold of you and never let go. Lord, please let Your glory fall on our churches and let our voices ring out clearly with the sounds of freedom. Let our lights shine before men, so that they may see your glory. Thank you for always being there for me and for never forsaking me. Thanks for grabbing me again! I love you!


***I really felt like I needed to share my heart. I'm okay, don't worry about me...I have just been thinking about a lot of stuff lately that I need to let go of.

BY LISA

I have been wondering lately about how real am I? Do I present myself to people one way, but act another way when I am alone or at home? If I do, how does that communicate to the “unsaved” world? God knows my heart and He alone knows me from the inside out. He knows I am not perfect. He knows I mess up daily. He knows the thoughts and feelings I have. So, why do I pretend otherwise?

If I present myself to people that I am not this way, that would make me appear to be perfect. People who love Jesus aren’t perfect. We’re human. I get mad, but I love Jesus. I accidentally hurt people’s feelings, but I love Jesus. I mess up daily, but I love Jesus. It’s only through Jesus that we are made perfect. If we as Christians come off as perfect, that is an unattainable goal to the “unsaved” person.

I believe that if I am honest with myself and with others and just be real that this sends a better message to people than if I choose to live the “perfect front.” I am human. I mess up, but Jesus loves me and I love Him. I don’t have to be perfect. I don’t have to be something I am not. I just want to love Him and be obedient in the things that He has called me to be. I don’t think it would benefit me to pretend to be one way when Jesus knows that’s not really me. It might make people like me more, but it won’t get me any closer to Jesus. It might make me more popular, but it won't get me any closer to Jesus. If I let the façade go, I am taking the pressure off and allowing God to work things out in me.

The bottom line for me is this. I love Jesus. I want to be who Jesus wants me to be. I want to be real with Him and with others. I want to be able to relate to people that Jesus loves them just the way they are. So why am I pretending? Why would I put so much energy into saying one thing and doing another?

I want to be real. I am ready to be real. How about you?