Mirrors

I have a love-hate relationship with mirrors. I experienced both of those feelings at a P.F. Chang's restaurant once. Excusing myself from the dinner table, I went to the restroom and stepped in front of the mirror. Due to low lights and surrounding stone walls, my skin looked more tan than blotchy, my hair more black than "cover-it-now" gray, and my blouse was wrinkle-and-toddler-stain free. I bent over the sink and smiled (inside and out) to put some lipstick on and there it was. A small tidbit of Kung Pao's chicken tucked in my teeth. How long had THAT been there? If I was a balloon, the noise of instant deflation would've been heard outside the restaurant.


The Word of God is likened to many different images in the Bible. It's like a two-edged sword in Heb. 4:12; like a hammer and fire in Jer. 23:29; like a lamp and light in Ps. 119; like a seed in Lk. 8 and John 6:63; like food in Matt. 4:4 and 1 Pet. 1; and also like a mirror.

James 1:23-25 (NAS) says "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."

You know, when I saw that chunk of chicken crouching in my gums, I whipped out one of those little tooth flossers in my purse and got rid of it. I didn't roll out a welcome mat and invite it to stay, nor did I try and cover it with a patch of gum. My flesh moves fast to remove outward flaws that can be seen by others.

But my heart is to be so filled with the Spirit of God and love for Him, that when His Word reflects to me a flaw in my character or a sinful spot on my heart, I should quickly move in obedience to do what God commands in my situation. Ignore the flesh that wants to cover it up, reason it away, coddle it like a friend, or as the verse says, walk away and ignore what has just been shown to me.

Take that spiritual dental floss of repentance and obedience wherever you go...cuz sin is just like Kung Pao's...it'll try to hide.

Promise From Our Provider

Praying this verse might encourage anyone preparing to spend Christmas with family or friends who are very lost. Or for those who are praying for God to use their voice to faithfully share Jesus with others.


2 Cor. 9:8, 10 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you... He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing."

Royal Performances

I didn't consciously think that sitting on the edge of my seat would help me drink in the symphony music any deeper, but I certainly was going to try. Up went the binoculars, down went the lights, and out came the world-renowned pianist. I'd watched a documentary years ago depicting her gold medal performance at a highly acclaimed international piano competition, but to watch her play in front of me nine years later, was an incredible honor. After adjusting her dress, carefully positioning her hands on the keys, and taking a deep breath, Rachmaninoff's finger-bending concerto began to flow from the ornate Steinway on center stage. I'd learned a bit about the historical background of the piece and its composer, so I had a deeper understanding of the music my ears feasted on. Thirty minutes later, the unrelenting ovations from the audience provoked the performer to play one last classical piece. I was in awe of the talent God had given this young performer.

Yet, her performance didn't draw me to tears like another instrumentalist does. Year after year, every time I hear the song, I inevitably tear up. I don't know anything about the composer, nor do I know the historical background of when this piece was written...but when I read the story behind the music, the melody will play in my memory and I become nearly inseparable in identifying with the soloist who performs.

Here are the lyrics from the "Little Drummer Boy."

Come they told me, (pa rum pum pum pum)
A new born King to see, (pa rum pum pum pum)
Our finest gifts we bring, (pa rum pum pum pum)
To lay before the King, (pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum),

So to honor Him, (pa rum pum pum pum),
When we come.

Little Baby, (pa rum pum pum pum)
I am a poor boy too, (pa rum pum pum pum)
I have no gift to bring, (pa rum pum pum pum)
That's fit to give the King, (pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,)

Shall I play for you, (pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum)?

Mary nodded, (pa rum pum pum pum)
The ox and lamb kept time, (pa rum pum pum pum)
I played my drum for Him, (pa rum pum pum pum)
I played my best for Him, (pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum),

Then He smiled at me, (pa rum pum pum pum)
Me and my drum.

So whatever your "drum" may be; however meager, simple, or small your gift seems to you, let's play our best for King Jesus...and see Him smile with pleasure at your performance to bless Him. Col. 3:23-24 NIV "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."