When we don’t feel like the life-giving person God says we’re purposed to be, Jesus knows better.

I love watching movies.

They are a fun, easy way to decompress and be entertained. Some might view sitting in front of a screen, in a theatre or living room, as passive activity.

One movie experience with me will quickly change your mind.

I am a very active participant.

I talk back at the TV, scream in the scary parts, and laugh with a snort a few seconds after each joke.

Yep, that’s me behind you — popping in crunches of crispy, buttered popcorn in between every scene.

I’ve found that drama doesn’t only flicker through light passing through celluloid.

Drama turned up one morning when Light shot through the pages of Scripture.

When You Talk Yourself Into Thinking

There was a season I felt isolated with some baggage I had been carrying. I remember one week was especially tough, as I tripped over the same old insecurities from bad experiences in the past.

It was one of those weeks where you feel like things just never seem to change.

I can never change.

You know the feeling?

When you talk yourself into thinking everything is just rotten?

Where is my life headed… I’m a horrible parent… No one wants to be my friend…

I was in this deflated mode when I read through a familiar passage.

It was the story of the father who brings his son who is possessed by an evil spirit, to Jesus.

The father cries out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

My Character

Since I love movies, one of the ways I read the Bible — to keep things fresh — is called The Movie Method.

Read a passage several times and place yourself in a character’s shoes.

As I meditated on the text, I felt I had already found my character.

It was obvious.

I am like the father who didn’t have enough faith, right?

I continued to search the text, this time asking. What do you want to say to me, Lord?

One word caught my heart: corpse.

The Bible says that when Jesus commanded the spirit out of the boy who was deaf and mute, the exorcism was so violent, “the boy looked like a corpse to many.”

My lips trembled as I was cut to the core: I was the corpse.

I’ve tried to drive out my demons. They’ve thrown me to the ground, terrified me, gnashing it’s teeth, taking away my words.

I’ve been rendered mute and deaf.

I did not feel like the life-giving person God says I’m purposed to be. I wasn’t the beautiful fruit-bearing, flower-budding spirit I felt I should be.

Jesus knew better.

Others — including myself — may have been fooled by my corpse-like features.

Just One Touch

Jesus knows we’re not dead.

One touch from Him, freedom and beauty pours out of us, bringing us back to life.

As we hear our Shepherd speak gently, we won’t be able to stop His words.

We’ll hear His whispers, singing, and conversation, spilling out in everyday life.

Stories will arise out of our moments and memories.

We will be strengthened and fed, to our heart’s delight.

We will have our fill and more, to love once again, to share and laugh.

“Many said, ‘He’s dead.’

But, Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet,

and he stood up.” Mark 9:26-27

Those who thought us dead once before will be amazed.

They will see us stand and smile, with the hand of Christ, clasped in ours.

~~~~~

What’s a character in the Bible that’s coming alive for you?

** Take some time today or in the evening.  Read a passage from the Gospels and try the Movie Method.  And turn up the drama.  Soul-feeding drama.

Pull up a chair. I love company and enjoy hearing your thoughts. Click to share a comment.

~~~~~

** Don’t miss! ** If you are new to Faith Barista, I’d like to invite you to join me on my journey this month — 31 Days to Feed Your Soul. Click to subscribe by email and get each post in this series served up hot and fresh directly in your mailbox.

To catch up and read all the posts in this series —

… Click Here!