I'm Smiling
It is weird to walk by a person and realize, “hmmm… they don’t know that I am smiling at them… “, it gets a little awkward, as I try to open my eyes wider, or shake my head with excitement, all in hopes to express a smile that can’t be seen… usually, I end up making it worse, scaring the poor innocent soul who just wanted a “normal” trip to the store.
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Before COVID when I thought of a MASK, the first place my mind would go is a kid's costume; I usually think of the harvest event I once led. People would come as their favorite characters. Now a mask is an essential part of our days.
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[{mask}] a covering for all or part of the face, worn to conceal one’s identity. Anything that disguises or conceals. A covering to protect the face.
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So basically a mask has two purposes – to disguise & to protect.
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Hmmm, so how then are we wearing our mask?
I feel like for me it is an opportunity to strengthen my faith.
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I’m not interested in disguising who I am or who my God is…. so why not wear that mask with purpose. My mask is a “weapon of protection.” Everywhere I go, I put on my mask and remember to pray. I pray for protection for my store clerks, my gas station lady, and for my family. I am looking for ways to be used by God. My mask reminds me, Jesus is with me, protecting me, and I’m on a mission to tell the world about him.
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I trust that no weapon formed against me will prosper. That the one(Jesus) is greater than whats or who is in our world. He did not give us a spirit of fear, but of sound mind.
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How are you wearing your mask?
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“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Ephesians 6:10-11, 13,