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Welcome to this week’s Tune in Thursday! (linkup below)
Hello My Name Is . . .
This week has been a rough one for me. Sunday afternoon, my husband and I were notified that the previous pastor of our church had suddenly passed away. We were in shock. We knew he was sick, but the last time we had contact, he was holding his own. Pastor Jerry had been our friend for 15+ years and our pastor for a little over 7 years before he passed the baton of leadership to my husband and me. Pastor Jerry, was a true pastor, he loved people, and he was a gifted teacher. This week as I am writing this post, everything keeps reminding me of him. Pastor Jerry had a way of making the people in the Bible come alive. He fondly referred to Blind Bartimaeus as Blind Bart. So today, in honor of Pastor Jerry, I will do the same.
Tuesday on the video blog I asked this question: Is your mantle on?
If you missed it you can watch it by clicking on the picture:
I realized some may not even know what a mantle is or what it is referring too.
In some translations of the Bible, instead of the word mantle, the word “cloak” or “robe” is used. Simply, it means a large, loose fitting garment or covering possibly made of animal skin.
In truth a mantle is an article of clothing that was worn in Biblical times that identified a person, or their station in life. Such as Prophets, Pharisees, and even Blind Bartimeas in Mark 10:50
Mark 10:46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Bartimeaus’ cloak (mantle) is what identified him as a beggar. When people looked at him, they knew on sight, he was allowed to beg for money. I am sure upon closer look, one could tell he was also blind. His cloak however, was his identity, it was not just a visual sign to others, but it reminded Bart constantly of who he was, a beggar.
We may not wear cloaks or robes today, but we wear labels. Some we have put on ourselves and some others have placed upon us. Some are labels that may really describe a condition such as young, old, deaf, blind, etc. However, other labels are not necessarily true, and they make us feel less than. Yet, we readily accept them and even own them as our identity.
What about you, is there a label that has been placed on you that makes you feel less than? A label that has been placed on you by you, or others that somehow you can’t seem to escape?
Blind Bart had two labels. Yes, he was blind. Yes, he was a beggar. He wore a cloak to show he was a beggar because he was blind, and yet, he knew that it didn’t have to be that way.
Tweet ThisScripture tells us that when Bart heard Jesus was coming, he cried out. Not only did he cry out, he was shouting so loud people around him tried to get him to stop. However, he shouted all the more. Blind Bart believed things were about to change.
Jesus heard Blind Bart and called him to come. Before he even moves forward, Blind Bart throws off his cloak (mantle verse 50).
Why?
I believe it was because, the cloak showed what he was! Not what He was to become!
Another previous Pastor, Burt Smith says, “A Living Faith always announces its victories ahead of time!”
That is exactly what Bart did. He threw off his old identity, this thing that weighed him down. He had no intention of needing it any longer. He knew he was no longer going to be a beggar, and he knew he was going to ask for his sight to return. When Bart was asked what he wanted Jesus to do for him, he didn’t hesitate, he just stated his desire to see.
When asked, Hello, who are you? Blind Bart wanted to respond, “Hello, my name is Bart!” not Blind Bart, just Bart, he no longer was willing to accept the label of being blind, or a beggar.
What label are you wearing today?
Are you willing to throw off the worldly labels and identities you have been given, and ask God to give you His label?
Do you know what you are to become? or are you stuck in what you are now?
Are you ready to call upon the ONE and ask Him to show you who you will become?
Again Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!
Now let’s get this party started:
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Do you wonder if God still speaks today? Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally? Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?
Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to move you forward hearing from God?
If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need. I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others. He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you. The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice.
I have been teaching these classes internationally for the last 10+ years equipping and training believers in discerning the Ways God speaks. God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?
2. My new membership site, d2htrainging.com has official opened, the 50 % off membership – introductory pricing ends soon on March 31st, 2017. If you missed last weeks posts, you can click on the pictures below for more details. 
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Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:
Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be
Trusting God When it Seems Illogical
Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)
My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party
My Post: The Power of your Story was featured here:
My Post “What’s in a Name?” was featured here:
My Post: “Will You Sit with Me?” was featured here:
My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:
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Thank you, Debbie, for this insightful post! I have been studying Bart’s life lately for something I’m working on, and you hit on lots of things that I did not know!
So sorry for your loss. Those who minister the Word to us faithfully over the years end up feeling like family.
Thank you Michele. You are right, they do end up feeling like family, don’t they? Especially when you work side by side with them for many years. I am so glad that I could give you some insight on Bart. Another thing that Pastor Jerry used to teach about Bart was that when He called out upon the name of Jesus, he did so by calling on his Messianic name… Here is how Pastor Jerry always said it: “Blind Bart Called out ‘Jesus Son of David’ … Not just Jesus, or Jesus of Nazareth, but he called on the Messianic name of Jesus, which was calling upon the Anointing of Christ.” Such rich stuff. Hope this helps too.
I’m so sorry about the surprise passing of your previous pastor. 🙁 Praying now for the friends and family of Pastor Jerry!
Thank you so much Lisa. Your prayers are much appreciated for all of us.
I would have liked Pastor Jerry – I write about Bart in my 40 Days of Lent! And, Zac and Phil and Pete….oh yes and Mrs. Pilate! I’m sorry for your loss as you grieve your friend. He is now wearing his robe of righteousness! I linked two posts – hope that’s okay.
Oh Susan, I know you would have loved him! I totally missed starting your book in time for lent, but it is on my list to get and be ready for next time. I have enjoyed your other series. Thank you so much for your gracious words, and yes, He is now wearing his robes, or in his case, probably some Hawaiian print shirt made into a robe. LOL OH yes, you can link as many as you want – preferable 1-3, but I didn’t really set a limit on people.
A living faith always announces its victories in advance. I love this. May I too exhibit a living faith!
Amen, may we all! thanks for stopping by today
A living faith is something that is needed to keep going in life.
Thanks for hosting. Have a good weekend.
Patrick, you are most welcome for hosting and yes, you are right, a living faith is a must to keep moving forward.
Debbie, I just love this powerful imagery! Thank you for shedding light on the fact that we are no longer confined to the labels of our old self, but can take off our mantles of oppression and put on our new self–our new identity in Christ! I am so sorry for your loss. Praise God for the powerful legacy of your former pastor and brother in Christ. May we all seek to follow his godly example, and live unhindered lives like Bart! (visiting from Thought Provoking Thursday)
Christin – thank you so much, and you are most welcome. I spent most of my life even though I was a believer wearing labels others put on me and not wearing the labels of my new identity. Yes, Pastor Jerry defeintely had a powerful legacy and over 40 years of ministry. Thanks for visiting today
It’s hard to lose those close to us. I’m so sorry to hear of your loss.
Thanks for this insightful post. Finding our identity in Christ is so important. I believe that’s why God often changed people’s names. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you Donna, yes it is indeed hard to lose someone. I completely agree with what God often changed people’s names. I appreciate you stopping by and linking up a few of your posts.
Dear Debbie,
Thank you for reminding me of Blind Bart, I’ve been pondering those labels all week–especially as I finished “Till We Have Faces,” by C.S.Lewis. Those labels from the world do not give us our true “Face.” And you are so right, just like Blind Bart found out, Jesus does call out our true identity, our face that reflects His beautiful face. I’m grateful to be linking up here–Thank you for opening this up! –Blessings to you!
Bettie, you are most welcome. I haven’t read this book of CS Lewis, but I have been reading several peoples posts the past few weeks about it, and it does sound very intriguing. O am so very grateful that Jesus called out Bart’s true identity and ours too. So glad to have you linking up here. See you next week.
Debbie, I love the picture you remind us of about the cloak being thrown off. I love how you connect it with identity. This was very thought provoking! Thank you for sharing!
Leslie – thank you so much… I have to give credit for the cloak being he thing that identified him to Pastor Jerry – he was always making great connections and revelations that like. It was very eye opening to me when he shared about it years ago. I appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts with me too. Blessings
Thanks so much for sharing your insight at Literacy Musing Mondays!
you are welcome Brandi – thanks for stopping by