Who You Are

Dear Tabernacle Family,

“To embrace and love who we are, we have to reclaim and reconnect with the parts of ourselves we’ve orphaned over the years.” Brene Brown.

If you have a perfectionist part, understand that it’s trying to keep you from feelings of shame. On a quest for love, significance, and security, perfectionist parts work tirelessly to prove your worth. Your perfectionist part may have developed as you grew up in your family of origin: Perhaps you received messages that you needed to perform in order to be accepted and loved. Or maybe you felt that your parent’s hopes and dreams were pinned on you. Perhaps you experienced social pressure or grew up in a family with secrets about alcoholism, drug addiction, or abuse. Now that you’re an adult, your inner perfectionist may be working overtime to disprove the message that you are defined by your past. It might believe shaming messages, such as, If I can do enough perfectly, my pain will go away.

In her popular TED talk, “The Power of Vulnerability,” Brene Brown teaches that wholehearted people have the courage to reveal their imperfections to others and to themselves. They’re willing to let go of who they should be in order to be who they are. Coeur, from which we get our English word courage, means “heart” in Latin. It takes courage to tell the authentic story of who you are.

If you struggle with an inner critic, an overly guilty conscience, or a perfectionist part, focus, befriend and invite Jesus to draw near. These well-meaning protectors have been working for a long time and could use some well-deserved rest.

Burdens of shame do not define you. Whereas these lies say you are unimportant, God says you are decidedly well-known and deeply loved. And you can be real because you are His. You are the light of the world and shame has no place in the light.

No one who hopes in You will ever be put to shame - Psalm 25:3

In His Name,

Cheri Leight

Creative Marketing Director

A New Song Rising in the Hearts of His People

Dear Tabernacle Family,

This year, a new song is rising in the heart of his people.  I feel like God is giving you an opportunity to get a new song!! With everything we’re hearing every day in our current world, it’s so important to find a song in every season.

I believe in this season, the thief is trying to rob us of our song. The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

The devil only comes to do one thing. When he comes, he steals, kills, and destroys your WORSHIP. But I hear the Lord saying, "But I have come that you might SING and LIVE…”

The world needs our song and the Father is looking for our song.

John 4:23 (NKJV) - "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 

The time is now to sing, and there’s a time coming that will require us to sing even more."

When we feel weighed down and feel we have nothing left to do, we need to sing. Here’s something I learned about worship and singing many years ago. Singing empties your soul; but not singing, leaves you empty. God always fills the praises of His people. If we empty ourselves in worship, He will fill us.

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 138:1-2.

"I will praise You with my whole heart;

Before the gods I will sing praises to You.

I will worship toward Your holy temple,

And praise Your name

For Your loving kindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your word above all Your name."

Let’s praise God with our whole heart. Let’s worship in the midst of the storm; in the presence of our enemies. In the midst of crisis, LET’S SING.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Passarella

How Big is Your God?

Dear Tabernacle Family,

How big is Your God? Take a moment and answer that question. Think about the plans you have for your life; the dreams and goals you have set for yourself; maybe things that you are hoping to accomplish and are already working towards. Now answer this question. Is God in the center of them? Have you consulted with Him and asked His advice? If the answer is no then stop, check with Him, seek His counsel through prayer. If the answer is yes, then continue to give Him glory, honor and praise while you are praying and waiting. Thank Him for being the Lord of your life. Delight in Him as you wait for the desires of your heart to be fulfilled. Thank Him that His Word never returns void, that His promises are yes and amen.

Believe His Word. You can have all that God says you can when your life is centered on Him, when you give Him full rights to your life. There is no need to live in disappointment, fear or insecurity. John 8:36 - "If the Son has made you free you are free indeed!" Hebrews 10:35 - "Don’t cast away your confidence." Realize your dream will be tested but remember God offers reassurance. You’re not in this alone! Replace any fear you might have with faith and recognize the great reward that awaits you when you are fulfilling your God-given dream. Most of all don’t lose heart. People who keep their eyes on the prize get to see what others cannot see. 2 Corinthians 4:18 - "Don’t look at the things that are seen for the things that are seen are subject to change the things that are unseen are eternal." God is a big God and His love is always toward you and not away from you.

Keep your Eye On The Prize,

Pastor Jo Ann

(CEV) "Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

In order to win the spiritual battle involving the realization of our God-given dreams we will have to believe what we cannot see.