More Than Just Brutally Honest

More Than Just Brutally Honest

Being Truefaced is not so much about being brutally honest about everything and anything. Sometimes being brutally honest is the most unloving and dishonest thing you can do. Some of the most loudly obnoxious and destructive folk in the Room of Good Intentions are utterly and brutally honest. Those who are learning to be Truefaced are discovering what life can look like when I come out of hiding, or bluffing. They are learning to see God without the moralistic shame filter. And so they are not afraid of what is revealed about themselves. They discover God has already seen it all from before the world began, and still actively delights in them and adores them beyond human words. It changes everything about how they carry themselves. They cherish finding places where there is a safe place to be known. They value it above most all other conditions. And so they become an incredibly safe place for others. They are trusted and needed and utterly enjoyed. Their life develops purpose, fulfillment they never dreamt was possible. And they can no longer imagine a life where they fight it out by themselves, trying to impress God and put on a mask for others. They have discovered this magic: if they would risk friendships of vulnerable authenticity, eventually they will know a community where the worst of them could be known and they’d be loved more, not less in the telling it. 

Unresolved issues begin to melt, historic wounding begins to lose its power. They begin to come under the influence of trusted others. And Jesus pours wisdom, truth, insight and discernment into their very being as a gift. Their behaviors don’t change overnight. It’s not really even their goal. Their goal is to love and be loved. And behaviors will change as a by-product. More and more are risking this ancient way of life. And once they’ve tasted it, they can no more go back to their religiously tidy world than they could sew a quilt out of wet snakes. This righteousness, my believing friend, has already happened to you. You can enjoy it as soon as you’d like. Like even as you read these words…Cool life about to happen for you!

14 comments (Add your own)

1. Vicki wrote:
Oh, how I needed to read this early this morning! Thank you, John. Still trying to find safe places where I can be known...and desiring so much to be a safe place for others.

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 3:59 AM

2. Leah wrote:
You know how much we praise Him for using your voice to draw near to our souls? A whole bunch! And that doesn't even come close to expressing it adequately.

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 7:34 AM

3. John Lynch wrote:
Vicki-with you friend.

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 7:53 AM

4. John Lynch wrote:
Leah-what incredible words of encouragement to be even half convinced that my God is using these words to build up like hearted ones on this journey. You just can't know what that is to us. John

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 7:54 AM

5. Rebekah Grace wrote:
Vicki - sending my love out across the waves of the world wide web to another sister-in-Christ who writes what I lament, almost daily. Love to you, girl!

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 8:14 AM

6. John Lynch wrote:
...and that would be my wonderfully good big sister of grace...Rebekah, doing what she does best.

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 8:21 AM

7. jason dominy wrote:
Love it. Love it. I'm right there with you. I call it, becoming naked again, stripping away all the facade I've been putting on for so many years.

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 8:29 AM

8. John Lynch wrote:
Jason! That's what I'm talking about!!!

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 8:32 AM

9. Judy wrote:
John John John! Thank you for putting words down that I seem to not be able to verbalized. You are a gift. I find myself beginning to TRUST this truth.. Room of Grace! As I spoke at a ladies retreat a few weeks ago the "Unresolved issues begin to melt, historic wounding begins to lose its power" became real! Not only did the wounding of shame and guilt lose power for me to speak about my history, but I felt such power to just speak it. It was so surreal! These gifts that you says Jesus pours into us....He really does it! I feel like a kid in the biggest candy shop in the world. Or, John in a pie shop with thousands of pies to dive in.

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 8:54 AM

10. Dawn wrote:
Dear John, (always wanted to write one of those!)
I am new to your marvelous messages. Vicki introduced us to your site and had the priviledge of hearing your two roads talk. How could you have encapsulated my life so perfectly? Have since shared this with my husband and my son who was able to immediately share this with a young woman he works with. How gracious God is to bring encouragement to us! Grateful for you and your brave heart! Keep it up for those of us who have searched long and hard for safe people and places! God bless!

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 9:04 AM

11. John Lynch wrote:
Judy-you are carrying such environment in you! Isn't it so incredible to see that we are not just talking about a utopian theoretical dream, but a living, breathing Gospel!!!

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 11:23 AM

12. John Lynch wrote:
Dawn-So wonderful to have you join us! You're friends with Vicki. That makes you like royalty in these parts. How wonderful to hear how these truths are being lived out in your family and beyond! Way, way cool! John

Thu, October 18, 2012 @ 11:24 AM

13. Leah C wrote:
My husband and I have been so overwhelmingly refreshed, healed and are learning what it looks like to live unmasked as a result of the true faced resources. This speaks to our hearts and true identities in such a deep way. We are involved in full time ministry and have longed to find this type of authenticity. Thank you for your words and for allowing Him to speak through you. We are sharing this message of grace with others and are seeing that they are also equally hungry to leave the room of good intentions and finally begin to better understand this grace.

Thu, October 25, 2012 @ 4:17 PM

14. Astrid wrote:
Quyen - I'm a Vietnamese and I can't help but went through all of your piucerts. They are beautiful, both the couples and the natural sceneries. Vietnam is such a beautiful place, I love it. I have been to Ha long Bay once, in fact, I have been too all places that you took piucerts of. I love your piucerts and certainly will comeback for more. Thank you for these wonderful images of vietnam and its people.

Wed, November 21, 2012 @ 1:21 PM

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