The Wizard

Christian, Devos and Inspiration, Faith, mel's world, melissa mashburn, Stay at Home Mom, Thoughts, wizard of oz
Lessons from the Wizard of Oz
The Wizard
Part 5
We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
-Marianne Williamson

I have been holding on to this last lesson from the “Lessons from the Wizard of Oz” for quite some time now. There was a part of me that didn’t want it to end, and yet there was another part of me that feared letting this one out there. Fear is one of the biggest tactics of the enemy and for so long I have battled with this. I just have to look up to Him to see where my source of strength comes from, and reflect on that quote at the beginning to see that I am exactly the way God created me to be.

This last part of the series is all about the Wizard and his struggle to just be himself…Check out what I found out on Wikipedia about the Wizard from Oz, “Oz is very reluctant to meet them, but eventually they are granted an audience. Every time the Wizard appears in a different form, once as a giant head, once as a beautiful fairy, once as ball of fire, and once as a horrible monster.

Eventually, it is revealed that Oz is actually none of these things, but rather an ordinary, American man who has been using a lot of elaborate magic tricks and props to make himself seem “great and powerful.” When revealed, Oz explains that his real name is Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs.”

For so long he tried to hide who he was from everyone around him. Did it make him any happier? Did it build others up? No…he was just a frightened man hiding behind a curtain.

Unfortunately I can relate to the Wizard sometimes…I hide behind my BIG personality, I hid behind my title, I have hid in so many places over the years. It wasn’t until I placed my life in Christ’s hands did I see that it was “safe” to come out and be me. To truly be the Melissa that HE created. Am I completely “fixed”, nope, but then, are you? When things get tough I can feel myself wanting to go back and hide behind the curtain again, but God called me to step out into the light and reflect His glory.


Is it easy? Nope, I wish it was. Is it something that everyone can do? Yep! HE, the Creator of the Universe, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the GREAT I AM wants you and I to come out from the shell, the curtain, the fear, and be all that HE created us to be.

1 Thessalonians 2:4b says, “Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”

A couple of years ago I went into full time ministry…I was thrilled, I was challenged, and I was pumped to think that God would call me, screwed up, cracked pot, all over the place me to ministry. I doubted that call in the beginning and then I let others try to doubt that call as well…but you know what…He did call me, just as He has called you. Maybe He hasn’t called you into full time ministry, but I believe that each and every one of us is called to minister to those that He has placed in and around our lives.


Stop trying to be someone else friends…be yourself, be all that God created you to be, and when you make mistakes (we ALL do), pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and ask God what He wants you to do next.


Blessed is the man who finds out which way God is moving and then gets going in the same direction.
~Unknown

Friends, lets get ready for the great things that God has in store for each of us in 2008 by asking Him to reveal to us how we can be more authentic, more real, and more like Him each and every day!

I am looking forward to watching what God does with each and every one of us!

Enjoy the Journey…

Just being Me,

14 Comments

  5. I am so glad you let this last one out. Does it have to be the last one, hmmm?… Thanks for the Scripture,I really needed that today!!I went right to my Bible and read that Thanks Mel your a blessing.

  7. Mel, you think just like me – I’ve been doing life lessons from Willie Wonka though 🙂 I’m always watching a movie with Jesus whispering HIS truth in my ear the whole time. Now I just need my junior mints and some popcorn to go with that truth.

  8. Melissa – it is so true that we let the enemy get us off course. I have sometimes fears too, that I don’t please everyone. I have learned to say a quick prayer when fear strikes.

    Thank you so much for sharing.

  9. Well this was interesting. It made me think about my masks. I have always had this ability to blend into my surroundings like a chameleon, ensuring I don’t draw attention to myself. Making sure I fit in. It’s something I developed early on as a child and still have problems with now as an adult.
    Check out my poem Chameleon from 7 Dec. I think it sums it up.
    Time to get rid of the masks.

  11. Mel~
    That spoke VOLUMES to me today! I have just had lunch with a friend who is trying to find her place again in the church and it got me to thinking that maybe I don’t fit in where I thought I did. I realized this is the devil trying to bring me down too and I just need to be myself and eventually he will reveal to me where my gifting is at. Thanks for the lesson, I needed that today!

  13. Yes, yes, you’re speakin’ truth! Amen.

    The thing about the wizard I like the most is when he uses his BIG voice. Have you ever tried to just be louder to intimidate? I come from a family of very LOUD people. So when we go out to dinner with them, it is quite embarrassing. Everyone is shouting! Aye!

    I’m trying so hard to not raise a yelling family.

    Thanks for the good words, my friend!
    Much love in Christ,
    holly

  14. Hi Mel, That was great. I really enjoyed all the teachings you did from the Wizard of Oz…Hope is not the last one. I love the way you write….Love, Jules

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