#NoFilter

#Nofilter… That’s a harsh tag of pride on instagram. It says “hey look at me, I’m pretty all by myself… no help from  the instagram filters, my photo just turned out great and showed how great my skin tone is and how beautiful I am.”

I love the filters on some days…. What’s the fun in instagram if you don’t use the filters? That’s the whole point. Make the world see you as fabulous as you want! It’s unfair the pressure to conform to no filters on your pictures to prove a point. Sometimes I don’t use filters, because, who cares? Thus I see it as “what’s the big deal?” when I see the harsh tags on some pictures.

Of course you know this isn’t about instagram and it’s filters. Sure you know? Yes you know!

As much as we love to show off that we’re really naturally stunning without filters on instagram, I’ve got to confess I walk around in reality with a filter on my life, from my head to toe, from the inside spilling out to my outside, and I really don’t care because well, I don’t care and I’m not ashamed to say I’m not perfect the way I am in reality, I need filters to get me through life, to get the only one who matters in the world to double click on my being. If He (God) is not liking my picture, then I have no business posting any.

The blood of Jesus that was spilled is my filter. The blood is my cover, the blood makes me more beautiful than you can ever imagine beauty to be…  By myself, in my #nofilter state, I am a sore sight to God, covered from head to toe in filth. My good works and self-transforming makeup is not enough to get me approved and get the like that matters. And so the precious blood of Jesus came to my rescue…. It makes me perfect in the sight of God. It transforms the plain sinful me into a flawless perfection in God’s presence. I can come boldly before Him to obtain mercy. I can confidently call Him father… I am righteous, I am justified, I am Holy, and I am victorious because of the blood. He calls me His beloved, He calls me friend, He knows my name, His mind is full of me, He double clicks and keeps double clicking on my being because He sees me how He sees Jesus, and He has adopted me into sonship, I am His princess, His daughter, His baby.

The blood is my filter to the world, my wisdom, my advantage, my favor, my door opener, my provider… thankful for the blood.

“This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

Colossians 1:21-22(NTL with emphasis)

And as the lyrics of Hillsong's 'Man of sorrow'  goes “Oh that rugged cross my salvation. Where Your love poured out over me. Now my soul cries out Hallelujah... Praise and honor unto Thee” 

My soul really does cry out halleluiah, praise and honor to that lamb that was slain, to the sweet Jesus who gave it all up for me, whose body was broken and whose blood spilled just for me. Isn’t He amazing? Do you go about with a #nofilter harsh tag in life, or have you subscribed to the fabulous life of the greatest filter in the world? Easter is a great time to reflect and get your priorities right. You really aren't cool with no filter. Your natural beauty is hideous.

“When God looks at you today, He sees Jesus. He is not judging, esteeming and measuring you according to your imperfections. He sees you in Christ and His thoughts toward you are thoughts of loving-kindness, forgiveness, blessings and favor. Jesus paid an immensely heavy price at the cross so that you can live life completely accepted and unconditionally loved by God.” Joseph Prince

 “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9And since we have been made right in God’s’ sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.” Romans 5:8-12(NLT)