Cinderella and Superman

Growing up I imagined a Cinderella story, but even as a girl, I also wanted Superman strength; power to exert a force that would allow me to defeat enemies, move massive objects and withstand extreme impacts.

     I have gained the Cinderella story because I know from my salvation experience, I will be rescued to live forever in a glorious dwelling place with my Savior. 

     During the wait, I also have a Superman experience. When I was saved, I was given a permanent indwelling Holy Spirit. He helps me defeat troubles and heartache. He works to lift my burdens to give me peace and joy. He helps me move mountains. He is the power to keep me from sin and give me supernatural strength.

 

My Cinderella promise: John 14:2 NIV “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” 

 

My Superman indwelling: 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You, are not your own.”    

Hebrews 13:5 NIV “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”    

 

Destiny

As I was studying about my Prince of Peace, God's Son, I thought about the legendary children's story about Cinderella and her Prince Charming. Then there was Snow White and the Prince who appeared to kiss and awaken her. 
     My Prince (Jesus) rescued me at a young age, and He awakens me each morning to a new day to praise Him for His love and protection until He returns to take me to a place where I will "live happily" ever-after.

     Thinking about Cinderella and Snow White, I wrote my own story; one about Destiny. It follows.

Destiny

Once upon a time there was a girl, name Destiny. She lived in a dark world. There was no light, only shadows in which to move around. 

 

She had been told there was a path leading to a bright new world. Some had found it and escaped to a sunshiny place. 

 

She dreamed about that world at night and, by day, sought and sought to find it. She took every path found but was unable to locate one that led to the bright new life she had been told about.

 

There was also a tyrant living in the land. He constantly told Destiny that this place was much better than the bright one she sought to find. 

 

He laughed and made fun of Destiny and often even bullied her, making her sit in ashes for hours at a time as punishment for seeking to escape. 

 

One day as Destiny sat weeping and crying in despair, a tiny light broke through the darkness.  

 

Her eyes blinked! She did not know what to think, but a new hope broke through to her heart. 

 

As a single tear fell down her cheek, she saw a hand reach out from a glowing light. The hand wiped her tear away. Then it reached out for her to take. 

 

When she placed her hand into its palm, she was instantly pulled into a bright new world; one filled with sunshine, rainbows, bright streets, riches and gold. She was no longer in a world of darkness or gloomy shadows.

 

Destiny had finally escaped. She had found the Light, the Prince, the King of Kings, and He took her into a new world and a new life. 

 

Her joy was filled that day. Her heart sang in every way, and Destiny knew she would live happily ever after. 

                                          …not The End… but The Beginning!

 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” 

 

 

 

  

One Cross Can Change Your Life

     “One Shoe Can Change Your Life,”  is a slogan that, I am sure, refers to the well-known Cinderella fairytale; whereby, she finds her Prince after he returns her glass slipper, and they live happily ever-after.
      I grew up having that story read to me many times.  It was strictly a fairytale, but like all young girls, I held to the dream of finding my very own prince charming.    Little did I realize that He would come in the form of a lowly young man who traveled the country and actually had no place He could call home.  Many, in His day, thought He was beneath them.  They called Him a liar, a fraud, and even claimed He often broke the law.  He was treated cruelly.  He was spit upon, beaten, shamed, and even nailed to a cross.  However, this man became the Prince of Peace, the Savior of the world, and through Him I will live happily ever after. 
     Because of my belief in the only Begotten Son of God, one day I will live in a great city filled with jewels of all kind; jasper, pearls, emeralds, and I will walk on streets of pure gold.  My world will be filled with light created through the glory of God and the presence of the Prince, the Lamb of God. 
     No matter how poor or how badly your earthly circumstances are, there is a Prince charming who has already paid the price to provide believers a way to live happily ever-after.  He can supply all the riches that are of importance.  All you have to do is believe in Jesus for  “One Cross Can Change Your Life.”

     Revelation 21:    10 “And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and the light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; ...19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones.  The first foundation was jasper, the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony, the fourth, an emerald;  20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz, the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth, the twelfth, an amethyst.  21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. ... 23  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

    

Fairytale Story

     Most all of us enjoyed fairytale stories growing up.  Many of the stories started with “Once upon a time,”  and ended with “And they lived happily ever after.”    These stories led a lot of us to believe that life would end with happiness and success.  Along the way, some have been disappointed.   
     As we grew into adults and tackled the world outside our fairytale stories we learned there was more to the in-between parts; that is, how the prince lived while he was a toad and how long Cinderella had to  scrub floors in hand-me-down rags.  Many of us wonder if we will ever make it from rags to riches.  We are always looking for that silver lining thinking that money will make us happy. 
     Then there are those who live a lowly life, but find the happy ending simply by accepting the fact that God made us beautiful in whatever situation we are living.  Focus is on the greater things of life, which is their spiritual walk.  They have learned to enjoy who they are in Christ.  Their hearts are joyful because they have created, through God, their own happy ending.  They are not standing around complaining, waiting to be kissed by prince charming. 
     I believe God opens the windows of heaven and pours out stardust every day.  It is up to us to catch it and enjoy life.  When I read the last section of Malachi 3:10, I could envision the windows of heaven opening and all that stardust, in the way  of blessings, pouring down upon my head.   I just have to do my part to receive it.  I need to give Him my  praise, my time,  my witness for Him in whatever ability He has bestowed upon me, and just return to Him a small portion of what He does for me every day in order to be able enrich my fairytale story and make it become a reality.  
     Actually my story is no fairy tale.  It goes like this:   "Once upon a time" there was me, without God in my heart.  Then I believed.  Jesus came into my life and I  "live happily ever after."
     Malachi 3:10,  “ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
     John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.