Quote from Forum Archives on April 14, 2002, 11:50 pm

Posted by: tom.peck <tom.peck@...>

Thank you, brother, for this word.  I have long been bothered by Christians who focus on improving self-esteem rather than their Christ-esteem, thinking that they do sin because their "esteem" is too low rather than realizing that they sin because they are too full of self (i.e. prideful about their poor self-image).

True, we are to esteem one another and build each other, but this is to be done through helping each other see our worth through Christ's blood, not our own efforts.

Thanks again,

Tom Peck

Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2002 11:19 AM

Subject: [PastorMail] "LOW SELF IMAGE?"

MIguel de Cervantes wrote a novel that was made into a great Broadway hit and movie called "Man of La Mancha."  The novel that Miguel wrote was called and was about a man named "Don Quixote"

In that play the main star Don Quixote met a prostitute by the name of Aldonza. She was a worthless woman, ugly and deep in sin. Don Quixote kept telling Aldonza that she was a fine lady and had much worth, until she became just that! He loved her and he made her believe in herself and he even gave her a new name, "Dulcinea."

Toward the end of the play, Don Quixote is dying. And at his side is the worthless woman whom he idealized, Aldonza. Qioxote loved her with a pure love, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. When Quixote breathes his last breath, Aldonza is singing "The Impossible Dream." Someone shouts "Aldonza!"  She replies: "My name is now Dulcinea." Thanks to Don Quixote's love, the ugly Aldonza had died and the beautiful Dulcinea was born! True love had transformed a worthless wretch into a wonderful women.

Jo-ann said after we had just seen the play on TV: " The impact of Quixote's love mirrors the love of Y'shua's love for us! And it reminds us of that Scripture from Galatians 2: 19-20."

                   " I have been put to death with Christ.....
                     so that it is no longer I that live,
                     but it Christ that lives in me."

When you accept Y'shua ha' Maschiach into your life, you are set free from the curse and receive the same blessing as Abraham! Just like Aldonza! That is when we become that "brand new creature, just like she did and even got a new name of Dulcinea! Aldonza was gone!

Read Deuteronomy 28 today, and study both the blessings and cursings and choose blessings like Aldonza did. After you read this Torah passage you will understand that we are receive the same blessings as the Children of Israel received through Abraham, and we are not to under those curses. Although being a Christian does not guarantee us a life free from trial and difficulty, we have a covenant right to expect Y'shua's blessings in every area of our life. Y'shua can change us from an Aldonza into a Dulcinea in a twinkling of an eye!

Edwin Markham put it this way:

                 "He drew a circle that shut me out~~~
                  Heretic rebel, a thing to flout,
                  But love and I had the wit to win,
                  We drew a circle that took him in"

            
                  In His grip,   Pastor Dick & Jo-ann