”The phrase, sine cera is Latin for “without wax.” The story goes that dishonest or untalented sculptors in ancient Rome or Greece covered flaws in marble and pottery with wax. To demonstrate a quality product, honest sculptors labeled their creations “sine cera” —indicating a piece with flaws left uncovered. As the story goes, the term, sine cera, became synonymous with such honest presentation, that it eventually became the root of the word “sincere.”
I see in the apostle Paul’s life and his statement of being the greatest sinner an example of what sine cera might be.1 He embraced his weakness because he knew in weakness Christ was strong.2 No need for wax to pretty things up.
I believe that all glory belongs to God. I desire that people know me in truth so they will not mis-credit the works of God to me: “It must be God because I know it can’t be Dale”. I want my life to be a testament of His love, His faithfulness, His power, His mercy, His grace with all that He is eclipsing my weakness and failure. God increasing while I decrease.3
I have lived a life walking the fence. I’m not proud of who I’ve become. I’ve squashed others to make myself look good. I’ve pursued the wicked desires of my heart. I’ve exalted myself, taken the throne and found death. I desire to dethrone myself and put God in His rightful place. I’m tired of enthroning the enemy by agreeing with him. I want life and I want it abundantly.4
I desire for God’s mercy, His grace, and His love to flow through me. I desire for His blessings to follow me all the days of my life.5 I imagine a wake of blessings following me like the wake widens behind a boat, reaching to distant shores.
I choose, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to call sin as it is; confessing my weakness in agreement with God. I want to receive His mercy, partake of His grace and be forever changed by His unfailing love. I want to know God, His love and His faithfulness so well that I laugh when the enemy opens his mouth.
I believe the better I know God the more transparent satan’s lies will become. I know that temptation will loose all appeal. Oh, that temptation would simply be a reminder of God’s wondrous love.
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.6
I want to love God with all of my heart, all of my soul, and all of my strength. I don’t know how to accomplish this. All of my ways take me in the opposite direction.7 I am thankful to Jesus for His obedience to God the Father, His sacrifice on the cross and for sending the Holy Spirit so that I may live the resurrected life that He sacrificed for. I trust that God will reveal how to love Him through His word, through the example of His Son Jesus and through His Holy Spirit.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.8
I am beginning to see the fruit of the work He is doing in my life. My faith is growing because of His faithfulness. The evidence is like a goad prompting me to yield more and push into God, going hard for Him. There is an excitement growing within me, an unquenchable desire for more. I long for His presence and to hear His voice. The word has taken on a new dimension and I find it hard to put it down. There is a hunger and thirst for righteousness expanding within me.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.9
I desire to become all that God created me to be. I know God has provided all that I need to accomplish the work he created me for. I long to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant”.10
The Holy Spirit is teaching me how to run the race and secure the prize.11 I am guarding my heart and storing rare and beautiful treasures within.12 13 I desire that the words of my mouth and the overflow of my heart will be pleasing to God.
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.14
I am lost without God. I know that I can accomplish nothing without Him. He is changing the desires of my heart to align with His. He is preparing me to receive His goodness and eternal promises.
I declare Jesus Christ as Lord, King of Kings. I willingly bow before Him.
12.10.11