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The Wrong Mask

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Heidi Viars

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Recently a good friend made me a mask. I really loved it … until I wanted to put it on in public. I paused when I looked at it as I walked up to the store. Then, without hesitation, I put it back in my bag and pulled out a different one.


It’s not that I don’t love Jesus. I do. More than anything. It’s not that I don’t want to tell others about Him. I do. Whenever the Spirit prompts me. No. Those are not the reasons I think this is the wrong mask for me.

When I pull this mask over my face, I feel like Jesus is putting His hand gently over my mouth. It feels as if He is intently listening to whatever passes across my lips and through the thin layer of material.

Is really everything I speak worth hearing? Can people hear the truth and Jesus when I speak? Is what I say necessary and helpful in bringing others closer to God? Is what I say truly uplifting? Is it nice? Does my heart need checking before what comes from it forms words?

I confess that I have to take a closer look at myself before I commit to this mask.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:29-32

41 responses to “The Wrong Mask”

  1. Aimee P Avatar
    Aimee P

    Powerful post!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      Thank you for reading and taking time to comment! Blessings

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      Reply
  2. SaaniaSparkle 🧚🏻‍♀️ Avatar
    SaaniaSparkle 🧚🏻‍♀️

    Nice blog!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      Thank you for reading, Saania 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Bill Sweeney Avatar
    Bill Sweeney

    Excellent, Heidi.
    We have to be careful about what we say. Words are so powerful.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      I have such a long way to go, Bill. “Lord, continue to clean up my heart!”

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    2. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      This post randomly came up. I saw your comment from a year and a half ago. I miss you, my friend. I miss being able to email you when I need advice and someone to pray for us. I can’t wait for the day … when we see each other in heaven. I hope you took notes about the moment you stepped into eternity. I want to know the details!!!! I smile even now thinking how you must have ran and talked … did they have to tell you to hold your horses??? Probably not … I am so sad for us that you are gone … and so happy for you to finally be able to walk and talk!!!! Can’t wait to see you, dear dear brother.

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  4. francesrogers Avatar
    francesrogers

    Thank you, Heidi. I just got to this. It was interesting to read the comments. Blessings and prayers for us all as David prayed “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3 Love you ~

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      Dearest Fran, I say his prayers so many times during the day. Yes, watch over my mouth and a door over my lips. Love you, friend!

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. acquelinewhyte51 Avatar
    acquelinewhyte51

    Got it! Very thought provoking blog, Heidi; and a very good one! Amen and thanks so much!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      Thanks for reading, dearest friend … It’s always good to hear from you 🙂

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  6. seekingdivineperspective Avatar
    seekingdivineperspective

    Jesus’ hand over my mouth sounds just about right. :/
    (My mask says “Faith Over Fear.” 🙂 )

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      When I put it on my face, it really does feel like it… it’s really soft mask 🙂
      Just curious … have you gotten comments from people while wearing your mask? Has it prompted any spiritual conversations?

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. seekingdivineperspective Avatar
        seekingdivineperspective

        So far just a lady at our church who wanted to know where I got it. (I got her one, too. 🙂 )

        Liked by 1 person

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  7. Nancy Ruegg Avatar
    Nancy Ruegg

    I agree: if we wear such masks in public our words and behavior better be stellar 100% of the time. No mistakes! Years ago I pulled up at a stop light behind a car with the bumper sticker: “Honk if you love Jesus.” Since it was not a busy intersection, I went ahead and gave the other driver a friendly “Beep-beep!” WELL! He whipped around and gave me the dirtiest of looks. Obviously he had forgotten what his bumper was asking people to do! Since that experience I’ve been hesitant to blatantly advertise my Christian beliefs in public, for fear of doing more harm than good.

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    1. seekingdivineperspective Avatar
      seekingdivineperspective

      This is why I don’t do bumper stickers.
      One day I was coming back from the beach with a couple of large buckets of sand for the sandbox I had just made for my kids. The person in front of me slammed on the brakes BEFORE turning on their turn signal. I had to stop suddenly, too, and you can guess what happened in the back … As the car slowly turned in front of me, I saw the bumper sticker saying “Smile. God loves you.”
      I don’t think I was smiling.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Heidi Viars Avatar
        Heidi Viars

        That is too funny, Annie!

        Liked by 1 person

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        1. seekingdivineperspective Avatar
          seekingdivineperspective

          It is now. Didn’t seem too funny at the time. Someone in another recent blog said (something like) “Humor is experience plus time.” 😉

          Liked by 1 person

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      2. Nancy Ruegg Avatar
        Nancy Ruegg

        I don’t blame you, Ann!!

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    2. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      It’s crazy how we remember the hypocrites, isn’t it … That is a pretty funny story. I am afraid if I would wear that mask, I’d be the center of someone’s story not too far down the road 🙂
      Thanks, dear Nancy, for your kind words!

      Liked by 2 people

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  8. Lynn J Simpson Avatar
    Lynn J Simpson

    That is a very bold mask to wear and I’m not sure I could. Which has me questioning myself on how prepared I am to boldly have Jesus on my lips to speak of, always! I loved how it helped you with the your children though! Jesus finds a way to help us monitor our words in the most unexpected ways!

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      I would love to be able to wear it one day … when I grow up 🙂 Thanks for reading, Lynn.

      Liked by 2 people

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  9. fuelfortheraceblog Avatar
    fuelfortheraceblog

    As the song says, “There’s just something about that name…”. God’s grip – Alan

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      There is, Alan … more than we often care to admit!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. kkrnc74 Avatar
    kkrnc74

    Thank you, Heidi, for your message. It resonates with me, has triggered much introspection and prayer. Your ministry has a greater impact than you can imagine. Blessings to you for taking the time to set our minds and hearts straight.
    Love,
    Kris

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      Thank you for these encouraging words and thanks for letting me process as I try to set mine straight first 🙂 I am grateful God is patient with us! Blessings and much love to you

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  11. francisashis Avatar
    francisashis

    I thank the Lord God for giving so many people an active conscience for discernment.It’s really a matter of joy for me.Thanks a lot .Take care.🌷👍🙏

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      Thanks for reading, Francis! Blessings to you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. francisashis Avatar
        francisashis

        Amen.Most welcome.🌷👍🙏

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  12. Anna Waldherr Avatar
    Anna Waldherr

    I see many Christian drivers w/ the ichthus symbol of a fish on their cars, but have always shied away from adding a similar bumper sticker to my own car. I am not sure my driving meets the high standards of patience and kindness Christ would desire, and do not want to be a bad witness. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      That’s where my mind went as well. I think I will have to practice a bit more before I walk about with “Jesus” written across my lips 😷Blessings, Anna … Thanks for reading!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. Collene Avatar
    Collene

    Interesting perspective. I agree it is a good idea to think twice about what we say before wearing a mask like that.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      Thanks for reading, Collene … I think I’ll practice wearing it at home for a while and see what reaction I’ll get here 😉

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Justin Brown Avatar
        Justin Brown

        Great content, most the time or homes are were we are pushed to the max as we are tested in taming our tongue.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Heidi Viars Avatar
          Heidi Viars

          That’s why I started wearing the mask you made me at my house … and … you are much appreciated, brother!

          Liked by 1 person

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      2. seekingdivineperspective Avatar
        seekingdivineperspective

        Oh my! Home can be the hardest place to live it out!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  14. Bruce Cooper Avatar
    Bruce Cooper

    Hi Heidi, interesting reaction and I think I probably would have done what you did only I’m not sure if it would have been for the same reasons. I don’t have any problem telling someone that I am a Christian but when it comes to wearing T-Shirts or anything else that speaks of Jesus or Christianity that one wears, I usually have second thoughts about that. I can’t help but feel that it is like advertising and I just don’t want to put Jesus into that category. Now a days you can literally see just about anything on a T-Shirt and an awful lot if it can be crude and insensitive. Maybe I am old fashioned (which is probably an understatement) but Jesus deserves respect and I don’t want to be a showcase for anything less than that.

    Have you ever seen the notice on the back of a car or truck that says “If you see this driver speeding or acting inappropriate, then to call this number”? I wonder if all Christian had to wear a sign that said “If you ever see or hear this Christian person acting inappropriately, please call God at this number.”, if that would change the way in which we speak to others or change what we do? It really shouldn’t, but I have a sneaky suspicion that there would be more than a few of us that would justify that phone call being made. To quick to gossip, slow to help, unkind words about others, to name but a few infractions.

    Considering that God knows everything that we think or do, that is a realization that we should be constantly aware of. And when I read your post, the thought crossed my mind, was it respect for God or the realization that I did not want that tag on me which made me more accountable? I’m thinking it’s still the respect but there may have times when it could have been the other. Good post! Blessings!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Heidi Viars Avatar
      Heidi Viars

      Thanks for your thoughts, Bruce. I really appreciate them.
      At first I was really excited about wearing this mask. I thought it would make for a good conversation. I am not shy to talk to people about Jesus. But I felt this mask was different… it just has Jesus written across my lips. I don’t think I could do Jesus justice … it felt more like I was being pushy with it.
      But … today, when I got upset at something that happened at my house, I pulled it out of my purse and put it on. The kids had pushed my buttons … When they saw it, they smiled and got the message I was trying to convey… “We all need to watch our words.”
      I think I will wear it here at my house for a while … and see how it shakes out.
      Thanks again for the conversation, Bruce… It has Jesus written all over it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Bruce Cooper Avatar
        Bruce Cooper

        We raised five children so I know where you’re coming from. And you’re right about our words, physical wounds heal but words go deep and can linger for years. Good for you with the face mask, it definitely can’t hurt in the home and like you said, it could be a good conversation starter outside the home. You got me thinking which is a good thing. God’s continued grace, peace, joy and blessings on you and yours! – Bruce

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    2. seekingdivineperspective Avatar
      seekingdivineperspective

      I do cringe when I see some of the Christian gear, Bruce, but every once in a while I see something that grabs me. My latest purchase is a T-shirt with a cross in the middle of an American flag and the words “America needs Jesus.” In the din of all the politics, I hope it will make a quiet statement and maybe start some conversations – and that if it does the latter, I will let God speak through me and not blow it. :/

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Bruce Cooper Avatar
        Bruce Cooper

        I like that one and good for you! I remember in my military days I belonged to an organization called Military Christian Fellowship (MCF) here in Canada and I had been at a meeting in Ottawa, Ontario and flown back to Nova Scotia where I was based. I brought back some bumper stickers for MCF and I went to give one to one of my Christian friends and before he looked at it he said “I’ll only put that on my car if it is in good taste”. For some reason I was upset that he had said that and I thought to myself “Was the cross in good taste?” but never actually said it out loud. Yet for some reason I remember it to this day whenever I see a T-shirt etc. I think if it has the right message and said so that it cannot be taken as a joke it is fine. You’re quite the lady Ann, I’m looking forward to meeting you! Blessings.

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