Wednesday, November 16, 2011

tattooed on your heart

tattoos. a controversial subject.  my husband has 2 armfuls of them, a process that began {way} back when he was 18.  i had my first tattoo done when i was 22.  i'd been married for 3 years and my husband, Brian, wisely made me wait, even though i'd been saying i wanted one for a while.  he said..."when you can't sleep because you want one so bad...and when you know EXACTLY what you want, we'll talk".  it seemed more like fatherly advice, rather than husbandly, to me at the time. but since i was, in fact, married at 19 and he is 6 years older than me...well, it was appropriate.

Sid's Tattoo Parlor, Tustin, CA
now here we are, 20 years later, and at 42, i got my 7th tattoo.  i wasn't really planning it {ie; losing sleep over it} however when you live, uh, lets say on the outskirts of a big city, and the opportunity presents itself to get in some ink-time with a well-respected artist...you jump at it! my daughter called me out on the last-minute decision...."wait a minute...you always said you should lose sleep over....", "yes", i said,"you should. i still believe that. however, once you have a few tattoos already... and when you live where we live... you just always have a few ideas bouncing around in the back of your head just in case".  plus, i had an idea of what i wanted...

that hurt a little bit
when i was growing up in Anaheim, CA, my dad pastored Anaheim First Church of the Nazarene.  every Sunday...and i do mean every single one...he opened the morning service with this verse:

"and God has not given us a spirit of fear. but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." {2 Tim.1:7}

one day i asked him why he quoted that particular verse every week.  he replied that it was his life verse.  a verse of scripture that God had used in the process of calling my dad into ministry.  at a time in his life when he felt incapable, afraid and unsure, God used those words to remind him who he was in Christ. and that in Christ, through Him, he could accomplish what he'd been called to.

that verse became my verse.  it has affected my life in countless ways, on numerous occasions.  it has helped me remember that my calling is secure in Jesus, even when i feel like "he couldn't have meant this job for me". it has held me safe and sound along the path of ministry that can sometimes get rocky and lonely and steep.  i'm grateful to my dad for listening to the Lords calling and acting on it.  i'm grateful to God for the Word of Truth that guides and protects.


so, i called my dad the day i got this verse tattooed on my arm.  i have to admit... i was a little nervous to tell him. i mean, my parents haven't been all that thrilled over the years with Brian's and my, uh, artwork. and even though i'm a wife and mother...and adult for pete's sake!... i was still a bit apprehensive about calling him.  but, i knew he'd see it eventually, and i didn't want him to hear it from someone else.  so i dialed his number, and conjured up a happy tone in my voice as i said..."guess what i got?! a new tattoo!! but don't worry, you'll like it. it's our verse!" and i will remember his response forever. he actually laughed a little, and then said,

 "hey, as long as that truth is tattooed on your heart, i'm ok with it."

18 comments:

Confiado915 said...

I am excited for you. Awesome! The Truth you speak states volumes of life-changing power.

Alison said...

Love your Dad's response! I think that's what our Heavenly Father would say too!

EmilyDiaz83 said...

Haha!! I love his response as well. I think the most important is that you have that verse tattooed on your heart forever. And it was pretty fearless of you to tell your daddy, even though you're an adult! :)
God Bless!

homakr707 said...

I loooove ink! I have 3 myself and my family thinks I'm nuts. But I want more! I have a large one on top my foot that symbolizes women of faith. It really does help me keep my attitude in check. Keep on tatting!

Brenda Saldana said...

I so love your dad's answer and your dad's attitude!

Unknown said...

I think however GOD made us that's how we should stay, if he wanted us to be marked up like a bill board he would have done it himself, Christians must not look like the world, we should be upholding the standard of GOD. Drawings are for posters not for our skin. I think that is a horrible message you are sending to people who look up to you MRS Lewis, I really look up to you and I was surprised to see this.

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

I am very Sorry, I love your MUSICAL Life, however
this isn`t according to the God Word.
I am dissapointed. :(

Unknown said...

I love your ink!!! :D
Those who judge are to look themselves first and know they are not flawless. Those who judge are sinners too. Those who judge are the ones rejecting gay children of theirs and making them commit suicide because the Word of "God" states it that way. Those who judge reject anything and anyone that according to them is not complying with what God said in his Word. Please, stop being so bigoted.

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

I've been following you since I'm a teenager; I didn't know you had gotten a tattoo.
I just have to say I'm really sad and disappointed, didn't expect this from you. I do not condemn you but God's children know how to please their God according to his word (BIBLE).These days I've been really shocked by what Christians singers do and say: Jesus Adrian Romero saying Christians can celebrate Halloween :/ (Bible is so simple and clear about...)
Well...In fact, they do not realize God will call us into account for everything we say and do.

Hugs!

God Bless you!

Unknown said...

good in my opinion everyone has free albeldrio and remenber your body is a spirit temple

preludetogn1 said...

Disappointed, tattoos are open portals for demon possession.

Unknown said...

1ra de tesalonisences 5:23...y todo vuestro ser: espiritu, alma Y CUERPO sea guardado irreprensible para la venida de nuestro Senor Jesus el Cristo Nuestro modelo es Cristo no es Crystal Lewis, lo mas importante no es el talento sino el caracter de la persona y lamentablemente los tatuajes son una puerta abierta a la influencia demoniaca.

Me said...

I agree, I have just learned today of how Crystal has backslidden so so horribly. Friends with the world is enmity towards God what a disappointment and what a terrible witness to young children.

Lauralynn said...

Love the music you've been gifted with. Praying it's all for Jesus :-). It's one of my favourite worship songs; People Get Ready (I love Paul Wilbur too).
We are to repent of sins not glorify it. We also are told to not judge or by the same measure we will be judged. We can tell people though that it is a sin to tattoo. God said do not do as the pagans do by marking the body. My younger sister did it as a born again Christian and I was shocked and disappointed. We all still can make poor decisions as born again Christians. The difference is instead of being a slave to sin, it's now wilful. The important thing is to repent and get back on track and honour Jesus. He is returning soon to judge the living and the dead and then it's too late to repent. God bless all.

Unknown said...

Since a Kid I love your songs but sorry this is against the scriptures and you're sending the wrong message to youth
Leviticus 19: 28. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

Levítico 19: 28. Y no haréis rasguños en vuestro cuerpo por un muerto, ni imprimiréis en vosotros señal alguna. Yo Jehová.

Unknown said...

Yo desde que empecé a escuchar su canción cuanto amo a cristo me sonó su voz como a cantante del mundo y no sólo debería cantar que ama a cristo sino demostrarlo