And remember, this is for posterity, so please, be honest.

James 5:16
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. "

It can be uncomfortable and certainly humbling to admit your faults and struggles to others. It is most unfortunate that among Christians of all people, there can be an atmosphere of not wanting to appear "weak" or, perish the thought, "sinful". Pride makes us want to have others think we are great.

I'm not opposed to someone having it all together, but I see a great danger in refusing to confess our sins to each other so that we might pray for each other. I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but as for myself, I just happen to know that I am indeed a sinner. And I don't just mean that I was a sinner before I came to know Jesus; but that I am a sinner now, as a believer. I have some Christian friends who scold me for saying that. But I think it is wonderful to know that I can be honest with God about the fact that I am not capable of living up to His perfect standard, because Jesus Christ lived up to it for me. Not only that, but my penalty for failing to meet it was paid by His blood, shed on the cross. And my hope for eternal life is founded in His resurrection from the dead.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! - 2 Corinthians 9:15


Oliver Cromwell was once sitting for his portrait. He was not a handsome man, and to make matters worse, his face was disfigured by a number of ugly looking warts. The painter thinking to improve the looks of his patron was leaving off the warts. When Cromwell noticed what he was doing, he broke forth in great indignation as follows: "Damn you, sir; paint me as I am-warts and all-or not at all."


Six Months at the White House with Abraham Lincoln: The Story of a Picture
(The words of the painter recalling his meeting with the president.)

Retaining my hand, he looked at me inquiringly for an instant, and said, "Oh yes, I know; this is the painter." Then straightening himself to his full height, with a twinkle of the eye he added playfully, "Do you think, Mr. Carpenter, that you can make a handsome picture of me?"