Time to Take off the Mask

By Sis. Destiny D. Burks

This story is to give all readers another set of eyes to see from, and theyre my eyes. We all wear masks and dont even know it. Lets enjoy the journey together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543432886

Sis. Destiny D. Burks

I'm a woman that grew up in church yet the church had not grown up in me according to what I thought it should be. I've learned that just going to church don't make you a saint. It has to be in the heart and life changing experience. I Was married (big mistake) and was in abusive relationships, physically, emotional, sexually and more, and dropped out of high school, yet went back and got two degrees and a Biblical Diploma.Right now for me it's all about the Kingdom of God. Let this story be told I am not what people say I am but what God say's I am.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Sis. Destiny D. Burks.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2017909994

ISBN:   Hardcover   978-1-5434-3290-9

   Softcover   978-1-5434-3289-3

   eBook   978-1-5434-3288-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Website

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 06/27/2017

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

759600

Contents

1. How It All Began

2. Reality Versus Fantasy (Old Wise Tales)

3. Don’t Do As I Do But As I Say

4. Who Are You?

5. The Twenty-Ninth Day

6. Conclusion: Mask Off

DEDICATION

To my Lord and Savior first, Jesus Christ.

My mother Mama Brunnetta Burks; my godmother, Sister Mable Hart; Bishop R. L. Sanders, the one that pastored me and is my number 1 instructor in the Bible Institution.

My youngest sister, Minnette Burks, the one who encouraged me throughout this whole process.

The president of the missionary department and my spiritual mother, Mother T. Bonner.

Mr. Edwin Burks, one of my older brothers gone on to be with the Lord, told me, Sis, you can do anything you put your mind to. If you need help, call me.

The same goes for the rest of my family and friends, and let’s not forget the haters.

My seventh-grade English, math, and science teachers all used to tell me that one day I’d be a great writer; I used to enter contests in Reader’s Digest and win (short poems and stories).

Mr. Claude and Abbe Dickson, brothers and business owners who allowed me to manage their businesses (nightclubs).

My godbrother Pastor Walter Pierce, who got me started in speaking publicly, and Rev. Ann Paris who also encouraged and led me to speak in other cultures and fellowships.

Special thanks to the world in which I lived this out.

God bless you all.

SUMMARY

Who are you? Or do you know?

Test Question 1

Are you what you do and how you behave? Or is how you behave and what you do who you are? Do you even know?

Most of us don’t. That’s a real serious question; I had to really think about it and dig deep to answer it. I didn’t realize this until I wanted to know who I was and know my true identity. The masks we wear, whether we know it or not, are due to our lifestyles or professions. We wear hats, and they can be considered masks as well. But there’s a difference. Examples are the following: mom; dad; sisters; brothers; CEOs; pastors; missionaries; teachers; businessmen or businesswomen, whether rich and famous; and whatever we’re doing in life.

I had to learn how to live without the masks, and I’m still learning how to be more transparent. I mean, I’m still learning how to be who I really am, whether I’m on the job, in the grocery store, at home, or in church.

Test Question 2

If a recording bug was allowed to be posted in your private area (your home) and was played on a billboard worldwide, what would the world see? Can we say we are the same behind closed doors as we are in public? Now I’m not talking about our life beyond just being relaxed at home (with weave on or off, teeth in or out, clothes on or off). I’m talking about character and integrity (the very essence of who you are). Would God and the world be embarrassed or encouraged? With you being a representative of him (Christ), would the world want to become a child of God by what they see you do? Or not?

We all are growing daily, so how are you doing in your personally transparent living for Christ’s life? Let’s not forget the difference. Masks show what you’re trying to be or hide someone you don’t want seen; hats are functions / daily actions (professions, niche, etc.).

I pray the journey we’re about to take encourages you as it did me.

INTRODUCTION

I was a young girl from the inner city, and I just wanted to be understood and loved. I was the eighth child out of ten and had a wonderful mother and a military father. A donor, I call him. One that once told me, No matter how one is brought up, meaning whether with both parents or not, you can make it. (Single parenting isn’t a bad thing; I was raised by a single parent.)

I am someone who loves to show how God will and can make something out of nothing.

Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. (John 1:46, ESV)

What good can come out of Buffalo? (Me and you)

I am very interested in truth, love, and sound-minded people. I am real. I love to laugh and enjoy life. It has become a great thing for me now, being a blessing to others, just not being taken advantage of. Administering the Word of God and singing unto the Lord is my passion. I love traveling, playing pool and chess, and writing poems, songs, screenplays, and so forth.

I’m a young girl who grew up in church, yet the church had not grown up in me as I thought it should. I’ve learned that just going to church doesn’t make you a saint. It has to be in the heart and in life-changing experiences. (Not long as you live here you’re going to church.)

I have also been in abusive relationships—mentally, emotionally, physically, and sexually abusive. I overcame drugs and alcohol. I also know what it’s like to lose a child because I’ve lost two of my own. I lived in closed quarters I called a well-gated armed community.

I’ve been homeless;