I’m slowly becoming me.

1 John 5: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

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Combing my hair wasn’t my strength and my clothes may have been a little tattered but I still wanted to participate in “the group.” I changed my clothes, combed my hair and soon found out it wasn’t good enough. I then changed my glasses, lifted weights and I fit in a group I didn’t like.

Will I ever be “accepted” in this world?

·         Sometimes I don’t feel like I fit in.

·         Sometimes I think I would be better off if “that group” would just accept me.

·         Sometimes I fall into the trap of running after people who are not worth running after and I leave GOD out of the relationship.

Many times I beat myself over the head trying to be what someone else wanted me to be. I tried to fit in and found myself not liking “me.” Even in church I had a difficult time being “me” because I felt wrong all the time. I mean it seemed like I was never going to reach my destination anyway so why try? BUT GOD says different.

·         GOD says “Everyone who believes that JESUS is the CHRIST is born of GOD.”

·         GOD says “Everyone who loves the FATHR loves HIS CHILD as well.”

·         GOD says “Everyone born of GOD overcomes the world.”

I then realized GOD made my relationship easy.  HE didn’t lump the burdens of physical buildings and structured programs on me, rather HE gave me a simple message “GOD loves me and HE loves you.” You mean I don’t have to be like those people over there? Yes!

GOD made me special and only I can do the tasks HE planned for me. It matters not how accepting the world is of me, what matters is my belief in HIM who saved me.

·         Are you tired of running after people who are not accepting you?

·         Are you tired of trying to please everyone?

·         Can you stop trying to be something different and be what GOD wants you to be?

Perfection in the making

Hebrews 10: ¹² But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.

¹⁴ For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

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“One hundred ten pounds” is what I exclaimed to the person at the department of motor vehicles. I mean it was my first license and I couldn’t look like a weakling and tell my real weight!

“Thirty” was the answer I said to a coworker who just wouldn’t show me any respect because I was in my twenties. I wonder where those lies got me.

• When I am self-conscience I try to cover my flaws.
• When I am insecure I try to validate my existence.
• When I am uncertain I try to muster up self-confidence only to find I am fractured.

The longer I follow CHRIST the more I realize I really need HIM for perfection. It seems there is always a decision I could have made better or something I should or shouldn’t have done on a daily basis. Sometimes when I look at all the rules and regulations placed on me by “churchy” people I actually feel like giving up. I mean who can keep this holy stuff up?

• JESUS gave HIS life up as a sacrifice for mine.
• JESUS is now sitting at the right hand of the FATHER.
• JESUS sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me, guiding me to perfection on a daily basis.

I really want the process to be done. Can’t I just call myself perfect and be done? Not quite. Each morning I wake to a new day with new opportunities to sin or not. I have the choice to serve others or serve myself. Every once in a while I actually choose CHRIST as my focus and HE says well done.

• Are you trying too hard to “be” holy before you are “made” holy?
• Do you actually think you have arrived and “that” person hasn’t?
• Can you see GOD working in and on your life?
• Do you believe HE can even handle “that” sin of yours?