Where Do I FIT Part 4

Make sure to read Part 3 when you get a moment, as I am posting these back to back...

Our final piece of FIT comes with a bit of surprise to me.  As I prayed I just kept getting the word- Transparency.  Really?  OK, God, you're in charge, this is your idea, let's dig in.

Fist off, let's amuse ourselves with what transparency is NOT.  It is not (although I am guilty!) a free excuse to say whatever is on the brain or whatever I feel at the expense of tearing down, hurting, embarrassing or harassing another... and then using the phrase "Well, it's true!" to justify.  The Word tells us in fact "Love is not...boastful or proud or rude" 1 Corin. 13:5 NLT.

Transparency is also NOT airing out all of my dirty laundry to everyone, everywhere (guilty yet again!).

It is actually wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent.

In fact, Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:6, "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

We can be truth tellers and be bold share our history… and yet walk in extreme discretion with whom we share ourselves with.

So, why transparency and what in the world is it really?

Let me share this insightful definition: “A transparent object, especially a photographic slide, is one that is viewed by light shining through it from behind or by projection.”

Something that is transparent allows specifically light to pass though.  I am sure you know where this is going.  By being transparent we can allow the light of Christ to shine though our very lives!

Suddenly, that abuse we may have endured; the bully we put up with and prayed for; the test (scholastic or situational) we failed…through the light of Christ can become the very thing that helps complete the puzzle around us!

The people God has put around you need YOU, with your experiences and even your shortcomings!  Testify to those in your life about what God has done, and what He has brought you through.  Bring hope to your neighbors and friends by allowing light of Jesus to pour through the dark times of your life.

Tell of what He has done in wisdom and love...no one else has your story.

Your story helps make the puzzle whole.

Where do I FIT part 3

Excuse the delay...we have been out of town for 10 days!  Miss y'all!

Where Do I FIT Part 3

I am writing this on my iPhone while on a plane traveling to San Francisco. As thrilled as I am with my personal pocket genius (thanks to a generous friend who gave it to me!) it is not the greatest for typing (fir ecample thus is unedititrd)

Moving on... We are over the great state of Kansas at the moment, Alice, our 2 year old, is in a trance watching a Praise Baby video... (also my husband is in a trance playing ping pong on his iPhone-who knew?)

Great time for mommy blog time.

As I'm sure you're on the edge of your desk chair... I bring you part 3 of our series on "Where Do I FIT?"

If I am called to "put off falsehood" (see part 2) then how in the world do I actually find out who I am?

This brings us to the "I" in our acronym. We find out who we are, and thus, where we fit only in a constant and intimate relationship with the very One who created us. Don't miss this...the term "intimacy" is so used in church these days we can so easily over look it.  Isn't that funny how that happens? 

If we are to ever "find ourselves" we must press into this intimacy, a deep relationship with God. He knows our personalities, talents, desires and potential... He is the ingenious master mind of you.

He is the one who can show you- you, thus I find me by seeking Him.

Beware of false prophets! Many out there tell us to "find ourselves" by traveling the world twice, chanting and humming, love relationships...etc. Dear ones, this is why we must know the Word-it is clear!

 

Psalm 103:14 says “for He knows how we are formed"

WOW.
Psalm 139:1 “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.”

CLEAR and SIMPLE.

1 Corinthians 8:2-3 “The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.”

THANK YOU GOD.

 

Other believers, mentors, parents, spiritual tools are wonderful helps but it is really through intimacy with Christ and through His word we find ourselves.

You may be in a loving encouraging home, but when you get to school or the workplace and can’t bear to be “you”. Or you may be in a very broken home and being who God made you to be isn’t very welcome.

I don’t know, but I know the pressure is somewhere for each of us, because our enemy is prowling and if he can get you to become someone not you, you will not have the influence God intended for you.  You will not complete the puzzle.

Dear Friends, let me encourage you, you CAN, through intimacy with Jesus not only find out who you are, but the Holy Spirit can enable to help you walk that out! We are not left alone- Praise God!

Where Do I FIT Part 2

After no further adieu (is anyone else surprised that word is spelled "a-d-i-e-u by the way?  Maybe it's just me, I have never been the best speller...yes, Mom... you can laugh!) I bring you Part 2 of FIT.

I woke up in the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago with the acronym FIT on the brain or "in my spirit" if you will...knowing that God wanted to show me something for each letter.  I started asking God...what are you saying, what is this illusive acronym and why are you having me use this anyways?!  I really don't want a gimmick...I want YOU God, I want you to speak.

He did.  He took me to Ephesians 4:25 where He tells us through the apostle Paul, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”

Whoa, I knew the "F" was "falsehood". Strange maybe, but we must get the revelation, dear ones!  We are called to put off the parts of us that are false to find where we FIT!  When we are restlessly layering ourselves in performance, aiming to be someone we are not, we are walking in falsehood, and not speaking truth to our neighbor!

Friends, have you ever thought of lying and/or truth-telling this way?   Finding where we belong or fit in this world, be it your school, family, work place, even church begins with being YOU.

You see, the world tells us that to fit in, we must be LIKE everyone else...  But in the bible, God's holy and everlasting word, oh there is hope for us still!  God tells us that in order to fit in, we must be uniquely us, the only one who He created us to be! The pressure is off!  We already fit in...to His plan, His tapestry, no performance or pretending necessary!

Did you ever work on puzzles growing up...I mean the ones with actual corner, edge and middle pieces that make a complete picture when finished?  I have never been very successful with things such as these, as I cannot sit still and concentrate for long.  (Excellent trait for being a superb multi-tasker, not so good for puzzles and knitting.)

Anyhow think of each puzzle piece; everyone is different.  Even puzzles constructed by the same manufacturing mold have different pictures applied... each piece has a unique shape, placement, color and pattern.

What would happen if one tiny piece of a 1000 piece puzzle lost it's edge? How much more unique are you than a mass produced, glossed, cut section of cardboard? 

Now, consider how your Creator, your Father in heaven, designed you to fit in to the world around you.  He fit you in to be unique, but also to make His picture more beautiful...more complete. What impact.

Lord help us put off falsehood and speak truthfully to our neighbor!  Holy Spirit how us areas where we are not being authentic to the world around us!  Thank you that you designed us to fit specifically in the place you have us at this very moment.  We worship you God by being truly us today.  In Jesus's name, Amen.

Where Do I FIT? Part 1

I am sharing a message with some of the youth girls at our church tonight and thought I would share this with y'all as well...'cause don't we call want to belong, to fit in somewhere?  By the way...if you answer a tough grudged "no"... is it possible that you may have shut down part of your heart?  I know I have in the past. Allow God to search your heart in this area.

Sometimes the longing to fit in becomes too much, it hurts when we aren't accepted and we turn aside from that ache and become hardened.  Or, we make ourselves someone we aren't just to fit in.  Suddenly we are making compromises we never imagined and acting like someone who used to drive us nuts.

This is not just true of a teen generation!  This is not an age thing, a personality thing, a "trendiness" thing...

this is a heart thing.

Outgoing, introverted, funny, beautiful or plain, there is a longing in ALL of our hearts that yearns to know we belong...somewhere, to SomeOne.  Some of us, unfortunately and painfully, find belonging in detrimental groups and activities like drugs, alcohol, gossip groups and promiscuity.

But for most of us we fill our need by jumping head first into a cause we may believe in, we get really involved with church, our kids schools, we become the one who ALWAYS makes the best grades, we are renown as the most beautiful...etc.  You may be asking...well what in the world is wrong with that? 

I'm so glad you asked!  If that sacred activity of teaching Sunday school was stolen by one who could teach better than you...how would you respond?  Has where you fit become WHO you are?  Are you allowing your station in life a place in your heart that only belongs to our Lord?

Does this mean we become hermits, stop being with people and serving others?  No way...on the contrary!  When we are allowing God to meet our belonging-longing, we become more free!  We are free to serve, work and love others, knowing if we aren't recieved it won't ruin us.

There is a deep longing in all of us that wants to fit somewhere, and I believe it can only be met by the Savior of our Souls, the only One who really knows us...Jesus Christ.  He is the only One who can 1. fill the longing to belong; and 2. show us where we fit into His plan.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

So, this is part 1 of 4 postings on the question...Where Do I FIT?  Come back for more!

Lord, Help us!  Forgive us for continually allowing our longing for YOU to be met by other people and activities.  Holy Spirit enable us to meet with our God moment by moment so we aren't pulled away by unworthy substitutes.  Thank you that we fit into your plan and your kingdom perfectly oh God...just how you made us!

God richly bless you today my dear friends...love all of you and thank you for reading!!!!!!