Christian Living

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We all want to be liked. We want to be 'popular' people.

I read a book once entitled, "If You Really Knew Me, Would You Still Like Me?'

I've lived a lot of years, trying to be the person I thought I was supposed to be.

I'm not that person.

If you see any good thing emanating from my being, it isn't me. It's Him.

People hide behind their Christianity masks, trying to show the world how saintly they are, how above 'all this' they are, but those aren't real people. Those are people trying to pretend to be more than they are, trying to achieve the standard, making themselves and everyone else within fifty feet of them miserable.

I have decided to stop hiding. What you see with me is what you get. I am a real person. I goof.
Frequently.

I offered myself, along with all my imperfections, to the Most Perfect One. And He accepted me, just as I am. A total mess, but a willing one. How could He possibly use someone like me to further His purposes?

He does. In spite of me. The things I try to keep secret are the things He wants to use. The things I am ashamed to admit to are the things He wants me to show to the world.

So, I am not hiding anymore. My cards are out on the table for all to see(even if I cringe) and my life is an open book. I have no secrets. I am living a soap-opera life, and I'm not afraid to tell you.

I've found out, amazingly enough, that my worst habits are the doorways through which I initially reach out to others, and find myself with a new friend to explore the deeper stuff with.

I want people to like me. I like people. All people. They fascinate me.

But other people's opinions cannot rule my life.
Only God has that place, and His opinion is the only one that matters. He knows me, through and through, and He loves me. No matter what else
happens in my life, I know this.

Remember when Sally Field accepted her Oscar, and there she was in front of millions of people, and she blurted out, "You like me! You really like me!" as if it was just the most amazing thing in the world.

We all want to feel like that. But don't compromise yourself in order to get there. The bar has been raised, and you must meet the challenges ahead whether the people in this world like you or not. Stand firm.

I still wonder. If I allow you to really know me, the real me, will you still like me?

I hope so.

If not, so be it.

God loves me. What else do I need?

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