Who Am I, Really?

                Who here is a Christian? Good! I’m glad you believe you are. You believe that Jesus is Christ, the son of the living God and redeemer of your sins. Amen! There’s much more to it than that my sisters. We have been called to do amazing things in our life and in the lives of others around us. Now, you’re probably thinking, “That’s for other Christians, not me.” Oh but it is for you. You are amazing and loved. Let me repeat that for you. You are amazing and loved. Beyond anything that is worldly, you are worth more than gold itself. I wish someone would’ve of taught me that when I was growing up. Looking back, I’m glad they didn’t. You are meant to walk on your own path. People may walk beside you on the same path for a short time then return to their own. That doesn’t mean your path is not good. We are walking forward thinking “What is going on? I don’t understand.” That’s because you can’t see the finish. Only God can. So trust in Him, believe that everything will be okay. Look behind you, your past, some areas you’re still unsure why that happened but most of your past makes perfect sense. It’s like a big puzzle that you don’t have the picture to refer to. You’re wondering what is the big picture going to be? Then, you can’t find the puzzle piece. Where is that piece that I need?

I’ve been a “Christian” all my life. Attended King Solomon Christian Camp from day camp all the way to the summer after I graduated high school. Every summer I looked forward to seeing my friends from camp. Being surrounded by other kids my age who wanted to learn about Christ and develop a more in depth relationship with him made me feel, well, amazing. I felt wanted, loved, cherished. Not only from my friends but from the adults and counselors there also. Every summer, I was a Christian.

                The school year was a different lifestyle. Of course, I would attend church and youth group and be all about Christ around my fellow brothers and sisters. And during those times I was completely happy! But then came the partying with school friends. The football games, cheerleading, skipping classes, trying new things with all different types of boys. None of that stuff was as fulfilling as the time I spent with my Christian friends. It was a temporary high, an “I’m accepted for now” kind of love. Even in those times when I was “adventuring” I felt out of place, judged, alone.

                It's easy to forget who we are. Sometimes this world grabs us and eats us up and spits us out, leaving us feeling worthless. But we're not! We are God's children. We are never alone, or out of place. Sure the world tells us to be that girl, date that guy, wear your hair this way, wear these clothes... But why would do we want to conform to the ways of the world when we are so much more than that? God reminds me everyday that I am loved, cherished and accepted. One of my favorite verses is Matthew 6:25-27. Mostly cause I'm a worry wart but also because it assures me that everything will be okay no matter how the world or life treats us.

Matthew 6:25-34

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.