Lately, I have been working through issues of self-confidence and God-confidence. I'm torn because I want to be liked and accepted by my peers but I also want to be myself and be bold in my love for God. I mean, what girl doesn't want to be prom queen? I feel like i'm in the running for prom queen, all the time! If I don't say the right thing to the right person they might not vote for me. I don't agree with what people are doing but i'm going to go along with it because that's the cool thing to do. Now, i'm not talking about high school prom, i'm talking about real life prom, and i'm over it.
I'm a hairstylist so I talk to a lot of people. Some have the same beliefs as me, some have the same interests and some I have nothing in common with. God has put some of these people in my life to build me up and give me encouragement for which I am so grateful. There is one thing that stays constant in every situation; I have to opportunity to share my love for God with every one of these people! What a perfect situation God has put me in. The problem is Jesus said some pretty controversial things and I don't want to rock the boat. The gospel isn't very popular in my sphere of influence and I want people to like me. I HAVE to be prom queen.
So if God wants me to bring his kingdom everywhere I go, I have to be okay with not being the most popular person. When people have a problem with God, they hate everyone and everything that reminds them of Him. If people like what I say and I win prom queen, that's a bonus! God has so much more to offer us than the world does. He is offering us the greatest life on earth and eternal life, so why isn't that enough? For me, I am working on really understanding what God thinks of me. I feel like if I see what he sees and I can accomplish more for him. Not everyone has this struggle but I know a lot of people that do. So this is my conclusion.
John 15:18-21
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.
What ever we are going through, we need to remember that Jesus went through the same thing on Earth. People literally HATED him so much they killed him. And i'm worried about being popular? I'm not saying it's a silly struggle i'm just trying to put it in perspective.
I want this to be an encouragement to me and you. If people don't like what you have to say it's because they have issues to workout with God not you. So we can go on with life, bringing His kingdom and encouraging those around us with the love of Christ. Ultimately, I want people to notice the light of Jesus streaming out of me not just my pretty hair or cool shoes. I'm not there yet but hey, it's a journey!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
Jesus loves me, this I know.
I have grown up going to church and have always heard that God loves me. I have always believed that but I guess I'm still learning how much he really does love us. He sent His only son to die for us, right? But what does that really mean? I never realized what a sacrifice He really made.
Think of the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I always thought that God was the "main" guy and Jesus and the Holy Spirit were created by God but lesser than Him. I thought that God CREATED his son to die on the cross for us, so it didn't seem like that much of a sacrifice. I don't have kids yet so it would be like me creating a child knowing that I would have to sacrifice him. Well, I recently learned that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all equal and have always been. As long as God has been, so has the Trinity. Kind of confusing, right?
Understanding this has really changed my view on Gods love for us. He loved us SO much that he sent his only son, who has always been with Him, to walk the earth just as we do. He knew his son would have to die a gruesome and horrific death. It just blows my mind that someone would do that for me. I have everlasting life and a relationship with The Father because he loved me enough to sacrifice his son. I can hardly wrap my brain around it.
Knowing this makes the upcoming holidays mean something so different. We celebrate Christmas as the day that Jesus came to earth as a baby. We celebrate the sacrifice that God made and we need to remember what he has really done for us and why!
John 3:16 AND 17:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Think of the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I always thought that God was the "main" guy and Jesus and the Holy Spirit were created by God but lesser than Him. I thought that God CREATED his son to die on the cross for us, so it didn't seem like that much of a sacrifice. I don't have kids yet so it would be like me creating a child knowing that I would have to sacrifice him. Well, I recently learned that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all equal and have always been. As long as God has been, so has the Trinity. Kind of confusing, right?
Understanding this has really changed my view on Gods love for us. He loved us SO much that he sent his only son, who has always been with Him, to walk the earth just as we do. He knew his son would have to die a gruesome and horrific death. It just blows my mind that someone would do that for me. I have everlasting life and a relationship with The Father because he loved me enough to sacrifice his son. I can hardly wrap my brain around it.
Knowing this makes the upcoming holidays mean something so different. We celebrate Christmas as the day that Jesus came to earth as a baby. We celebrate the sacrifice that God made and we need to remember what he has really done for us and why!
John 3:16 AND 17:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
My life. His story
I haven't blogged in a while because I want my blog to be about what God is doing in my life and man has he been doing something big! I have been debating whether or not I should make this public. Why not? Its His story anyways.
I knew from the moment I started beauty school that I was exactly where God wanted me. I trusted Him through the whole process of school and job searching because I knew this was His plan for me. I started working at the salon right out of school and had a few really really tough months. Again, I knew God wanted me there but didn't know what he was going to do. I prayed and trusted Him to get me through those tough times.
During this process He was teaching me more than I even knew. I have learned that I have a very strong spirit of discernment. God has given me the ability to discern good from evil (as He does everyone), mine is just super strong. I have recently learned that I have been reacting to those feelings in all the wrong ways. Anger, criticism, judgment, sadness, and a need to control. God has shown me that he gave me that discernment so I can separate what's right and wrong, what's from Him and what's from the world. When I feel the holy spirit telling me something isn't right, I need to pray and pray hard! I don't need to judge or get angry and I definitely don't need to open my mouth (who would have guessed that's my biggest struggle ;) ).
Now on to the main point! I originally thought God wanted me to do hair so I can witness to my clients. Obviously that's a good idea but his plan was a little different. He placed me at this salon to be his light to the people I work with. God has some serious work to do and He trusted me to help Him. ME! What makes me so special? There are plenty of other people more suitable for this job! Of course it's scary and of course I don't feel worthy but he chose ME. At this point I have no choice but to follow His lead because he trusted me to be his vessel in this place and I'm going to do it! We have work to do and I am beyond honored that He wants me!
I have so many stories of success and failures that I've experienced through this journey. Some are personal to certain people and I don' t want to share things like that. I do have one story though! I have a client who attends a church in Albion called Real Life Ministries (at least I believe that's what it's called). She came in a few times and each time I felt so refreshed and encouraged! Well she ended up referring four other clients to me and all of them are from the same church. Everytime one of them came in I just felt God's presence and reassurance. Of course a large number of my clients are friends and church family who bless me every day as well! God has brought me some of the most amazing clients! People who continually encourage me and feed me the good news of Christ when I need it most. He has been so faithful to me and I am just beyond grateful to Him.
All of that to say this. God truely does have a plan for each of us and when we follow His lead it is nothing short of incredible. I'm not saying this journey isn't hard but it's so worth it. What's better than doing work for Christ everyday! My latest struggle is knowing when to be quiet and also controlling my tongue. The words we say are more powerful than we know. If you feel like encouraging me in that I would love it!
I knew from the moment I started beauty school that I was exactly where God wanted me. I trusted Him through the whole process of school and job searching because I knew this was His plan for me. I started working at the salon right out of school and had a few really really tough months. Again, I knew God wanted me there but didn't know what he was going to do. I prayed and trusted Him to get me through those tough times.
During this process He was teaching me more than I even knew. I have learned that I have a very strong spirit of discernment. God has given me the ability to discern good from evil (as He does everyone), mine is just super strong. I have recently learned that I have been reacting to those feelings in all the wrong ways. Anger, criticism, judgment, sadness, and a need to control. God has shown me that he gave me that discernment so I can separate what's right and wrong, what's from Him and what's from the world. When I feel the holy spirit telling me something isn't right, I need to pray and pray hard! I don't need to judge or get angry and I definitely don't need to open my mouth (who would have guessed that's my biggest struggle ;) ).
Now on to the main point! I originally thought God wanted me to do hair so I can witness to my clients. Obviously that's a good idea but his plan was a little different. He placed me at this salon to be his light to the people I work with. God has some serious work to do and He trusted me to help Him. ME! What makes me so special? There are plenty of other people more suitable for this job! Of course it's scary and of course I don't feel worthy but he chose ME. At this point I have no choice but to follow His lead because he trusted me to be his vessel in this place and I'm going to do it! We have work to do and I am beyond honored that He wants me!
I have so many stories of success and failures that I've experienced through this journey. Some are personal to certain people and I don' t want to share things like that. I do have one story though! I have a client who attends a church in Albion called Real Life Ministries (at least I believe that's what it's called). She came in a few times and each time I felt so refreshed and encouraged! Well she ended up referring four other clients to me and all of them are from the same church. Everytime one of them came in I just felt God's presence and reassurance. Of course a large number of my clients are friends and church family who bless me every day as well! God has brought me some of the most amazing clients! People who continually encourage me and feed me the good news of Christ when I need it most. He has been so faithful to me and I am just beyond grateful to Him.
All of that to say this. God truely does have a plan for each of us and when we follow His lead it is nothing short of incredible. I'm not saying this journey isn't hard but it's so worth it. What's better than doing work for Christ everyday! My latest struggle is knowing when to be quiet and also controlling my tongue. The words we say are more powerful than we know. If you feel like encouraging me in that I would love it!
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