These past few days, my mind keeps going back to the term "authentic." The term itself can have many different meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. She has an authentic Dooney and Bourke bag. Those jeans are the authentic brand we were looking for. The architecture has an authentic feel to it. What about using the word authentic to describe ourselves? How authentic are you?
These questions have triggered a whirlwind of thoughts within my own mind lately. I have begun questioning my own authenticity. Now, I am not saying I am fake. I despise "fakeness." If you know me well at all, then you know that what you see is what you get. I am a weirdo--you know, one of those "English types." Those people that diagram sentences in their head, and have autocorrect built into their brain. I like to talk. I enjoy church. I love my family. I crave reading books--all kinds of books. I get a kick out of inside jokes, laughing, and educational banter.
Being your own individual is all well and good, but the question remains, "Am I authentic?" Do I allow others to think that I've got it all together, that my life is perfect, and that I don't need anyone's help? The truth is, I don't have it all together, my life isn't perfect, and I do need help from others. If we were all honest with ourselves, we would all admit that life is not a bed of roses or a walk through the park.
So, what is keeping us from being authentic? What is holding us back from being real and no longer pretending? Is it pride? Fear of rejection? Fear of being judged or called names? Fear of self-loathing?
The thing holding me back was (and still is) the fear of being judged. I am and have always been afraid of being judged. What will people think if my hair is out of place? What will they say if my children misbehave? If my car isn't spotless? If I am not the perfect wife, mother, coworker, or friend? What will people think?
While it is important to do all things to the best of your ability, it is not important that you be perfect at everything! That would wear anyone out. Life is not a competition. It is not a game. It is about building those important relationships with your family and friends. The important thing is that you are real--authentic--in your day-to-day life and in dealing with people.
What's holding you back today? Overcome it, go out, and be real. Be brave. Be authentic. After all, you are the only you there is and ever will be!
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” ~C.G. Jung
“Nothing is more attractive than being your authentic self!” ~Dawn Gluskin
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Taking Time
Everyone, it seems, is always in a hurry. We hurry about through the grocery store, the drive-thru, the stoplight as it's turning yellow (guilty). Oftentimes, our "rush through the to-do list" attitude causes us to miss out on life. We get into such a hurry that we forget to "stop and smell the roses" so to speak.
What if we just slowed down a little? What if we took the time to listen? Not only to those around us, or to nature, but to God? The Lord desires that we do this.
Psalm 46:10 reads, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to rushing about through life. I usually have a to-do list a mile long, so I have very little time to spare on most days. I have told my children (and husband) to "Hurry up!" on more than one occasion. I have rushed through my daily devotion, hoping that the Lord would bless me. Rushing through my devotion usually resulted in the Lord saying to me, "Really, Danielle? That's all you've got? After all that I have done for you, you give Me five minutes and a cookie-cutter prayer? You can do better!"
I can do better, and I am trying to change that. I am making a concentrated effort to take the time--to spend time with the Lord, to listen, to laugh, to love, to fellowship. I am finding that the rewards are instantaneous. You learn things about people that you never knew before. You get the chance to share the love of Jesus with the stranger in the grocery store. You get to be a blessing to someone instead of bypassing them to the express lane.
I challenge you to join me. Take time for God today--no more drive-thru devotions. Take the time to listen, to laugh, to love, to fellowship, or to be a blessing to someone. You might just surprise yourself.
What if we just slowed down a little? What if we took the time to listen? Not only to those around us, or to nature, but to God? The Lord desires that we do this.
Psalm 46:10 reads, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to rushing about through life. I usually have a to-do list a mile long, so I have very little time to spare on most days. I have told my children (and husband) to "Hurry up!" on more than one occasion. I have rushed through my daily devotion, hoping that the Lord would bless me. Rushing through my devotion usually resulted in the Lord saying to me, "Really, Danielle? That's all you've got? After all that I have done for you, you give Me five minutes and a cookie-cutter prayer? You can do better!"
I can do better, and I am trying to change that. I am making a concentrated effort to take the time--to spend time with the Lord, to listen, to laugh, to love, to fellowship. I am finding that the rewards are instantaneous. You learn things about people that you never knew before. You get the chance to share the love of Jesus with the stranger in the grocery store. You get to be a blessing to someone instead of bypassing them to the express lane.
I challenge you to join me. Take time for God today--no more drive-thru devotions. Take the time to listen, to laugh, to love, to fellowship, or to be a blessing to someone. You might just surprise yourself.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Craving Godly Consistency in Life's Irregularities
Routine. Order. Consistency. I have a "hankering" for, a craving for, a desire to possess these characteristics in my daily life. They are necessary for my sanity to remain intact, and essential to the well-being of all those around me. If any of these fall through, Lord help those who are unfortunate enough to be around me when they do!
My Type-A personality leaves little room for irregularities; however, life doesn't always work out quite that way. I am a mother and a middle school teacher. Irregularities seem to be popping up everywhere these days. It's as if the Lord has designed these quirky irregularities to come into my life to teach me something. Perhaps that is true--because they certainly have!
Looking at the irregularities that have occurred in my life (at least in the past 12 months), I can definitely see God's hand in every one of them. In the initial facing of these, I became greatly discouraged. Greatly discouraged. Discouraged to the point of giving up a time or two. It was in those times that He spoke to me and said, "Danielle, I am your consistency. I am the only consistent thing in your life. Lean on me. Depend on me. I am."
It is beyond difficult for me to depend on anyone or anything. This is just the way that I am wired. God, however, requires that I lean on Him.
1 Peter 5:7 says, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
I will be the first to admit that leaning on God is difficult for me. It is not really a trust issue--I trust Him completely. I have managed, throughout my life, to create this false sense of dependency on myself. I have always felt like I could control any situation that comes my way. If something was wrong, I would fix it myself. If I was having a bad day, I would try to fix it by praying and eating chocolate (another blog post for another day). If I was feeling depressed, I could be encouraged by scripture or go out and buy myself some new earrings or a venti latte. If I was sad, I could watch a funny movie or read an inspiring book. These "fixes" are temporary and inconsistent. What I crave is Godly consistency--the kind of consistency that never fails!
When you really think about it, human consistency is an oxymoron. Humans are not consistent! We fail. We falter. We disappoint. Godly consistency, on the other hand is the only true consistency there is. He never fails. He never falters. He never disappoints.
Lamentations 3:22 says, "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."
Allow Godly consistency to rule your life. Hand it all over to Him. I close today with lyrics from Kristian Stanfill's song, "One Thing Remains."
Higher than the mountains
That I face
Stronger than the power
Of the grave
Constant in the trial and the change
One thing remains
Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love.
In death, in life
I'm confident and covered
By the power of Your great love
My debt is paid
There's nothing that can separate
My heart from Your great love
My Type-A personality leaves little room for irregularities; however, life doesn't always work out quite that way. I am a mother and a middle school teacher. Irregularities seem to be popping up everywhere these days. It's as if the Lord has designed these quirky irregularities to come into my life to teach me something. Perhaps that is true--because they certainly have!
Looking at the irregularities that have occurred in my life (at least in the past 12 months), I can definitely see God's hand in every one of them. In the initial facing of these, I became greatly discouraged. Greatly discouraged. Discouraged to the point of giving up a time or two. It was in those times that He spoke to me and said, "Danielle, I am your consistency. I am the only consistent thing in your life. Lean on me. Depend on me. I am."
It is beyond difficult for me to depend on anyone or anything. This is just the way that I am wired. God, however, requires that I lean on Him.
1 Peter 5:7 says, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
I will be the first to admit that leaning on God is difficult for me. It is not really a trust issue--I trust Him completely. I have managed, throughout my life, to create this false sense of dependency on myself. I have always felt like I could control any situation that comes my way. If something was wrong, I would fix it myself. If I was having a bad day, I would try to fix it by praying and eating chocolate (another blog post for another day). If I was feeling depressed, I could be encouraged by scripture or go out and buy myself some new earrings or a venti latte. If I was sad, I could watch a funny movie or read an inspiring book. These "fixes" are temporary and inconsistent. What I crave is Godly consistency--the kind of consistency that never fails!
When you really think about it, human consistency is an oxymoron. Humans are not consistent! We fail. We falter. We disappoint. Godly consistency, on the other hand is the only true consistency there is. He never fails. He never falters. He never disappoints.
Lamentations 3:22 says, "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."
Allow Godly consistency to rule your life. Hand it all over to Him. I close today with lyrics from Kristian Stanfill's song, "One Thing Remains."
Higher than the mountains
That I face
Stronger than the power
Of the grave
Constant in the trial and the change
One thing remains
Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love.
In death, in life
I'm confident and covered
By the power of Your great love
My debt is paid
There's nothing that can separate
My heart from Your great love
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Finding Jesus
I have struggled with whether or not I should share this publicly. There are so many things in our lives that are reserved to be private, and to be honest, I wasn't sure if I was ready to share this or not. My children are precious to me. Their sweet little souls are priceless rubies in my eyes. I am very careful with what I share about the "inner workings" of our little home, as what transpires there is a common thread woven between the hearts of each person in our home.
Last Thursday night, my baby boy (age 7) accepted Jesus as his Savior. I cannot begin to describe the joy that enters my heart at remembering this special night. Hunter had been asking lots of questions about Jesus, salvation, heaven, and hell for several months--questions that typical 7 year-old boys don't ask. His humble spirit was an encouragement to me as I tried to answer all his probing questions.
His questions were answered by the evangelist at our revival last week. Hunter continued his barrage of questions throughout the services. What does fellowship mean, Mom? How come Paul loved Jesus so much? How do I show that I love Jesus as much as Paul did? He was relentless, but I was loving it! When the evangelist said that he felt someone needed to make a move, my precious little man tugged on my arm, looked at me with those knowing, beautiful blue eyes, and said, "I need to make a move, Mom. I want to be saved." I went with him to the altar to accept Jesus. My daughter, Paige, also came with us to pray for her baby brother. We were all moved to tears, as he prayed earnestly to Jesus to save his soul.
What a blessing my children are to me! Now, I can rest in the assurance that I will spend eternity with them.
"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." ~Matthew 19:14
Last Thursday night, my baby boy (age 7) accepted Jesus as his Savior. I cannot begin to describe the joy that enters my heart at remembering this special night. Hunter had been asking lots of questions about Jesus, salvation, heaven, and hell for several months--questions that typical 7 year-old boys don't ask. His humble spirit was an encouragement to me as I tried to answer all his probing questions.
His questions were answered by the evangelist at our revival last week. Hunter continued his barrage of questions throughout the services. What does fellowship mean, Mom? How come Paul loved Jesus so much? How do I show that I love Jesus as much as Paul did? He was relentless, but I was loving it! When the evangelist said that he felt someone needed to make a move, my precious little man tugged on my arm, looked at me with those knowing, beautiful blue eyes, and said, "I need to make a move, Mom. I want to be saved." I went with him to the altar to accept Jesus. My daughter, Paige, also came with us to pray for her baby brother. We were all moved to tears, as he prayed earnestly to Jesus to save his soul.
What a blessing my children are to me! Now, I can rest in the assurance that I will spend eternity with them.
"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." ~Matthew 19:14
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