God is Fair & So is His Favor

I heard a sermon once in which the preacher made the statement that "God is not fair". The words bothered me so much immediately. I have since really struggled with that 'claim'. As it depicts God in a light that I personally feel, is so false.

Since the sermon that I heard, God has shown me continuously, verse after verse, there's a reason that message has bothered me so much. I have read scriptures that say otherwise.

God IS fair.

Some definitions of 'Fair': Free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice: a fair decision; a fair judge. Free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism. 

I think about how as a parent I attempt to make things fair for my children. How it's my job as a parent to bring about that "fairness" and do things in  a "just" manner. Because, Life is not fair. People are not fair. Situations are not fair. Hardships are not fair. Circumstances are not fair. There are more things on earth that are NOT fair, than fair. So it's my job to keep things in my home as fair as I can. As a parent I love my children equally. Not one more than the other. They are each so different from one another. Each with her own strengths and weaknesses. Talents & gifts. Each with her own endearing ways. I could never love one more than the other. They are each so precious in their own ways. They each brings something no one else ever could to our little family. And in my raising them, I believe in treating each one fairly, free from bias, prejudice or favoritism.

Through life & all the unfairness it brings I believe we can have peace in the fact that we serve an incredibly fair God. We serve a just God. When life and all it throws at us is unfair, we can rest in knowing our God is righteous and just, good and FAIR. Our God loves His children equally and counts us as precious in our own ways. He sees what we each bring to the table.

Here take a look at the proof I found. (There are many verses that talk about God being fair and how we should be fair like him, these are only a portion.)

Genesis 18:19 I have chosen him so that he would command his children and descendants to live the way the Lord wants them to, to live right and be FAIR. Then, I, the Lord will give Abraham what I promised him.

Leviticus 19:15 Be fair in your judging, you must not show special favor to poor people or great people, but be fair when you judge your neighbor.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is like a rock; what he does is perfect, and he is always fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong, who is right and fair.

1 Kings 9:4 But you must serve me as your father David did; he was fair and sincere. You must obey all I have commanded and keep my laws and rules.

Job 34:17 Can anyone govern who hates what is right? How can you blame God who is both fair and powerful?

Psalm 9:8 and he will judge the world in fairness; he will decide what is fair for the nations

Psalm 9:16 The Lord has made himself known by his fair decisions

Psalm 33:5 He loves what is right and fair; the Lord's love fills the earth.

Psalm 89:14 Your kingdom is built on what is right and fair. Love and truth are in all you do.

Psalm 103:6 The Lord does what is right and fair for all who are wronged by others.

Proverbs 21:3 Doing what is right and fair is more important to the Lord than sacrifices.

Isaiah 30:18 The Lord wants to show his mercy to you. He wants to rise and comfort you. The Lord is a fair God, and everyone who waits for his help will be happy.

Jeremiah 9:24 But if people want to brag, let them brag that they understand and know me. Let them brag that I am the Lord, and that I am kind and fair, and that I do things that are right on earth. This kind of bragging pleases me," says the Lord.

Ezekiel 18:25 But you say, 'What the Lord does isn't fair.' Listen, people of Israel. I am fair. It is what you do that is not fair!

John 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

2 Thessalonians 1:6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you

Hebrews 6:10 God is fair; he will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for him by helping his people. And he will remember that you are still helping them.

I believe favor comes from God. I believe His Favor is fair because God is fair and favor is available for all of us who love Him. Favor can be bestowed upon all of God's children. Anyone who loves God can pray for favor and should pray for favor. 

God rewards. God gives. God takes away. God is fair. God will be fair.

Life isn't fair. Circumstances are not fair. But God is fair and we can find favor with Him.

Favor = (noun) an attitude of approval or liking (verb) feel or show approval or liking

Fact is God loves us all. When we strive to do what pleases the Lord we can find favor with him. Though we all fall short, God still approves of us. Like when our children fall short, nothing they do or don't do could ever make us love them less. If God didn't love us, He wouldn't have sent His son to die in our place. God created each of us. We are loved even when we fall short.

Favor as a form of favorite would imply that God has favorites, which Romans 2:11 says For God does not show favoritism.  

Therefore, God does NOT have favorites or favor certain children. God does not bestow his favor upon only certain followers like some game of chance or by a lottery system.

If salvation is available for all of us and Jesus died for ALL mankind wouldn't that mean we all have favor available to us? Proverbs 8:35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. Are you following? Favor IS for all of us who love God.

We shouldn't brag about our blessings or things we receive or have. To speak in a way such as to say "Favor ain't fair" is an 'in someone's face' statement which sounds like 'I am more spiritual than you or God favors me more because of this or that'. 

And this isn't how God works. Favor IS fair. We all can be blessed. Anyone who loves and serves God can receive God's favor. Being blessed with this or that, while the person next to us has something less at the moment doesn't mean they are less than us as a person or christian. It doesn't mean you have done something that warrants a bigger amount of favor. Someone having more money or less, a higher social standing or less, a job or a loss, a family or striving to have a family, etc. doesn't mean more or less "favor."

We can ALL count our blessings and should NEVER compare our blessings or favor to anyone else's.

Sure, favor can come in different forms. We don't all receive the same rewards and blessings in life. Because we're all different. We all have different talents, strengths, weaknesses, struggles, needs, wants, desires, etc. 

God is fair. So I believe His favor lines up with His fairness.

And that favor is absolutely available to all of us.

Psalm 5:12 Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Proverbs 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

Proverbs 11:27 Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.

I know I sound like a broken record, but I really believe this!  God truly is fair and anyone can find favor with Him! 

Count your blessings. Don't compare your life to anyone else's. We have all been created as equal and are loved equally by God. Embrace your salvation. Strive to follow the example set before us and live a life of righteousness by being fair in your day to day interactions with others. Find peace in God's ability to be fair when all else isn't.

Pleasantville VS Reality

According to Social Media a lot of my friends currently live in Pleasantville. Where life is daisies & fluff. Where life smells like roses & cherries. Everyone is SO blessed. Everyone is best friends. Everyone has THE perfect spouse. The most obedient, well behaved, cutest, always clean, never pee in their pants kids. Life is just hunky dory.

I mean, come on. Really? Really. Your life is seriously this fabulous ALL of the time? No. It isn't. That's not reality.

We live in this world of REAL life and then Social Media life.

A world where we have to pretend because our stalkers might see the real us. We fear the real us. Bosses might fire you for admitting something on the internet we all think, say or do. We might not get hired because of our Facebook activity. It's gotten so lame for some.

Modern Technology = 2012. It's the way people communicate today. So if it's the way we communicate why not be real? Why all this fluff?

While I am totally a glass half full, look at the positive, count your blessings type of person...I do have bad days. And sometimes I just want to be real. Sometimes I want to tell you I am having a bad day without feeling judged by the onlookers that think..."I can't believe she is admitting that". The last person anyone wants to open up to or be real with, is someone from the land of Pleasantville.

My world doesn't always smell like cherries. Though right now, if I really had to find a time we were the "happiest"...it may just be right now. Freedom galore.  My own little life is great. So this is NOT coming from a 'my life sucks so I'm gonna rain on your parade' attitude. Because if ever there was a time that it sucked, surely it's not now.

I think I have most often strived to be vulnerable in my life. Whether through social media or one on one. A lack of vulnerability has always frustrated me. Fake people have never NOT driven me insane, let's put it that way.

I say this from a heart that desires more sincerity. More vulnerable hearts. More honesty. More depth. More realness. Less fakeness. Less fruity fluff.

No, don't air your dirty laundry all over the place. No don't be a Debbie Downer and suck the life out of us. Vent if you need to, but you don't have to be a jerk about it. Just be real. There are ways to say & do things obviously. It just comes down to real vs fake. Reality vs Unreality.

I just wish there was more of a balance from people.

Some people and their posts. Ay yi yi..I mean do you really talk that way in life? All that weird lingo, saying the right things. Churchy words? Typing out what sounds so eloquent. All your lovey dovey, who haa. It's annoying. Who talks like that? Go get a job at a Greeting card company where your cheese would fit in quite well.

Miss June Cleaver, Stop trying to make others jealous by bragging about all of the good and only the good...all. of. the. stinking. time.

Life isn't a competition. Life isn't about who you can 'one up'. Honestly, when you brag, all that comes from it are people's annoyance. Sure people might feel envious, but is their envy worth their annoyance with you?

I don't know about you, but I think vulnerability is so refreshing.

We are usually blind to the power our vulnerability has. We've become so discouraged from embracing our vulnerability & letting others see it. But when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable we heal in ways we never thought possible, others heal from our willingness to be open & real. 


Vulnerability on our part makes us so much more sensitive & empathetic to others. It means you deal with your present feelings and emotions. Vulnerability is scary. It opens us up to hurts, pain, judgement, critique, rejection, etc. I know that doesn't sound real fun. But on the other end, it is so liberating and freeing. No pretending. No keeping up with the Joneses. No keeping up appearances. No having to keep track of your lies, embellishments or exaggerations.

When I hear someone be real and open I am more apt to hear and listen to what they have to say or share. Someone from Pleasantville on the other hand, yes, their words go in one ear & out the other.

If you are sad...It's okay to admit it. When you are rejoicing, we will rejoice with you. It's not about not saying what you are happy, excited, or blessed with. It's about balance. It's about your heart.

A catty, fake heart shows through the fluffiness.

A sincere heart shows through your honesty.

A person trying to one up the world or make another jealous is planning their own demise.

Stop exhausting yourself with all of the pretending.

Just be yourself. Be real. Be vulnerable. When you struggle let another stand with you. If you aren't comfortable telling the whole world you don't have to for crying out loud. Like I said, I don't think people should air their dirty laundry and be a bunch of Joy stealing, Negative Nellie's. Being vulnerable doesn't mean telling the whole world every little thing under the sun about your life. I'm not suggesting that.

Just be real. Start one on one. Open up to someone. Slowly but surely it will come out in other areas and people will be more likely to respect you & listen to what you have to say.

If someone asks you how you are, and honestly you are not doing well...Then don't go overboard telling them how hunky dory life is while you are dying alone inside.

Unforgiveness is My Issue

We all have something we are dealing with. Some issue in one way or another. Be it health, family, kids, spouse, personal, spiritual, physical, mental, etc. As soon as things are 'good', another issue is on the rise. . Sometimes major...But most of the time, or as I am choosing to say 'mostfully'...just some thing or another we are dealing with, in some way or another.

Right now if I am to be honest, my struggle is unforgiveness & bitterness as it pertains to a specific situation in my life. You know, it really stinks, because I have come so far in this area...or so I thought. Yes things have hurt me in my life over the years, people have frustrated me, but it was like God gave me the strength to forgive over & over and the true ability to kill another with kindness and just do the right thing no matter what. Boom, forgiven, slate wiped clean in the Laura book. (not that I even have the right to keep a slate)

I can do the right thing currently, but my attitude SUCKS.

I am hurt. Frustrated. Angry. Hurt. Sad. Hurt. Frustrated. Annoyed. In Shock. Whatever.

*Before you speculate, it is no one in my family.

I am trying my darnedest to move forward, but I have allowed bitterness to creep in my heart and take over. I am so angry at times I might swear at you. If I am being honest. Which I am. Being honest. I want to punch them.

Then... I read this and her letter has helped & spoken measures to me. "The forgiveness I give you is not a pass. You were wrong and you will always have been wrong" those words are for any of us struggling to forgive someone who has done us wrong in any way. 


Forgiveness isn't a free ticket to be crapped on. Forgiveness doesn't free the persecutor, its frees us, the crapee. God will deal with them. And right now that knowledge alone is what brings me some semblance of moving forward.


When we are done wrong...we want that person to know they did us wrong. To know they were in the wrong. 


Sadly, pride and arrogance doesn't pave the way for owning up to wrongdoings. 


It's out of my control. What you do...what another does...what they did...


So, for now I work on forgiving. I know it takes time. I know that I can at least acknowledge my need to forgive and lack there of, as well as the bitterness that has crept into my entire being. I will get through it. I will get past this seemingly stand-still moment in time. 


Forgiving doesn't discount the hurt. They were wrong. They will always have been wrong. 


I cannot let their wrong consume me though...


And I have. I have let it consume my every thought. It has made me skeptical of anyone like them. Anyone in their shoes or lifestyle. That's not fair. But right now I am struggling, feeling as though they are one in the same. These types of people. And true as it may be...it's not fair for me to speculate, assume, & judge unfairly.


The cycle of unforgiveness, bitterness, & resentment is a vicious one at that.


For now...I'm trying.


Mother Teresa said it like this:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, & self centered
FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY
If you are kind people might accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives
BE KIND ANYWAY
If you are successful you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies
SUCCEED ANYWAY
If you are honest & sincere, people may deceive you
BE HONEST & SINCERE ANYWAY
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight
CREATE ANYWAY
If you find serenity & happiness some may be jealous
BE HAPPY ANYWAY
The good you do today will often be forgotten
DO GOOD ANYWAY
Give the best you have and it will never be enough
GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY
In the final analysis, it is between you & God
IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU & THEM ANYWAY

Our Core

Each of us has a core.  A "who we are at the core of our being". When we compromise that core, we are only keeping up temporary appearances. Because who we are at the core, is who God created us to be. It doesn't change. Attitudes change. Choices change. Priorities change. Seasons change. Life around us changes so we adapt, we adjust. We grow, we mature, we learn, we like new things and dislike old things, etc. But the core of who we are doesn't change. We may try to cover it up for a time as we try to be someone we are not. We might make attempts to tailor our core to fit another's ideal, but it won't last. Eventually we all get sick of pretending.


Men and women can find themselves frustrated in relationships after they marry or make a strong commitment and the other person has "seemingly changed". But I think it's less that people change and more so that their or our core eventually comes out. We can only mask our core for so long.


I think more often we try and fool ourselves and others into thinking we are someone we are not so we can have control in some area of our lives. We do it to get that certain job. To get others to do what we want. To get the girl or guy. To get the part. To make a certain hire. We become the flavor of the hour to appease man, rather than remain who we are at the core and live for the audience of ONE off the bat. In the end if we're not ourselves to begin with all control is lost.


When we can live for the audience of God alone, all else will fall into place. There will be no masks. No facades. No pretending. No temporary stuff we cannot keep up with. We don't have to fool people so we can manipulate them.


This is who I am, this is what I like to do, and so on and so forth is not an excuse to live like a maniac or to not change the outer layers around our core. Sometimes those outer layers need a revamp.


But don't change for anyone or anything. Be yourself. You are you for a reason. Don't pretend to be someone you are not. Don't even try to fool yourself into thinking you are someone you weren't created to be. Be wholly, completely, uniquely you.


Don't measure yourself against the standard of man. Don't compare yourself to others.


Ecclesiastes 7:29 MSG -God made men and women true and upright; we're the ones who've made a mess of things


NCV-One thing I have learned: God made people good, but they have found all kinds of ways to be bad.


Your core is good. 
God created you to be good. 
Stay true to who you are at the core of your being.
There's so much freedom in that.

Thursday Thoughts (making the most)

Colossians 4:4-6
Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. -NIV


Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don't forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I'm locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I'll be able to make Christ plain as day to them. Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out. -MSG


Pray that I will be able to preach so everyone can understand. This is the way I should speak. Be wise in the way you live around those who are not Christians. Make good use of your time. Speak with them in such a way they will want to listen to you. Do not let your talk sound foolish. Know how to give the right answer to anyone. -NLV


Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. -NIV


So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely. Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times. -NCV


So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! -MSG

What are you doing to make the most of your every opportunity?

Thursday Thoughts (My Constant)

I am sitting here in my living room. The snow is falling. I've got a fire burning. I have my coffee and bible next to me. Mac on my lap.

Life is good. My husband is fishing with a good friend. My daughter is in and out every few seconds to give me a tutorial on what she is doing. My older two daughters are at school.

Life is good, because God is good. And because God is good I have peace in & with life and in seemingly ordinary and not so seemingly ordinary days.

While today really is any ordinary day, not much feels familiar in this exact moment.

Each day brings on new joys and new challenges. New ups and new downs. No complaints. Just not familiar. I haven't been in this situation before. Good? Bad? Neither really. Just unfamiliar territory. I'm 32 years old, My kids are 9, 6, & 4. Today is November 10th, 2011. I haven't been here before. I haven't been to this day. After today I won't return. Time moves on. Life goes by.

Different circumstances. Different age. Different stages. Different situations.

Within the unfamiliar territory the constant remains. My Jesus. He is constant.

My constant Companion. Constant Provider. Constant Redeemer. Constant Savior. Constant Friend. Constant Love. Constant Peace Giver. Constant Joy Maker. Constant Lover of my soul. Constant Lord. Constant Son of God. Constant Messiah. Constant Healer. Constant Counselor. Constant Deliverer. Constant Truth. Constant Lord of all. Constant Rock. Constant Light. Constant King. Constant Immanuel. Constant Advocate. Constant Perfecter of my faith. Constant Creator. Constantly Faithful. Constant Hope. Constant Strength. Constant Protector.

I know that no matter where life takes me God will always be. No matter what changes and spins around me, God remains.

Life can throw us wrenches and darts. People can disappoint. Situations can seem unfair, bizarre, misunderstood. But God is beyond faithful. With each familiar or unfamiliar day, ordinary or extraordinary in this ever-changing world, God remains Steadfast, Staunch, Unswerving, Unfailing, Unflagging, Changeless, Unvarying, Ceaseless, Incessant, Never-ending, Perpetual, Unceasing, Unremitting, Continuous, Uninterrupted, and Constant.

Thursday Thoughts (Follow Your Dreams)

“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure” -Proverbs 16:9

We are who GOD says we are and no one else. We can do all He says we can do. Don't doubt yourself. Since God's word says "I can do All Things Through Christ who gives me strength" -Philippians 4:13; We are capable of ANYTHING in and through our Lord!!!

This is great for our dreams! Go after your God given desires and God given dreams, Seek God in all you do and let Him lead and direct your paths!!! He can accomplish far more than we can hope or imagine when we walk through life palms up!

Don't base your self worth on who the world or man says you are. Don't base your self worth on what you think you cannot do. God wants to do so much through us! Ever think you haven't even begun to scratch the surface of who you truly are, what you can do in this world, the ways you can be used for God's glory?

God says "We are beautiful and we are loved and we can do all things through HIM who gives us strength!"

All things. Not some. Not a few. ALL things!

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
~Henry David Thoreau

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
~Harriet Tubman

Can we afford to put our dreams off to the side in this day & age?

Believe God has something BIG in store. Bigger than all of us. Seek Him on it & run for it!

We can't go wrong when our sole desire is to be used for greater good! Give God your all and He will give you His best! Complete with ups & downs a long the way, because that's life. But if you are alive & reading this, then the best IS yet to come. Because With God, it can only get better, as we grow deeper in a relationship with Him. It can only get better as we grow stronger & wiser through Him.

In the last days, God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.' -Acts 2:17

Proverbs 29:18 says "When there is no vision the people perish"

Be encouraged! Allow yourself to be open to God-given dreams and visions. God wants to use our dreams to show us we can trust Him, believe His Word, Be used for so much more and rejoice in hope that comes from Him & Him alone!

In a post by Joel Osteen he says "the Latin word for 'desire' means 'from the Father.' One way to tell if a dream is really from God is that the desire won’t go away. You may have had it for years, but you still can’t let it go. In fact, you may have tried to let it go, but it won’t let go of you."

DON'T give up on your dreams! Protect them from negative people & those who only see doom & gloom! Remember, with God, anything is possible. And we are made to live for so much more!

"Meant To Live"

Fumbling his confidence
And wondering why the world has passed him by
Hoping that he's bent for more than arguments
And failed attempts to fly, fly

[Chorus]
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside

Dreaming about Providence
And whether mice or men have second tries
Maybe we've been livin with our eyes half open
Maybe we're bent and broken, broken

[Chorus]

We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than the wars of our fathers
And everything inside screams for second life, yeah

We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live
We were meant to live

Family Thoughts...

As summer, unfortunately nears an end and we gear up for another school year I find myself thinking a lot of the average family in today's world. The one thing that comes to mind is "BUSY". We are way too, cotton picking busy people.

Some of us rushing here, there and everywhere, carting the world and ourselves all over kingdom come like chickens with our heads cut off. What has happened to truly valuing QUALITY time? How can we do that when we are so rushed and occupied with life?

Now, I know there are busy seasons in this roller coaster of life. I get it. I have kids. I have a life. We understand busy. But I am SO thankful my husband and I are on the same page as far as balance! Balance is the key! Is your life balanced? Does your family come first NO MATTER what?

I have a few bits of advice that are just on my heart to share in hopes that they might encourage someone to take control of their family time and VALUE these short years we have with our children at home instead of shuffling them & ourselves off everywhere!

1. One kid, One event. Period.
2. Think about creating a starting age for events. We started Carter at 3 (firstborn syndrome) Waited for Addyson who is now 6 & starting riding lessons. But we'll see if we can stick with that and keep Makenna (4) from an activity besides the library story time til she is 6.
3. Look ahead in calendar planning. A calendar, when you can help it should be well balanced. A month should not look crammed. If you have an especially busy week, then plan that one of the days you happen to have free is a "keep free/plan nothing" day. I don't care if you have to be constantly doing something! Or if you are one of "those busy bodies". There is VALUE in the stillness!
4. Schedule dates with your spouse. Get them on the calendar. DATES are extremely important to set time aside for!
5. Schedule dates with your kids. Schedule time with each one individually, that you set aside to do whatever they want (within reason). Our kids LOVE coffee dates and just talking.
6. You have the REST of your life to do "everything" else. Remember you will never look back and wish you did one more event, went to one more gathering, meeting, trip, etc... BUT You will look back and wish you spent one more moment with your child(ren).
7. Don't sacrifice your kids on the altar of busyness & hectic schedules. Don't be so willing to trade in your family for anything.
8. Eat at least 3 dinners a week together as a family
9. Love to a child is most often spelled T-I-M-E

We must strive to balance our weeks, then our months, so our years don't fly so tremendously fast. Don't rush this time you have with your children. Don't thrive on them being "gone".

Your child needs you. They need to know that you want to be with them. That you like being with them. That you not only LOVE them, but you like them and thoroughly enjoy them too!

Slow down...Say No...Put your family first

Normal vs. Weird

I am curious as to what constitutes a person as "weird"... And why is "weird" not the "norm"? Why is normal not weird? Who's to say you're not the weird one? I, for one, take great joy in people saying "Oh my gosh, you are such a weirdo". Especially coming from my siblings or close friends, etc. To me those are words of endearment. Such as when I might call someone a dork, goof, or nerd. It's all in love.

I read a post recently that classified a group of individuals as weird. I got to thinking, so, if EVERYONE around me is "weird"...everyone but me, well, doesn't that in a sense make me the odd man out? So by their standards wouldn't they be the norm and me be weird?

Anyhoo, What IS normal anyways? And who wrote the definition for it? What is weird? What constitutes a person as weird?

Who are we to pinpoint or classify someone as weird or different? Isn't that how God created us? Each Different, yet Equal!?

If we were created different, yet equal, why are we not living like it?

Striving to Be REAL in a Fake, Fake World

Why are so many of us afraid of vulnerability? What is it about being "fake" that is so appealing? Are we afraid to be who we really are? Do we even know who we really are? Or is it that we are surrounded by people with opinions so "high & mighty" it causes the unfortunate disease called "worrying what people think". If we would just worry less about WHAT people are thinking and realize they AREN'T thinking about us we'd be SO much more free to do and be who we are!

One thing I know is we live to please God, NOT man. If we are doing what we know God wants us to do, if we are where He wants us to be, if we are who He has made us we're good. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT PEOPLE THINK OR SAY ABOUT US THAT DETERMINES WHO WE ARE. ITS WHO GOD IS AND WHO HE SAYS WE ARE!

The key to breaking this fake, two-faced world we live in, is vulnerability. Being who we are. Staying true to ourselves and to our core. Sticking to the non-negotiables, no matter what. Be strong in the Lord. Be yourself! Open up and don't be afraid. Happy people are REAL people. Happy people are not afraid of vulnerability. To be free, we have got to put ourselves out there!

Sour, unhappy people are FAKE people.

And remember if someone is talking to YOU about someone else, chances are they will talk about you behind your back as well. So beware of the gossipers and backstabbers of this fake, fake world.

Also let's be slow to judge. Quick to love and accept. Slow to make assumptions. Quick to love and see the good in others.

Be strong enough to make our own "opinions". Don't go off of what others say.

Every ONE has a story. Every ONE is worthy of love. We are all equal. We ALL fall short of the glory of God.

And Christians!!! Attention Christians!!! We are in this walk, in this life together!!! Model OUR model! Jesus Christ. The most REAL, vulnerable, loving man to ever walk the face of this earth! Stop being so mean, rude, and judgmental. Being a christian doesn't make us better, it makes us FORGIVEN! Being a christian doesn't give us a ONE up on anyone else. We've messed up and misconstrued what true christianity is all about.

So, let it start with us. Be Real. Be vulnerable. Don't hide in this fake, fake world. Fakeness only = misery.

~Laura Chapman