Here's a little lesson for those of you who do not know. Cows are judged by their outward appearance, their conformation (muscular and skeletal structure). In the case of dairy cows, they are also judged by the amount of milk they produce.
Appearance and production...hmm. Sounds a lot like we humans. The world only seems to care about how we look, what we do and how much money we make. What about the conformation of our hearts, our souls, and our minds? Do we strive to conform, to be "normal" or are we satisfied being uniquely different?
(Hint: a cookie cutter Christian I am not. If that's what you're looking for, save yourself some time and stop reading.)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV
My Reality
I tried to be normal, I really did. I always felt different, misunderstood. I was the square peg. And that round hole? Didn't fit! Childhood was rough. My teen years were miserable. Adulthood - until recent years - was confusing and very painful. I went through depression several times. At one point the enemy had convinced me that I was seriously mentally ill. It was a lie!
I tried to be normal, I really did. I always felt different, misunderstood. I was the square peg. And that round hole? Didn't fit! Childhood was rough. My teen years were miserable. Adulthood - until recent years - was confusing and very painful. I went through depression several times. At one point the enemy had convinced me that I was seriously mentally ill. It was a lie!
For much of my life, I was hungry. Hungry for love. Hungry to be understood. Hungry to be accepted, weirdness and all. Once I knew the love of God, my hunger was refocused. I became hungry for more of God. Hungry to know Jesus more intimately. Hungry for greater understanding and revelation. Hungry to go deeper, and then deeper still.
How cool is it that God brought Larry into my life? We each bring our own set of weirdness to our marriage! And we are thrilled with that. We complement each other well in our personalities, our giftings and our weirdness. God knew what He was doing!
As we have pursued God, He has revealed who we are in Him and what purpose He has for each of our lives. It has been amazing! I am so proud of my godly, righteous husband. He is a gifted teacher of the Word. I've been thrilled to encourage Larry in his giftings and calling. But when God began to give me glimpses about myself, I couldn’t take it in. It scared me to death. I tried to run from it, stuff it and ignore it.
The reaction of people to the revelation of the real me has been...well...interesting. Some people recognized it long before I did. Some have been challenged by it. Others have tried to discourage me. And still others have outright denied it to be true. You see, I didn't fit the mold. I was way outside the box.
Doubt and confusion crept in. And the fear of getting it wrong. But God kept confirming who I am over and over again.
Hats off to my encouragers! More patient people do not exist on earth! They have hinted, reminded, pushed, pulled, even dragged me through the last ten years. Until I was out of excuses. It was time to move the gear shift from park to drive. Time to take the road God laid out for me instead of the relatively "normal" trail I had chosen.
So what is this road God has me on? He has given me a voice and a platform. Through writing and speaking, I am declaring His truth and the freedom available through Jesus Christ. He is calling me to help people see themselves as God sees them (I got a taste of this while working at a pregnancy center - mm hmm).
The Lord is calling me to fully develop the giftings He placed within me so I can run the race. I am no longer satisfied to sit on the sidelines. Or merely walk on the traditional track, dressed in the established warm-up suit and shoes, striding in that perfect, acceptable way. I am loving the freedom!
How cool is it that God brought Larry into my life? We each bring our own set of weirdness to our marriage! And we are thrilled with that. We complement each other well in our personalities, our giftings and our weirdness. God knew what He was doing!
As we have pursued God, He has revealed who we are in Him and what purpose He has for each of our lives. It has been amazing! I am so proud of my godly, righteous husband. He is a gifted teacher of the Word. I've been thrilled to encourage Larry in his giftings and calling. But when God began to give me glimpses about myself, I couldn’t take it in. It scared me to death. I tried to run from it, stuff it and ignore it.
The reaction of people to the revelation of the real me has been...well...interesting. Some people recognized it long before I did. Some have been challenged by it. Others have tried to discourage me. And still others have outright denied it to be true. You see, I didn't fit the mold. I was way outside the box.
Doubt and confusion crept in. And the fear of getting it wrong. But God kept confirming who I am over and over again.
Hats off to my encouragers! More patient people do not exist on earth! They have hinted, reminded, pushed, pulled, even dragged me through the last ten years. Until I was out of excuses. It was time to move the gear shift from park to drive. Time to take the road God laid out for me instead of the relatively "normal" trail I had chosen.
So what is this road God has me on? He has given me a voice and a platform. Through writing and speaking, I am declaring His truth and the freedom available through Jesus Christ. He is calling me to help people see themselves as God sees them (I got a taste of this while working at a pregnancy center - mm hmm).
The Lord is calling me to fully develop the giftings He placed within me so I can run the race. I am no longer satisfied to sit on the sidelines. Or merely walk on the traditional track, dressed in the established warm-up suit and shoes, striding in that perfect, acceptable way. I am loving the freedom!
Freedom Not Perfection
What gave me the courage to step out? What gave me the freedom to begin to live the life the Father had planned for me? My desire to honor and glorify God is stronger than my apprehension and fears. And the realization that "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me". Philippians 4:13 ESV
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him. Psalm 28:7 ESV
Do I feel those old insecurities at times? Of course, but I then remember to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). Have I encountered opposition? Absolutely, on every front imaginable but I persevere. Some days are better than others. Some days I can stand victoriously and some days I struggle. It is a battle. But I know who wins the war!
Do I get it right every time? No. I have missed the
mark plenty of times but I keep moving forward. Grace is a wonderful thing!
What Conforming Does
In making the compromise of conforming to this world, we concede who God created us to be. We deny the uniqueness He intends for us to bring to the Kingdom.
In making the compromise of conforming to this world, we concede who God created us to be. We deny the uniqueness He intends for us to bring to the Kingdom.
Conforming to this world is confusing, mind numbing, spirit silencing, and
heart wrenching. It leads us places we were never intended to go,
doing things we were never intended to do. We shut down parts of ourselves that
God has purpose in while embracing things that were never intended to be part
of us.
It drains us. It discourages us. It cripples us,
disabling us spiritually. We battle within ourselves daily until we no longer
know our own voice let alone recognize the voice of the Spirit.
When we conform to this world, we miss out. We’re
robbed of the blessings of living the life God planned for us. And we deprive
those around us of our uniqueness.
The Lord's Plans
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Yes, the Lord has plans for us. He has a calling on each and every one of our lives. He has placed giftings within each of us. No two of us are exactly alike, we are each a special blend. Priceless. Precious.
I am a lover of teas. All kinds. My favorite is English breakfast, a combination of various black teas. To me, it is the best blend with a depth of flavor that my palate craves. Whenever I drink basic black tea, I miss the blend and all that the other teas bring to the cup.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Yes, the Lord has plans for us. He has a calling on each and every one of our lives. He has placed giftings within each of us. No two of us are exactly alike, we are each a special blend. Priceless. Precious.
I am a lover of teas. All kinds. My favorite is English breakfast, a combination of various black teas. To me, it is the best blend with a depth of flavor that my palate craves. Whenever I drink basic black tea, I miss the blend and all that the other teas bring to the cup.
We've each been created as a special blend, a blessed combination of qualities and giftings. Conforming to the world changes the blend, the uniqueness, the specialness that God has placed in us. It limits us and what we have to offer. Why should I settle for a black tea when I have a cupboard stocked with the rich English Breakfast blend?
Life often distorts our view of ourselves but God delights in restoring truth. He is in the beauty from ashes business. No matter what path we have taken or how far from God we may have run, He can bring resurrection to our gifts and calling. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 They are a permanent part of our being. Nothing can strip them from us, nothing. Hallelujah!
So, do we deny the gifts He has placed in us to pursue conformity? Do we reject the calling He has on our lives? Do we miss out on the blessing of being His ambassador, His hands and feet?
Heads up! If we don’t fulfill our plans and purposes, someone else will be given the honor and privilege of carrying them out. The Kingdom of God will move forward with or without us. I know I don't want to be left behind.
I am not a cow. I refuse to conform to the world's standards. I embrace the purposes of the Lord, the uniqueness He has placed within me. And I honor the uniqueness He has placed within each of you.
Let's get to work!
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory
forever. Amen. Romans 11:36 ESV
No comments:
Post a Comment