Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Who am I to be silent?

Recently on campus, I saw a man with a poster that said we have to change before Jesus will accept us. It definitly made me reconcider how I am living my life. Is this truly what people believe? 

One of the cool things about Jesus is that He loves and accepts us no matter what we do. We can never deserve what he did for us, so trying to work for his acceptance will never get us anywhere. 

Ephesians 2:1-10 talks about how our works are not what save us:
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

This man, whom had a word to share that I certainly do not agree with put himself out there and shared his beliefs. I later saw several students talking with him. 

If he is willing to share his beliefs, then who am I to keep the saving grace and mercy of Jesus to myself? Why am I not out there in the world sharing the love of the Almighty God with people? Who am I to stand silent while there are lost people?



Sunday, February 16, 2014

Identity in Christ

The last few weeks at church the college class has been going through a series about our identities in Christ. One of the points that was made the first week is that our identities are not the same as our self-worth or confidence. While I agree that they are not the same thing, I do believe that my self-worth is dependent upon what I believe to be my identity.

I have struggled my whole life with being confident in who I am and what people think of me, but you know what? Who cares?!? It doesn't matter what earthly people think of me. The only opinion I should truly be worried about is that of my Savior.  I'm slowly becoming more confident in who I am in Him. I am who God made me to be. I don't need to hide myself or try to be someone that I'm not just to impress someone, especially a boy. If you are meant to be with someone, he/she will love you for who you are, not who you pretend to be.

Psalm 45:11 says " The King is enthralled by your beauty. Honor him for he is your Lord." and Genesis 1:27 states that we are created in the image of God. Think about that for a moment. God created me and you to reflect who He is! He is a holy, righteous, beatiful God, and He created you in His image.

Who am I to say that I'm ugly or worthless when a mighty God knit me together and told me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139)?  Embrace who YOU are, not who your friend is or that popular girl that you want to be like.

 Let's take a journey to become the lovely, beautiful, joyful people that God created us to be!

Beautifully His,

Tabi Conner