Authenticity

I was reminded today that it's important to be 'real'...authentic. Not always easy in my experience to be consistent through the ups and downs. The things we think and say when times are good, can come back to us when times are hard... Do I 'really' believe all that stuff? When things are good it's so much easier to to be positive, confident, enthusiastic - happy! But when we hit hard times - health issues, breakdown in relationships, loss of work, financial difficulties - it's hard to stay positive, confident, enthusiastic...

For me it's a question of belief ... what is the source of my confidence? Is my confidence based on my current situation or circumstances; my job, my employer, my relationships with others, how much money I have in the bank...? Is my confidence rooted in what I can do, my resources, skills or past experiences... What I know from life's journey? Well, what do I know? For me, it's a question of faith - what I really believe, and holding on to that belief whatever circumstances I find myself in, and allowing all those experiences to develop - strengthen - what I believe.

I can look back over my life and see that through the high and lows, my faith in an eternal God who wants the best for me, has carried me through. It's not always plain sailing - Life is a journey with many twists and turns, a series of experiences and ever changing circumstances - my God is a constant companion on the journey - He is interested in what happens and works on my behalf for a good outcome. It's not always a bed of roses but I know that in all things God is working for me as I put my confidence in Him and try to be consistent - authentic and real - in my beliefs and lifestyle. As I think on what I have seen God do for me in the past, my faith - my confidence in God - is strengthened and I can be authentic whatever life brings...

Whatever our circumstances today - whatever our fears, worries, concerns - there is a God who wants to walk the journey with us, and he reaches out to us through Jesus...

Who?

We want to be appreciated for who we are, more than what we can do. For people with sought after skills or resources, this can be a real problem. Do people want to be my friend because of what I can do for them or do they really like me? The root of the issue is in the growing state of self-centredness and condition that is constantly re-inforced through media and advertising - "because you're worth it!" "It's your right!" "You've earned it!" Nothing wrong with that until we start to put ourselves first at the expense of others and we become progressively less bothered about the people around us. We just wanna be first! Can you imagine what the world would be like if we were all just bothered about ourselves? And we wonder why our world seems so uncaring and troubled at times...

Sometimes it's like this with God. The more I become concerned with my own condition, the more my focus is on me, who I am, what I need, etc. We desire the benefits of God - forgiveness, acceptance, release from our problems, healing, etc. Our prayers can be an endless list of needs we want God to get sorted. What God really wants is relationship. That is why He created us in the first place. And we sometimes treat God the Father like some rich 'sugar daddy' who we 'love' because of what He can do for us... or even for what He has already done for us.

Sometimes it seems that we put what God gives in the place of God Himself, and we miss the whole point!

Our response to God is to love Him for who he is not what he does. To desire Him. Pursuing first God and His Kingdom, and all these other things will come along as well.

Who is God?... Well listen to "My King!" by the late SM Lockridge. Or try the Rock Mix!

or sit up and watch this:

Wanna be

I want to be smart but not wear a tie; intelligent but not arrogant; get where I'm going and enjoy the journey; be successful and equitable; be holistic and yet enjoy separation in life; keep it simple but not simplistic!

Life is more than what I do, it's an outward expression of who I am. So, knowing who I want to be has to be more important than knowing what I want to do. When I know who I want to be, I'll find peace and satisfaction in whatever I do.

For me, faith is an important part of who I am. My faith is a challenge not a crutch, but I know that whatever circumstances I face, there is a God who will be there with me - a friend closer than a brother. I'll have to walk the road but God will walk it with me. Faith doesn't have to be complicated, full of rules and regulations. Faith is about relationship - knowing God and sharing the journey of life, with all it's ups and downs and twists and turns but never giving up because there is always Hope when we travel with God.

It's just a thought...