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The message on a T-shirt and how it relates to me |
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Posted By: h0lalaric0h
I was at work last night (it seems like I get a lot of thoughts from work..haha) and I saw this guy wearing a T-shirt that said...
I'm not perfect, just forgiven
I thought it was an awesome message, and what we are as Christians. None of us are perfect. But we are forgiven for all of our sins, and that is the amazing thing. Often times Christians are accused of being hypocrites, of having a "holier than thou" attitude..I know I've been accused of it, and quite a few times it's probably true. But that's just a cover. In all honestly, I don't think of myself as being any better than anyone else. Actually, most of the time I think of myself as lower. I know I have many flaws...I'm one of the most imperfect people I know. Sometimes I think I just try to act confident so that other people won't know I'm actually terrified inside. I want to give support and advice to people...not so that I can impose my thoughts on them, but so that I can help them. I like helping people. I love to listen and I love talking to people. So naturally I like when people come to me with their problems. I try to let people see that the only reason why I say the things I say is because I'm dealing with the same problem, or have dealt with it in the past...not because I know all the answers. Like on here...I comment on your blogs and talk to you in the chat room and I say "Yeah, just pray and trust God and He will help you" and blah blah blah...but many times I'm also saying those words to myself and reminding myself to do the same thing. Yes, there are times when I completely trust God. There are times when I am so passionate for Him. There are days when I just want to sing and shout and dance and praise the Lord. There are days when I see clearly and know what I'm doing and who I am as a daughter of God. But most days, I'm just as lost as any other Christian out there who's struggling. Many days I don't completely trust God with my life...yeah, I trust Him a little, but completely and totally? That only happens a few days a month at best. How often do I really put God first in my life? Not as often as I should, I'll tell you that. Half the time I don't feel like praying or reading my Bible. Sometimes I fight that feeling and pray anyway, and most of the time I feel better afterwards. But then there are the times when I give into the flesh...and then I go into this downward spiral of emotions and fears until I reach out to God again and He pulls me out of the pit...time after time after time. Sometimes I feel the Holy Spirit in me and I have such joy and love and peace and completeness, it's incredible. But that's only sometimes. The rest of the time I struggle with loneliness, jealousy, hurt, anger, fear, worry, bitterness, and just about any other negative emotion. I make a lot of mistakes. I by no means am a perfect Christian or a perfect person. But I still want to help others. I just need to make sure I'm helping them from below, not shooting advice down on them from above as if I know it all. I want to be humble and approachable...but sometimes my awful pride gets in the way. Actually, make that most of the time. Right now I'm dealing with some issues with some friends of mine who hurt me. I'm struggling to forgive them completely, but I have these issues with pride and these voices telling me, "Why would you forgive them? They hurt you...they were friends with you for years and it was all fake. They just used you. They don't deserve forgiveness". Well, guess what...I never deserved forgiveness either...yet God forgave me. Jesus died for my sins. Why can't I just do for someone else what the Maker of the Universe did for me? Then there's the jealousy issue that I struggle with sometimes...when I'm feeling really down...why am I so jealous of those who seem to have more than me? I'm jealous when my friends find a good relationship when I'm struggling in mine. I'm jealous of my friends who have experiences that I want to have but don't get the opportunity to. I'm jealous of everyone who seems to have an easier life than me...more friends, a better job, parents who understand them, more money, more opportunities, etc. Jesus paid the ultimate price for me. Isn't that enough? God can give me everything I need...and He will freely give it...all I need to do is ask...isn't that enough?
Sorry if I deviated from my original point...but I was just writing my thoughts as I thought them...I just want everyone to know that I am the farthest thing from perfect, and anything I do right is all God, not me.
But although I struggle with my sin, God still loves me. That's the most incredible part of all. Think about that...think about all the sins of your life, and then think about if any person would be as forgiving as God is. Probably wouldn't happen. God is just so amazing!! I want to live for Him completely...I want to give Him my heart and my life. I want Him to fill me.
Lord, come into my heart and make it new again. I know that I am already a new creature in You, but help me to see that, and more importantly, help me to live it. Fill me with Your Spirit and help me to become closer to You so that I may shine Your Light on the world. Bless me so that I may bless others. I want to be a light in this dark world. I want others to see You in me, and because of that, to come to know You. Lord, use me as You will. I give myself to You. Let me be Your hands and feet and reach out to those who are lost and in need. In Your Holy Name, AMEN.
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Posted: 05/11/08 8:04am - Total Views: 393 - Category: Christian Life
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iraqivetsgtret |
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Posted by:
iraqivetsgtret 
(Posted: 05/11/08 10:56am)
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amen my sister, i can honesty say that i'm still there where you are. even thought there is a big age difference, but not in our walk with christ.i'm going to let you in on something if i didnt tell you already or blog about it , and it was a question that was posed to me and when i minister to others ,i asked the same.it's a line from a movie. if you never seen it, rent it. the movie is shawshank redemption.it's about a man who was falsely accused and waited a long time to get out of jail.at the end he told a friend of his who got out also and went looking for him, a man that has no hope , has nothing.. hope never dies.do you have hope and where does your hope lie? i pray the answer to this question is jesus christ, be blessed me sister
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shawmane |
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Posted by:
shawmane
(Posted: 05/11/08 11:41am)
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If we were perfect whole vessels, how will His light shine through us for others to see?
This is a truth that opened my eyes not to be so hard on myself. I make mistakes, actually a lot, but I am not perfect. I have to get used to it. Only Christ Himself can complete me.
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paprika89 |
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Posted by:
paprika89
(Posted: 05/11/08 4:27pm)
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Oh Helen I feel the same way sometimes when my friends have boyfriends or they brag about how great there relationship with God is. I beat myself up sometimes about it because I know I shouldn't be like that but then I look at the cross and God reminds me that it's people like you and me that he is working on and showing us new things everyday. We are not perfect by all means and sometimes it ticks me off that some Christians walk around claiming they are so "holy and perfect." Only God is perfect and he is the only one who knows our heart. He loves us and yet he still decided to stick with us even when we are at our worse.
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youaregolden |
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Posted by:
youaregolden
(Posted: 05/12/08 6:32am)
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i've seen that t-shirt before and it is so awesome. We aren't perfect, nevre will be perfect until we get to heaven. The guest speaker at our church yesterday went on to say there is nothing we can to be worthy of this gift. And I think struggling with sin, is just so we can remain humble in God's sight and say "without you God, I am nothing." SO many times I get frustrated with myself because of my sin, but knowing that God is using it to grow me in Him is so awesome.
Awesome blog girl!  Love ya so much!
YSIC,
-Golden 
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kiwibird |
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Posted by:
kiwibird
(Posted: 05/12/08 7:35pm)
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H, you are a gem and I absolutely love your honesty. I love the way you hear God speaking to you through those little observations at work. I pray that you will continue to see God work through you in that way ... it is truly a blessing. Keep seeking after God AND keep writing those wonderful blogs. Luv ya, sweets..Alison
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crazychristian |
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Posted by:
crazychristian
(Posted: 05/13/08 2:18pm)
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I totally felt what you have wrote here from your heart!!
As I was reading every word, I saw Myself also struggling in the same negative issues. I totally can relate to you alot. What you said here is just how I feel alot of the time.
I am asking God to help me be more forgiving toward those people that have hurt me in some way, but I still feel I hold on to bitterness and want it to be better but, the way I think it should be not the way God does it.
I had a dream about 3 nights ago and this little girl who in the dream was a girl I taught in the My Sunday School class about forgiveness, and she told me I remember what you taught me, and she gives me this piece of paper that said Forgive on it, and she said now you need to forgive. And When I woke up I thought about that dream and now I am asking God who is it that I am not forgiving? Even if I already might know I still pray about it. So, I too have trouble forgiving and putting My trust in someone when I have been hurt.
So, alot of your blogs have hit home to me... and I am encourged to know I am not the only one feeling this way.
Your blogs are a inspiration to me and I am so glad your not shy to write your feeling in your blogs.
Read My New Blog titles God Loves Ugly.
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Member Biography |
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My name is Helena. I'm 18 years old and a senior in high school (graduating less than a week...woo!) I'm not really sure exactly what I'm going to do with my life...right now I'm trying to figure out what God's plan for me is. I'm just going with where God...
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goldie's bible study week 2 - 1 thess. 2 pt. 1
