Just as I am

I still remember that night like it was yesterday. I was very unhappy and dealing with all of the frustrations of an awkward teen. I was so confused, so unhappy and there was nothing on TV. Finally I stopped on a channel that was playing a Billy Graham crusade. I do not remember what he preached but I do remember the alter call. The song, "Just as I am" played and I felt the tug of what I now know was the Holy Spirit. Could the song be true, could God want me just as I am? To borrow a line from a respected fellow traveler John McNeill, I took a chance on God.

I had no idea where this journey would led me. I think I thought I did. I mean didn't it mean I would live a good life, be happy and one day go to heaven. Thankfully, now I know it means so much more than that.....

In God we find acceptance and it is in the form of unconditional love.
In God we find acceptance and love for ourselves which in turn enables us to accept and love others the same.
In God we find the courage, strength to live our lives in fullness and abundance that can only come from a heart that has an unlimited supply of peace, love, joy and healing.

God accepts us as we are, but God empowers us to become or fully realize who we really are. It isn't so much that God desires to change us from who we are but God desires us to discover the fullness of who we really are. To some life is survival, or a pattern that cannot be any different. But Christ said I have come that you might have Life and life to its FULL! (John 10:10). Humankind accepted life separate from God as the norm, and therefore has settled for life so far below what we were intended for. Our minds have created an idea or false identity of who we are. Many live from this identity as their truth. Some of this has been formed from ourselves, some from others, and maybe even terrible experiences or abuse. Some from maybe nothing so terrible, but at best we all had imperfect families, teachers, friends who helped reinforce this false idea of who we are. God desires to lift us out of this false ego-centric self to discover who we really are. This is salvation!

For many salvation is a religious term, if i do these rituals and ascribe to these creeds, I will gain salvation and one day will get to enjoy it. The truth is that Salvation is simply being reconnected with the source of all life and Love- God. From this connection (relationship) we gain a new perspective on life and discover the truth of who God is and who we are in God.

Religion isn't necessarily bad, for many it helps make this connection. But do not settle for a prepackaged, instant version of faith that is based solely on other's experiences and interpretations. Teachers are very helpful, but always be open to the Holy Spirit (God's teaching voice in our lives)and understand that faith should include experience, and God has gifted us with a mind for a purpose. Always be open to growing in your understanding, we are always learning in the school of life and what we think we have figured out, might prove to be different than what we think.

Once when being challenged by someone who believed different than me. I refused to argue the point and I simply replied, When we get to heaven we will all see how far from the truth we all are.

I am thankful that God accepts me as I am, and I love and accept myself as I am, but I also acknowledge that I haven't fully realized all that I am but I continue to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to me and I daily take steps toward that goal. I will be the first to admit I am not perfect in my behavior, but In Christ I have wholeness, just not fully realized.