Getting Real

I recently had a conversation with someone about Christians. What I mean by that is, they had numerous experiences in which they'd felt Christians were being hypocrites. They knew God to be a God of love, so why were all these Christians acting in ways which didn't seem loving?

This really caused me to think, and think hard. So today, I want to talk to two groups of people: those who call yourselves Christians and those you don't. I am so far from perfect, but here's what's on my mind:

To you who call yourselves Christians:

Once we accept Jesus as our Savior our lives should look differently than they did before. Spending daily time with God and others who share our beliefs should impact us.  Galations 5: 22-23 says: "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

The fruit of the spirit are signs that God is alive in us and moving us into a better life than the one we had before. If we claim to be Christians, we better do our best to live like it. Now that doesn't mean we aren't going to make mistakes, because we are.....everyday, but it does me we should be doing our best to emulate Christ. We become ambassadors of Christ to each person we meet, and our actions and words are either going to show the love of God and Jesus, or not. 

I don't know about you, but this seems to be a pretty tall order to mr: to show God's love to everyone we meet, but what if our kind words and actions draw another person closer to knowing God? What if our bad attitude draws them further away and proves their previous thought that all Christians are hypocrites?

Now, I don't think we all need to walk around excusing personal sin, but I have never had an experience in which someone has come to know God because I've pointed out what a horrible, sinning, person they are. It's been because I've shown them love and genuinely shown an interest in who they are and their life.  Let God reveal their sins to them, I'm not so sure that's our job.

Now, to you who don't consider yourselves to be Christians:

I am so sorry that you may feel "Christians" have let you down or been hypocrites. I know that are many times in my life where I've had good intentions, but have definitely said or done things that didn't show God's love. We all mess up, we all make mistakes, which is why I'm thankful for a God who forgives. I hope you won't shut the door on knowing who God is, because we humans have messed up. Even though we fail God doesn't. Have any questions? Shoot me an email.

Ok, so this outfit seemed like a really good idea when I put it on, but man, it's gotten hot outside! I ended switching to shorts before I left the house. I do love this new maternity tank top I scored in stores for $3! I think it'll even work after I'm pregnant, which is a bonus. This cardigan from Target is also one of my favorite things, it comes in a ton of colors, so I think I might need to add another one to my closet for this fall. Although this outfit probably didn't make a lot of sense for July, I'll definitely be wearing it again when school starts!

I got this Margaret Elizabeth necklace in my newest Rocksbox and it's really pretty and delicate. It's a bit more expensive then I'd usually spend on a necklace, but I'll definitely enjoy wearing it until it's time to send my box back. This is the last month you an use the code "newfavoriteoutfitxox" to try out Rocksbox for free for a month, if you haven't yet, I'd definitely try it while you can!

Cardigan: Merona same

Tank: Old Navy  same 

Jeans: Liz Lange same

Necklace  Margaret Elizabeth same c/o Rocksbox (Get a free for a month when you sign up with the code "newfavoriteoutfitxoxo.") 

Wedges: Aerosoles c/o Chippmunk same

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What I Wore to Work Link-up