I am, and will never apologize for being, a CHRISTIAN.

Christian catch such crap for living a double standard. We get trapped and tripped by people who try their hardest to catch us flawed and fallen, weak and wrong! Truth be known, Christians do not wish to display perfection. We do not claim to be holy. We just try and what it really comes down to is being even more aware of our flaws than those trying to trip us up, hence the reason we ever acknowledged our need for a savior.

This is the clearest and most pure view, I have heard, of the Christian I claim to be!
(Those who judge, go ahead, realizing you prob. arent going to reveal anything that I am not already aware needs to be "fixed.")

I am a Christian!

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace.

Digging your heals in.

I am more thankful than I can say how life has seemingly settled! Maybe it was true events of the past 10 years or maybe it was immaturity, but my life always seemed as though it were FULL of curve balls! I always felt as though I were on my toes or crashing fast! Life these days ... it is much more systematic. A home (so no moving around) a job (for the past 4 1/2 years) and a great church, great friends, incredible relationship...life is GOOD.

So, in reflecting I was reminded of a quote.

"God will shake everything surrounding you, in order to prove to you that HE has your feet on SOLID GROUND!"

This quote causes me to wonder. With life being so comfortable, does that mean I have learned to KNOW the unshaken ground I stand on...or does it mean I should dig my heals in and prepare? I remember clinging to this quote so many nights in order to find what little joy I could in circumstances of my past! I am so thankful that I was able to know what I stood on, in order to stand through the "curve balls" I put myself in line for.

As a side note: You know, I cant tell you how many times I was told, nor how many people told me do as I say not as I do" and now...I pray that one day at least one child will head that same advice. Mistakes are only mistakes until you learn from them...but the consequences and the pain is a journey to overcome. So ... all to say (in a rabbit-trail) When life leaves you uneasy or unsure, remember the ground you stand on! If your grounded in faith, you can trust that the core of who you are is left unshaken, simply molded to become more in line with the man or woman GOD desires you to be.

Knowing that I am no where near the woman God intends...and having much to learn and more to grow, I guess in the seasons of simplicity and ease...we prepare to ground ourselves for the next lesson we are going to learn!