I'll answer that in just a bit, but first...
In the spring, we walked through an 8-week series at Church 4 Chicks where we discussed the tension we all face in finding and maintaining balance and wholeness in our lives. That series was the springboard for our current series, "Dreams Still Do Come True." You see, if our lives are spinning out of control (as the rule, rather than a seasonal exception), we'll be in a poor position to pursue our God-given dreams.
I love what my hubby (@stephendhendrix) posted on his Twitter/Facebook recently:
" Healthy living is not trying hard to fix my brokenness; it's admitting that I'm broken, and doing so in the context of relationship."
I am so very grateful, that in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of life, I have some safe places that enable me to grow and thrive--a place where I can be the real me, without having to give any appearance of having it all together or having perfect anything. The truth is, God isn't waiting for me to get it all together or figure out how to do everything. He created me (and you) to live out of a real relationship with Him--and He even went so far as to make it possible for me (and you) to be filled with His very Spirit and nature.
From the time He called me into this ministry, and even before that, He has very clearly said to me, over and over, "Make it your ambition to know Me." In that brief phrase, He has made it so clear that it isn't to be my goal to be a perfect homemaker, decorator, cook, teacher, wife, daughter, ministry leader, TV Host, etc. If those good desires become my focus, I'll soon discover that I will never ever, ever measure up. I'll consistently be discouraged by my own inabilities and inadequacies as the bar remains higher than I can ever reach.
But, as I continue to make it my focus to know God, I notice something happening in me; something that spills over to those around me. As I seek to know Him more, I find myself accepting who He says I am, believing I truly am loved just because He loves me. And this awareness, and acceptance of truth begins to be evident to others who receive out of the overflow of what the Holy Spirit is doing inside of me.
Making it a priority in my life to know this One who created me, saved me and is sanctifying me, helps me to find balance and wholeness, in the context of authentic community, even when I can't get it all together--because the truth is, NONE of us has it all together. And that's actually really good news.
"There are no together people, only those with whiter teeth."
John Lynch
