Women: Let's Stop Faking It!

I admit it, I like to watch Oprah. And, yes, I am sad the show will be going off the air this year.

Today, Jenny McCarthy was speaking about the new book that she has published. Now, although, I do not endorse any of the material contained in the book, I was very struck by something she pointed out. She was talking about how women are great at faking it. She was referencing behavior in which we pretend to be something we are not in order to get what we want. I was so struck by her comments and asked myself is this true. And, surely, I do find it to be true.

Now, I do not want to say that yes, all of you, who are women reading this, fake who you are and what you like etc. But, I can identify with what she was saying. We often pretend to be interested in things we are actually not and we tend to try and please others by how we look, act, and respond. And if you are reading this thinking, I never do that, I can honestly tell you, you are most likely lying to yourself. It is the nature of the beast. As women, we think we need to be everything to everyone. But, the simple fact is, you need to be who you are; precious and beloved in the sight of God. God didn't create us to pretend. God created women to represent him in relationships with love, compassion, and power.

I often struggle with trying to please people and starve off my own desires in order to make others happy. Usually, this happens with people I do not know too well, because if you are close to me, you are probably laughing, thinking, "Danielle, really, when was the last time we did what I wanted to do?" So, I am glad that over time, this wears off! However, when I first meet people, I become totally submissive and do whatever they tell me to. Finally, I get fed up and tell them how I really feel. This either results in true friendships or not so true friendships in which the person decides my behavior is beyond repair and leaves. Listening to Jenny speak made me realize, pretending is not what God wants for me. He has made me a really cool person. I have a lot of love to offer people especially when I am not pretending.

So, I challenge you, if you are a woman and you find yourself faking it, ask God to help you figure it out. Some of you may have no clue even what you are all about because you have been trying to please other people for so long! I know that one from experience. There is no punishment for admitting that sometimes you are not honest with yourself or with people around you. It's actually a stepping stone for you and God to get to know one another better. I promise you that he can give you much more than any other relationship, thing, or person can affirm in you.

Today, was a day of letting go of being something to everyone, and learning to believe that I am accepted and useful just the way God intended.

Now...maybe I should write a book and go on Oprah...I have 10 months!

The Centurion: Man of Honor and of Heart

Today, I read the story of the centurion in the gospel of Luke. I have read this story a few times and always felt a bit encouraged by it. However, there were several things that I learned today that can apply in way I hadn't thought of before.

When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Luke 7:1-10

The centurion appears as a well respected master. His servant is well respected by his master as well. So much respect does this man have for his servant, that he is willing to go have people find Jesus to come heal him. This relationship is one that we can apply to our workplaces and our churches. When we are struggling to fit into the leadership structure of the work place or the church, we can look at this model of relationship. They worked so well together that when there was a need the boss or elder chose to seek out healing for this man. There is a genuine sense of love and respect noted in this relationship by the willingness to find help for his servant.

Another aspect of this story in which I find fascinating, is that Jesus is able to see the centurion's motives of love and compassion for his servant. He can see that the centurion is willing to admit that he needs Jesus to heal his servant's sickness because he has greater authority. Jesus sees this and rewards it with the healing of his servant. Jesus is able to recognize true humility and responds with his greatness by healing the servant.

This story was such a blessing to me today. It reminds me that God uses all people in all positions to experience his greatness. His only request is a humble heart and a willing spirit. I am awed by the love and respect of these two men for each other and can only hope that the relationships I have at work and at church will model these.

Maybe you are the centurion in charge of many things and many people. Maybe you are the servant doing your best to honor your leadership. Whatever the case, there is opportunity for God to work miracles in and through those relationships. When we submit our hearts and minds to the motives of God, we become ready and receptive to seeing great things. I don't know about you but, I want to see great things happen through God. By modeling the heart of the centurion for those he is in relationship with, we can see the greatness of God shown through us in our work and in our churches.

Redeeming God's Glory

I have been inspired by a teaching that I was listening to on my Ipod. This teaching was by Mark Driscoll, think what you will. He was discussing, "Redeeming God's Glory." As he spoke, my heart connected with his message. The main take away I had from listening was that God wants us to be humble people that promote his glory. Too often in life, we are people that are too self promoting or false humble. I often fall guilty to the last category. Yet, I remember quiting Facebook because I felt like I was spending too much time promoting myself.

We live in a world where we need to prove our worth. We need to shout from the rooftops that we are good enough and even better than the next guy. But, friends, that is not how it works in God's kingdom. We are on the same playing field. Whether we feel we need to get glory for our accomplishments, or just prove we are more righteous than the next guy, we are truly in the wrong. Our lives have been given to us so that we may show others who God is. If we are wasting it on a marketing campagin of our talents, we miss out on the blessing intended for us. I am not my talents. Maybe I would be if I didn't love Jesus, but because I do, I am now different. My life is lived with the love of Jesus for those around me. Therefore, there is no striving to be liked or deemed worthy. This is already done for me. What a hard thing to grasp in a world that demands applause.

I read Romans 5 today. What a great follow up on this teaching! My favorite line was, "we hope in the glory of God." What does that mean to you? To me it does not mean that I hope in my abilities, my gorgeous looks :), my friends, my family. No, it means that I have faith that someday whether here or in heaven God is going to get appreciation for all he has done. So, when I go to work, I am not seeking to be noticed by my boss for how great I work. But, rather, I am loving my boss, and helping him with projects that he cannot complete on his own. I am spending time with him to learn about his life and offer compassion for his issues. Our lives are not to be centered on us. Rather, they are to be centered on the love God has given us to give to others. Let's not waste what love God has given to us. Let's spend more time focusing on getting God the glory than trying to achieve glory for ourselves. I tell you there is no glory we can get that is worth wasting the love God has given to us to share with others.