Being Real...

So, yesterday, I received the following e-mail from one of the partners in the firm where I work:

Rachel:

If you are ever to the point of looking for something to do, one of our clients, (name here) needs some quickbooks consulting which can be handled via email and telephone. You will like the owner/bookkeeper (name here), he is very Christian. Let me know if you get some time.


One particular line really stuck with me, the one about "he is very Christian." That bothered me a little...not because the owner is a Christian, but because I wasn't sure how to interpret the comment. It is a well-established fact I tend to over-analyze EVERYTHING, so I wondered if my boss meant he thought I only got along well with our Christian clients, versus the non-Christian ones. I was concerned because I think sometimes Christians (speaking of myself here) can get so caught up in trying to appear “Christian”, we wear masks and act like we are perfect (which is certainly laughable), and we don’t relate to others at all. I don’t think we can be a light to the world as we are instructed if we are caught up in legalistic perfectionism, instead of sharing real struggles and our dependence on God. This morning, I was thinking about this in relation to lamps. There are obvious parallels between Christians and lamps, but my thought today was about lampshades. If you are changing a light bulb, when you first insert the bulb, the light is at its brightest, sometimes so bright the image burns into your eyes for a few seconds. It isn't all that attractive, but it is definitely bright. However, when you add the decorative shade, which makes the overall appearance of the lamp so much prettier, the light is slightly dimmed or softened by the covering of the shade. I don't want to spend time worrying about whether I appear "Christian" enough. I don't want to live behind a "shade" trying to look perfect, thereby dimming my light. I want to be open, honest, and vulnerable. I want to be AUTHENTIC and REAL. I want others to recognize my light sometimes flickers but always stays on. I want them to consider the source of the light and seek the same light for themselves.


In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Overwhelm me...

Yesterday, two sweet friends mentioned they were feeling overwhelmed/beaten down. As I was praying for one of them, I asked the Lord to only overwhelm her with His grace and peace.  I was also reminded of other "negative" emotions I could ask the Lord to convert for me.

Lord...

...may I only be overwhelmed by Your grace in my life

...may I only be frustrated by my sinfulness

...may I only be angry about the injustice in this world

...may I only be impatient for Your purpose in me

...may I only be anxious for Your return

Do you have any to add?