It’s day 16 of my white t-shirt campaign and I’d humbly like to say that I am doing well. God has revealed SO much to me these past two weeks and I have learned so much about myself, my heart, my God, and I have let others learn about me as well. The simplistic notion of a white t-shirt opened up doors for so many real conversations that have been waiting to happen. Unfortunately always dressing up and appearing “perfect” can be intimidating to others and has prevented me from being in several genuine relationships. It took years for me to get to this point but for the first time I feel real, genuine, approachable, and comfortable in my own skin. It was extremely humbling in areas but encouraging at the same time and I find myself loving who God made me, not what the world can make me look like.
God revealed something to me this past week… why do the majority of people, believers or not, think you have to get clean before coming to Christ? What is it that gives people the impression that we must run back to God fresh, clean, and sinless? That is the farthest from the truth but it is unfortunately a belief to many. God is patiently waiting with open arms for ALL his children to run back to him, clean or unclean, full of regret or not. He is there to make us clean, to redeems us, to erase our pasts, forgive our sins, and make miracles out of our mistakes. God doesn’t keep record of our wrongs and we can come to him at any time no matter how dirty we think we are.
The reputation for having to dress nice to go to church doesn’t help this whole dilemma. I made a commitment to not take part in that anymore. My God is my God whether I am in a fancy dress or ripped jeans and a white tank top. I don’t always have things together and from now on, I’m not gonna fake how I feel or who I am. I’m coming to the cross stripped of my earthly desires and requirements and being real with Jesus and my community.
As always, I can relate my boy, John Mayer, to this.. “Who says I can’t be free, from all of the things that I used to be, rewrite my history, who says I can’t be free?”
Let Jesus rewrite your history and be free in who HE has created you to be.
“God is patiently waiting with open arms for ALL his children to run back to him, clean or unclean, full of regret or not. He is there to make us clean, to redeems us…”
so many of us get caught in the story we are in — but it’s never too late to be who God has called us to be – He never leaves us or forsakes us. like the father in the prodigal son passage… “from a long way off the father saw his son & had compassion for him”. from a long way off. and so it is with our heavenly Father with us. amazing love.
thanks for sharing your heart! this read was encouraging & honest.
looking fwd to coffee date this week!