THE PACT

I remember it like it was yesterday.  Maci was just learning to roll over.  She was still just a little babe and I was still a new mommy.  Still learning the ropes of this whole motherhood thing.  As I was getting her dressed and ready for the day, I had her laying on the couch.  Of course I was sitting right there with her...watching her...talking to her....I had to turn my back for literally a second to grab a pair of pants to put on her that were behind me.  And then...it happened.  The little angel rolled over and fell off the couch onto the hardwood floor.  I remember her screams.  I remember quickly picking her up trying to calm her down as I sobbed along with her.  I remember anxiously dialing my moms number as I cried into the phone telling her what an awful mom I was turning out to be.  How I had failed her.  I was supposed to be keeping her safe and yet here I was barely 4 or 5 months in and I had let her get hurt.  Because of my mistake she was screaming.  Because of my mistake she was going to be left with a bump on her head.  I sobbed into that phone telling my mom how worried I was....that she was falling asleep and I was left with all the nightmares of what might be wrong with her.  What if she had a concussion?!? What if she had a brain bleed? You know...all those normal, rational thoughts a new mom has because her baby is hurt...

My mom calmed me down and continued to reassure me that Maci was probably just fine.  She reminded me that it was her normal nap time anyway.  That all those fears that were playing in my mind were just that....fears.  They weren't true.  She reassured me that, even though I felt like the worst mother in the world at that moment, that I wasn't.  That every mom has that story of the time they failed their kids.  That every mom has that story of when they turned their backs for a second and something happened that could have been prevented.  Because you know what friends? No parent is perfect.  Not a single one of us.  We get up every morning and try our best, and yet there will be those days where our best isn't good enough.  Where our best will seem like failure.  Where our best will be screaming in our face of how we failed them that day.  And yet the next morning we wake up to those angelic faces and they still love us with everything they've got.  They don't see how we've failed.  They don't see how we let them down.  All they see is the best mommy or daddy in the world for them.  All they see is how hard we have tried to protect them.

We are human.  We are flawed.  We get distracted.  We choose to put our attention on something else instead of our kids for a moment...sometimes at the wrong moment.  But that doesn't mean we suck at this parenting thing.  That doesn't mean we don't deserve to be parents.  That doesn't mean we are the worst parent in the entire world.  That doesn't mean our kids will love us any less.

That day in our living room was the first day I ever learned first hand that in a second things can happen to our kids.  That if we aren't watching them every single second of every single day that they have the risk of getting hurt.  But friends, let me admit to you right now that that doesn't mean I haven't messed up since then.  My kids are clumsy and our youngest is a dare devil and loves to push boundaries.  They are ridiculously fast and if they want to do something, they rush as fast as they can to get to whatever that is.  And besides those facts the truth is so simple.  We can't and will never be able to watch them every single second of every single day.  As much as we want to say that we do and can: WE CAN'T.

So friends, fellow parents...can I just be real and honest with you? Can we all make a pact right now? To instead of judging each other...instead of trying to always prove we are better parents than anyone else....instead of going on social media completely saying hurtful, awful, mean spirited things to parents we don't. even. know. (you ALL know what I'm talking about....It's all over Facebook right now and my heart is BROKEN for that family. 99.9% of us weren't there...we don't know what EVEN happened! The things I'm seeing people say and post.....if that were me.....I would be thanking God my son was safe, but I would be so broken.  I clearly would have felt guilty already because of my mistake, but man.......add on top of that the shame the world is putting on me....we need to pray for this mother....we need to pray that Jesus helps heal her heart.  Because of the world's judgments...it would be so easy for her to slip into a black hole....) So instead of all that, can we all make a pact right now to admit we aren't perfect parents? To admit that even though we want to think we are....we aren't.  To make a pact to stop with the judging.  To make a pact to stop all the negative.  To make a pact to band together and encourage one another.  To make a pact to help all the other parents out there see that we all make mistakes.  That we are trying the best we can.  To make a pact to lift each other up instead of tear one another down.  Especially...ESPECIALLY  when we don't know them personally and we don't know the full story.  Parenting is hard. Can I get an amen??  By far one of the hardest things we will do.  Let's not make it even harder for all the other parents out there trying their best.  Let's first put ourselves in their shoes.  Like for real in their shoes and not just thinking with perfect thoughts in their shoes.  Let's all make a pact to stop with the elusion of the perfection of parenting and instead get real about our parenting.  Admit we have all made mistakes.  Because when we are raw and honest about that, we open the door to helping someone who needs that reminder.  We open the door to an honesty the world needs more of.....

In seconds your kids can get hurt.....it's a reminder we can be told of over and over and over again.  And while we always need to be diligent in watching for them and caring for them.....this is also your reminder that we will make mistakes....we will mess up.  Accidents will continue to happen no matter how much you watch them...hopefully never as monumental as a toddler getting into a gorilla exhibit, but even then....it doesn't mean you are sucking at this parenting thing.  It doesn't mean you are the worse mother or father in the world.  What it means is you are human.  You are a normal parent....don't let guilt take over and make you think you are less than you are.  If you are loving your kids and doing the best you can.....you are the best parent they could ever ask for.....Rest in that truth mommies and daddies everywhere... You have a whole community of perfectly imperfect parents everywhere.  We just all have to be willing to admit it to ourselves......

Calming the Storms

We knew storms were coming.  It was just a matter of when it would hit and how severe it would be.  As we shut off the lights to head to bed, I saw the lightning in the distance, knowing it wouldn't be long now.  As we laid there in the dark, I heard the rain start to fall gently outside, not long after it started sounding like pellets on our window.  When I was little, storms freaked me out.  There were many nights during storm season that you would find me in bed with my parents.  There was just such a comfort there.  I knew I was safe no matter what happened outside.  Pretty soon our bedroom started looking more and more like a disco party.  There was barely a break in each flash of lightning.  Our girls were sleeping soundly upstairs and with their fans going, I knew they wouldn't hear the gentle rumblings or see the intense flashes.  But of course it wasn't long before a loud crash of thunder clapped.  I laid there staring up at the ceiling, waiting for it.  I knew it was only a matter of time before I heard footsteps down the hall, a sobbing 4 year old, and then......"Daddy....Mommy!!!" Yep there it was.

We both sat up to try and hear her fear through the hysterically sobbing.  The phrase "What" had to be said by us a few times before we finally understood her.  "I don't like the lights!! I don't like the lights!!!!"  I knew she must have been woken by that loud clap, and even though it was only once, as she tried to fall back asleep.....well the fear of those intense flashes dancing outside her window just wouldn't let her....

We could have consoled her and told her she was fine.  We could have brought her back to bed right away and explained that they were just lights and wouldn't hurt her.  And yet, I remembered what that fear felt like.  I remembered not being able to get rid of it and sleep in my bed alone at her age.  So we pulled back our covers and I said, "Come lay between us until it's over.  You can sleep with us and when it's all over Daddy will bring you back up to your bed."  The tears subsided and she quickly jumped between us.  The lights continued to dance outside but yet our little angel was quickly falling back asleep.  The crying had stopped and she cuddled up next to me and her breathing calmed.  As soon as she was between us she knew she was safe.  She knew we wouldn't let anything harm her.  She knew there was no reason to be afraid anymore.

As I laid there staring at the ceiling, I thought back to all the storms in our own lives.  All the times I had been fearful.  All the times I had been angry.  All the times I sat in my car, or kitchen, or bedroom crying hysterically asking God to make it all stop.  Asking Him why.  I thought of all the times the storms waged on and I poured my heart into hearing His word and His voice.  Anxiously sitting in His presence waiting for His voice to calm my fearful soul.   I couldn't stop the storm outside yet as I felt the breath of our sleeping babe, it made me smile.  Our kiddos know that Mommy and Daddy will always be there to keep them safe.  They know they can trust us.  They know we love them immensely and will never sit back and allow bad things to happen to them.  We will be there to protect them as much as we can.  And when we can't, they know we will be there to comfort them and dry their tears.  And if we love them that much, and they know we love them that much, the love Jesus has for us is all the more intense.  He is always laying there waiting for us to run to Him to calm our fears. To dry our tears and say "It's all gonna be okay.  I'm right here, you don't have to be scared.  I will carry you.  You are safe with Me." He won't always stop the storms outside, but He can calm the storms in our hearts.   It's an intense love He has for us.  One that we can visibly get a glimpse of everyday because of the love we have for our children.  But it's only a glimpse...because friend.....He loves us so much more than that....you are safe in His arms.  You are loved in His arms....Run to Him and let Him calm the storms in your souls.....

The Rainstorm...

This afternoon we went on a Costco run.  When we got there, it was a beautiful, sunshiny, spring day...when we left however, rain clouds had quickly moved in.  As we loaded up the car I felt a few tiny sprinkles and thought to myself "There's no way it's gonna rain....I didn't even think it was in the forecast today." However moments later as we were driving down the road it started pouring rain.  Not like a steady drizzle....I mean POURING rain.  Not too long after I said, "What in the world...", did I hear the small voice of our oldest say "Mom!! Hurry!! We have to get to Grandma's house!!" I could tell instantly her tiny heart was scared a storm was coming.  She didn't understand that it was just a random rain shower, even though it was heavy rain, still just a rain shower.  I called over my shoulder that we were gonna be just fine and that there was nothing to worry about.  And yet, as we turned down the familiar road to my parents house I heard the sweet whisper of her again...this time she was comforting her sissy.  "Don't worry Lyla...we will be at Papa's soon.  We will be safe there..."

Be still my heart.  I literally could freeze time in that moment and have been happy.  As a mom, when I hear Maci be so sensitive and sweet to her baby sister, it makes me melt something fierce.  And as I played her words over again in my mind, I then heard God's sweet whisper...

"Daughter, how many times have you been like that? How many times has a rain shower hit your life and your response was: 'Hurry!! We have to get out of here!!' How many times have you been fearful, afraid, and worried over a situation that you have no control over? A situation where you might not have control, but I have it all under control."

And then I heard sweet Maci's voice again calling "Don't worry.....we will be at Papa's soon....we will be safe there."  I played it over and over and over again in my head, as it turned to Jesus sweetly whispering:

"Don't worry daughter....it will be over soon.  You are safe in my arm's"

Friends, Travis and I are knee deep in fear.  I'm not gonna lie.  We have been trying to sell our house for almost 3 years.  Yes I said 3.  I'm a planner and the fact that we have absolutely no control over when or how this house sells is driving me crazy.  The past month has been the biggest roller coaster of emotions and the devil has been out to attack every which way he can.  He wants us to give up. He wants us to throw in the towel.  He wants us to be so scared that we leave the road God has called us to.  And if I'm being honest.....there have been times I've sat there on the bed and thought "What is the point? Let's just throw in the towel because I can't do this anymore. We are doing everything the right way and yet here we are...still waiting...."  

And the past 2 days I have been fighting that fear like I have never had to fight before.  Yesterday I poured my heart over Hebrews 12......

"....Let us keep running in the race that God has planned for us.  Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the one who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on the cross.  He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God."  -Hebrews 12: 1-2

If Christ can endure the cross for the whole world and not give in to fear, we can endure the suffering that comes at times with God's plans.  We can keep fighting the good fight and never give up.  We can stand in the middle of the pouring rain and whisper "God's got this.  We are safe in His arms."  We don't have to let the fear sweep us away and take us places we don't belong.  Doesn't mean we won't get angry, doesn't mean we won't get scared, doesn't mean we won't cry endless tears sometimes....but it DOES mean that we don't belong to that fear.  We belong in our Father's arms......where we are safe and comforted know that He's in control.  That rainstorm isn't random to Him.  He saw it coming and He's got it all figured out even if it takes years to for us to understand.  

That random rainstorm this afternoon? It wasn't long after we got into my parents house and the sun was shining again.  Maci gazed out the window with a HUGE smile on her face and said "LOOK MOMMY!! The rain is over!! It's stopped!!" Yes it did sweet girl....And I know someday just as quick, in an instant.....God will let our rainstorm be over too.  And friend, He will do that same thing for you too.  Keep clinging to Him no matter how hard it rains.  Don't let that fear and doubt take hold of your soul.  Your soul doesn't belong to it....it belongs to Christ.  

A letter to myself....

Hey Beautiful Soul.  Yes I'm talking to you.  I've been watching you for awhile now.  You've always been one to wear your heart on your sleeve.  You've always been the one to forgive and forget ten times over again and again and again.  You've been beat up and bruised.  You've been hurt.  You've cried what seems like millions of tears.  And yet you kept choosing to stand up and do what is right...You kept choosing to love beyond measure....

But now, I see the weight is starting to take it's toll on you.  You are starting to wonder what the point is.  The hurt you have from others actions and words is starting to cut a little too deep. You decided enough is enough.  You have decided you have nothing left to give.  You have decided you are done continuing to give of yourself when you can't seem to see past the hurt....And so you start building the wall.  The wall to keep others out.  The wall to keep others at what you feel is a safe distance. The wall that says I'm done giving of myself because I can't take the hurt again....

Friend, I'm here to let you in on a secret. That wall you are building, it's made of all your fears.  All your fears of what might happen if you choose to continue to love as Jesus loves us.  It's Easter weekend, a weekend where we are reminded of the simple fact that no matter how many times we have sinned and hurt Jesus, He still chooses love.  He still chooses to love us regardless of our faults.  Regardless of our mistakes.  Regardless of how we choose to turn our backs on Him at times.  Regardless of how much we choose to curse against Him.  He is and always will be there for us no matter what.  When He took up that cross, He knew the world would still break His heart millions of times over.  When He took up that cross, He knew without a shadow of a doubt, that He would choose love over and over and OVER again.

We have bruised Him.

We have beat Him up.

We have broken His heart.

We have made HIM cry millions of tears.

And He still chooses to love us....

It has never made Him think of giving up on us...

He will never leave or forsake us...

No. Matter. What.

So sweet soul, I know you are tired. I know you are hurt.  I know you feel like you can't keep trying.  But when you feel like giving up.  When you feel like not choosing love time and time again.....I want you to picture the cross. I want you to picture Jesus Christ Himself hanging on it dying for you.  I want you to hear Him saying from that old rugged cross, "My sweet daughter, this is for you.  I don't want you to bear the weight.  I want to take that weight for you.  I want to continually take that hurt and pain and suffering away from you.  I want to conquer death so that you might live.  No matter how much you hurt me, I will always love you.  I will never give up on you.  I know you aren't perfect, I know you will make mistakes and take wrong turns....but daughter, I will still be here always.  As hard as it is to do in this world of hurts, choose love always.  Show the world what my love is made of.  Be my hands and feet."

If Jesus can take all that hurt and pain and suffering when He didn't deserve an ounce of it, oh sweet girl, we can choose to love without being afraid.  We can choose  love over and over and over again with Him at our side.  It's scary, and it's going to be outside of our comfort zones sometimes.....it may hurt at times, we will get our hearts shattered and it may always be a toss up with how others respond.  But oh dear one, it will always be worth it in the end.  So be brave in a world that has so many odds against you.  Step out of your comfort zone and show the world who Christ really is.  Be vulnerable.  Be tender.  Wear your heart on your sleeve unashamed.  When God whispers into your heart, listen.  Don't ever feel like you have to justify your actions when it comes to showing His love.  This world needs more people who are choosing love and truth over what the world is offering.  Because the kind of love and truth you are offering is not only life changing, it's LIFE GIVING.  

You can do this.  With Christ at your side, you are stronger than you know.  Don't ever give up on loving, because love can heal what hurt divides...and that my sweet friend is what the world needs more of.

Love,

Me. 

"Choose to Love" - Francesca Battistelli

No Longer a Slave.....

Just over 2 1/2 years ago, Travis and I started down a path that scared us.  We were choosing to start looking outside of our comfort zones and look into leaving the little safe life we had built in small town Minnesota.  We didn't know where it would take us.  We didn't know where we would end up but we did know one thing.  No matter what happened we would end up victorious as long as we kept our focus on God's way rather than our own way.   If you would have told me that day what that journey would all entail, I might have stared at you fearful.  My heart and head would be screaming out with every fiber of their human nature saying "NO!! Nope! No way!! I am NOT doing any of that.  I am NOT living apart from the love of my life and father of my child for a whole year.  I am NOT doing the single mother thing 6 days a week.  I can't sleep in an empty house.  Are you NUTS? I am NOT getting pregnant while we are still living without the hubs around.  There is no way I'm moving to a town in the middle of no where." And then after all that if you would have told me that Canby would not be the end of the journey for us and we would again have to pack up and move....my reaction again would have been something like this... " C'mon, you are kidding right? You think we are going to pack up and move our life to a town that we wouldn't even live in for a year? You just think we can keep moving?? Right after we start settling down and making friends? No I'm not doing it."

If you would have flat out told us that this chapter of our lives that God was calling us to would be this long and tiring.....our fear would have taken over.  Our fear would have been keeping us from all the great things that this journey has led us to.  2 1/2 years ago I would have told you that I was scared that I wouldn't be strong enough to handle the journey.  That I was scared we would fail.  That I was scared we would take missteps......that bottom line... My fear would have been stronger than my courage....

Last week we yet again had to make a new decision regarding realtors and while we sat looking at our options, that same fear kicked in: What if we make the wrong choice? What if it still doesn't sell? What if...what if...what if....   And then I heard a sweet friend say on Facebook... "You just choose, and He'll meet you there."  And while the tears fell, I heard him reassure me that we are strong enough for this decision.  That we don't have to be afraid of it, because He has been there time and time and time again.

Friends, fear is so powerful.  We don't think we are strong enough.  We are scared we will fail.  We are fearful that we aren't hearing Him right.  We are scared what other people might think and say of us.  The list goes on and on with what our fears are..... But God is SO much BIGGER than our fears.

And I was reminded again of that last night.  I was reflecting on everything we have been through.  Every single scary decision we had to make.  Every single act of faith we took.  And as I was doing that....I heard this song:

No Longer Slaves - Newsboys

I encourage you to listen to this song and let those words sink deep into your souls...

I'm no longer a slave to fear....

I am a Child of God...

I'm no longer a slave to fear....

I am a Child of God....

You split the sea so I could walk right through it

My fears were drown in perfect love.

You rescued me so I could stand and sing

I am a Child of God....

I have tears as I'm writing those words.  We are no longer slaves to our fears friends.  Those deep dark fears you have?? They don't own you.  You aren't their slave.  You are a CHILD of God.  Let me say that again.  Those fears don't OWN you.  You aren't their slave.  You are a CHILD of GOD.  

I don't know what's going on in your life.  I don't know if you are facing health concerns. I don't know if you are facing life changing decisions.  I don't know if you are fearful of your future.  But friend, hear me when I say you don't have anything to fear.  God is WITH YOU.  GOD is FOR YOU.  He is on your side and He is there with open arms to wrap you in and help lead the way.  The answers might not always be staring you in the face but know this: No matter what comes your way, if you are letting God be in control you have nothing to fear.  He wins every time. NO MATTER WHAT. It might not always end the way you want.  The answers won't always be bright and rosy, but you don't have to be fearful of any of it.  Because....

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

When feelings are more than you can bear....

My personality traits are not always for the faint of heart.  When I feel an emotion, it is felt in such a passionate, words can't even describe it way.  When I'm angry, the world knows it.  It's not something I am quiet about.  When I'm hurt, I hurt in such a deep way that, sometimes, I'm not sure how I will ever even be able to process the hurt in a healthy way.  When I love, I love BIG.  When I'm happy, it's hard to contain the excitement.  I want everyone to feel that joy when I have it in my reach.  Life with me can be a roller coaster at times and I am so blessed to have the hubby I have.  He knows how to help with those hard raw emotions as best he can.  He holds me and lets me cry it out for as long as I need to.  When I'm angry, he lets me unload and get it off my chest so I don't explode later.  He gets me....and I know not every man in the world could handle my emotions all the time.

While there are positives and negatives to this personality trait, today I was reminded how dangerous it can also be.  Along with those raw, real, bigger than myself emotions I let myself feel....I also can have a ridiculous amount of being the hardest on myself.  Whether I'm angry, or just plain hurting....I open the door in my mind for the enemy to come in and have a huge place as his preying ground.  As my heart is hurting, my mind is racing to think of every possible outcome to the issue at hand.  I'm going over every word said, every action taken.  I let myself start to feel alone.  I let myself start to think that no one understands these feelings.  The devil takes that as his lead to enter into a war with our minds.  He uses it as his cue to whisper those sweet lies about ourselves that are so easy to feed into....

That we aren't good enough.....we don't love how we are supposed to....that God would be ashamed of us......how could anyone ever love us.....you are selfish.....you are a nobody....God will never forgive you....they will never forgive you.....you missed up so big this time, you will never recover..... they will never love you how you should be loved.....they don't deserve your friendship.....or you don't deserve them...

The list could go on and on and on with lies and deception he uses to make you feel lower than you already felt.  To make you feel like you will never be worth Christ's love.  That you will never live up to the expectations you are supposed to......

And then God spoke and showed me this beautiful verse:

Friend, there is so much beauty and truth in that one simple statement.  Whether we feel guilty for reasons that aren't true or we feel guilt because we truly did something wrong....God KNOWS our hearts.  He KNOWS our intentions, even when the world around us doesn't get it.  No matter how BIG and SCARY our feelings can get sometimes...no matter how MUCH they seem to take over moments in our lives.....God is GREATER than them.  God is GREATER than that serpent whispering all those lies about who you are in your ear.  When feelings consume us, we have the power to cry out to God and say, "God, this hurt, this anger, this loneliness ect, God, it hurts.  It seems bigger than me.  It's trying to consume my heart and my mind, but I REFUSE to let is take my soul.  I REFUSE to give into all those other feelings that are just lies from the devil.  Take this burden Lord.  I don't know how to handle it.  I don't know how to lay it down but God, my loving Savior...take it! Let these emotions turn a corner.  Help me to know that no matter what, You've got this.  You are greater than my human instincts...You are GREATER than my feelings."

We need to feel friends.  And I'm a firm believer that if you are feeling something you should feel it and explore it.  You should let it out.  Whether it be crying on someone's shoulder or going for a run when you are angry and need to cool off.  Your feelings are always valid. It's what you do with those feelings and how you handle them that matters....But when those feelings start to feel like more than you can bear....we don't have to be afraid.  We don't have to hear those lies the devils so desperately wants us to believe.  Our God is so much GREATER than them.  God knows our intentions, He knows our hearts....He knows EVERYTHING....

  

 

Hello my name is Chrissy and I'm a recovering people pleaser....

This morning I shared this image:

And since then I haven't been able to get that passage out of my brain.  There are so many thoughts and feelings it stirs up in my soul.  It has been a passage that has flashed in my mind time and time again.  It's a passage I feel God uses to convict me when I start to give in to the temptations that the world tries to get us to accept things we know in our hearts are not right.

I am a hard core people pleaser.  Or at least I was....It has always been a struggle for me to go against others.  Debate is not my strong suit. I would rather live in harmony and have everyone get along.  When I know someone is upset at me I hate it.  I can't eat, can't sleep....I want a resolution.  I want them to like me again.  All through high school I was just like every kid that wanted to fit in so baldy and yet at the same time....I wanted to please my parents and the thought of them being disappointed in my actions was gut wrenching.  It was a constant struggle in my heart.  Fast forward to married life and while Trav and I have some knock out fights....I can't handle the fight for long.  No matter who is right I always end the fight sooner than later because I can't stand the silence and the anger between us.....I say sorry far too much.....I over analyze what I say and how I say it.  Which, if we are being honest, annoys the hubby probably far more than he would care to admit.  Most of the time I walk away from a conversation replaying it over and over again in my mind.  Did I say the right thing? Did I act the right way? It's an exhausting way to live.  

The past few years however, God has been putting all those thoughts and feeling to the test it seems.  You see, the deeper we seem to get in this walk with Christ, the deeper our beliefs grow.  Our thoughts and opinions about this hurting world get stronger and stronger.  And the stronger our relationship with Jesus gets, the further we seem to get from this world and the more people we seem to encounter that try to challenge our way of life.  We have more people that dislike us because of what we believe.  While Christianity and Christ are founded and wrapped up in love....the truth is also not always everybody's friend.  Our culture, the way we are born is to feed every human desire we can.  And when you meet Christ face to face, that way of living is completely challenged.  Therefore, as Christians we wont' always please everyone.  And ya know what? We aren't supposed to.....

The world will always accept what is sinful and against Christ.  The world will always reject the truth.  The world will never stop making Christians feel like they don't belong here.  Because friend, here me in love when I say this: WE DON'T BELONG HERE.  This tired old earth is not our home.  It never will be.  We will always feel out of place.  We will always feel like the outcasts.  We will never be accepted by everyone here.  We will always feel like when everyone else is going one way, we are going the opposite.  But there is also so much freedom in that.  In Christ, we can be who we are called to be.  There is no people pleasing.  We don't have to please everyone.  We don't have to try to fit in some mold when we don't fit.  Because the truth is in Christ,  we all belong. There are no outcasts, no rejects, no losers.  So when we speak the truth and follow Christ....when we are proclaiming His word while the rest of the world seems to be slamming the door on it....we can have confidence.  We don't need to over analyze.  Doesn't give us the right to be rude or put others down.  We still must always speak in love.....but friends...sometimes love hurts.  If you truly love someone and care about them you will never....never stop proclaiming His truths.

This doesn't mean you will be friends with everyone all the time....you will upset people....and it will hurt.  We've had experiences with that in our own families.  And let me be the first to say that when you don't like conflict and you are a people pleaser....it goes against every fiber of your being.  And yet if you are following Christ's commands you can lay it down at His feet and have Him help carry that burden.  Because He will.  Lord knows how much He upset people when Jesus walked this world.  He went against it just like we are.
It's still a daily struggle for me sometimes.  When God is speaking to my heart and calling me to say or do something....whether it be face to face or on social media....I still think, "But God, there are gonna be people that don't like that.  I'm going to upset some people.  What if someone says this or this...."  And yet there's this simple truth: We will never please the entire world, there will be times where we offend or upset it so much that we get rejected.  But if our heart and soul belong to Jesus....we can never get so far that He is out of reach.  He will never reject us.  His love is always there waiting for us to run to....