Sounds like a tall task to me.

If you had seen the tree-climbing, roof-jumping, I-can-do-anything-a-boy-can-do, tomboy that used any excuse to get out of doing the dishes, you would never have believed that she would grow up to one day be a pastor’s wife.

Some days I still don’t believe it myself.

One of the greatest blessings my pastor-husband has given me is the freedom to be myself.  He grew up in a pastor’s home, and with all boys. Many of the things that we thought were “normal” were challenged when God brought us together– and we grew to appreciate the balance that even our differences can bring to our marriage.  Choosing to love someone for who they are, without trying to change them or “fix them” is an honest expression of unconditional love.

God did not ask a twelve-year-old girl to get her act together so He could welcome her into His family.  He did reveal the things in my life that were not pleasing to Him, and showed me a better way.  He DID NOT ask me to deny the person He created me to be.

This word HOLY is a concept that the world has misconstrued.

 GOD ALONE IS HOLY.  We are fallen, frail creatures that can choose to devote our lives to Him–as UNperfect as we are, but loved and accepted by Him.  We know we can never attain righteousness on our own–that’s why we needed a Savior.  This tall task could only be accomplished by a loving, holy God who came to the earth He created and died on a tree.  The demonstration of His love for us compels us to strive for holiness, knowing that process will only be complete as we enter His presence in eternity.

I never want this truth to become an excuse to sin.  On the contrary, I want to be the best I can be, believing that He has given me all that I need to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Let’s not fall into the trap of thinking that we can “self-improve” ourselves apart from the cleansing, life-changing power of the One True God: The I AM: The Holy One Himself.

I, for one, am so thankful that God has shown us that HE is the one that makes beautiful things out of us.  Sometimes it actually scares me to think what my life would look like without Him.

~~Vickie