You will know them by their fruits. -Matthew 7:16

I heard Keith Moore tell the story of A Little Pear Tree. It goes like this:

Once upon a time there was a little pear tree. The little pear tree was surrounded by large trees in a forest! The little pear trees looked up at all the trees and said, “I’m a pear tree!”

The other trees replied, “You’re not a pear tree, you’re a little shrub! You don’t have any pears! You’re just shrub!”

The little pear tree replied, “No, I’m telling you, I’m a pear tree!” They argued all fall and all winter. The little pear tree tried so hard to prove he was a pear tree.

When spring came, the little pear tree produced pears. The pine trees stopped arguing and the little pear tree no longer had to prove that he was a pear tree!

Does anyone other than me feel like the little pear tree? We’re trying so hard to prove to the world that we’re something. “I’m a pastor! I’m a leader! I’m successful! I’m an author! I’m a ____”

Then we have people and thoughts come our way and tell us that we’re none of those things and that we’ll never be successful.

The truth is that we are who God says we are. If God called us to pastor, we’re pastors. If God called us to lead, we’re leaders.

The Key: The outcome of our lives. If we’re pursuing God with all of our hearts and taking the right steps, our lives will show who and what we are.

We won’t have to prove anything to anyone. What critics say won’t matter any more. The outcome of our lives will do all the talking.

Hear from God. Follow Him. Do what He says. Step out in faith. Shut your mouth. Don’t listen to critics. Stop trying to prove to the world who you are. Watch God do an incredible work in your life.

Thoughts?

This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ Himself, and by God the Father. -Galatians 1:1

Everyday we have people trying to tell us who we are & who we should be. We spend most of our lives trying to figure out who we are, what we’re good at, what our purpose is.

We waste years trying to be someone that God never called us to be. We try to run other people’s race, instead of the race God has for us to run. We end up frustrated, disappointed, depressed, and a slave to the opinions of others.

If you’re a Christian, it’s not up to you to decide who you’re going to be, what you’re supposed to do, or what your gifts are. It’s up to you to discover who God says you are, what God’s called you to do, and what you’re gifted at.

The sooner we can come to the realization that we are who God says we are, we’ll become grateful for who He has made us too be, we’ll find our purpose, we’ll enjoy our lives at an entirely different level, and we’ll be a thousand times more productive. We’ll finally break free from the bondage of trying to be someone we’re not, trying to impress others, and living a frustrated life.

Discover who God made you to be. It’ll be the most liberating lesson you’ll ever learn.

Thoughts?

Serve Your Way to the Top – 7 Lessons I Learned While Serving My Way onto a Church Staff

Lesson 2 – Be Comfortable With Yourself

As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it. – I Cor. 12:18

I received a card from a student the other day that really blessed me. At the end of the card it read, “You’ve taught me so many things over the years, but I think my favorite is that life is always best when you can be yourself. Please never stop being you. It’d be a tragedy to lots of people.”

“Please never stop being you. It’d be a tragedy to lots of people.”

I read those words over and over again. Why? Because isn’t it easy to think life would be better if you were someone else? If you were doing what someone else was doing? The truth is – when we’re not ourselves – it’s tragic to others and to God.

I’m learning more, now than ever, to be comfortable with myself. The grass is never greener on the otherside. The truth is, if we were in other peoples shoes, did what they did, or had what they had long enough – we’d feel the exact same way we do with what we do and what we have. So in what areas should you be comfortable with yourself in?

1.)  How You Look - None of us can change our genes – we’re never going to look like anyone else. So quit trying!

2.) Your Calling - I Cor. 12:18 says God put every member of the body of Christ where it has pleased Him. The place God has called us to is the best place we could ever serve in. Stop wanting to do what other people are called to do, and focus on what He’s called you to do.

3.) Your Weaknesses – We all have them! Everyone already knows we have them – so stop trying to cover them up and admit them!

4.) Your Strengths - You’re gifted because of God – He’s given you your strengths. So give yourselves to them and develop!

When you’re comfortable with yourself, people will like you, people will follow you, doors will open, and God can use you more often! When you’re not yourself – it’s a trajedy to everyone around you.

(To the person who wrote me that card – Thank you so much and know that it’s blessing more people than just me because I’ll teach that everywhere I go).