I ain't perfect but I Love God, Don't You?

  
Let’s get a few things straight...I am not perfect but perfectly imperfect. 
 
I have red hair, I love soul music, I cuss when I get real mad (don't judge me), I love to have a good time, I enjoy traveling and living my life, I love a good bottle of wine and I LOVE GOD. 
 
If you grew up with super religious parents or grandparents, it’s likely you adopted their religious pathology about what it means to be Christian and to love God. One of the biggest misnomers I’ve heard is, having fun is irresponsible and Christian’s should serve God, go to church, women should wear skirts and dresses, don’t laugh, don’t smile, look super saved, act holy, don’t hug too tight, roll your eyes and raise hell to let people know you are important...LOL Where is the God in this? The truth is old religious mentalities are not Biblical and they do not serve the Kingdom.

The definition of abundance is “Ample or very large quantities.”
It’s impossible to live in abundance, serve a big God and not have fun. Being super saved and highly minded (aka super saved) does not make you a better Christian, it does not draw people to God, and it does not mean you will go to heaven.
 
God’s love compels people to come unto Him. If people who have not yet come to Christ witness “God’s people” being uptight, mean, super religious, judgmental and unapproachable they will never come. Joyce Myer (I love her practical outlook on life and God’s word) talked about how she wished she would have done more things she loved throughout her life. She shared how she was deceived to think Christian’s should not enjoy life, live in abundance, and enjoy precious moments with family and friends that mean the most. I learned early that the God I grew up hearing about, was not the God I had a relationship with. Who is God to you? Who does God say you are and what you can have?
 
Repeat after me:
 
I CAN LOVE GOD AND LIVE A FUN FULLING LIFE, if I DECIDE TO DO SO.
I WILL TAKE MORE BREAKS AND NOT FEEL GUILTY.
I WLL LAUGH, SING, DANCE, SCREAM AND RUN without FEELing GUILTY.
I WILL MAKE EVERY MOMENT OF MY LIFE COUNT.
I WILL TRAVEL AND USE ALL MY VACATION TIME.
I WILL PUT MYSELF FIRST AND ENJOY GODS BOUNTY
I WILL TAKE MORE CHANCES ON MYSELF.
I WILL SPEND MONEY ON THINGS I LIKE AND DESIRE
I WILL NOT TAKE MYSELF OR LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY
I WILL ENJOY BEING ALIVE AND ENJOYING DOING ONLY WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY
 
When we declare statement like these over and over, eventually the things you speak will start to manifest. Our life is full of whatever you manifested. Think about what you tell yourself and see how your life lines up with what you speak.
 
My advice: Give yourself permission to do and be whatever you want. Just a few short months ago, God challenged me to focus on myself (a foreign act). I loved to serve, it’s a gift. I grew up serving with my grandmother in church. She was over the hospitality ministry (although that’s not what they called it back then). She cooked, cleaned and made everyone feel welcome. She might have cussed in the process, but she did everything grand, with heart and passion. I followed her footsteps and serving people and making them happy has always brought me joy.
 
When I stopped to think about the other things she did, I realized my grandmother lived. She was always the life of the party, she traveled, lived well, worked hard, and traveled. Looking back with adult eyes, my grandmother might have been the only person I saw enjoy life the way she did and for no other reason than because it’s what she wanted to do, and it brought her much joy.
 
As a young 30 something with no children and no husband – I am 100% determined to do whatever makes me happy. I’m determined to laugh, love, serve, travel, eat well, love God and whatever else I choose to do.
 
There is power in choice. A lot of people say, “I had to do this or that”, and I kindly tell them you never HAVE to do anything, but what you choose to do is totally up to you. You can’t choose to do something then get made about the choice you made. When someone asks me to do something and I’m not available; I kindly say I’m unavailable OR I refer them OR offer them other resources to research the information. In the past, I felt like I HAD TO DO IT which made the task a burden. The Bible talks about giving ungrudgingly. When you find yourself about to do something you really don’t want to do, it’s better to say NO than to do it grudgingly.
 
Remember this:
Give yourself grace.
Give yourself the best of you daily.
Embrace the word “No” without guilt.
Be brave.
Be a cheerful giver or don’t give it.
It’s OK to love God and have fun.
Abundance is your birthright.
 
Here’s to you and I living life and enjoying the journey. Thank you for your time and a chance to share space and love. I’m always grateful for your time.
 
Blessings,
 
Lady Kay