I love my people. They see me when I’m not trying to fit in, or be funny, or seem like I have it all together. They are my little cross section of Church, because they speak Jesus into my life. We cheer each other on through the daily routine and we pray for one another through struggles. It’s beautiful.
I sometimes find myself hoping that more of my relationships were like this. I don’t want to waste time on shallow conversations and comparing tips on keeping a clean house. For me, that means I need to be more authentic. I need to risk a little, and share a little more. I want to break the mold of conversations that only scratch the surface.
That has been the difference, for me: Relationships that give life. I have found a community of friends who love the Lord and speak life to me. They challenge, encourage, and point me to my Savior. To be part of this awesome community of Church, I can’t just sit on the side and continue in the ways of shallow, mundane, and superficial. I need to speak life and point to Jesus, not just with “my people”-- but for those who need to see and hear Jesus in their lives.
This is where things get uncomfortable for me. With new people I become the awkward 7th grade girl who desperately wants to be liked. I heap on the sarcasm. I make too many jokes. I create this barrier without even meaning to. If I want more authentic relationships that speak life, I need to be more authentic and speak more life. I need to move past worrying about if I’m funny, if my clothes are stylish enough (trust me, they aren’t), or if they like me, and think about what I can bring to the relationship. I have life to share. I want you, friends, to know that you are part of this Church community, too. I want to encourage you, pray for you, build you up, and speak Jesus into your life.
Who speaks Jesus into your life?