The Hope of Advent

I said I wouldn't post anymore until after the holidays.  Call me a liar!  I had some spare time today (which is a minor miracle in itself) and wanted to share something that's been niggling at my mind all week.  During this season of Advent, I wanted to try to distance myself from some of the commercialism and stress of the holidays.  Listen to more hymns and carols instead of "Let It Snow" for the 100th time.  Focus on Christ's incarnation specifically during my quiet time.  Try to spend quality time with the children either by decorating, shopping or reading Scripture/singing the old carols.  I ran across a devotional series that a fellow blogger wrote for Advent and she focuses on a new theme each week. This week's theme is Hope.

I'd never given much thought to how Christ was, and is, the fulfillment of my hope.  As a New Testament Christian, it seemed I didn't have much for which to hope.  Yes, there's the hope of spending eternity with Christ, I know.  But as I read this devotional, I thought of all the Old Testament believers and the years - literally thousands of years - they hoped and longed for the coming Messiah.  Through the fall, slavery, captivity, good kings and bad kings, famine and judgment, blessing and prosperity - they were always looking foward with longing for the One who would come to bring them into eternal blessing.  I wonder if they ever got discouraged during those long years of expectation.  I wonder if, like me, they ever doubted those promises because of the extended time of waiting.  If you dwell on how long and through what periods of darkness they waited and hoped for their Messiah, the songs that we sing each year - "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" - take on new meaning.  Jesus was the very definition of their hopes and dreams.  And yet, what is so very sad is that when He finally did come, lowly and laid in a manger, they didn't even recognize Him.  He wasn't what they had been looking for all those years. He didn't meet their expectations.  We, with perfect hindsight, look back and say "How could they miss it?".

How blessed we are to live in this age where that hope of a promised Messiah has already been fulfiled. We have the completed Scripture and regardless of current political and social issues, we know how things will end.  Put away the "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph" for a while.  Think back to a time before Santa and elves and Christmas decor.....to a time when the only thing people really had to celebrate was the fact that at some nebulous time in the future God would redeem mankind.  And then rejoice that He has come and that we are the recipients of the fulfillment of that hope. That is a true reason to celebrate!

Why is Hospitality So Hard?

Showing hospitality is an area of my life where I've really struggled....and if I'm being honest, still struggle more often than not.  It sounds great to invite someone over to your home and share a meal or just coffee and fellowship.  The Bible tells us to show hospitality.  We love spending time with friends and family. There are lots of reasons why hospitality should be easy.  And yet, often it's just so hard.

When thinking of inviting people over, my perfectionistic tendencies kick into high gear.  I dream of having friends over, enjoying a great meal around our kitchen table, sharing dessert in the living room, playing games amid laughter and fellowship.  Then reality hits and I can think of 10 reasons why this would never work.  I haven't finished my kitchen curtains, the guest bathroom baseboards need a paint touch-up, ALL my baseboards need dusting, my floors haven't been mopped in ages, there's not enough food in the pantry or money in the budget to feel a nice meal to that many people, how will I entertain the kids for the evening....and the list goes on and on.  What ultimately happens is that I pass up the opportunity for hospitality or just "postpone" it until I can accomplish all of these to-dos.  And unfortunately, that future date never arrives.  There is always something else to perfect, something new to try, something else to clean.  Then the end of the year approaches and I can count on two fingers the times I've had anyone over.

What I've come to realize is that I require people to have permission before entering my home.  And you will not be granted permission unless things are perfect.  It's an insular and isolated way to live!  There are probably a handful of people that might feel welcome to drop by our home.  Usually, if you drop by, conversations will be held on the porch or in the foyer (with my eyes constantly cutting to the dust bunnies in the corner), because I'm too paranoid to let people see how we really live (yes, those dust bunnies are regulars around our house, and so are the dishes in the sink, the magazines all over the coffee tables, etc).  By opening my door, I am essentially opening myself up to your opinion on my home, my housekeeping, my decor; and I fear that opinion might not be favorable. So, it's better to just not open that door at all, right?

Wrong!  The Lord has been working on me slowly over the past few years in this area.  When we moved into our current house, I lost my old excuse of "our house is too small to host parties or have people over".  We doubled our square footage and suddenly I had a huge kitchen perfect for entertaining.  But then I found another excuse. That huge kitchen and open floor plan perfect for entertaining had to be kept clean, and cleaning twice the square footage is much harder to do.  So, my new excuse was "our house is not clean enough for company."  I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that hospitality is not about the size of my home, the food I can provide, or the cleanliness and decor of the environment.  Hospitality is about sharing what I DO have with others....small or large, clean or dirty, abundant or sparse.

This holiday season I stepped out on a limb.  Instead of waiting to be invited elsewhere or just getting ready for parties held at another's home, I volunteered our home to host the parties.  Is it stressful? A bit; but I'm finding I'm excited about the possibilities!  A bit more planning and organization (and less procrastinating) have resulted in getting our Christmas decor up earlier than usual and a few days set aside to clean and prepare the house as best I can.  That doesn't mean I'll have time to paint the office (swivel chair marks along the walls will be seen by all), but I might have time to touch up the trim in the guest bathroom.  I won't have time to deep clean the entire house, but I can probably manage to sweep/mop my floors.  I won't be cooking or baking up a storm, but I can certainly provide a table and nice centerpiece for catered food or shared potluck dinners.  And at the end of the day, I hope that our guests will see beyond the dust bunnies (can you ever get rid of them all!?!), the marks on the walls, the tight seating in the dining room, and the lack of 20 different kinds of homemade treats.  I hope that they will see Christ and the love He so freely shared this time of year by being willing to give up the glories and perfection of heaven to walk in our too small, too poor, too dirty world.  If the God of the Universe could share so much, then I can certainly afford to share what I have, be it a little or a lot, with others.

I thank the Lord for each of you who honor me by reading and commenting on what I write.  You have been a blessing and encouragement to me these past few months as I share my heart and opinions (good and bad).  I pray that God will richly bless you and yours during this special holiday season!

**Posting will probably be rare for the rest of the year.  Hosting holiday festivities takes time, you know!**

Practical Holiday Eating Tips

My most-read post, to date, was the one on weight loss and maintenance.  Seems that's quite a popular topic!  And maybe never more so than during the holiday season when we are presented with holiday goodies at every turn.  How in the world do you maintain any kind of sensible eating plan, much less a full-fledged diet, when you have 5 holiday parties, 2 church fellowships, office workers bringing cookies from their parties, and the pressure to be a regular Martha-Stewart-type-baker in your own kitchen?  Most of us don't -  maintain any kind of eating plan, that is.  We either chunk the diet out the window during the holidays, or we restrict ourselves to only eating carrots dipped in ranch dressing at each and every holiday party.   Right now, I'm in the midst of a year-long (with no cheating....well, except that one time on my birthday) eating plan that rules out the vast majority of holiday goodies.  I knew this gauntlet of holiday festivities would come and decided to go right ahead with my commitment anyway. There will be no holiday baked goods for me this year. However, that may not be practical for everyone, obviously. So, I wanted to write down a few tips that might help you navigate the cheese balls, chocolate peanut-butter fudge dipped Oreos, and 3 kinds of cornbread dressing you'll face in the coming 6 weeks!

1.  Holidays are not about the food.  Maybe I should rephrase that - holiday are not only about the food!  While we may have traditional favorites we cook ourselves, or holiday treats baked for us by others - this is not the crux of the holiday season. Food is just food.  Sometimes, it's not so much the food, as the chance to spend time around a table with the people you love most in the world.  It's not just another chance to bake 3 different kinds of pies, but the opportunity to share that pie with people you care about.  It is possible to enjoy the holidays and all the togetherness and joy that comes with them, without overindulging in all the food.  It is possible to sit at a table with your family and be a part of a wonderful holiday feast without your plate so full that it's dripping gravy off all sides.  Try to look past the food to the other parts of the holiday - family, friends, special occasions, thankfulness for all the many blessings we have.  Yes, the food is wonderful and special - but it's not the only thing that's important or meaningful during this time of year. 

2.  There's always next year.  If you are in the midst of a real effort to lose weight, or honestly feel that the holidays may derail your entire eating plan; then maybe it's time to say, there's always next year.  Honestly, every year it's the same old food trotted out over and over again!  Our traditional family meal has remained the same for the past umpteen years, and as much as I love it (hello, Mom!), we will have the same dishes next year and the year after that.  People bring the same things to the same parties each year.  You don't have to blow your diet on something that you can most assuredly have next year when you've reached your goal. It's OK to pass it by once, knowing that it'll come around again.

3.  It it's not great, don't eat it.  If that pumpkin pie is not the very best, then don't eat it.  Don't slop whipped cream on top to make it more edible.  If you're going to eat the holiday food, make it count!  Choose the richest dessert and eat half....instead of trying each of the other 10 desserts on the table.  There's no sense in indulging in something that's not worth indulging in!  If the turkey dressing is dry, why continue to shovel it in?  Pass it up and then make some yourself at home that's really good....if you're still wanting it the next day.  I think we get guilted into eating to pacify other people, when often the food is just not good or we don't want to offend.  If you're worried about offending, take a tiny bit of everything, eat your tiny bit and be done. You can say you had some, but not worry about trying to finish off an entire helping.  There's nothing wrong with being picky about your indulgences.

4.  Just eat it, already.  If you live for the holiday season because it's the only time you get this dish or that dessert and you just can't pass it by - then eat it!  Eat as much as you want.  But then, on Friday morning (or the day after that big party) get up and start right back with your former plan.  Don't eat leftovers for days.  You had your fun, ate your fill - now it's time to move on.  Don't turn that one day of indulgence into a weekend, or a week, or before you know it the holiday season will be done and you will have indulged 10 times and gained 10 pounds.  Choose the occasion for indulgence, go for it, and then start right back up.

5.  Keep maintenance as a goal. Anyone who tries to actively lose weight during the holiday season is just crazy. It can be done, but seriously what fun would that be?  A good goal to keep in mind is to just maintain your current weight until after New Years and then actively start again with trying to lose weight.  There's nothing wrong with trying to maintain your weight...especially when the vast majority of people will gain 5-10 pounds over a 6 week period of time.  Remember that weight loss and maintenance is a very long journey.

6.  Don't let your diet be a downer.  Be careful not to constantly belittle yourself for failures, but also not to have an "Eeyore" attitude about the fact that you're trying to lose weight while everyone else is shoveling in the food like there's no tomorrow.  You made a choice to try to lose weight and be healthy. That doesn't mean you have to limit your food choices to such an extent that you feel constantly imprisoned by that choice.  Define your limits before the season starts, and then do your best to follow those limits; however, realizing all the while that your weight loss/maintenace is a life long pursuit...not something that will be completely derailed if you eat 2 slices of pie instead of just a bite!  Also, don't let your diet be a downer to others.  It's no fun for you to go to a party or family dinner and regale everyone with the restrictions of your eating plan and how you know this or that is bad for you or them.  Be quiet and eat what you can without drawing attention to yourself or your eating plan.  If you're still hungry later, fill up at home. But you'll make a hostess feel bad for their "unhealthy" cooking or you'll make friends/family feel guilty for their own choices and/or pity you for your restricted choices.  There's more to the holidays than eating. Enjoy them and don't broadcast the fact that you're watching what you eat!

These are just some very practical tips that might help.  Let me know if you have any questions or further observations about what has worked for you. I'm always open to new ideas for my own eating endeavors!  Happy Thanksgiving and I'll "talk" to you next week.

Approaching the Holiday Season....Appropriately

As it gets closer and closer to the holiday season, I get closer and closer to freaking out.  My mind goes a mile-a-minute while I lay in bed, or drive to work, or sit in my chair at work (ssshhh....don't tell!) trying to plan, prepare, and schedule our increasing load of holiday appointments and activities.  Somedays it seems I can handle it all - no problem!  And other days, it seems like it will all come crashing down and that party we're hosting will be a total disaster and I'll hide in my bathroom with the door shut.  And ultimately, what I end up doing is bypassing this wonderful season of Thanksgiving and everything that it includes - gratefulness, praise, time with family, some of my favorite colors and weather - to focus on what is coming down the road.

I read a recent blog post by a wonderful Christian woman and she referenced the verse in Ecclesiastes: 'to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.'  This kind of hit me like a load of bricks.  How often do I get caught up in looking forward?  A lot.  There's nothing inherently wrong in looking forward.  I'm a planner and organizer, so I'm always looking foward and planning some part of my life.  But...what sometimes happens is I get so caught up in looking foward and planning for the future (and sometimes worrying about the future), that I totally miss the "now".  I need to remember that it's not time for that future season yet.

We are planning for retirement and have lots of hopes and dreams about owning this mountain home, or that beach condo one day.  But in my planning and preparation for 20 years down the line, do I forget to enjoy the beautiful house that God has given me right now?  In my anxiousness to see my kids mature and grow into independent beings, do I miss being here - right now - with them to experience all the immaturity and sillyness of their youth?  In my quest to have the perfectly decorated home, do I miss the opportunities to have people over TODAY even though things are not "just the way I want them" yet?  So often, I get wrapped up in the "not yet", instead of enjoying and appreciating the "right now".

So, my goal as I enter this holiday season is to appreciate where I am today.  I will celebrate Thanksgiving fully without glossing over it to get to Christmas.  I will spend the day at the farm tomorrow with my family instead of trying to finish the curtains in the kitchen so they'll be perfect for our holiday parties.  I will enjoy the clothing I already have instead of constantly dreaming and shopping for just the right Christmas day outfit.  All of that will come eventually....but its "season" is not here yet.  I would encourage you to appreciate and fully embrace wherever you are in life right now.  There is so much joy that can be found in the here and now....the journey can be just as fun as the ultimate destination!

The True Measure of Comparisons

Since I wrote my last post, I've been pondering how we are to view ourselves.  And having trouble coming up with something to write.  You see, I usually blog about stuff that I'm struggling with, or things which God is showing me or working on in my own life.  And I do have vast experience with comparing myself to others.  What I don't have much experience with is viewing myself and others in the right way.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact of how much I do compare myself to others; sometimes without even realizing it.  I, honestly, have not even gotten to the point where I have a handle on a right view of myself in relation to others.  So, my goal to write 3 posts on this subject was a bit ambitious, I guess.  I've tried to start writing this post at least 3 times and end up deleting it each time.

Here is all I know right now.  I will compare. It's fallen human nature to compare what I am or have with someone else.  It's the reaction to those comparisons and what I tell myself in response that can be damaging.

Michael (my husband) and I were talking about this subject earlier this week, and then our Pastor preached on it this morning.  Maybe God's trying to tell me something!  The Bible says we were created in God's image.  Human beings, although not gods in and of themselves, are an image - a direct reflection - of God Himself.  And because of being His image bearers, we are also accorded some measure of dignity.  This would seem to refute the idea that I are worthless, unlovely, or unwanted.  If I am made in the image of God, then I have worth.  If I are made in the image of God then I am uniquely lovely and beautiful.  If I am made in the image of God, then He had a purpose for making me and putting me here.  When I constantly berate myself because I don't measure up (in my own mind), I am essentially telling God that His image is not acceptable to me.  He should have made me differently, given me more, designed me like "her".  It seems the height of arrogance to imply to a Creator God that He didn't know what he was doing when He made me.

But on the flip side of this thought, I must also realize that others were made in God's image.  The homeless person begging for change who I avoid at the gas station, the liberal news pundit on CNN whose views I despise, the Muslim terrorist who threatens my freedom, my homosexual relative, the lady next door who's young, fit and drives a new Lexus - all bear the same image of God that I bear.  This fact renders me no better than them.  They deserve the same measure of worth and value that I do.  I am not a better person because I am a Christian.  I am not a better person because I'm more stylish, more conservative, more organized, or more theologically sound.  Often, I wrap myself in my aura of "betterness" and look down on those who are different - never remembering the fact that God made them exactly as they are, for a reason only He knows and for a purpose that He is working out for His glory. Believer or non-believer - they are image bearers of God the same as I.

I guess, at this point, I'm learning that I am no better or worse than anyone else.  I am just different.  And different is OK!  God has accorded me dignity and value by making me in His image.  He has also given that same dignity and value to others, which means I need to show them respect as His image bearers.  But, there is something that sets me apart - God has chosen me and set His love on me.  Through nothing that I've done or not done, but for His own glory and purposes.  That fact should shove all of my insecurity and arrogance to the curb.  Out of all His created image bearers, He chose me....and maybe you can say the same.  When I reflect on that truth, it makes all the temporal worries about my physical flaws, material possessions or talents seem inconsequential.  Who cares if my body is softer than hers if I've been chosen by Creator God?  Who cares where I live or what car I drive if I've been chosen by Jehovah Jireh (The Lord who Provides)?  God is all and in all.  I will choose to focus on Him and His all-encompassing and redeeming love.  Hopefully this will help to put into proper perspective the comparisons with which I'll continue to struggle.

The Lies Found in Comparisons - Part 2

The battle of comparisons usually takes place in our minds.  Very rarely would we dare voice the thoughts that we harbor about others.  Often we say the very opposite of what we're thinking; maybe in hopes of distracting others so they don't delve deeper into how we really feel or what we really think.  We may be dying inside; literally tearing ourselves apart with negative thoughts about our own self worth - but we paste on a smile, tell everyone we're doing "great" and move on quickly so they can't see behind the words.  We dress ourselves up in fancy attire and put on our new shoes, so people will notice the clothing and not the person within the clothing.  We hide behind the walls of our own homes instead of inviting people inside to see that we are not the perfect wife, mother and homemaker everyone thinks we are.  These actions and reactions flow from our negative thoughts - that we are not "enough".

However, there is another side to the battle that takes place in our minds.  Inside the same mind that harbors thoughts of never measuring up, there are also thoughts like these:

• What is she thinking wearing that outfit? (My clothes are much more stylish.)
• Are those crumbs on her kitchen floor? (I would never allow my floors to get that dirty.)
• I would never allow my children to act like that in church. (They should use our method of child training.)
• She really ought not to be singing in public. (My voice is much smoother than hers.)
• What is she listening to?  Madonna? (My music standards are much more pleasing to God.)
• They almost got divorced? (My marriage is stronger than hers.)
• She works outside the home? (She should be available to my children 24/7 - like me.)

These are actually tame thoughts.  They can be much worse.  What do we accomplish by thinking those things?  To put it simply, it makes us feel better.  When we compare ourselves and come out favorably in our own minds, it makes us feel better about our own insecurities. For a while, we can ignore our own doubts and fears about ourselves and how well we measure up (those pesky thoughts of "I am not enough") while concentrating on how far short they fall. But what's worse, is when we put on a faux-smile and compliment the person we just belittled inwardly.  "Oh, your house looks great!" or "Well, don't you look fancy today!".  All the while smiling smugly in our own minds because we "know" we are better. And therein we find the second lie in comparison - "I am better."

What we fail to realize in our superior comparisons is that we really are no better.  We cannot be a better person; because we are all sinners.  Remember what we talked about earlier? There is nothing good in us.  Absolutely nothing.  There is nothing intrisically different between myself and a prostitute.  We are both sinners in need of God's mercy and grace. But, you say, what about the fact that I'm a child of God and she is not?  Doesn't that make me better?  No!  If you had anything to do with your salvation, then maybe there would be a reason to make that claim. But the truth is that we did absolutely nothing to merit our salvation. We couldn't even choose Him, apart from his grace!  He had to enable us to make the choice.  If we were unable, in our fallen state, to even make the choice; if our eyes were completely blinded until God chose to open them; then how could you possibly say that his choice of you to be his child makes you better than one he did not choose? 

And to carry the thought further, how can you say that you are better in any way (physical appearance, family behavior, material possessions, talents) when God has given you everything that you have...and conversely, has withheld everything that she (or he) does not have?  The sovereignty of God makes your superior comparisons null and void.  If God chose to bless you with a large home and disposable income with which to decorate it, you should be thankful - not look down on someone else for their lack of stylish decor when they may not have the money to decorate as you do.  If God chose to bless you with organizational skills that make it easy for you to keep up with your household chores, you should be thankful for that gift - not look down your nose at your sister in Christ who struggles to keep up with her household tasks and care for her children at the same time.  If God chose to bless you with a thin and lithe body, you should be thankful - not look with disdain on those who are trying to be healthy but whose bodies are scarred by childbearing, weight fluctations or physical flaws.  If God chose to bless your childrearing efforts and your children are always well-behaved, then be thankful - don't judge someone else because their children are testing the limits of independence.  When we compare ourselves with a mindset of superiority, we are making ourselves idols in our own minds.  We think they should live up to our standards (of beauty, behavior, possessions).

Only by focusing on God, can I find self worth after my negative comparisons and only by focusing on God can I view myself properly in light of my superior comparisons.  God is the measuring stick - not another person.  And when I view myself in light of God, my comparisons can be viewed through a true lens - not a warped one of my own making.  Those negative thoughts that "I am not enough" pale in the light of God's love demonstrated toward me.  Those superior thoughts of "I am better" are overtaken by the realization that only by God's grace am I the person I am.  My response in both cases should be an overwhelming gratefulness to God!  When I choose to put my eyes on Him (because He alone deserves that kind of focus), all those other comparisons fall by the wayside as I respond in joy and thankfulness for what He has done.

The Lies Found in Comparisons - Part 1

This week, I wanted to do a 3-part series on the harmful lies found in comparing ourselves with others.  I'm hoping by putting some of my thoughts on this subject into the blogosphere for all to see, it will help me come to terms with the lies I tell myself, but also maybe help some of my readers who also live with the fall-out from these lies on a regular basis.

Picture with me a woman seated at a table having dinner with her fiance.  She is seated facing the door to the restaurant and they are engaged in conversation.  Someone walks in the door to eat and the woman at the table surreptiously surveys the new entrant from top to bottom, all while maintaining the conversation with her future spouse.  With the quirk of an eyebrow, noticed only by her fiance, she conveys a message of distate, censure, pride or sometimes acceptance.  She does this little charade with everyone who enters the restaurant.  What would you think of a woman who compared herself to every other person walking in the door?  What would you think if you could see inside her head to witness the negative comparisons but also the prideful feelings of superiority?  What would you think if I said that woman was me?  Comparing myself to others is probably the biggest struggle with sin in my entire life...it's not pretty.

I have a sneaking suspicion that most people struggle with comparisons between themselves and others. It might not be the huge battle that it is for me....but then again, it may.  Men are subject to these thought patterns, but I think we, as woman, are far more prone to comparisons and then - past the comparisons - the horribly negative thoughts invoked by those comparisons.  Do any of the following internal conversations sound familiar?

"Her house is so beautiful!  Look at the beautiful framed pictures of her children.  Her furniture is spotlessly clean and she has so much open space.  Gosh, I can't even remember the last time I mopped my floors!  My kids school pictures for the past 3 years are still in their vinyl envelopes.  What kind of mom and housekeeper am I?"

"Look at that outfit....it's perfection.  I bet she has a closet full of clothes like that with shoes to match.  What am I doing in these sweat pants in public?  Is that a coffee stain on my shirt?  Who goes out of the house looking like this?  Me, that's who...."

"I am so fat!  The mirror doesn't lie.  Look at the way my fat bulges over my pants and those stretch marks - they'll be there til the day I die.  How could my husband ever find me attractive anymore?  I bet so-and-so doesn't have stretch marks. She sure doesn't look like she has any flab. I bet her husband is all over her!  Guess it's time for another diet."

"Why am I even at church today?  My kids clothes don't match and Johnny didn't brush his teeth.  I forgot my Bible and yelled at my husband this morning because he was watching ESPN instead of getting dressed.  That lady sitting in front of me probably doesn't deal with stuff like this.  Her hair and makeup are perfect, her children are in matching outfits and all have their Bibles ready, and her husband has his arm around her like she's a precious treasure.  How can God love and bless me unless I do a better job as a Christian wife and mother?"

Ladies, nothing can steal your joy as a feminine Christian woman more than these types of thoughts!  They lead us away from God and instill in us the lie that "I am not enough."  I am not organized enough to decorate my house and keep it clean.  I am not stylish enough to be relevant in this culture.  I am not pretty enough, skinny enough, or tall enough to meet expectations.  I am not a good enough wife, mother, housekeeper.  I am not spiritual enough to please God.  Aren't you tired of not being "enough"?

The cold, hard fact is that - on our own - we are never enough.  We are thorougly depraved sinners with a heart filled with deceit and sin.  Look it up in Jeremiah 17:9. It doesn't get much plainer than that.  We are never naturally content. We always look outside ourselves to find validation and then all we find is other people searching for the same thing from us.  We are created beings who rebelled against our Creator and, in our natural state, flout that rebellion in His face at every turn.  There is nothing desirable, perfect or good in any of us - in our natural state.  However, in one simple phrase God overrides all of our inadequacies.  He calls himself "I AM".  He IS what we are not.  He, put simply, is enough.  And when the love of One who is "enough" embraces us, then only through that love and embrace can we, too, be "enough".  If you are a child of God, you are enough.  This is not to say that there is no room for improvement in your life; but you, as a human being lovingly designed by God, are enough.  You may not have the latest fashions, a blog-worthy house filled with children and a husband who adores you, a perfectly toned body, or a model Christian walk - but you have Christ!  He has loved you, chosen you, given you His hard-won and priceless righteousness, intercedes before a just and holy God for you and declares there is nothing else you need to do to gain His favor and acceptance.  How could that possibly not be enough for us?  There is nothing else we need.  You, in Christ, are enough.  Don't let your comparisons and insecurities blind you to the truth!  What's worse is that this lie is usually not propogated from outside sources, although that can and does happen.  Most often, we tell this lie to ourselves...over and over again.  We believe the lie and by doing so, tell our Savior that he is not enough for us; that we need something else (more possessions, a skinnier body, a bigger house, a more romantic husband, approval, etc) in order to be happy and fulfilled.  Don't believe the lie! Don't get caught up in comparing yourself to others who walk a different path, in a different body, in a different family and with different possessions.  Rejoice in Christ as your "all in all".  You will be far more content and fulfilled if you do!