I Want To Be An Onion

Confession...I am a salsa fanatic. I can practically drink the stuff. Seriously, there are times when I've had my fill of chips that I'll take a spoon and enjoy a few more tastes of salsa by itself! I guess it's a borderline addiction...just the thought of it makes me want to run to Chili's, Abuelo's, On the Border, or even to my own kitchen to whip some up!

I was making some homemade salsa the other day, and as I put the onion in the food processor, I remembered a message my husband gave at youth group a few weeks ago. He sliced up an entire onion in the teen building while he was speaking (you can imagine how that smelled - and he didn't even cry!), revealing that an onion looks virtually the same all the way through. As you slice it or peel back layer after layer, each layer is practically identical to the one before it. He then went on to talk about how we, as Christians, should strive to be like an onion (without the odor!) - consistent layer by layer - not having a surface layer completely different from our heart.

I want to be an onion. I don't want there to be a "church Jen" and a "home Jen" and an "out with friends Jen" etc... but rather, I want the layers of my life to consistently reveal a girl who loves Jesus and loves people and tries to serve God and encourage others the best I can wherever I am, and whatever I am doing. A life that, even when I blow it and mess up, reveals a sincere heart's desire to do what's right.

I want to be consistent. Not perfect, because no one is or can be. But real. Authentic.

And that's really what this blog is about, right? I named it "Genuine Girl: An Invitation to Authenticity" because I want you to join me in this quest to be real. I don't want you to fall into the trap of putting on a church girl mask that's replaced with another mask when around your friends at school, another one when you are at parties, another when you are around your parents, and on and on it goes. That kind of life is confusing, frustrating, and in the end, self-defeating.

Authentic living isn't always easy - there are days when we will find ourselves reaching for those masks - and it is definitely something we grow into the closer we walk day to day in a real relationship with Jesus Christ. But I have faith that you can do it; that you can aim to live a consistent life for Christ no matter where your day or your life takes you; that you can get back on track when you start going the wrong way; that you can be an onion.

(But one that smells more like Bath and Body Works of course!)

Questions for Thought: Is my faith in God something real that affects every layer of my life, or just a mask I put on when I go to church or youth group? Are there steps I can take to be more real about my love for Jesus? Are there things I need to change so that my attitudes and actions consistently reveal Christian character whether I am at church, home, school, practice, etc..?

Pearls...

I love pearls.

Like, love love them. I have pearls in all sizes and wear them with almost everything.

I've loved them since I was a little girl. There is just something so feminine and classic about pearls. They are dependably beautiful, never really going in and out of style like many other accessories.

I don't actually have a real set - maybe one day - but have lots of fun, inexpensive versions of this fashion classic. And recently, my mom found a huge (and I mean huge) set for next to nothing at a jewelry show and I am crazy about them!

Even though I'm a bit of an accessory junkie, especially in the pearl department, there is another type of pearls that I love.

Those are pearls of wisdom, which are wise instructions and pieces of advice to help in daily life. And where is the best place to find those?

You guessed it - The Bible!

James 1:5 says "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

For many years since discovering this verse, I have prayed for wisdom and have truly seen God answer this request and help me make wise, thoughtful choices that have definitely impacted the course of my life for the better!

I have also always enjoyed reading the book of Proverbs in the Bible (smack dab in the middle after Psalms) to gain insight and advice that I can use day to day.

Check out a few of these "pearls of wisdom" from Proverbs...

Proverbs 11:1 "The Lord hates cheating, but he delights in honesty." (That should help you on your next math test.)

Proverbs 16:38 "A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends." (That should help you with school drama.)

Proverbs 31:30 "Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised." (That should help you desire to work on developing your inner beauty, and encourage you when a glance in the mirror makes you want to forget it, crawl back under the covers, and just try again tomorrow. We'll chat more about this one soon...)

You see, the Bible isn't some outdated book that was fine for ancient times but is completely out of touch today. Actually, the Bible is quite the opposite - it is totally relevant and helpful for you girls walking the halls of your school and living your life in 2010!

If you want to be wise and make good choices that will help you live a fantastic life - and I believe that most of you do - then when you put on your pearls in the morning while getting ready, stop and take a moment to check out God's Word to gain wisdom and insight to help you with the day ahead.

And then ask God to help you be a girl whose life is accessorized beautifully with pearls of wisdom, and watch as He abundantly blesses this simple request!

So much love, and happy Proverbs reading!! I can't wait to hear what you discover along the way.