Who am I in Christ?

I am my own worst enemy sometimes.  I can be great at self sabotage.  I get all excited about something God has shown me, or I’m about to step out in faith and then BOOM!  In creeps the self doubt- ‘You can’t do that, you’re not good enough.  You won’t last the distance, so why start?  How embarrassing will it be when you fail?  Don’t get your hopes up you don’t want to be disappointed.‘  

On and on it goes.  I sometimes have such self doubt and lack of belief in who I am and what I’m on earth to do that I don’t feel equip to do anything.

Even in my worth as a ‘daughter of the King’ I put myself down.  I know that Jesus died for me and there is nothing I can do to make him love me more.  I know that it’s nothing I've done or didn't do that grants me the love of God the father.  But that doesn't stop me from striving to be a better person, from trying to be what I think God wants to be in my own strength.  I need to pray more, watch TV less, read the bible more, stop going after the things of this world so much, get involved with church more, and listen to worship music more.  On and on I go striving to do stuff that will make me more like Christ.   

I’m not saying that these things are wrong, in fact if you do that stuff more, then you’re relationship with Christ will definitely be closer.  But when we strive for it in our own strength, when we are trying to do the right thing instead of stepping back and letting Christ lead us, then we’re no better off than if we’re slouching on the lounge gorging our face with chocolate catching up on the latest reality TV show (a personal vice for me!).  

We need to know that no matter what we do, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.  When we realise that, the pressure valve is released and instead of striving to hang out with God, we want to spend time with him.  It becomes the natural reaction to our circumstances rather than the strained reaction.  When we know that God is for us not against us, then we can run into his open arms with our head held high free from all guilt of not ‘measuring up to his standards’ but rather knowing that Christ has made us the standard. 

Here are some verses of who Christ has made you.  They are from http://storage.cloversites.com/churchunlimited/documents/In%20Christ.pdf 

I love that we have the bible at our finger tips to guide us through all confusion and set our minds on the things God wants us to focus on.  Have a read and I hope you get as blessed and as reassured as I did xx

I AM ACCEPTED

I am God's child. John 1:12

I am Christ's friend. John 15:15

I have been justified. Romans 5:1

I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17

I have been bought with a price. I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I am a member of Christ's body. 1 Corinthians 12:27

I am a saint. Ephesians 1:1

I have been adopted as God's child. Ephesians 1:5

I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:18

I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. Colossians 1:14

I am complete in Christ. Colossians 2:10

I AM SECURE

I am free forever from condemnation. Romans 8:1-2

I am assured that all things work together for good. Romans 8:28

I am free from any condemning charges against me. Romans 8:31-34

I cannot be separated from the love of God. Romans 8:35-39

I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

I am hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected. Philippians 1:6

I am a citizen of heaven. Philippians 3:20

I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1: 17

I can find grace and mercy in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. 1 John 5:18

I AM SIGNIFICANT

I am the salt and light of the earth. Matthew 5:13-14

I am a branch of the vine, a channel of His life. John 15: 1-5

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. John 15:16

I am a personal witness of Christ's. Acts 1:8

I am God's temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16

I am a minister of reconciliation for God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

I am God's co-worker. 2 Corinthians 6:1

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm. Ephesians 2:6

I am God's workmanship.Ephesians 2: 10

I may approach God with freedom and confidence.Ephesians 3:12

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.Philippians 4:13

So why Dear Ruth?

The name Ruth means 'faithful companion.'
It's a family name, it's my grandmothers name, my cousins name, my nieces name, another nieces middle name, my middle name & my daughters middle name.
To be honest growing up I really disliked the name Ruth. It sounded old & kids in my class would sing 'the Ruth, the Ruth, the Ruth is on fire' (if you remember the song, replace the name Ruth with roof & you get the most awful song).
It wasn't until my niece was given it as her middle name that I started liking it. Then another precious niece was born and Ruth became her first name. I was pregnant at the time and we knew we were having a little girl. I was praying about what to name my bubba when I felt led to read the book of Ruth out of the bible. I fell in love with her and her journey. She truly was a 'faithful companion'. Someone that I aspire to be like and someone I prayed my little lady would become.
It made sense for my husband and I to keep tradition in our family and name our upcoming beauty Mia Ruth 'My faithful companion'.

So when I decided to start a blog I realised that everything I write will be on the Internet for the world to see. For all eyes.  Once something's on the Internet it's there for life whether you try to delete it or not.  I want all of my family (those now and in the future) to be proud of what they read. I wanted this blog to be something that the people in my life (Ruth's and all) could read and be inspired. To laugh, cry and ponder.

So here's to the journey of Dear Ruth. May you enjoy as I tell of my life's journey and the lessons I learn on the way. x

So it begins...

Well I have dived into the crazy world of blogging.  I'm not too sure what to do yet, so wish me luck & watch this space for the unveiling that is Dear Ruth xx