Identity

I've spent the past 24 hours of my life finding myself enthralled at the thought of what Jesus might look like. Ok, there's a sentence that screams out 'I'M SO WEIRD'. You see, when I get a thought in my head all I can do is reflect on it and analyse every angle and idea until I get bored and move on to a new exciting thought. So this was today's thought. Now in life I've learnt to turn to two things when I'm in need- the first is God. Of course. That's not a shock. The second is Google. Oh to be a child of the 21st century! So I opened up my Google app whilst sat in the pub with my favourite people and I typed in: 'an accurate image of Jesus'.
This is going to sound horrendous but I was rather disturbed by the photo that came up on my screen. How could that be Jesus?! This man looks like the sort of person you'd see as a mug shot on BBC news! So, like in my previous blog, I did the thing I'm pro at doing- I turned to Joel in a panic. I just panicked at the thought of Jesus actually having a face and hair and arms and legs. And as usual Joel turned me to the one thing that has any certainty and truth- the Bible. The part in the bible where Jesus was arrested and they couldn't even distinguish him from the other disciples because of how average looking he was.  

I just can't help but find that concept fascinating- Jesus being average looking. He saved our lives. He died for us. He leads up. He embraces us. Jesus is the biggest and most influential history maker of all time...and yet he's average looking. I know I live the life of Jesus and base my whole morals and lifestyle around Jesus; but the thought of Jesus actually having an identity is something so obvious and yet so hard to understand.

Identity is a beautiful thing. For every time I look in the mirror and see an imperfection that I wish wasn't there I think about my self-worth and my self-value. I used to spend hours just wishing I wasn't so skinny or so pale but not only does God constantly lift up my confidence, he tells me about my self-worth. He rejoices in my smile when I worship because those are the times that I'm lifting up his name. God has sewn in a value much more precious than the concept of vanity- he gave me life. He gives me this smile on my face whenever I wake up in the morning. He somehow manages to put a bounce in my step because of his complete adoration and sacrifice. Jesus was beautiful because of what he did not because of his appearance and through that we shun away vanity and show beauty in a much different way- through Jesus's love. For every girl that sees something negative in their reflection- try and see the light shining through you from God. Your life and your talents and your motivation gives you this shine, this beauty. Jesus embraces that every single day because it's you. 
In 4 weeks time I'm about to head to Brinza, Moldova and teach many young girls about this concept of self-worth. To tell them that Jesus sees a beauty inside them that can never be destroyed. Through every second I'm there I will remind myself of what Jesus looks like and how he destroyed vanity through his goodness and mercy.

If you would in any way like to donate to our missionary trip to Moldova this October then please do. It would mean so much to our team and to the people that need to know about God's boundless love. Here is the link to our page- https://my.give.net/moldovamission2013

And remember- no matter what the media says or what another human being says; you are beautiful, valued and worthy.