"Fitting In"

We've all heard the term "fitting in." What kind of emotions does that phrase evoke in you? For me, I personally do not like it when people say, "oh, you fit in just perfectly," or "you'll fit in fine." I'm a person that feels most of the time I do not fit in anywhere, or when I'm told I CAN fit in, it makes me wonder "what do I have to do" in order to have someone tell me I fit in. Hey, it could just be me that feels this way, but I wonder who else may feel like I do.
I thought a lot about this during our Bible study "No Other Gods." We talked about how sometimes phrases like "fitting in," "accepted," "part of the group," etc., can become like an idol to us. We may dwell so much on these things that we become obsessed with just fitting in and being accepted and lose sight of the fact we already very much matter to our Father God. People may make us feel like we'll only fit in if we are beautiful, talented, are witty, stylish, but God says to us, "you matter to me because you are YOU." I don't know about you, but I am thankful for a God who sees past all my "stuff" and says, "just be you."

As I seek what God would want for us during the next few months in Aroma, oddly enough "fitting in" comes to mind. We want to foster opportunities for you to be a part of what is going on in the lives of women at LifeSong and in our community, but what we don't want to do is ever make you feel like if you can't or don't come that you don't "fit in." We want you to know that you already "fit in" just because you are YOU! That is what I love about LifeSong. It's a place that says, "we all have a lot of life going on...sometimes it's ugly...sometimes it's full of joy, but it's your life, and you matter." We can all walk through the doors of LifeSong and know that we fit because we all have the same God. Thank goodness we won't hear from God in heaven, "you sure do fit in because you do such and such so well, so I'll let you stay in the group." Rather, He says, "you fit in simply because you are my child and I love you." I pray that you know that for your life today. He sent His Son so that we would fit, but not for some exclusive group, but that we would fit in the palm of His hand for eternity because we named the Name above all Names, Jesus! Ladies, I pray that you know Him. Aroma exists for two reasons, the way I see it. We drive toward the cross in all we do in order that you may know Him, and secondly, we provide an outlet for relationships with one another, in order to spur one another on. I pray that you go today knowing that you matter. Go today knowing that you fit in because you are you, and you don't have to jump through any hoops. Most of all, thank you for just being YOU. You know, I hear the word is out...God says you are BEAUTIFUL!