What do you get when the reality tv star meets the Royal Family and the King?

           I love CSI: Miami. I like regular CSI too, I suppose, but I really love CSI: Miami. I don't know-I just think it's more exciting and fun to watch. I was watching an episode earlier this week, and it featured reality stars. I guess I didn't realize that the people we see on reality tv are not really authentic, but in the show, once the "stars" were off set, they were totally different people. One was a Christian Priest, one was a married women, the other a drug dealer, and the last girl was the valedictorian of her class at MIT. However, when the cameras started rolling, they were all a gang of hoodlums from "The Burrows" in NYC. It was a good episode. 

       I think God was trying to tell me something, because later on, when I turned on one of my other favorite shows, Victorious ( I know, I know, my taste in entertainment is either preteen or old lady. What can you do?) This episode was also about reality stars: the cast was put in a reality show and the producers took their regular lives and made it into something else. It was all hypocritical of all "reality."  
    Earlier this morning, I received a text message from a close friend, basically calling me out. She was reminding me to stand firm in my belief, no matter what. So, today, I'm going to open up my heart to you guys. To this "Unsafe" haven that we call the internet. I'm going to share with you what I believe, with my whole heart. I'm not going to be "un-real" any longer.  
    I believe in the mission of the InterFaith Youth Core. It's a program that allows all people of different religions to come together and celebrate who they are and their beliefs, without fear of persecution from other people. I heard the founder, Eboo Patel, speak on it, and it just spoke to my heart. I have always believed in other religions. Let me explain this better- I believe in Jesus Christ, with my whole heart. He is the lord of my soul, and my Redeemer. However, I also believe in others getting the chance to celebrate what they believe without fear of my judgment (or others) on them. If you want to join the Interfaith movement, I recommend Eboo Patel's book, Acts of Faith:The Story of An American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation. He describes the movement he started better than I ever could. 
    As for what I believe, it is this. I believe there is one way to get to heaven- through the blood of Jesus Christ. I do not think you need to earn your way there, because he has already paid the price. I don't believe in trying to be perfect; however, I do try to live up to the potential that God has called for his followers. I can do this without fear, because when I fall, I know that He is there to pick me up, and guide me. I believe that being a Christian is not always easy, but God did not promise it would be easy; he merely said that he would be with us always, and would never reject me, no matter what I did. 
      There is so much more I could write, but I just have to let you know, Jesus in my life is the best thing that has ever happened to me. When I think about Him, when I think about God, my heart fills up with joy that I can't even begin to explain. It is happiness, and light, and pure. It reminds me of what is good and what is bad; it guides me through the troubling times that have come into my life this past year, and He alone has brought me and my family through them. He has held my hand, and never let go. We walked through it all together- I never felt alone, because I never was alone.   
   I have not always been like this though. I have grown up in a Christian church, but for so long I merely just went through the motions. I did the Christian things to get prizes and win respect in my family and friend's eyes. However, I felt nothing. On the outside, I was a model Christian girl; I did not party, sleep around, drink, break rules. I did what I was told. On the inside, I was greedy. I murdered in my heart, I spit on people's names, I laughed at God's perfect plan. I tried to obtain love and "fame" on my own terms, but in the end I got nowhere. By the end of my sophomore year, I was unhappy. Miserable. Alone. I felt nothing. I felt only ugly. 

     I was reluctant to go to summer camp that year. I hadn't been since my eighth grade summer, the one before freshmen year. I didn't want to spend that time at some hokey pokey camp, where everyone was so much more developed in their faith then I was. I didn't want to feel left out, because I didn't really have many friends. My mom forced me to go, however, and I took a friend, because I didn't really know anyone there who I could room with. It turned my life around.  It was there God touched my heart, and reminded me how much I was worth to Him. How much we are all worth to him. We are precious and beautiful in His sight, and He reminded me of the great plans He has for me. He kissed away my tears, and wrapped me in an everlasting embrace. 
     My junior year, I fought Him in the beginning. I was unhappy, but it was all I knew. It was comfortable, safe. As the year progressed, he brought new people into my life, new experiences. I didn't know he was growing my strength and reliance in Him, so I would be strong enough for this year. For what is yet to come. It has taken me so many years to just get where I am today- and He is not finished with me. Not yet. 
       As most all of us know, this Friday marks the wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middelton. Most everyone knows that Prince William has a brother named Prince Harry-but we don't know much about him, except that he likes to party and will never rule. Last night, I was watching a special on Harry, called "Wild about Prince Harry". In that documentary, they couldn't help emphasize how much his mother (Princess Diana) loved him. She knew he would never be king, but he treated William and Harry exactly the same. She loved them both to the best of her abilities, and both new the reverent love of their mother.

     That, is how I can best describe God's love for us. We will never be William- we will never be Jesus- we cannot be King. However, God loves us just the same. We all screw up, and are not perfect. God, loved us so much though, still. We are His creation, he would do anything for us. Even if we are the lesser thing in the universe. He loves us just the same. We are just as great in his sight as Jesus. In fact, in the Bible, God says that when the world ends, Jesus will be at his right side, and we will be right there beside him. Harry was born unimportant;  he would not rule, just a bonus in the family. His mother, however, knew. She knew the greatness he would become, and loved him just as much as the one who had greatness thrust upon him. She loved them. God loves us- more than we will ever be able to comprehend.
     That's what I believe. So, when you read this blog, you'll know exactly my perspective- you'll know where I'm coming from. I come from a loving Father, who wants to love you; all of you. No matter how broken you are, no matter what you have done. He loves all people, of all nations, of all beliefs and backgrounds. So do I. I want to be like my Father- just as most children do. 






I love you, but never as much as my Father does,
Olive :)