Obedience

Genuine Transparency.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

 

I have a tattoo.

If that makes you nervous, hold on to your seat, because you just might slide right off of it before this is over.

It was a lonely Valentines Day…

I called my dad, which is basically the way I’d started any major decision in my life.  I reminded him that, aside from an abnormal amount of childhood broken bones and talking virtually nonstop throughout middle school, I’d caused him very little parenting pain… And now I’d like to get a tattoo.

Seeing I was going to argue my case endlessly, he gave me rather reluctant permission — with 2 conditions:

  1. It must be located somewhere that would not be regularly visible.
  2. It could not be larger than the size of a quarter.

That night, one of my favorite friends and I marched ourselves down to the sleepy Main Street of our Christian college town and darkened the doorstep of “Squirrelies” (I can’t make these things up).  The kid took a quarter, traced it on a piece of paper, drew a daisy bloom – EXACTLY – the size of that quarter, and set to work on my back.

5 Days later, I started dating the man that is now my husband and, as luck would have it, he HATES tattoos.

Some of you are big tattoo fans.  Others are currently praying for my soul.  But I didn’t hesitate sharing this story. I’m not afraid of being honest.  If the Lord wants to use something from the private places of my life, it’s His to take.

With that said, I believe He’s asked something of me today that will require a new level of Brave:

GENUINE TRANSPARENCY.

Jesus said:  For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.  Luke 8:17

A criticism of this age is often “too much information”.  Overload.  Ironically, we still get half the story.  My Instagramed picture of our awesome cauliflower pizza crust makes me look super health-conscious.  But the handful of M&M’s I ate while posting it tells a different story.

Being transparent isn’t about sharing the reality series version of our lives.  It’s about matters of the heart.  It’s about saying to the Father, I’m not hidden from youand the parts of my life that you want to use as a vessel to reveal yourself to the world are a humble sacrifice I’m going to boldly bring.  And then, we wait for His signal.

When the moment comes, all we can do is trust His plan…  And it’s in the spirit of trusting Him that I’m sharing with you today.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made.  I have great confidence in who I am and the value of the Father’s design in His creation.  But I made a decision 12 years ago to have a nose job and 7 years ago to get breast implants.

Is plastic surgery a choice I’m advocating for anyone else?  NO, it isn’t.  But after much consideration (and, yes, even prayer) it is a choice I made for myself.  This is not a shameful admission of guilt.  It’s an honest door leading you to a side of me, as of yet, unopened publicly.

It’s a part of my story that I’ve awkwardly tried to keep separate from the side of me that fits a little more neatly into a typically Christian box.  But, in looking around, I realize that none of us really fit there.  And let’s be honest, God is not the one who drew those lines.  You know what mold I want to slip perfectly into?  The one Christ created for me, by grace, on the cross.

Overarchingly, as Christians, we live our lives picking and choosing the parts we think are “useable”.  We decide what pieces God would have most success with, and then we pat ourselves on the back as we offer them to His service.  What would happen if we laid down our pride, our reputation, our disguises?  What if when we said, “Lord, use me“, We actually let him use the ME we are?  THAT is what can change the world around us.  THAT is how redemptive history has been accomplished through broken people from Adam and Eve right down the line to you and me.

I have complete assurance that the truth of who Heather Lynn Yoder is will allow God to take my choices and formulate them, by His great grace, to do MIGHTY things in His kingdom.  No one will be tempted to give me the glory, because I’m telling you – from my own mouth – that Christ is THE shining light in me.  And what He loves most about this child, is that she is unafraid of man and fiercely devoted to Him.

Maybe there are parts of you that you have hidden under your bed (Luke 8:16) as you’ve protected your heart or the heart of those you love.   Maybe now is not the time to bring them to light.  But then, maybe it is.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  1 John 1:7

God uses our lives in many ways to help heal, encourage, lead, empathize with, and instruct one another.  But He can’t use it until we make the offer.  I have no idea how He plans to use my story, but I have full confidence that He certainly DOES.

Whether you see it now or not, you have great purpose.  Not despite who you are, but absolutely because of who God wants to be through you – and that includes all of you… and all of your choices.

Do not live in fear of what others think of you.  Live in the light of what the Father already KNOWS.  Let’s work on being brave together. ♥

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  • Erica February 2, 2015 at 11:44 am

    I’m meditating on this truth you shared this morning…”Overarchingly, as Christians, we live our lives picking and choosing the parts we think are “useable”. We decide what pieces God would have most success with, and then we pat ourselves on the back as we offer them to His service. What would happen if we laid down our pride, our reputation, our disguises? What if when we said, “Lord, use me“, We actually let him use the ME we are?” I’m praying God will reveal to me this morning the ways I am doing this. Thank you for being obedient & vulnerable to share His heart.

    • Heather Yoder February 2, 2015 at 10:28 pm

      I’m praying the same things in my life. Today was just ONE day. There are so many more ahead and I also desperately want to know where I can do better. I’m with you in that prayer, my friend.

  • Bob Menges February 2, 2015 at 2:26 pm

    I’m totally proud of you! Your fierce dedication to our God blows me away!

    • Heather Yoder February 2, 2015 at 10:32 pm

      Dad, Thank you for letting me be honest with anything… (how are you so good at this parenting thing?!!). I love you. – Hez

  • Megan Owens February 2, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    I have my own tatoo story, but it was about how I tried to hide it from my parents. It came out eventually, lol! There was a tatoo place in Grove City? Somehow I missed that part of the business community:)

    • Heather Yoder February 2, 2015 at 10:35 pm

      Ahhh, hiding tattoos… I have some friends who tried that too. Permanent things aren’t super simple to keep under the radar, though, huh!? And, Grove City had quite the happening little shop for a while there. NOT surprisingly, it didn’t quite “fit” and was probably bought out by another hair dresser ;).

  • Phyllis Paladin February 2, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    Again, I am encouraged by your words! Thank you.

    • Heather Yoder February 2, 2015 at 10:36 pm

      Phyllis, you are the one who encourages me. Thank you. THANK YOU!

  • Heather Yoder February 3, 2015 at 9:41 am

    Based on some feedback I’ve been happy to receive about this post, I wanted to make something a little more clear. While, yes, we do all have things we wish we wouldn’t have done, (myself absolutely included!), my surgeries are not my regrets. I would do them again. It’s finding a way to be honest about the parts of me that may be confusing to others, that was the brave part. I feel like it’s important that I make the distinction here. This was not an admission of guilt. It was an admission of truth.

  • Caroline February 4, 2015 at 12:40 am

    Your closet reader just had to come through and comment! Heather, this is exactly what I needed to read today. Dave and I have been talking about this a lot lately, living openly in the truth of who we are and what we’ve been through – all for God’s glory and for His purposes. Thank you for being brave and setting a really great and godly example for me.

    • Heather Yoder February 4, 2015 at 10:07 am

      My favorite closet reader 😉 I really love that you and Dave were feeling this way together. It’s also been a big conversation between me and Steve. I feel like COUPLES who can work towards living honestly and openly have the chance for great impact. I’m trying to figure out why we’re so stinking worried. Being honest can only have positive effects. And the more we do it, the easier it gets. Your life, Caroline, is one that has seen and done a lot. You have an amazing story of courage and love. But I’ll bet it’s the “in-between” mountain moments that would have the greatest impact on others. And while we’re on the topic… Being honest also includes sharing the GREAT STUFF. I’ve practically hid behind some of the awesome things the Lords given to me, in fear that it will seem snotty. Forget it, honesty doesn’t only cover the embarrassing. God shines in the blessing He offers us as well as the hand He extends when we fall down.

      Love you a ton, friend!!

  • Seed Sower Sis February 9, 2015 at 10:27 am

    All i can do is laugh at your first sentence. Praise God!
    No darkness or hiding places in your life anymore.
    Rock on righteous daughter of the most high.
    California is getting soaked with rain. He is proud of us!