Have courage to be who you are.

I went to a festival called Easter Fest on the weekend, I had a great time as I was helping out in the kids zone as a face painter.

One night I was hanging out with some friends of mine and we where just coming back from seeing a band, there was this ride that they where all keen to go on, but I wasn't.

It was like the claw ride but instead of innocently rocking side to side, like a normal fun ride, this ride flipped right around, so yes, at one point on that ride you are literally hanging upside down!

All you thrill seekers are probably screaming with excitement right now, where as those who prefer rides like the 'Scooby Doo Ride', (best ride of all time), this going upside down thing does not excite you in anyway.

Well the first time I saw what this 'claw' ride actually did I knew that I would never be going on it, ever! It's just not my thing, at all. I would happily go on the 'Scooby Doo Ride' ten times in a row, but swinging upside down... I will pass thanks.

Anyway my friends wouldn't take no for an answer, they bought me a ticket though I begged them not to and then they dragged me to the line of the ride, until I dug my heals in and was able to escape. They underestimated my stubbornness, and they didn't realise till then how badly I didn't want to go on that ride!

Anyway I got a bit teary after that as I was really embarrassed from them dragging me along so far in front of other people.

I sat and ate a snow-cone as they enjoyed the crazy ride. After they got off one of them felt awful for trying to push me onto the ride, I forgave them but I couldn't help but feel like they thought I was boring, and lame. Heck... some of you readying this might think so too.

But hey, this pink haired noise studded girl is anything but boring. I love to have fun, my type of fun may be different to other peoples type of fun, and guess what, thats okay!

Shocker I know, but this really bugs me about humanity, they say, 'yeah be yourself we will love you for it!' but heaven forbid you praise Jesus, or you would prefer to stay in and read a book then go out every friday night and get drunk.

They might as well say, 'yeah, sure, be yourself but we will only accept you if you do things in this way, or that way.'

Don't get me wrong, people of all walks of life, religion and race do this to each other. And its disappointing.

But what is even more disappointing is when people say that God can only love you if you are a certain way.

God loves all of us, He sent his son to dye for ALL of our sins, yes that means the arm cutting goth  you just shook your head at, the women with five kids who doesn't know who's father is who's, even the uptight, self-righteous pretenders that sit in church pews every Sunday thinking they are better then everyone else. All of them and all of us.

God does not have a list where He can only love you if you tick each flippin box! What a bunch of humbug.

God loves us all, He just does not love the sinful things we do, the sinful things we all do. But the great thing is if you seek forgiveness with an honest heart God will forgive you.

Here comes another shocker, God also created us all differently, with different likes and dis-likes, different personalities, opinions. Which is awesome. Have you seen some of the amazing things God created in this world? Thats proof that He is not a boring God, and that He is a God who loves variety, from the brown skirt wearing missionary to the blue haired partier.

From the stink bug to the tiger.

God loves you.

And because of that unconditional love God has blessed me with, I have security in who I am, in my quirks, my strengths and my many weaknesses.

I am who I am and I am proud to be... I love my God and because of that I choose to live my life for Him.

So don't be afraid to be who you are, if your favourite music is jazz or head banging rock, thats cool!

Have courage to be who you are.

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139: 14