Be You

Be You!

The camera doesn’t lie, but people do. In our age of social media and in a culture where visual images have great impact, it is good to be aware of the potential for deceit. Every photo is not necessarily an accurate representation of reality.

Have you noticed how people react when a camera is present? Alejandra did. Alejandra had volunteered to take casual photos at our recent Celebrate 2018 event in Lancaster, PA. Toward the end of the event, she commented on what she had observed. Some women shied away from the camera while other women struck a pose when they saw the camera pointed in their direction. In both instances, Alejandra was frustrated with the lack of authenticity. She encouraged the women to “act natural” – with limited success.

Why is it so hard to maintain consistency in our lives? When the camera is absent, we are real; when the camera is present, we feel a shift in our minds to either hide or put our best face forward. May God give us the ability to be authentic in all circumstances.

Let me encourage each one – BE YOU!

If you tend to turn away from being noticed, draw confidence from this truth: The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

If you tend to “strike a pose” when given the opportunity, consider the authenticity of the apostle Paul: For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.  1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV

Draw confidence from God’s declaration about you. Then humbly do something to advance His Kingdom.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Jen Vogel

Jen served as national director for Alliance Women from 2015-2023; she serves in a variety of ministry capacities, including on the President's Cabinet for The Alliance. She enjoys reading, travel, and completing the New York Times crossword puzzle daily. Jen and her husband, Doug, attend Dover Avenue Alliance Church in Orange City, Iowa.

Eight Responses to “Be You!”

  1. Hi Jen, I did not go to the conference, but thank you for your article. It encourages us that we do not need to be fake (falls images) but secure in Christ and what he has done in our lives. Our strength, confidence, humility and gentles comes from him! I encourage women to be who God call them to be authentic in Jesus, demonstrating his character. Thank you for the reminder.

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