Sincerely #PreApproved
Karin Fendick

In my younger years I did not know who I was. I seemed to have no identity of my own. Convinced that I was in some way defective I sought the approval of others.  If someone, anyone, thought I was okay then maybe I was good enough after all.

For the sake of fitting in I could change my words and actions so fast that a chameleon would swoon with envy.  Certainly all the colours were beautiful, but it was exhausting trying to keep track of who I was with each person I knew.  I was terrified of having my friends together in one place and having to try to be just one me.  My life moved along in a blur, seeming unreal because I was not real.   I was insincere.

Dictionary.com defines sincere as follows:
adjective, sin·cer·er, sin·cer·est.
1. free of deceit, hypocrisy, or falseness; earnest: a sincere apology.
2. genuine; real: a sincere effort to improve; a sincere friend.
3. pure; unmixed; unadulterated.
4. Obsolete . sound; unimpaired.

How could I be genuine if I didn’t even know who I was?

Then I met the One Who created me, Who had waited with exquisite patience for me to open my eyes and heart to Him.  No longer was I a defective mistake but instead a woman of grand design; chosen before time began, perfected by His Spirit in me.  In the years that followed He has continued to release me from the need of man’s approval.  To be free to simply be.

Real. Genuine.  Free of deceit.  Pure, unadulterated me.  I am a living, breathing example of WYSIWYG – what you see is what you get. Many are not sure what to do with me. Often bold, sometimes brash, seeking courage when fear sneaks in.  I will tell you what I think as my heart opens to pour out what I feel.

Yes, I still struggle if I sense you don’t approve.  This love idol is hard to silence.  Sometimes I gain victory day by day.  Sometimes I feel the need to smash the offending idol moment by moment.  But with the help of the One Who created me I will walk in freedom.

To breathe in, breathe out and be who I am.

I am chosen.  I am loved.

My name is Karin and I am pre-approved.

Karin (HisFireFly) is: a handmaiden of the Lord; saved by His grace; a worshipper; a poet; a broken heart; a lover of words; hungry for truth; amazed by love; on the Potter’s wheel, His work in progress.

She and her beloved husband Rick live in rural Manitoba with their dog Faith and various barn cats on 20 beautiful acres the Lord has provided. They are currently in the process of transitioning to long term mission work in Malawi, Africa.  Karin blogs at Flickers of a Faithful Firefly.

THE LOVE IDOL MOVEMENT

Click here to find out more about the Love Idol movement.

Click here to purchase the book that inspired the movement.

Click here to join us on Facebook as we lay down our Love Idols and declare our #preapproved status in Christ.

THE PRINTABLES

Click here to print the black and white preapproved cutouts.
Place these where ever your Love Idols have lurked!

A pink PreApproved printable: to frame, to put on your refrigerator, to give to a friend.
Click here to print. My gift to you, brave soul!