Real Life by Peggi Tustan

Welcome to Real Life . Join me in celebrating. Recently, this blog recently reached a HUGE milestone— one million views ! Can you believe it? All praise and glory to God for taking this little blog far beyond my expectations. And I am also grateful to you, my wonderful readers! Whether you’ve stopped by once, or read every post faithfully, I thank you for trusting me with a few minutes of your time. In honor of reaching the one million mark, I am reposting my very first Real Life blog, published on September 10, 2011. _____ “Do You Really Love Me, God?” The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV) At one time, I couldn't own this verse. Intellectually, I knew it was true. God loves me. He loves everyone, right? I could easily believe God loves you. But I struggled to experience his love myself. Although the Christian life is not based on fe...

Welcome to Real Life . What do you long for? “What does not satisfy when we find it, was not the thing we were desiring.” –C.S. Lewis What makes a life complete? Earn a degree. Get a promotion. Raise a family. Grow a healthy financial portfolio. Travel the world. All these things are good and beneficial. But we can reach these goals, and soon feel empty afterwards. Because accomplishments pale in comparison to the one thing that completes us—love. To love and be loved fills our hearts and lives like nothing else can. Although we know this is true, sometimes even in the church, we get it wrong. We tend to downplay the importance of love. We elevate action: powerful preachers, bold and impressive apologists, charismatic teachers, and impactful missionaries. Certainly, those who pour out their lives in service deserve our respect and honor. For this reason, God’s perspective in 1 Corinthians 13 may shock us. If I lead worship with the voice of an angel or fill stadiums with my captivatin...

Welcome to Real Life . You do you, and I'll do me. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson I love to sing. Years ago, I auditioned to be a soloist for a church program. Everything was fine until I attempted to reach some high notes. My voice cracked. (Embarrassing!) As much as I love to sing and desire to glorify God through song, plain and simple, my voice is not good enough to sing solos. God has not given me that gift. I learned something that day. God chooses our place in the body of Christ. Some of us are heads that lead, hands that serve, feet that go, and lips that sing. “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” (1 Corinthians 12:18 NIV) “ God, why did you make me like this? ”  Perhaps, like me, you’ve asked him this question. We look at others smiling and singing solos and wonder,  “ Why can’t I be like her? ”  Bu...