Monday, September 7, 2015

What the Gospel Isn't

A friend and I were having a conversation the other day and talking about some things that were said to her about sharing about her life before she became a follower of Jesus. She was sharing with me that she was told she shouldn't really share about her past or current struggles because "what if others found out?"

When asked how this conversation impacted her, she told me that she felt shamed and like she couldn't talk about life before Jesus and needed to keep current struggles hidden.       

Friends, that isn't the Gospel at all. Here is what the Gospel is:

1 Corinthians 15:1-5
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve  

And

Colossians 3:1-3

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Because of God's ridiculous love for us [check out Romans 8 or the entire Bible to see what I'm talkin' about], He adopted us and made us coheirs with His Son, Jesus. So when we decide to follow Jesus, we are in a brand new identity with Christ, no longer who we were. When He rose from the grave, He defeated death and all the ratchetness it holds. Not because of our ability to try our hardest and do our best to look like we're perfect and never struggle. Honestly, I think that makes us more of a ratchet mess than we were to begin with. He defeated death and gave us new identity because of who He is... which if you didn't know this already He's pretty rad. 

Is there a context for talking about our pasts or current struggles? Yes. I'm not saying we just throw everything out there for everyone for all time. However, we should never pervert or cheapen the powerful work of Christ by acting or leading others to act like we have it all together and never struggle with anything. The point of the Gospel is Jesus, and following Him doesn't mean we don't struggle, it just means that through the struggle we look to and follow Jesus. 

As my conversation ended with this friend the question was posed: "So what? So what if people find out about your past? Don't deny that at one time that is who you were; but proclaim who you are now because Christ defeated death and your identity lies with Him". 

After Saul became Paul and spent time with the disciples, Acts 9:20-22 says:

20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

We should not live in shame about our lives before Christ. He bore our pasts and current struggles on the cross. He died. He rose again and defeated death. We can walk in our new identity with Him and proclaim He is Jesus. The point of the Gospel is Jesus, and following Him means we've been set free and can tell others that who we are now isn't who we've always been, and that's a beautiful thing to talk about! Proclaim Jesus, friends. 

        


Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Bumper stunts. Travel. Laughter. Ugly Crying: A Quick Trip to Michigan.

This weekend ruled.so.hard. I went on a really rad trip with some friends to the Detroit area:



Here is a picture chronicle of the trip and some thoughts/stories to go with them.

"Jenn let's take a UHaul bumper stunt picture!"
Jenn: "What are bumper stunts?"
"You know, things like this..."
:)


  
Memorable tweet: "I've never moved states before"... "Jenn, you're from Alabama".

Long story short, I started the day with two coffees. It ruled. Also I was jittery for a minute.


Time to go! But first, let us take a selfie. Seriously, the weekend with these girls ruled so hard. So much laughter. I think all of our souls really needed that.

Memorable tweet: "Natalie: LT I think you should write a book titled "The Ride or Die Gospel". I literally couldn't even.


Sometimes people just need to stretch and do yoga in the parking lot of a McDonald's. No shame in our game. #rideordie


I was really glad to get to spend half of the trip in one car and the other half of the trip in the UHaul. I got to hang out & chat with everyone which made my heart so happy. This friend here isn't in this country a whole lot so I was glad to get to catch up.

I love mountains and waterfalls and fields. Let's go on record & note that this is the ONLY part of Ohio that I like. The only part. The traveling vagabond bug has been reactivated.

                                                  

Oh Tim Horton's, I've missed you so. Glad to get this treat & introduce friends to new things!

                                 

We made it! It was fun to be like "hey, welcome to my home state everyone".

Memorable tweet: "Natalie- Your state has nice commercials. Me- I know". 

                               


 Somehow I became Deb's elf on the shelf. What started as "Hey LT get on this shelf and help us with this rope" turned into the below: sass. Not even ashamed. We also got the entire UHaul unloaded in less than an hour. #gohardorgohome

Memorable tweet: "You know you're tired when you and two other girls are still awake talking about #harrypotter #spells".


These ladies know how to get stuff done. Also we felt a little like Breaking Bad with the masks. 


In the afternoon we got to take a tour of the city. It ruled. This is referred to as the Hamtramck Disneyland. This man collects things and yes, this is his house. Yes, there actually is a charge to look through.


Jenn also took us to Shatila's, a local Bakery & Cafe'. We had the best baklava... ever. 



Between moving, unpacking & touring we had time for many yoga sessions. Huge shout out to Natalie for helping me get the basics of a head stand. I've been practicing and getting frustrated but now I got it started!


We've never found a coke with our name on it! Of course we find it in a really small town. #victory #stokelevelachieved 



Saturday night hangs. No words. 


Memorable tweet: "First group cry. Life lesson: even good change can really suck. #friendsthatarefam #changingup #moving" 


Mosque. 






















                                           


8 mile in Detroit! Of course we listened to "Lose Yourself" on the way. We want Eminem to love Jesus.



We spent some time in the city hanging out and eating amazing food.


Murals.


It is unbelievable how much we were able to do in 2 days. Between the drive, unloading & unpacking we got to experience a lot of the city and also have a ton of time together. Somehow most of these times of talking, laughing & crying happened in Jenn's room. We all kind of found our way to her room... sometimes when she wasn't there. So thankful that the Lord seemed to extend our time together to have moments of #realtalk. 

Memorable tweet: "So we introduced Jenn to Sufjan Stevens. memorable. #newmusic" #notamused

Memorable Tweet: I've found myself in 4 random situations with Deb today & it wasn't even awkward. She knows" Her reply: "I'ma cuddle you so hard"



So we ugly cried in the airport. For someone who doesn't cry, I started it! Memorable moment: 
Jenn: "Dang it LT"!
LT: "Sorry! Just give me a moment & I'll get it together"
*moment*
ugly crying continues. #couldntstopwouldntstop


I love traveling. Having great traveling companions makes it even better. 


 How I spent the first flight. Jenn had written cards for us & told us to read them later. Sneaky Jenn.


We got to Charlotte right at sunset. For those of you that know me, you know I love all things encompassing earth, wind & fire. Getting to see the sunset was legit. 

Memorable tweet: "I didn't get upset & I didn't take off my clothes at the Charlotte airport" http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2015/05/21/man-strips-naked-at-charlotte-airport-upset-about-overbooked-flight/27704309/ 


-LT

Monday, May 18, 2015

Mountains, fields & expectations

This weekend ruled. Most of my time was spent outside, by a fire, in the mountains or running around in a field catching fireflies with people. 

One of my favorite places in this town. A good place to just chill. A lot of thinking goes down here.                 

So I saw a firefly on the way home & made my friend run in a field with me to catch them. Real talk: sort of like in Harry Potter when the crazy aunt runs around in chaos and just laughs. Yeah, that was me.                                                                                                                                                           
                                    

A lesson I'm learning is to be free from the unrealistic expectations I've set in my mind for how I should be or the mile markers that I should be reaching. So, I'm 24 and I like running around in fields and catching fireflies. Not ashamed.

Excuse the ratchet picture quality... #androidlife. I like them.

                                     

 [A shout out to this friend. She's the sidekick to most of my shenanigans].

What do you think about when you hear the word "expectations"?

Friday, May 15, 2015

Friendship: Ride or Die Style

On Sunday I heard a legit sermon on friendship. Check it out here!

Later on Sunday, I got a feeling that it was going to be a bad week. A sense that bad things were coming, to be ready. For those of you who know me, I'm a self-proclaimed realist but not a pessimist, so I thought it was weird! Anyways, to say the least, this week has been horrible. I'm overwhelmed. Lots of weird, hard & heartbreaking things. By 4 pm on Tuesday, I started to cry because I realized it was only Tuesday. Yes, that kind of week. I know you feel me.

Here are some fun but real talk things from this week with precious friends [they may or may not have also been tweeted about]:

- an extra long hug from one of my youth girls' mom as she says "it's okay sweetie, we're all a little crazy"
- being beaten with a pig eraser pencil because I said something about myself that was untrue.
- a friend looking at me straight up saying "that's a heart issue". Knowing her love for me, I could only laugh & agree. I laughed because there was no way out ;)
- same friend saying "yeah, I know you're having a rough week. You look like it"
- getting fun surprises at my door step that included a coloring book.
- being told 10 really nice things about myself in one sentence... Actually, within the same breath. Reminders of who I am in Christ. Regardless if I could believe it about myself or not.
- walking in to work to find a bag of Twizzlers, which were half eaten by 9 am... no judgment.
- a Chik-fil-a cookie!
- a care package of glitter, tea, yoga things & a shark cup... my fave!

I don't think I would have made it through this week without them!!! And although I hope that none of them go through bad times, if they do I hope I can love them at least half as well as they have loved me. So thankful to God that He uses people to display His love and encouragement. He is the legit #rideordie  
         


                                         

[The person who beat me with  pig eraser requested an appearance :) ]



What memories do you carry from a time when you hated your week & a friend loved on you?