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, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 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. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 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. 

        

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

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"?

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?

A steady gaze...

This past weekend I attended a discipleship conference called Entrust. To give a brief synopsis, you enroll in a really cool program that equips you to make disciples. The Entrust weekends are open to anyone and they study about Jesus and the disciples He made that turned the world upside down! You should click here to find out more about it: http://entrust.precept.org/

A local pastor was the guest speaker and he shared something very insightful. He talked about the context of how boys were trained and discipled under Rabbis in the times of Jesus. Around the age of 15 if they were considered "elite" they would have the opportunity to go to a Rabbi & ask to follow him. The Rabbi would take the request into deep consideration. If the Rabbi consented the boy would follow the Rabbi for 15 years, learning how to do everything just like the Rabbi.

However, if there were boys who were not considered elite and their family was not financially stable the boys would return home and work in their family's business whether it be tent making, fishing etc. They would not follow a Rabbi and they would not be considered of the "elite" group because they were working in their family's business. The interesting and insightful piece to me was when Jesus began His ministry and chose His disciples. He walked on the sea shore and calls out to James & John.... fishermen. Some of the disciples that Jesus chose weren't considered to be elite!

As the pastor was talking through this I just sat there, speechless. Those of you who know me know that's a rare occurrence ;) I sat there trying not to break down and cry my eyes out while I sensed that God was moving in my spirit, bringing about deep levels of healing and restoration as I'm looking at Jesus' example.

You may wonder why this is such a big deal to me. Well, since I'm sure you asked...

I've never been one to be super good or talented at anything (and that's okay!). I'm also not one that is generally picked to be a part of things or to do "special" things (and that's okay too!). Until recently I wouldn't have been able to truthfully say that it's okay. Honestly there are still some days it is a struggle. There can be so much pressure to be perfect or to be exceptionally good at most things or even to get yourself into the distinctly elite crowd of people who are somehow better than you, even though we are all sinners in need of grace. But Jesus doesn't require that. 

To get into the Word and to see that Jesus chose people who weren't considered to be elite, and yet they changed the world was encouraging and I know a timely message from Him to me. But I had to ask myself: why did they change the world?

I honestly believe the answer is because they followed Jesus, keeping their gaze on Him.

 "Follow me, and I'll make you fishers of men...." 



They chose to follow Him, love Him, proclaim Him, suffer for Him, and die for Him. Their hearts were stayed on Him. They didn't have anything to offer really, other than a surrendered heart that repeatedly said "thy kingdom come". When God uses us it isn't because of anything we do or the level of importance that we carry. He uses us because it's who He is: a God that saved us because He loves us, doesn't need us, but chooses to use us to proclaim Him.

Colossians 2:10 says: "and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority". Jesus made a way for us to have a relationship with God, thus giving us a new identity in Him which completed every part that is lacking. Keeping our gaze on Jesus will absolutely proclaim Him and a surrendered heart that flows into a life of serving Him will be used to accomplish things that we might not ever see this side of Heaven.

Love Jesus. Follow Him. Persevere through all of life's journeys. Steady your gaze on Him not in hopes to do extraordinary things; but rather to love Him deeper! The work He does in you and through you because of it will carry into eternity.

One.

Recently on the way back from a road trip I got stopped for about two hours due to a horrible wreck. The kind of wreck that's got you holding your breath because you know there is at least one fatality; but hoping for a miracle that there isn't. Traffic was backed up bumper to bumper for three miles and most of the cars in my area including myself were completely turned off. Several of us were outside of our cars, walking around and talking as we tried to figure out what happened. At one point ambulances that were called to the scene couldn't get through, so many of us turned our cars sideways into lanes to make a path for them. Some of the people that I met and talked to agreed with me that our area looked like the main picture from The Walking Dead:
        

As we made our way back to our cars because the road was going to be opening up soon, I got to experience something pretty cool. One guy that I met in a truck next to me was on his way back to UAB and he stepped up to lead the people around us to merge and get back into lanes without causing anymore accidents. He was in the middle lane and from his truck directing with arm motions: "Okay, now you go forward" "Yes, I'll let you get over and then you move forward and I'll let this person in" "Okay, now you merge". It was so cool to see everyone work together for a common goal: to get home. For a short time it literally felt as if we all knew each other and shared a common bond of well and wanted each one to succeed and make it home safely.

For some reason it made me think of the church today. I'll let you draw your own conclusions about the church day; but for myself I am burdened in many ways. One of my favorite Bible verses is Ephesians 4:4:

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

As believers we're all made one by the one Spirit that was sent to us because of our hope and belief in Jesus. Being stuck in that back-up traffic helped me to view this truth in a different light. Our goal should be to help us all make it our eternal goal, loving and encouraging each other a long the way. It should look more like people working together whether they know each other or not, to help them get farther than they currently are without letting them get too banged up a long the way. In order to do this, it can only genuinely happen as we grow closer to God.

Something that I'm praying for myself, local church and believers as a whole comes from Colossians 1:9-12:

 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Will you join me in praying that God will show us and strengthen us to love and work together to make it home?

Prodigal, there are open arms for you!

Do you ever feel like your prayers are somehow sent to "the wrong place" and God doesn't hear them? Have you ever looked at a situation and felt hopeless, that the hours you've spent crying out to God were a "waste"? Okay, so we know that our prayers aren't going to the wrong place. And we know that time spent with God is not a waste, but sometimes it feels that way!

I found myself in that place recently. I told God and a friend that it just doesn't make sense- being so burdened for something and praying about something for so long but not really seeing anything answered. I was processing with a friend about something that I've been praying about for seventeen years. I don't know if you've ever been here before, but I was at the crossroads: do I keep hoping that the prodigals in my life will return, or do I just write off in a sense and become a complete realist by saying "they'll probably always be lost, but I'll keep praying for them because that's the right thing to do?" Now, we know that writing it all off is NOT the way to go. But, at one point I think everyone has been there in some form at some time!

As I was having this deep conversation with a friend between the cars in the Starbucks drive-thru line (it was a Monday, no judgement), I was prompted to study the parable of the Prodigal Son, but in a new light: look more at how the father reacted upon the son's return. It's a pretty safe assumption that almost everyone knows the basics about the prodigal son, but just for the fun of it read Luke 15:11-32 below, and either mark or make a mental note about the father and son:

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

For the first time ever verse 20 stood out to me. How can his father see him from a long way off unless he was looking for his son to return? Okay, so maybe this isn't news to any of you, but don't steal my thunder, okay? It was encouraging to me! It was God showing me that it isn't black or white- it's both. You recognize that right now the prodigal is a prodigal, but you look for them to return... hope! I sat there and couldn't help but think about the gospel. 

If the father represents God, which I think it does, he was there to welcome the son home. Think about the son's response in verse 21 "The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son". The son was brought to a place of humility and recognized his sins. It reminded me of Romans 10:9-10:

"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation". 

We all need Jesus. It made me love and appreciate God even more that on the day of the Crucifixion His mercy and justice characteristics made a perfect collision so that He could welcome us with loving arms.  

So, some things for us to do while praying for the prodigals:

1) love them: as much as they'll let you. This doesn't mean you look the other way and not speak truth. However it also doesn't mean that you are a judgmental jerk that makes them feel like they aren't good enough and that they suck at life (check out John 14:26). This is where I throw a big shout out to the Holy Spirit who is sufficient & will lead you in the best way to love them. If they aren't in the picture or not in communication, then the next best way to love is to:

2) pray for them: that God will soften their hearts and bring them to a place of humility where they will recognize their need for Jesus and come home. In His sovereignty God allowed the son to experience the situations that brought him to the place of humility. I don't think it's a wrong thing to pray that God will bring your prodigal to a place of humility. It is a hard prayer that I have prayed through gritted teeth, but I encourage you to trust God with this person! He created us all anyway- He knows what He is doing!

3) keep the hope! Don't ignore the reality of the situation. Keep living and following God in the direction He has called you to and put you in, but keep gazing far off looking for that person to return. We can always have hope. Psalm 147:11 says "the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love". We can always have hope when our hope is in the person who never fails, not the situation that does. 

Praying for prodigals can be refining for you, not just the prodigal. We must ask ourselves: do I trust that God is in control and knows what He is doing, regardless if it's on my time frame or not? Will I still believe that God is good because He is God, regardless if my prodigal never returns?

Praying for us all to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God". (Hebrews 12:2)

O Weary Wanderer, Find Your Way Again.

Have you ever had those moments where you have sort of lost something, but vaguely remember where it is? That feeling of “Ugh I knew it was there”! Well, to be honest this is how I’ve felt about myself for two years. If we’re being REALLY honest, I would also tell you that I’ve never really been myself. I’ve been: too scared, not bold enough, insecure, and any other lie from the enemy I’ve believed about why I shouldn’t be free. There are, however, a few people who have seen the real LT, in all my chaotic and ghetto self.  These people are few and far between.

When I moved here just over two years ago, I kind of lost myself for a little bit. You might be wondering what that means. When you find out will you tell me?! All I know is that the go-getter, sassy, outgoing, people-loving and strong person I was becoming went somewhere… without me! I could blame it all on the move, moving 6 times in 7 months, working 2-3 jobs before landing a full-time job, and trying to get connected. But to be honest I lived through that season like a boss (with the strength of the Lord of course. Did I have my moments of breakdowns? Yes. I have a list of people you can check with to verify. But for a 20-year-old girl moving away from family I dominated that experience. (just sayin’).

However 2013 was a mind-blowing year of spiritual growth… And that is saying something after 2012. You can read a little about that experience here. Not that I’m trying to over spiritualize everything, but I think that part of “losing” myself was part of a much bigger plan God had for my life. See, in 2011, just weeks before I sporadically moved and jumped into a new life I was part of an amazing internship that rocked my world. Essentially it is great as a discipleship tool in your own life but also equipping you to be a disciple maker. You can learn more about that internship here. During that internship I remember praying and asking God to please help me experience all He had to offer to me. I wanted to have a relationship with Him like David did (minus all the crazy things David did).

So at the beginning of last year I panicked a little when I realized I didn’t know who I was. I could sense in myself changes and I didn’t know why. I felt trapped because I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t just be myself and why I was closing off from the world. It was irritating and no one has time for that! The point is this: my identity was never grounded in Christ. I could tell you all the things the Bible tells us we are as believers; but knowing these truths in a way that was being lived out was another story. I had been living and believing lies about who I was. God was HONORING my prayer from two years prior. He was allowing me to fall apart in a sense so that He could refine me to be myself and all that He wants me to be, but from the right base (which is Christ)!

And it might sound dumb, but I don’t care- I’m owning it! Last week I decided to make some mini valentine’s day bags filled with chocolate. As I was doing that I realized “I’m back!” And it’s not because of something I’m trying to do in my own strength either; it’s been through having the right view of who I am and having a right relationship with the person who created us!

There are still lots of things I’m thinking through and trying to figure out, but I just wanted to encourage you with these things:

1. Check yourself before you wreck yourself. Make sure your view of yourself and of others is through the right lenses. I’ll give you a hint. It starts  with B and ends with i-b-l-e. If you are living from a belief that is not with the Word you are NOT free. 
2. Being lost isn't always a bad thing. If you are in a season of feeling lost, and maybe it’s not about who you are but something else, it’s not always bad! It’s how you handle it that will bring different fruit. Seek God, pray, stay in the Word and live by what you know is true. There are good seasons and not so good seasons. Don’t believe the enemy when he tells you that if you aren't always in a good season that you are a bad Christian. Perservere! It’s a good thing J