I mean I love him and yes, I do know him; I go to church (most Sunday's), I tithe (for the most part), and hey I'm even nice to people (as long as they stay in their lane). I mean yea ok, so I spent a couple of nights with that guy and didn't actually sleep the whole night (but I'm human and God, you made me so you know how it is, and it only happened a few times----every other month or so, but I ask for forgiveness because the flesh is just so weak. Look bottom line here, I love God! Right?! righttttttt.....
But that voice whispers back to me....."then why don't you live like it Lauren?!" Caught dead in my sorry excuses...truth is I'm not living the way I KNOW I need to be living: a life that reflects him.
"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father" John 14: 12 (NLV)
If I was to meet a non-believer on the street and they knew all about my life, they might call me a hypocrite when I told them I was a Christian. I can imagine them thinking something along the lines of "so she's a Christian right? only difference is she goes to church and says she loves this guy called Jesus, supposedly some savior or something. BUT, she lives just like me. That church and savior mess doesn't make her any better than me. In fact she's worst....at least I'm real about mine!"
"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the father, but are from this world." 1 John 2:15-17 (NLV)
I ask myself how God must feel about my "one-foot-in, one-foot-out" lifestyle I have about being for him? I know he's not happy yet he continues to show me mercy and give me grace. But before my time runs out I want to get it right! I've been battling my "two-facedness" for some time. I talk about getting it together, I even get it together for awhile, but somehow, someway I slip back into my "comfort" of the world.
"There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." Proverbs 16:25 (NLV),
"There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death" Proverbs 14:12 (NLV),
{when a verse is in the bible multiple times it means something....pay attention!}
"And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom." Romans 6:21 (NLV)
And lets be honest I'm a single, 23 year old female living in a large city. The temptation is there, not to mention how would I look not doing the worldly things (clubbing, partying, drinking, having sex). The world tells me I would be weird, that there has to be something wrong with me because "she's different" but not a good different.
But the bottom line is since I am a believer and know Jesus died for me and YOU, I don't answer to the pressures and people of this world...so why don't I start living that everyday? I decided that I am.
That's what my blog is about. I am by no means perfect or completely developed in Christ (I don't think we are ever done growing closer to God) but it was placed on my heart to share my journey for people who are looking to also fully dedicate themselves to God with their lifestyles. This blog is to provide strength and courage to the others who embark down this road (you aren't alone). I want to share my challenges and my successes along this journey to help others.
Please follow, comment, pass-on, ask questions (we can figure somethings out together), email me (justfalauren@gmail.com) because I hope and want to be transparent as possible -together we are the body of Christ.
"I need you, you need me. We're all apart of God's body. Stand with me, agree with me, we're all apart of God's body. It is his will that every need be supplied. You're important to me, I need you to survive!" - I Need You To Survive by Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir
"A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other." 1 Corinthians 12: 7 (NLV)
So join me on this journey as I "face-off" with the spiritual Lauren I am continually growing to be and the worldly Lauren I am leaving behind.
With Love,
Lauren
