Journey Deeper

Most of my blogs are intended for everybody, especially those who haven't had the pleasure of knowing Jesus. I (try to) write my blogs with a tender heart for those who aren't familiar with the Bible. I try to be nonjudgmental and loving in what I share and how I share it. However, today I'm specifically addressing Christian men and women. I am going to be a bit more direct with my brothers and sisters in Christ...because I'm angry. And I may lose a few friends in what I write today but my purpose is to live for Jesus not to live for others. And I have a heavy, heavy heart.

Jen Hatmaker and a few other prominent Christian leaders have come out and stated their beliefs that homosexuality is not wrong from a biblical standpoint. Although they have publicized a fancy rationale for how they came to these conclusions, I'm going to spare you my rationale of what is right and wrong from a Biblical standpoint and just go with what the Bible actually says. I figured this is the safest way to make an argument of what the Bible says. So here goes a direct quote:

1 Corinthians 6:8-11
Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you now know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Re-read it again if you will, but the bible lists acts of same-sex sex as sin...along with having idols, being an adulterer, being greedy, being drunk, being a cheat, etc. (An important note...many sins I'm in fact guilty of!) I'm not singling out homosexuality as a sin and forgetting all the other sins...I'm just saying the bible does identify homosexuality as a sin.

First a note to the LBGTQ community...I love you. God loves you. I look at you no different than any other person because we are ALL sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Sin is sin...clearly defined in the bible. But PLEASE do not miss the last part of the verse...you were washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Your sin is no different than any other person's sin and you are free to accept God's grace like any other sinner according to the Bible.

Now, a note to the Christians who are putting their "own spin" on the Bible. YOU are putting Christians who've decided to follow what the bible says, in a very bad place. YOU are making it harder for me to stand up for my faith because it's now YOUR interpretation (a much more "popular" interpretation) against God's Scripture and if I stand up for God's Holy Word, I'm painted as the "bad" "judgmental" or "hateful" person. YOU are supposed to be on my team and be united in Christ with me. But YOU are making me feel horrible for believing the Bible among all of my friends who are active in the LBGTQ community. YOU are dividing the Christian community instead of uniting it. And it makes me heartbroken. And it makes me angry.

I have such a tender, passionate heart for sinners that do not know Jesus...because I was once one of those people. Even within my own faith journey, there have been times I got caught up in my own sin and was not walking with Christ. And it was loving people who called out my sin according to the Bible and helped me repent and turn away. I'm okay if someone doesn't want to believe or disagrees with what the Bible says because that is between God and them. But the fact you are misleading what the Bible says is scary and a huge disservice to people in your community. So although it is not the "popular" thing to do or way to believe...I have to choose God over your modern day interpretation of His Word. It might not be easy but it's what is right. I might lose some friends but I won't lose God. I wish you would take time to reflect on what you are doing within the Christian community and just stop. I wish you would realize you can love others and still stand by Scripture.

Heartbroken, angry and divided,

​Ashley Lucille

​As we approach the outcome of the 2016 Presidential election tonight, I am shouting to myself, "BRACE FOR IMPACT".  I do not think there’s a single person in our country who would argue this election season has not been ugly.  Maybe even the ugliest election to date…definitely the ugliest I’ve seen in my lifetime.  I'm not going to sit here and tell you why you should or should not vote for the candidates.  In my opinion, that is adding to the ugliness of the election and I'm tired of reading why "this leader" or "that friend" passionately feels one candidate is wrong.  I think both candidates are lousy and I do not want either of them representing me to the rest of the world.  So as I face the final results tonight, I’m bracing for the worst because I fear the worst is yet to come.  However, although I anticipate a tough road ahead, I am not without faith.  In fact, faith is all I have left and (I’m realizing) all I ever needed.
 
I haven’t blogged in awhile because life has been fairly crazy in my personal life; there have been some really tough challenges for a few loved ones and in a way it has consumed me both physically and emotionally.  If I took the time to describe the last 3 months of my life, all the ups and downs and twists and turns, you wouldn’t believe it.  So for the sake of time (and privacy), let’s just say life has been crazy ugly with a few shining moments of hope (like finally celebrating my marriage!).  But through the crazy, I have felt firmly grounded in my faith.  As I reflect on my personal life, I see so many parallels to what is going on in our country.  And I’m reminded God is sovereign.  He has a plan.  His plan is perfect.  And His plan is whole.  We just have to be patient enough to wait for the whole plan to be revealed.  And this is where I land regarding our country.

Romans 8:24-27
For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  
 
I have never prayed for our country so often or so sincerely as I have leading up to this election.   I mean, I’ve prayed A LOT…for the people, for the politicians, before and after debates, for voting discernment, how to vote, what to vote for, etc.  And although it’s been tiresome and at times discouraging when I felt like my prayers went unanswered, I’m reminded that although my timeline ended today (Nov 8 – “Election Day”), God isn’t living (or acting!) according to my timeline.  He isn’t looking at the next four years…He is staring straight into eternity.  And His priority isn’t our economy or foreign affairs.  His sole focus is building His Kingdom.  And if I shift my focus toward Him, everything going on in our world (both in my personal life and in our country) seems a whole lot less important.  Everything going on around us is just noise, distracting us from His Plan and Purpose.  And although this noise is going to create a tough road, it is not a road we set foot on alone.  God carries us.  All we have to do is keep the faith and let Him.
 
So regardless of the election outcome, I’m holding tight to my faith.  I’m going to brace for impact but not in the way you brace for a crash.  I’m going to brace for God’s impact…I’m going to watch His plan unfold and be thankful for His sovereignty.   Because His plan is solid and His Kingdom will be plentiful. 

Psalm 33:8-12
Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.  For he spoke and it came to be; he commanded and it stood firm.  The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.  But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.  Blessed is the nation who God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.
 
Election Day, faith and an impact,
 
Ashley Lucille