But, God

This is post number one from Allie. There is so much I feel led to say, which is why I hopped on board to be a part of this blog with Nick. Nick’s story, his journey with God have all been an inspiration to me. I love the idea of “The Radical Road” because in this world, we have what society says and then we have what God says. And as humans, we get caught up in between these two. As Christ followers, we get caught up in between these two. We are beautiful, yet we are also broken and we will never be fully made whole and complete until we are in eternity with God. There are two things that I have been journaling quite a lot about lately. This concept of what society says and what God says and how that looks in my life and in the lives around me. The other is the in between, this space between the already and the not yet. I will dive in to that in numerous blog posts I am sure. However, today, as I embark on this journey, I am going to focus on this concept of “radical” and what it means to me to live in a world with so much noise, yet be a follower of Jesus.

Yesterday at church, two of the pastors at Hosanna gave a powerful message out of the first chapter in Ephesians. This book has been the most underlined and the most read in my current bible. There is so much practicality and blunt truths that I have learned and as I sat in church listening yesterday to verses that I have read over and over, these were my thoughts:

What are we called to as Christians? Simply put, to believe in God, to believe in what Jesus did for us. He is the authority. He is the hope of this world. It is His story that we are called to live in and live out of. But, it is not that easy as we encounter all the noise of society and are faced with the constant division that lives in our world today. So, what are we listening to right now that takes away from His hope and His love? What in society is, as my pastor said yesterday, “discipleing you?” For me, it is the noise of the negativity and the politics about going back to school this fall. For me it is society telling me that I shouldn’t be single at 28, that I shouldn’t still be living with my parents at 28. But, God…what does He say? The complete opposite and He is calling me to lift my head to His kingdom and to live and speak out of His truths. It doesn’t matter where I am at as long as He is the authority because He will work all things for the good of His will. He has me right where He wants me. And those two truths come from two of my “go to” bible verses:

In Him we were chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. Ephesians 1:11

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4: 13-15

God is providing for me in this season of life, even when I don’t see it. In the end, everything will be okay. So, when the noise of society comes my way, I imperfectly turn to God. I sit with Him. I pray. I read His word. I listen to worship music. Putting Him first in all I am called to do is the center point of my purpose in life. He has a plan for my life. It is not what society says. It is not the negativity that surrounds this world, but instead it is met with the optimism, the hope of this world, Jesus.

With love and blessings,