the way for {actual} change

At the core, the world needs one thing.

The gospel to go forth.

In love. With joy. With compassion. Tenderness. Peacefully.

The true account of the gospel has been ruined over the years. Twisted by the media and false teachers to push their own selfish agenda.

But the gospel is simply this - God created a perfect universe, but because of one man’s disobedience, all of humanity fell into an imperfect nature of sin, ushering in the entry of evil into the world (if you disagree, just take a look at the world around you). And just like 2+2 must always equal 4, there is absolutely no way any person can avoid being sinful. We could never save ourselves, no matter how hard we try.

God, seeing His beloved creation, put into action the greatest plan for our salvation. He foretold in great detail throughout thousands of years that He had a plan to save people's eternity.

That plan? God sent His only, beloved son Jesus into the world.
Jesus, submitting to this plan, willingly made Himself lowly, coming to us as an innocent, dependent baby. Raised in our world. Living among humanity.

And after a little over 30 years of loving on a world that rejected Him, He was falsely accused, physically beaten beyond human understanding, and literally nailed to a cross, dying the slow, excruciating, humiliating death of crucifixion. His blood spilling out of His body - FOR YOU.

The crazy thing? Jesus could’ve easily destroyed His attackers before they even opened their mouth to slander Him. He could’ve avoided the cross completely. He could’ve unleashed the greatest power, gotten out of there, and left the world staggering. He could’ve said “I did nothing wrong. I lived a perfect life and don’t deserve this.”

But He didn’t.

He knew this was the ONLY way to save humanity from that sin nature that cursed us at the very beginning. He laid down His life to save ours. He chose to do it because He loves us.

HE. LOVES. US.

This is the way God, who is just, perfect, and righteous, can have a relationship with sinful human beings. Other religions will tell you of all the things you need to do to attain right standing before God.

But not this.

The love that was poured out from Jesus on the cross does all the work for you. All you have to do is admit that you are full of sin, believe in Jesus and what He has done, ask God for forgiveness and turn away from walking in that lifestyle, you are ushered into the most LIFE-giving, LIFE-changing, wonderful relationship that is better than any fleeting feeling that the lifestyle you previously held in the world could ever offer you.

It's true, the world and the devil do a good job at deceiving us. Dodging the real, core issues and making us look at all the outer things, making us think that that’s the problem. Making us think that God is the problem. Shifting the blame and pointing fingers.

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I’m not trying to negate all the things going on in the world right now. It’s incredibly heartbreaking, gut-wrenching stuff going on. It’s confusing and grieving, leaving you feeling helpless, angry, afraid, and hopeless.

There are no words to describe the despair felt from witnessing the horrific murder of George Floyd.
There are no words to describe the sadness from seeing all the violent rioting that's breaking loose across our entire country.
There are no words for the grief that good, honest police officers experience when they have to be lumped in with the bad ones.
There are just...no words for the pain.

But each end of the spectrum actually has the exact same need.

JESUS.
The gospel.

Does police brutality need to come to a stop? Absolutely.
Do violent riots need to come to a stop? Yes. Please.
Does racism need to be properly addressed and completely wiped out from society? You better believe it.

But none of this will ever, ever change without the gospel changing people. One life at a time.

We’re watching the world completely unravel right in front of our eyes.

And honestly, there's more people than Christians realize who are actually looking for an answer. Who just simply need someone to talk it through with them. To help them realize the answer to life is so much closer than they know.
They want to believe it, but no one is there to help steer them there.

So, as believers in this miraculous gospel, why isn’t this our focus? Why aren’t Spirit-filled followers of Jesus spreading the cure for humanity instead of complaining, condemning, starting social media arguments, hiding away, living in fear, etc...
The world is exceptionally good at blaring their message. Sure, they have our flesh nature on their side, but we have THE ALMIGHTY GOD on ours.

I speak in total conviction.
I know I don’t take a stand nearly as strong or often as I should.
I know I’m not bold enough.

But if you believe in Jesus and have experienced this life-changing gospel, won’t you please join me in crying out for a filling of the Holy Spirit so that we can spread the ONLY true cure for what this world so desperately needs?

Oh Lord, that we may boldly love and be lovingly bold.
Openly caring.
Uncompromisingly standing for truth without violence or hatred or anger.
Discerning but gentle.
That we would be conduits of Your perfect love poured out onto the world.

To every. single. person.
No matter the skin color.

"The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you."
- Romans 8:11

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If you've read this far and haven't committed your life to Jesus - If you haven't taken the step of faith and trusted in the neverending grace and love of Jesus displayed on the cross, I plead (quite literally, plead) for you to take the time to stop and come before God RIGHT NOW.

No fancy prayer needed. No fancy speech. No "cleaning up your act" ahead of time so that God will accept you. He completely knows you...and still wants you. Cry out to Him, ask for forgiveness and He will hear you.
Because GOD. LOVES. YOU.
I'm being dead serious.
He does.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
- Matthew 11:28

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
- Romans 8:1-4

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
- Romans 10:9

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Much love to you all,

M