The battle rages on, as storm and tempest roar. We cannot win this fight, inside our rebel hearts. We’re laying down our weapons now. We raise our white flag, we surrender all to You, all for You.

Hi hey hello,

I hope you all had a fantastic Monday! Mine was rather uneventful, other than the 4 hour long AP Calculus study session at Sonny’s, everything went normally. This past weekend was amazing however. As many of you know, I attended Inside Out 2012 on Friday, and I got to sing in the choir with the RISE band. First off, such an amazing experience. I was a tad bit nervous before hand, but once we got up there, it was just a worship session, no pressure, just singing to God. SO AWESOME.

After we did our deal, we got to listen to one of the speakers talk. He spoke about 2 Corinthians 5, specifically verse 21. The quote I put up yesterday was one of the things he said that impacted me the most. Think about it, 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, ” For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (emphasis added by me) He did know sin, Jesus never committed a single sin. He never got angry and cursed out His neighbor, never thought an evil thought, never lusted, never desired what someone else possessed, He never told a lie, never did any of the awful things me and you do on a moment-by-moment basis. If we just sit back and think about all the bad things we have done in say, the past 24 hours, if we are honest with ourselves, that really adds up. That white lie you told, that utterance of the Lord’s name under your breath, that lustful thought, all those things are our sins, and Jesus NEVER did any of those things.

He never did any of it, and yet He died for those that did. Now that right there is some good news. But not only did He die for us, He rose again. He rose from the grave and walked among His people. He defeated death. He conquered it, so that we don’t have to experience eternal death. That is so amazing!

This is such an amazing story that how could we not want to tell people about it. If we even have a mite of compassion for people in us, and as Christians, we are supposed to, it would be horribly selfish and cruel to not tell people about this. There really is no such thing as a true camouflage Christian. We cannot, we must not, sit back and fade into the background, Christians are called to go out and tell this breath-taking story. We are called to go tell people our love story, of how the Father loved us, and thought we ran from Him, He loved us and sent His Son to die for us, so we could be with Him, forever.

What are your thoughts on this amazing story?

Title Lyrics: White Flag 

-LC

Come be the fire inside of me. Come be the flame upon my heart.

Hi hey hello,

So after Saturday’s craziness, with all the running and nonstop fun I had, Sunday was a good day to rest, except for the fact that I did not do a whole lot of resting in the afternoon. My dad and I went Christmas shopping for my mom all afternoon on Sunday. Walking around the mall, 4 different stores, and not stopping for Starbucks until AFTER all of this, was a major energy drainer, but it was enjoyable. I love spending quality time with my dad. Daddy’s girl all the way!

As I was completing an assignment for my Bible class at school, which just happened to be a Bible study, I was reminded of the simple nature of the Gospel. Here is a quick refresher. We all sin, we mess up, we say bad things, think bad thoughts, to bad actions. God, in His infinite, indescribable, unattainable love, sent His Son, His perfect, holy Son to die for us lowly humans. He died a humiliating death, on a cross. Was buried, but rose again three days later and now he is sitting in Heaven, interceding on our behalf, simply because He loves us THAT MUCH!

The Gospel is simply amazing. Sometimes we get so caught up in theological debates and doctrine that we forget the simplicity of the Gospel, yet in it’s simplicity, it is magnificent. Who knows were we would be without it, we would be hopeless. At times, we all need to just stop and think about the Gospel, meditate on it.

Title Lyrics: You Won’t Relent – Misty Edwards 

What are things you remind yourself of? What are your thoughts on the Gospel?

-LC

PS.

Today is the birthday of one of the most amazing girls in the world. She is simply wonderful, what with her beauty, intelligence, and sarcasm. I love her to death, and even though she is far away, I want to wish you a very happy birthday dearest Taylor!