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Restless

Restless

Have y’all ever had a good shower cry? You know, as alone and vulnerable as it gets? That was me the other night! Crying my eyes out while the water was rushing over me.

There’s something about that. I believe there was renewal that happened that day.

For months, I’ve been in the hustle, the grind, the excitement of wedding planning and working towards preparing for marriage. In that season, my heart was so restless. Days were spent moving through the task list at work, at home, and in my relationships. I was incapable of sitting still for more than a few minutes. Y’all, I couldn’t even watch one full episode of Netflix without getting off the couch to cross something else off the list.

My struggle to sit still was not a problem with my to-do list. It was a heart problem.

My heart was restless. Not for my husband. Not for my wedding. Not for my work. For Jesus.

The happiest season of my entire life was marked by a deeper restlessness because I NEEDED Jesus. You may be thinking, how in the world did this girl struggle through the happiest season?

I tried to live life without Jesus, filled by the pursuit of people (which is good).

There were days spent at my house where I wondered from one task to the next. And by task I mean fluffing pillows, or organizing my closet, ya know the stuff that really isn’t important. The stuff that you only do when you can’t sit still.

Here’s what I learned about restlessness:

  1. I need God.
  2. I need to seek God, even when He’s already seeking me out.
  3. It’s ok to admit that I’m struggling.

Rest is receiving His love. Rest is trusting what might be ahead for your journey, whether you know your destination or not. In rest we find our purpose. We find our need for Jesus.

In my conversations after that night, I started to notice a similar theme of restlessness with the people around me. I started to realize that I wasn’t the only one. I wasn’t alone.

Have you ever had different conversations with friends, and there seems to be a theme that consistently pops into your talks? You know, a theme that is repeated. Some may say “that’s a coincidence” but I like to believe that’s Jesus revealing something to us.

Many of my friends, in different life stages, are going through seasons of restlessness.

Whether you’re preparing to bring a child into the world, you’re starting a new job or semester at college, or maybe you’re just waiting for the next “BIG” thing in your life, I pray that you’re encouraged my these words and the season ahead.

It’s so easy to have a restless spirit. I believe that restless seasons come to a halt when we stop striving and simply trust where God has us today and where He is taking us.

Rest is the equivalent to receiving, of allowing yourself to just be you and be cared for in the midst of your restlessness.

When we are restless, that means we rest, less. Right? Resting less means that we are taking it on ourselves. We are doing it all ourselves. We are believing it’s up to us to do (insert blank) in our lives.

I’ve started to notice the patterns of restlessness. These patterns were revealed to me in and through my conversations with friends in all seasons of life.

Restlessness creeps into your life when…

  1. We don’t know where we are going.
  2. We know where we are going but don’t know what to expect.

Key words here: “don’t know.” Things we don’t know in life can bring forth anxiety, fear, wondering, and ultimately striving to take control and work to bring answers to those things.

There are so many things we don’t know, friends.

There are so many things we can’t control, friends.

There are so many things we “should do”, friends.

There are so many reasons to choose striving or performance over resting because it gives us control in the things that we don’t know. (side note: hear my heart and examine the truth and beauty of working hard. That’s what God calls us to do in our days. He does not call us to strive and not trust Him in our efforts though, because ultimately many of our life outcomes are out of our control because of the world that we live in).

Back to the restless days… we work physically and mentally to feel like we are moving forwardand making progress. When we rest less, we tend to forget our purpose. Focusing on the to-do lists and the tasks feeds the need to work without rest.

And friends, you were created to both work and rest. You were created to both accomplish and trust. You were created to dream and do.

That was me. Preparing for what was ahead, yet still entering the unknown.

We have to remind ourselves where our eyes are fixed, whether we can see the destination or not. Paul talks about fixing our eyes on the destination. There’s a story in Acts 27:24-26 about Paul and others in a shipwreck, and though the storm was rough, Paul and friends were encouraged by where they were heading, where their destination was.

Together they turned away from their anxious heartsand fixed their eyes. Today, we fix our eyes. We receive rest. We receive His love. In Matthew 28, rest is a matter of receiving the Father’s love and grace.

Pause today. Rest today. You are worthy of both love and rest.

This song comes to mind in moments when I need to be still, moments when my mind is racing, moments when I desperately need to feel God’s presence and love. Listen to Pieces by Amanda Cook.

I pray that these lyrics come to life in you…

You don’t give your heart in pieces, you don’t hide yourself to tease us

You don’t give your heart in pieces, you don’t hide yourself to tease us

Your love not fractured, it’s not a troubled mind

It isn’t anxious

It’s not the restless kind

Your love’s not passive

It’s never disengaged

It’s always present

It’s hang on every word we say

Love keeps it promises

Its keeps its word

It honors what’s sacred

Cause its vows are good

Your love not broken

It’s not insecure

Your love not selfish

You love is pure

You don’t give your heart in pieces, you don’t hide yourself to tease us

You don’t give your heart in pieces, you don’t hide yourself to tease us

You don’t give your heart in pieces, you don’t hide yourself to tease us

For those of you who have made it this far, and you still can’t tell if you’re restless, read and answer these questions:

  1. Do you find yourself not able to sit still for more than 5 minutes?
  2. Are you able to easily share your thoughts with others? Are you writing or journaling?
  3. Do you know how to spend your free time? Does free time make you anxious?
  4. Are you thinking about the things that you need to do next while you’re in conversations with people? Are you ready to move on to the next thing?
  5. Are you fearful of what’s to come?

These questions are some of the things I like to check in with myself on. And a few months ago, I had a serious pulse check on my heart. I’m talking about the spiritual kind.

Yes was the answer to all of the questions above. That doesn’t make me bad human, it does mean that I’m not leaning into God for rest, provision, and security.

With you and for you friend.

Court Leatherwood is a dreamer and a creative. She’s a member of Team LO. Fueled by community, creativity and coffee, she spends her days moving the mission of Team LO through social media and graphic design. Court is passionate about encouraging other women in truth and love, and she loves celebrating small and big moments of life with handwritten cards. Court recently married the man of her dreams. 

COVERED

COVERED

Covered –

to put something in front of (something) in order to protect or conceal it.

Acts 20:7-12 The Message (MSG)

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

7-9

We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master’s Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight. We were meeting in a well-lighted upper room. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead.

10-12

Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. “No more crying,” he said. “There’s life in him yet.” Then Paul got up and served the Master’s Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left—Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life themselves.

Okay, so I’m convinced that anyone who thinks the Bible is boring, has not yet read the Bible, because DANG this is quite an interesting situation we have here. You’re at Bible study and then boom someone falls out of a window, dies, and gets brought back to life…that’s definitely not nothing. Try to put yourself there, it’s late, you are listening to Paul preach… I mean this is THE Paul speaking. Like, the damascus road Paul… wrote 13 books in the Bible Paul. What would you be doing? Would you be leaning in, taking notes? Or would you fall asleep too?

 I think that this story is really easy to read really fast. It has a quick little takeaway, we often take-away, and run with. The DON’T BE A EUTYCHUS message! Don’t fall asleep, pay attention, be better than him, so you don’t fall out a window and die message. Not sure if that’s what you got from this, but for the longest time that’s ALL I got from this.

Ah, did I miss the beauty in this. The irony. THE GRACE.

I am Eutychus!

I’m the one who does stupid things. I sit on the edge sometimes. Even in the light I fall asleep. I topple. I need revived. I need to be COVERED in a life or death kind of way.

As lame as it sounds to be a Eutychus… I promise it’s not that bad. You see, yes, he fell three stories down and died, but that’s not all that’s written down for us. The story doesn’t end there, thank God! Verses 10-12, that’s what matters. “Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. “No more crying,” he said. “There’s life in him yet.” Then Paul got up and served the Master’s Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left—Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life themselves.”

Eutychus fell. Paul covered.

We fall. Jesus covers.

What Paul did that night, is just a taste of what God does for us, each and every day. When we fall, God doesn’t point and say bad. No way! He runs three stories down, at midnight, through all sorts of people, just to get to us. Just to get to you. He runs, he gets down on the ground, he stretches himself over us, and he hugs us hard. He looks to the crowd and yells, “No more crying,” “There’s life in him yet!” Yes, He covers us completely!

In Jesus, under the covering of His blood, when you fall, your covered, and when your covered, what was supposed to kill you God works for His glory!

The focus didn’t end on Eutychus’s fall, but rather on the miracle God had done.

That night people didn’t just leave after Eutychus died, or after he came back alive, they stayed! It says Paul went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! And On that note, they left—  and they left full of life. On that note! On the note of what God did! Not on the note of the fall. Because when we let God be God it matters less what we did, and more who he is.That’s what gets remembered, that’s the note we leave on, that’s what gives life! God is so much better than I even think He is. So much kinder, so much gentler, so much more powerful, and so much more gracious. To think about how he works even my mis-steps, even my mistakes for His glory, I will never understand. This story inspires me to live my life always leaving on notes like that. To live my life looking and dwelling on what God has done. To live as a lover of God who isn’t falling out of windows on purpose, but who knows that even in the midst of the most hopeless situation that I am covered and that God can empower me to walk out of the darkest situation. A lover of God who knows that even death is not the end of hope.

No one is too far gone. There is more than enough hope. Let’s dwell on who God is, and what He can do! Let’s let God be God.

No more crying, there’s life in him yet!

You are covered.

Update from Team LO!

Update from Team LO!

Can you believe it is already Fall? Summer flew by just about as fast as it took most of us to watch season three of Stranger Things. With the changing of seasons, Team LO always loves to have a time of reflection. What are we learning? What’s new? What is God doing? Where are we going? This is a moment to pause and look back but also to hope and set our gaze forward. All that to say, this is an exciting time. There is no shortage of laughs, lessons, and pumpkin spice lattes.

Every Wednesday, our team gathers for a devotional/prayer time. This is a time to come together and be unified and encouraged by what God is teaching us. Well, these times have been so fruitful that we started thinking, “Maybe this isn’t something that should just stay in this room. Maybe we should share this!” Sometimes, conversations are just too good not to pass along. So here we are! We want you to know our heart and how God is moving inside of LO.

As theologian Søren Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

We’re sharing the biggest themes of this season for our team!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS SEASON AT LO?

Our team has entered a sweet season of closeness, vulnerability and of intentionality. We have grown so close through this season of refinement and intentionally pursuing God and each other. Through that, we’re learning that there isn’t always time for ALL the things. As much as we want to show up at every taco Tuesday, every Marvel movie night (it’s been a thing lately), all while giving our best to our kingdom work, there’s just not time for everything.  We want to spend our days and our time working on the things that matter most, the people we love most, and what God has called us to do. Knowing that when we can be there, it is God creating that space, which means He has something pretty special for us in that moment.

And friend, believe us, there will always be more people, opportunities and things knocking at the door. You don’t always have to say yes, though. Let your yes be the right yes.

We as a team try to lay our ‘yes’ down to what is most important: to love God and love His people. The minute we start doing anything but that, we make it about ourselves and take Him out of it. What’s the fun in that? That is why we make our “yes” to things the “right” yes.

Lysa TerKeurst famously stated, “We must not confuse the command to love with the disease to please.”

AMEN TO THAT! You don’t have to be all things to all people. All He asks is that we are present and loving people.

This season is full of learning to truly love Him and the people around us.

With all of that, this season is also not lacking in the fun category! There have been weddings (congrats Court and Taylor!), life changes (new puppies, new office, and LOTS of new dreams), and adventures! In all of these life changes, God continues to remind us to draw close to Him and live intentionally with each moment.

Through our adventures, our team’s eyes have really been opened to the church across the world and what God is doing on a global scale. We had the privilege to travel back to England this July and partner with a church called Holy Trinity Brompton and participate in their church wide festival called FOCUS (you probably saw Sadie posting about it). We don’t fully have the words to explain just how beautiful it is to see believers from across the globe all worship together. It was really inspiring to our faith to recognize the ways that God is moving outside of our own little world. We say we serve a big God all the time, but to see Him in action all the way across the world was such a gift.

 WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER AT LO?

Speaking of dreams, we are seeing one come to life RIGHT NOW on our team! Our team is designing a new clothing line. Shhhhhh! We’re so stinking excited about this line because it is all about wearing clothes that speak words of encouragement and truth. Plus, we think it’s pretty cool. If we could show you all of it now, you know we would. But stay tuned! You’ll be the first to know about it 😉

Another big thing that we have going on is from inside our online community, LO Fam! We are excited to announce that we are launching our very first workshop inside the Fam, led by our beloved friend, Emma Jenkins. Emma will be leading our members through a 4-week bible study on Philippians and we are SO giddy about it! Want to be a part of the study and this global community? Sign up to be the first one to know when the doors open HERE. We hope to see you there!

Lastly, we are in full swing with, you know, a certain special someone’s WEDDING! EEK! We are praising God for marriage and God’s design in it during this season. Our team is so thrilled to see Sadie find the man that will support her, lead her, and see her the way God sees her: precious, a daughter of the King, and forever an original.

We could keep going on and on about what is to come but just know, our team is always seeking, praying, and hoping for big things and we have no doubt this next season is going to be unmatched. We hope you’ll continue to join us in it!

WHAT IS TEAM LO LISTENING TO?

  • “Yes I will” by Vertical worship. It’s a beautiful reminder of how God moves and works to write our stories.
  • “With you” by Elevation Worship. This vulnerable song reveals so much of our hearts cry to be truly found in Him. Have a tissue nearby and your hands free to worship.
  • Lastly, we can’t get enough of Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors’ classic “I like to be with me when I’m with you.” What can we say, we love love 🙂

WHAT IS GOD TEACHING TEAM LO?

God is teaching us a lot about dependence and trust. This is with both God and friendships. Sometimes in life, we tend to make practical decisions quickly without letting anyone in, yes the big ones and the small ones. This can often shut down either God’s plans or the ideas of others! Friends, Say yes (but remember, say yes to the right things!) and let things happen and play out with those around you. Most of the time they work for His will and glory in the most unique ways. Overtime through practicing this openness, when the time comes to make a decision, or say no, your discernment will be strong enough to help you do that. Don’t shut things down too early because you just might miss out on something incredible.

He is also really teaching us about the true meaning of sisterhood. Sisterhood can look a million different ways but it should always be rooted in one thing, selfless love. We are learning to ask questions like: How can we learn to better love our friends? How would the words we say impact our sisters around us? How can we continue to put our friends first? And hear us, there isn’t a formula! There isn’t a friendship checklist, because that would be too easy, right? But there is a heart that we can have towards our people. Check it out:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV.

This is the goal, friends! That in all we do, we would reflect a heart of love and softness for the people God puts in our life. It’s why we celebrate, why we create, and even why we dream for the future.

As Sadie puts it, “Dreaming is a constant pursuit of God.” No matter what you are facing right now, keep dreaming, keep pursuing, keep believing. He will use it in mighty ways.

We would love to hear what you are learning right now and what you are believing for in the future. Let’s look back together in 5 years and marvel at all that He’s done. Will you join us?

XO,

Morgan, on behalf of Team LO

What a Real Relationship Looks Like

What a Real Relationship Looks Like

“We just didn’t love each other anymore.” Those were the words my friend Jeff said to me, as we sat on the back porch of a rustic cabin on a guys weekend. “One day, we woke up, and realized that whatever “this” was, it wasn’t real love. So, we decided to file for divorce.”

I could literally feel the pain that my friend was experiencing. You could feel it through his tone of voice and the expression on his face. Though it had been over two years since his marriage had ended, Jeff still could barley talk about it. He told me that the person he had married, slowly over time, began to vanish. Jeff said that he began to feel like no matter what he did, or how hard they tried as a couple, they just couldn’t “get there.” They couldn’t feel the love that their married friends with “great” marriages seemed to feel with no problem.

Jeff asked me what I thought about his relationship. “Wasn’t your grandpa that famous relationship expert? What would Gary Smalley say.”

I get asked that all the time. “What would your grandpa say?” And, I honestly love that question. Because, I’ve never faced that question without an answer my pops taught me.

What Jeff experienced in his marriage, is something single people like me dread. And, it’s something that terrifies people that are dating or married. What happens when our relationships aren’t what they seemed to be at first? What happens when we’ve slipped inadvertently into the abyss of disfunction?

What happens when my relationship isn’t real?

If you’ve ever found yourself asking that same question. Or, are afraid of asking that question some day. I want to give you a secret. And, this secret has the potential to not only save your marriage before it starts, but can open up a new realm of possibilities in your relationships. I’ve watched this secret create marriages that last a lifetime. And, even spill into relationships with family and friends. And it all has to do with this word… safety.

The relationship ingredient Jeff was missing, and many of us can miss if we’re not careful is safety. Safe relationships are life-giving. Safe relationships give freedom. And, safe relationships are real relationships.

So, what is a safe relationship? How can I make sure my relationship is safe? Or, how do I know when to get out of a un-safe relationship? I’d like to let you in on this special secret with five traits of a real (safe) relationship.

1.  Safe relationships help you be the best you.

In my new book, Real Life Love, I dedicate a full chapter to honor. You see, if you aren’t with someone who honors you for who you are, then you are literally wasting your time. Honoring someone means to value them, and everything about them, like they are the most important things on Earth. So, all of those quirky things you do. Your crazy, outlandish dreams. That thing you do when you’re nervous that everyone else finds annoying. That person honors each of those. If you’re with someone who doesn’t propel you to be the best you, then that person isn’t safe.

When I was in college, I dated this girl who was awesome. She was funny, and was extremely intelligent. Until one night. I remember telling her that one of my dreams was to someday be a host on NBC News. She looked at me, and shot back with, “let’s be honest, the only thing you’re honestly capable of is cleaning the bathrooms at NBC.”

I know. Brutal, but true. Let’s just say I quickly realized that I was never safe to truly be who I was around her, and who I wanted to be in that relationship. That girl was more focused on her putting her best on center stage of our relationships, and I was supposed to be in the wings.

Real relationships honor everything about you. And, they never put you in the wings of your own life. You deserve someone who thinks of you as highly valuable, and allows you the freedom to be your best.

2.  Safe relationships want you to have good relationships with other people.

One of my best friends recently started dating this girl. And, before we all knew it. Not only was he dating this girl, he was only seeing this girl. As in, every waking moment of every waking day. Our friend group would text him, and it was always the same thing.

“Hey, thanks for the invite. But, I’m hanging with Jamie tonight.”

Every night. Every day. Every weekend. It was always Jamie.

One day, I decided to ask my friend. Why in the world was he spending so much time with this girl? I mean, I get it! You’re in love! But, did that mean he had to sacrifice his friendships for his romantic relationship.

It turns out, Jamie put tremendous demands on my buddy’s time. And, she didn’t want him to have any other strong relationships, that was stronger than theirs. While, I will agree that our romantic relationships are important. They aren’t the only relationships that we have. If someone isn’t willing to allow you to build quality relationships with others, which only brings more fulfillment in your life, then they aren’t worth being in a relationship with.

At some point, they need to trust you that you are doing the right thing.

3.  Safe relationships point you back to your relationship with Jesus.

Jefferson Bethke is this author and speaker who lives in Maui. He’s super popular for doing cool videos on YouTube and a book he wrote called Jesus>Religion. A few years ago, he released another book called Love That Lasts. It’s about relationship secrets him and his wife used to build a healthy marriage. He recently posted a photo on Instagram of this book someone bought from a used book store, and in the book, there was a list this girl wrote called “10 Reasons I Need to Break Up with Jordan.”

I read the list hurting for this girl. She wasn’t in a real, safe relationship. And, several times on the list pointed to the fact that Jordan wasn’t challenging her spiritually. Not only that, he wasn’t really interested in following Jesus.

I’ve seen so many of my friends walk into relationships with someone who wasn’t a Christian. And, I’ve never seen any of them work out for the best. If you think that someone is going to change because of how strong your faith is, I have bad news for you. It’s not going to happen. Because Jesus is the only one that changes hearts.

Instead, invest in a relationship with someone who is excited about their faith. Invest in a relationship with someone who isn’t afraid to pray over decisions. Who wakes you up for church in a Sunday. Who is genuinely interested in reading God’s word. Who is spiritually wise.

Trust me, the other way only leads to pain. Be with someone who will sharpen you!

4.  Safe relationships are judgement free zones.

Let’s go back to my friend Jeff. When he told me him and his wife couldn’t ever get “there,” I asked what he meant. “Well, I guess I feel like nothing I ever did was good enough,” he said. “Nothing was ever right. Nothing was ever the way she wanted it. I guess I just wasn’t good enough.”

Once I heard him say that, I realized that he probably wasn’t in a safe relationship from the beginning. Jeff was with someone who was quick to judge. She critiqued and criticized even the small stuff. The way he would chew his food. The fact that he wanted to start a company, and be an entrepreneur over being a doctor like she (and her mom) wanted.

Safe relationships can’t be judgmental, because people who want safe relationships say goodbye to their role of critic.

Jeff’s ex-wife was like a food critic that couldn’t get over what Jeff was wanting to serve. Jeff could make the meal of his life, and she would still give it just one star.

Safe relationships appreciate, and celebrate everything. The good. The losses. The joyful. And, the ugly.

5. Safe relationships are quick to seek forgiveness

In the book Real Life Love, I talk about how forgiveness is the healer of all wounds. The stark reality is that when people mess up in relationships, they refuse to seek forgiveness. They cast all the blame on the other person, and hold onto those angry feelings for years to come.

The true mark of a safe relationship is when someone messes up, they immediately seek forgiveness. The don’t let the grass grow under their apology. They understand that the other person is so much more important than “winning.” Real life love wins, when both people win. And, sometimes, that win starts with the words, “will you forgive me.”

Michael Gibson writes and speaks about relationships. He’s the author of Real Life Love: Saying Goodbye to the Fairytale and Hello to True Relationships. A book about the seven secrets his grandpa, the world-famous marriage and family expert, Gary Smalley. He lives in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri.

Is Jesus Really Enough?

Is Jesus Really Enough?

These are confusing times and there is a sea of contradictory voices all striving for our attention and devotion. Everyone says they have the right answer and many claim a new understanding. Confused about whether God is real? Is God listening? Bullied at school? Parents getting divorced? How does a God of love allow people to go to hell? Evolution? Is God mean? Why do bad things happen to good people? Who does God vote for? Where do we go for answers? This leads me to the main question: “Is Jesus really enough?”

This is becoming a complicated question that deserves a simple answer. Let me state it plainly and then expound on some things that I see everyday and that I believe are causing confusion in our lives.  Is Jesus really enough? The simple answer is a resounding “YES! Absolutely 100%!” That is, if you are talking about the Jesus of the Bible who is “the way, the truth and the life,” (John 14:6) and whose word never changes. His Word is the absolute authority! “The grass withers and the flowers fade but the Word of our God stands forever.”(Isaiah 40:8).  On the other hand, however, the Jesus that I see represented in some of our “influencer” culture such as musicians, singers, celebrities, modern worship songs, etc, seems to be a Jesus that in fact is most definitely, “not enough.” I say this not to be mean or shocking. I say this because if the Jesus we know does not jive with the Jesus of the Bible, then we are in fact not worshipping the one true God, but instead  we are worshipping an idol.  An idea crafted by our own imaginations of a god that we would prefer, who gives us everything we want, and a god that allows his morality to be defined by us.

First of all, I am not against “influencers”. I am one! But I AM suggesting that influencers should have a proper place of influence in our lives, and that place should be firmly way WAY below the teaching of Scripture and its applications. Christian  influencers should point people towards the Jesus of the Bible, and be a source of encouragement etc. We influencers should NOT be a replacement for the teaching of truth.

Secondly, and this is the reason this is becoming complicated, we need to recognize why influencers even exist. Before the existence of YouTube and blogging and the internet, Christian leaders, speakers, pastors and teachers used to be trained PRIOR to performing most serious teaching roles. This may include bible school, discipleship classes, mentoring relationships etc. There is a level of training and discipline required so that we do not thrust leaders in to the spotlight before they are ready. This is for their own protection as well as for the protection of God’s people from unorthodox teaching. Even well-intentioned unorthodox teaching. With the rise of the internet and social media platforms, anyone can be an influencer. With or without training, at any age, with or without understanding of the Bible. This is becoming a real problem because many of the modern Christian influencers do not have a grounding in the word of God and shockingly some do not even believe in the authoritative word of God.

This leads me to my point about Jesus “being enough.” We are being  tossed to and fro in our lives because everyone tells us what to do and all of the answers conflict with one another! As a follower of Jesus, we should not treat the Bible, psychology, celebrity twitter feeds, and gossip from our friends all with equal weight. The Bible is THE source of truth. If science or psychology disagree with the Bible, then our decision on what to believe or what to do should be simple. Follow the Bible! Science changes constantly. Psychology changes constantly. Popular opinion on morality changes constantly. The point is that everything changes. We are living in a world that does not believe in absolute truth. Therefore, our culture does not believe in absolute morality. Unfortunately, morality is being defined on a day by day basis, depending on the loudest voices and the agenda of the powerful. Nothing is sure. You cannot count on anything because every single thing in this life will crash and burn except for the solid firm foundation of the unchanging Word of God and the Lordship of King Jesus.

Why is all of this important? There is a movement happening in Christianity that I call the “I’m into Jesus but not into the Bible” people. This is bizarre because Jesus IS the word of God. Literally. If the Bible isn’t true, then how would we possibly know who Jesus is?  One may admire Jesus, or agree with some of his principles…but one cannot LOVE Jesus and not believe his word. This movement I speak of doesn’t worship Jesus. Instead, they worship a god that is their own version of light and love, who cares for us so deeply that his world is consumed with chasing us all the while pleading and unsure if we will indeed love him back…a god that lets everything be about me and what I need and gives me everything I want because I am so important…a god that is always “for me” no matter what I choose, and loves and accepts and forgives me even if I forever reject him and die in rebellion against him. If this is our definition of Jesus, then we are in fact not worshipping the Jesus of the Bible, but rather an idol of our own creation!  A human idea of benevolence and goodness that is bereft of power, justice, sovereignty, and a jealousy for the holiness of His great name. How many times do I hear people say “all that matters is love and loving and accepting people.” How accepting was Jesus when he saw the money changers buying and selling in the temple? We Christians are very comfortable with Jesus the lamb. We are not so comfortable with Jesus the Lion. Yes, Jesus loves us and yes Jesus cares for us and yes Jesus is with us! But his first and foremost passion is for the authority and fame of HIS OWN GREAT NAME.  He doesn’t apologize for his actions. He answers to no one. He defines what is good and right and holy. We should rest affirmed in the knowledge that our God is good and there is no morality higher or superior. We don’t have to defend Him. His honor and supremacy defends Himself. All hail, King Jesus!

So where do we go from here? My advice to all Christians is go to church and experience the family of God. Secondly, let’s begin to have an appetite for truth over our appetite for entertainment. Listening to bible teaching is not as fun as watching influencer YouTube vids. Sooo???? Stop making decisions based on what is fun and start making them based on what is ultimately soul-satisfying. Thirdly, we Influencers need to realize that we are in fact  “influencing” people. And I am asking all of us to consider this dire warning:  “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6). Should we be serious about what we say? About what we post on social media? And finally I would conclude with this piece of advice:  if you don’t know where to start in the Bible, then pick up a copy of “Knowing God” by J.I. Packer. Or “The knowledge of the holy” by A.W. Tozer. Spend 10 minutes reading about God’s attributes and read the corresponding scripture references provided. 10 minutes a day and you will fall so deeply, madly, satisfyingly in love with the God of the Bible, that His love will taste so sweet that you will not want to drink from any other well. I dare say that all of the confusing questions that weigh you down will fade in the light of your adoration for the King of Kings. You will experience a spectrum ranging from love, hope, awe, and fear as you are awakened to a God that is both too high to imagine and so humble that he calls you a friend. Jesus is our savior, our hope, our God, our friend, our ALL. Yes. Jesus is indeed enough.

John Cooper is the lead vocalist, bassist and songwriter/producer for Skillet, one of the best-selling rock bands of the 21st century. The two-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated 12x platinum band was recently invited into Pandora’s Billionaire club after garnering 2 billion streams, received a pair of GRAMMY® Award nods, sold over 12 million albums worldwide, taken home a Billboard Music Award and more. Their tenth full-length project, Victorious released via Atlantic Records on August 2nd.

Follow John on Instagram @johnlcooper

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