Why I'm confident 'he's the one'

I've read so many articles with a similar title as this, hoping to grow and shed some light on a new perspective in the relationship realm. Truth is, it always takes me about 20 seconds to realize how superficial, selfish, and just plain ridiculous the post usually is. They all sound a little like this:

"If he calls you beautiful every day he's the one. If you're comfortable around him without makeup on he's the one. If you can wear sweats around him he's the one."

Okay, I must stop myself. I'm getting irritated just writing this.

Let me tell you how I know he's the one. It's simple.

My confidence is built upon two truths:

1) God is a mystery.

You're probably wondering "how in the world is this relevant?" Well, if you were to ask me how Ian and I became what we are now, I wouldn't be able to tell you every detail. Sure, I could recall some of the talks we had throughout our process of moving forward, and maybe a few (or hundreds) of awkward moments we had together, but I can't lay out this perfect start-to-finish story. And I find such beauty in that. Trying to remember how everything played out is such a blur--a mystery. So much so, that neither Ian or I can take credit for anything that happened, because we don't really know how it happened. Our relationship is of God because it glorifies God; and our relationship glorifies God because it's of God. Are you picking up what I'm throwing down?

2) He's not a God of confusion.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. First Corinthians 14:33 says, "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…" Not once have I second guessed or questioned my relationship. I've been in situations where my heart is not at peace toward a certain guy, and I've been confused to the point of tears. This is not of God. And I'm not going to tell you that he wants you to be happy…He wants you to be holy. 

To wrap it up, I'll say two more things. First, I want to recognize that in no way do I have this 'relationship thing' figured out, and am nowhere near reaching perfection. There's something to work at every single day. So just because I'm confident in my relationship, doesn't mean we've reached the top. Second, the two truths I listed will not be the same for everyone. You may very well be able to recall every detail of your relationship, and you might have had some very tough circumstances come up in your relationship that caused confusion. I'm not saying my two truths are the only two truths and if you don't line up with them then you're wrong. So please know my heart and my intentions for writing this. This is my story, not yours.

P.S. can we just end all those superficial blogs? Sweet

Do you really know the Good News?

I'll never forget the time when I was at an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) meeting two years ago. Sitting in a room of college kids like myself, serving as FCA leaders on our campus, were posed with this question: How many of you have shared the Gospel with someone?

My heart stopped. Then it sank.

One or two hands were raised out of about 20, and I was one of the many sitting there bewildered with myself.

So here I am, all this time pursuing Christ and gaining knowledge about what the Bible says and learning about discernment and all those things, yet I had never told anyone the story of the Gospel.

As I began to condemn myself and feel disappointed, I started wondering if I could even share the Gospel from beginning to end accurately, while making it sound as interesting and miraculous as it really is.

Long story short, thanks to some awesome people, I learned how to share the Gospel. The following summer when I traveled to Europe, I found myself using the same techniques they taught me as I evangelized on the streets of Oxford, England.

So what's my point?

Hebrews 5: 12 says, "You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food."

Generally (and I say generally), when I think of American Christians, that is what I think of. The Hebrews. Especially living in a small Texas town, or in the "Bible belt" of Texas where I go to school, mostly everyone claims to be a Christian. The question is: How many of those Christians can tell the story of the Gospel from beginning to end? And more than that: How many can share the Gospel as their life story, attaching personal emotion and making it relatable? 

Anybody can read about a story and re-tell it, but that is not the Christian's purpose. We should be teaching and discipling those who do not know the story. We should be sharing the Gospel because they are in the story.

What's happened to the urgency of "making disciples of all nations"? What would Paul say about the American Christians? I understand not everyone is gifted with public speaking, but you don't have to be: The Gospel is not limited to human ability. Anybody and everybody can tell the story of the Gospel with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Are we able to share the Gospel accurately, from beginning to end, starting with creation? Are we prepared to do so if someone asks to "explain this 'Jesus' a little more to me"? Words are necessary, contrary to what that famous quote says, when sharing the Gospel.

Romans 10:14-15 says, "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them."

If there's nothing you have read so far that has stuck, hear this: If you are a Christian, you have a duty and are commanded to share the Gospel.

Do you know it?