So Much Love!

Dear Rylee,

Have you ever stopped to think about just how much God loves?

It’s a pretty amazing thing actually -God’s love. It’s so big and so powerful that it is hard to understand. The Bible says that he loves us so much that he gave his one and only son. I’ve often thought of the great sacrifice Jesus made when he died on that cross. It wasn’t until I had children of my own that I considered what a sacrifice it was for God to send his son and watch him die like that.

But God’s love for us was so big that he was willing to make that sacrifice. A love that strong – it’s almost unbelievable. It’s hard to understand and why God would give up the life of his son for a bunch of selfish humans. The Bible tells us that, too it says that God sent his son into this world to save the world. Not to destroy the world, not to condemn the world. He sent Jesus into this world because he loved this bunch of selfish humans so much that he wanted to save them.

So if God wanted to save the world, if he gave up his son for everyone, why do we condemn those who live differently than we do?

There are people in this world – some who are even a part of our family – who are not living according to the Bible. They make choices that are completely against what God asks us to do – sometimes because they don’t know what God wants and sometimes because they don’t care – and live their lives on their own terms. Because they don’t see the sin in their lives as sin, they flaunt it and expect – even demand – that everyone accept it.

Yes, I am talking about the gay community. But not just them I am talking about the section of the population that is living together before marriage, those who drink too much, those who fill their bodies with drugs. None of those things are Biblical. Each one breaks God’s heart.

But he still loves them. He still wants those people to accept his gift of eternal life.

He still sacrificed his son for them.

And if God loves these people, why should we put them down?

Love the sinner, hate the sin. That’s a saying I’ve heard throughout my life. I agree with it, but I am not sure it goes for enough. We should love the sinner, and pray for the sin. And we should always remember that we are no better. God doesn’t see us any differently than he sees anyone else. We are all sinners.

Yes, Rylee. Even you. You may think that telling a little white lie or skipping school or going someplace with your friends where your parents have asked you not go is no big deal, but it’s still a sin. What you think is a small sin doesn’t look any different to God than what you think is a big sin. Sin is sin. It all breaks God’s heart.

But you know what? God loves us all anyway.

And what  better way to thank God for his love than by showing that love to everyone we meet, no matter how we feel about lifestyle they live.

Love-

Mom

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believers but have ever lasting life. For God sent not his son into the world but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:16-17

 

Selfish Ambition?

Imagine for a moment that you are competing in a cross country race for your school. You are feeling good and halfway through the race you are begging to close in on the runners at the front of the pack. Suddenly, one of the runners in front of you collapses. What do you do – keep running and hope someone else helps your competitor or stop running to give him the help you know he needs?

For Seth Goldstein a senior from Cooper Yeshiva high school in Memphis, Tennessee, there was only one choice. He stopped running, knelt beside the other runner to give him the help he needed, and made sure someone was able to call 9-1-1. Only after the EMT’s arrived and Seth knew the other young man was going to be ok did Seth complete the race.

How many of us would do something like that?

I am not sure if I would today. When I was in school I am quite sure that I would not have given up a chance to win a race in order to help someone else. Face it, as humans we are selfish creatures. We have the opportunity to choose our own path in life. Society teaches us that the best life path is the one that put “me” about “you”. Look out for number one, no matter who gets hurt in the process.

That’s not what God wants for us, though. He didn’t create us to be selfish. He created us to be like him, to put the needs of others above ourselves (and really, what could be less selfish than offering, His son for a bunch of people who don’t fully appreciate the sacrifice?) In the book of Philippians, Paul tells us how God expects us to treat others:

Do Nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.  Philippians 2:3-4

The news stories I have read don’t say whether Seth Goldstein is a Christian or not, But his actions at this particular cross- country meet demonstrate. What Paul was talking about Seth was not concerned with what was best for his competitor. Seth did eventually finish the race, to the cheers of onlookers there, to support Seth’s high school and the opposing schools. Those onlookers are likely to remember who actually won that race. They will be more likely to remember the amazing selflessness of one high school student.

Seth Goldstein made the world a little better with his actions that fall afternoon. What are you doing to make your world just a little better?

Stand Against Bullying

I recently heard a story about a teen in a high school right here in Michigan who was elected to her high school homecoming court. That doesn’t seem particularly news worthy, since thousands of teen are elected to their homecoming court each year. What makes this girl’s story different is why she was elected – her classmates chose her because they wanted to embarrass her.

Sixteen- year- old Whitney Kropp is a bit of a loaner at Ogemaw Heights High School in West Branch, Michigan. Some who know her describe Whitney as a free spirit. Her black outfits and unconventional hair colors set her apart from her classmates. She doesn’t have a lot of friends and was surprised to find she had been selected as a representative for her class on the home coming court. The surprise quickly turned to horror as Whitney realized her selection to the court was a joke, designed to humiliate and embarrass her.  The young man who was picked to join Whitney as the sophomore class representative on the homecoming court attempted to make the humiliation worse by dropping off the homecoming court rather than participate with Whitney.

The cruelty of some teenagers never ceases to amaze me. I can’t help but wonder where they are learning such bad behavior. Are parents ok with that level of cruelty or do they just not know – or care – what their kids are doing?

But it’s not the cruelty of a group of students that I want to focus on. It’s the courageous spirit of one student and the beautiful spirit of a small town that intrigue me the most.

Whitney could have allowed this prank  to keep her from being a part of homecoming. She could have skipped the game and the dance, and just stayed home feeling sorry for herself. No one would have blamed her for doing that. In all honesty, that is probably what I would have alone. At the age of 16, I don’t think I would have had the courage to stand up to one bully, let alone a school full of them.

But Whitney Kropp isn’t a normal teenager – even before this, she wasn’t afraid to be herself. She wore what she was comfortable in and her hair in styles she liked. Whitney didn’t change in order to fit in and be a part of the popular crowd at school. Though she was hurt by her classmates’ actions, she didn’t let them have the satisfaction of seeing her broken.

Whitney decided to go to homecoming.

To celebrate her courage, her town rallied around her. Local businesses sponsored Whitney’s stand against bullying by providing her dress, shoes, jewelry, hair styling, and make up. When she stepped onto the field, escorted by her father and grandfather, she looked gorgeous and confident.

The best way to fight against bullying is to rise above it and not let it get you down. That is exactly what Whitney did. And by donating everything she would need to have a beautiful night, the town of West Branch, Michigan, made their own statement against bullying.

Hello world!

Hi!

Wow.  I am actually writing this.  You have no idea what a thrill this is for me!

The Idea for The Rylee Project has been in my mind for seven years now.  It has taken many twists and turns along the way, while I prayed and worked out just what The Rylee Project should look like.  Once I hit on exactly what the goals for The Rylee Project should be, it was near impossible to not shout it out to the world and let everyone know my plan.

But I needed to wait.  Waiting is not my strong suit—never has been and likely never will be.  And now….

Now, the wait is over!

The Rylee Project started with a book.  I decided to write a book,Letters to Rylee, filled with things that I wanted to share with my daughter.  I wanted to teach her about being herself, about staying true to God while still enjoying life.  I began to write one letter.  That letter turned into two, and then ten, and then twenty.  It didn’t take long to realize that I had more to say than what would fit between the covers of a book.  (Not that I have given up on the book!  Those 30 letters have made it into a book, which I will tell you more about later!)  So this website is here.  And Facebook and Twitter accounts.

My friendship with Jesus—that is one of the most important relationships I’ve ever had in my life.  It’s the one relationship that I wanted to pass along to my daughter.  She knows about friendship with Him on a level that I won’t understand on this side of Heaven, since she is there with Him now.  But this desire, this need to share that friendship didn’t go away.  I thought about some of the young ladies in my life—Tori and MicKaylia and Kaleigh—and thought, “Maybe they would be interested in learning about this.”  And then I thought, “Why stop there?”

I don’t know.  I think I might be rambling.  (You’ll find that I do that quite often!) But that is what The Rylee Project is all about.  It’s about developing friendships here that impact eternity.  It’s about falling in love with Jesus and showing His love—sharing His friendship—everyday.

Your forever friend,

Lynn