Stripped to the Core

A few days have passed and I am continuing to process my experience in Atlantic City.  I joined a few ladies who were reaching out to and sharing God's love with strippers. Yes, strippers. We spent the evening praying and walking into clubs that had blacked out windows and neon lights. The buildings that most of us drive by and don't allow our thoughts to entertain what could be taking place inside. I don't know how many clubs are in Atlantic City but I noticed there seemed to be one (or more) on every corner.

 As we walked into one club, the girls already had an established relationship with the general manager and owner, I couldn't help but to look into the eyes of one young girl and see that she was empty, tired, and hopeless.  She was given a bracelet that had the word Agape etched in it and she quietly slipped it on her arm and continued her work. This young lady who is valuable, who is created uniquely by our Lord is a treasure. I know she is!  I am confident that Jesus can restore and redeem. Jesus is the only one that will love perfectly when you're stripped to the core.

I pray for the young ladies and I pray for the group of ladies that are reaching out to build relationships with the girls, managers, bouncers and security guards.  I pray they will be stripped to their core. As they get to the core and the realization that sex, entertainment, relationships, money, alcohol, drugs, control and anything else will leave them empty.  Only Jesus can fill us.  The only One that can restore and redeem without shame and guilt and provide a hope for the future is the One that created you and desires a real relationship.

Think for a moment of Jesus' ministry here on earth. He chose to eat with sinners, He touched the untouchables in society, he gave to the needy, he crossed all culture barriers in order to love others. Many people He pursued and loved impacted others for eternity as they followed Jesus with a significant purpose!  Let's be radical in the way we love others, relentlessly love others regardless if you feel like it or you're uncomfortable. This kind of love and commitment isn't new it's written in scripture. Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" Luke 9:23

Perhaps, you're not called to this specific work BUT we are called to love others regardless of color, sex, culture, lifestyle, etc.  We are called to love and love genuinely. As we love others we are reminded of when we were stripped to the core and face to face with a decision to follow Christ or follow our own desires. We all come to the cross the in the same way, sinful and in need of a perfect Savior.

Everyone is worthy of love. 

Everyone 

is

worthy

of 

love.

Broken BUT made new

Recently, I was dusting Logan's book shelf and I dropped one of his trophies. It shattered into several pieces all over his floor. I collected the pieces and set them in a neat pile in Billy's office. Olivia, passed through the office shortly after and glanced down to see the pile of broken trophy pieces. She stopped and stared at the pieces and asked what happened. After explaining the situation she appeared concerned but accepted that it was an accident. Tim and Teri (our friends from NC) were on their way to the house for a visit and everyone was eager for their arrival and perhaps a bit distracted as we were not thinking about the trophy any longer.

The Grays arrived and we spent time talking and catching up and at some point during their visit  Olivia whispered something to Mrs. Teri and off they went into the another room. Little did we know that Olivia had collected the pieces of the trophy and she had attempted to put it back together with an Elmer's glue stick. She had been working diligently, with good intentions attempting to put it together but without success so she asked Mr. Tim and Mrs. Teri for help. The pieces were collected, the Elmer's glue was cleaned off and another type of glue was used as Tim, Teri and Olivia sat at the dining room table putting Logan's trophy together.

I would have never chosen or wanted Logan's trophy to break BUT the opportunity for his sister to show compassion, care and love for him was worth the broken trophy pieces. Also, Tim quickly reminded me that it was an opportunity for he and Teri to bond with Olivia. Olivia was so thankful that she had help, she was tired and wasn't making much progress (perhaps making it messier) by attempting to do it all on her own. I couldn't resist thinking of all the learning lessons and illustrations that were unfolding before my eyes.

That little trophy was broken BUT it has been made new and has a new story. It was special before BUT now it holds a deeper, more significant story. When I look at that trophy now, it's not perfect BUT its a treasure. We all have a time in our life when the pieces are shattered, circumstances are difficult and we can attempt to put it back together with our own efforts (perhaps making it messier) or surrender to our Savior and allow Him to restore, redeem and transform our lives with significant purpose. Surrendering and being transformed doesn't mean a perfect life but one that allows the flaws to be used for His purpose and to point others to the redeeming power of our Savior.

.......BUT^[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them Ephesians 2

Olivia wrapped up Logan's trophy, a note and some chocolate that was given to her in a small box. Here is a small clip....