Following Jesus - part 2

I'm not a good writer. I mean I can write and it usually ends up legible but it's like pulling my toes out through my left ear...try that and see how it works. It's coming up with something to say that's not just adding to the junk already out there...that's the hard part. Because everyone thinks they have something to say that everyone should hear but most of it is just ranting or personal opinion. And I think we would all be better off if we did more listening than talking. Maybe that's why we don't hear God so well. We have a lot to say so we talk and talk and talk but never really stop to hear what He has to say. And then because we don't listen well, we blame Him for not talking to us, but the truth is that He talks to us all the time. The mental picture I have in my head is of Him talking to us (and He always says something worth hearing), but we're like a bunch of 3 year olds running around all ADD and screaming our heads off. Any of you who babysit know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm learning though.

Back in May I quit my job to hang out with Jesus and see what would happen. Wanna know what's happening? He keeps taking me places and showing me Himself in different ways and introducing me to his kids from all over the world. And so far I'm loving it...really loving it. Like in July I spent 3 weeks in the Dominican Republic speaking bad Spanish and getting to know His kids down there. And when I say bad Spanish I mean BAD Spanish...because I took French in high school and they are in no way the same thing. I told one kid I was "soup" but I meant to say "hot". Then in October I went to Mexico City and did the exact same thing but with different people. In two days I'm heading out on a new adventure (I'll let you know more about it when I get back) and here's what I'm learning in all this following Jesus:

• I'm learning that when He says "seek Me first and with your whole heart" it's because He's the only true love in this life and my heart is so very desperate to be loved.


• I'm learning that people are no substitute for God because they can't love unconditionally and unfailingly even when they mean to. And I only love people well when my heart is safe in His hands.


• I'm learning that when God told Martha that Mary had chosen the best thing and it wouldn't be taken from her (Luke 10:38-42), He meant that she had chosen Him and that knowing Him is better than anything the world has to offer.


• And I'm learning that a life spent in the arms of the One who loves me most is so much better than anything I can force on my own.