I'm learning....are you?

I have been learning so much this summer and God has been patiently and lovingly revealing lots of things in my life, that I should've been blogging through the whole summer.  Alas...here I am, end of July, blogging. Better late than never. Oh, and blogging is really more for me anyways, so if you're reading this, I hope you gleam something from it, I have been...

God has impeccable, perfect timing-and somehow that idea always shocks me.  Its like He has to do the same things over and over (throughout history and in my life), and everytime I go, "ohhhh, You were there all along!"  What causes that? Why do I doubt when I've seen so much evidence of His grace, His love, His presence?

I think it has to do with the same reason I focus on the negative... or I judge people...or I don't get involved with certain things...or I'm unforgiving...

Notice I used the word "I" a lot?  Maybe its not that God isn't there...maybe its that we are not using our eyes to SEE! Our eyes and our minds get so focused on things that are unimportant or contrary to what we should be focused on.  (i'm going to move from "I" to "we" now k?)

Why aren't we getting more involved at church or invest in not-so-easy friendships? Why is it easier to sit and play video games or watch endless seasons of Lost, then to love people? Is it because our eyes see our wants and our needs rather than reacting to the INFINITE amount of grace and love that God has and is pouring out on us constantly.  That love deserves a response....but WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH IT?!?! If God COMPLETELY poured Himself out for us, shouldn't that be our grateful response to Him? Earlier today I was thinking that, if we've decided we are Jesus-followers, then we should be in FULL TIME ministry (no matter our occupation).  Our eyes should be constantly fixed on the goal.  Our focus should be on forgiving as God forgave us, serving as Jesus selflessly and humbly served us! Yet, here we are, getting stuck in ruts where we complain about where we are in life.  HELLLLOOOOO!  Wow, what am I doing? Who am I loving? And am I allowing God to transform me BY OPENING UP MY EYES to what life really is about?!

ok, I just got really passionate.  But, I'm admitting to you that I fall into traps constantly where I close my eyes.  Can we just, as a generation, strive with everything we are, to open our eyes to the NEEDS around us?

I'm telling you, God's plan for your life involves the person you're talking to right now, or the person across the office...or the PEOPLE down the street, or that are sitting alone at church...AND the people in Africa without food....all. of. the.above. Lets start loving.  That's God's plan, right?

phew. i've learned much more. so...more later.

love. peace. JOYYYYYYYYYY. (its in there)

tor