What Really Matters...

I rejoice in the awareness that the love of God is outside my circumstances. No matter what is going on in life. No matter where I am at. No matter what I have done.... God loves me. I make mistakes. I hope I fail forward and learn the lesson in the failure but God still unconditionally, irrevocably loves me. 

Jesus’ disciples are a great example. They seem like my kind of people. They were working class people, sinners, a brotherhood, and — well, let’s just say they were keeping it real. I love how they could be so teachable one moment, and then the next moment they were pulling Jesus aside to ask for special recognition and honor, for their definition of blessing.

“That's awesome Jesus. Now, back to me.” (See Mark 10:33–37.)

But aren’t we just the same? We tend to nod and say “yeah, yeah” to so many of the most important things He wants to tell us. Then, as quickly as possible, we try to refocus the conversation on “what really matters”: our own wants and desires. 

Jesus is so loving, so warmhearted and tender. He never forces anything on us. Instead I imagine him kindly saying: “Maybe if you feel like it, Janet, or feel led, or feel called, would you consider seeing things from My perspective, possibly looking just a teeny bit past your own? Only if that feels right to you while you’re having your moment. 

Are you reacting to your circumstances today or looking past them to God's love surrounding you, embracing you, protecting you, strengthening you and most importantly forgiving you, once again. Imagine if we loved, forgave and embraced people in the same manner. What a great model to emulate. Nobody's perfect, but If strive to do this a majority of the time we are way ahead of the hater's, naysayers and critics and have enriched our own lives and modeled a higher level of living to those we serve.