the greatest of these is love...

2 years ago, I was driving Delilah across the state lines on the journey from Florida to Texas. For those of you who don't know who Delilah is, she is my girl. My 1974 Volkswagen Bus. (yes, a hippie bus...) She took the 20 hour trip in 4 days... That was 4 days of constant prayer, constant devotion with God, and 4 days of taking in the beauty of God's creation.

As I sat on this little highway in Louisiana, chugging along at 45 mph, I prayed to God that he would show me something. Nothing specific, but simply that God would speak directly to me. I had a closeness and intimacy that I had been seeking for quite some time, and I was ready for God to give me some direction. At dusk, I approached the end of the little country road to see a small church off in the distance. It looked like one of those tiny baptist churches that had been built in the 1920's, with rotting white boards, that holds 60 on a good Sunday. The church sign simply said "Do everything out of love". That hit me like a brick. I knew exactly what God was trying to tell me. I knew that the word "everything" needed some work..

Looooooovee. It's a tricky thing. Well at least for me. I have always felt like had a greater capacity for love. I sat with the kid who every one picked on at lunch, helped out the old lady down the street, and other stuff like that. Yet there is so much about it I didn't know! I feel like I had understood a false version of love. Maybe even a selfish version of love...

With that mission in mind I went back to school. How did I do? Well I thought about it... That's for sure. I can say I attempted, and I got a substantial amount of fruit from it. But I have defiantly NOT succeeded in my mission. I have tons of work to do. Motives, and consistency are still issues I have yet to resolve. If you all could pray for me as I continue to learn to unconditionally, like Jesus loves me. Oh yes, and I should mention.... I'm working on better understanding the depths of Gods love ;)

This is not how I thought my 2nd blog would go... but I'm glad I'm finally doing this online instead of in little books that I fill up and loose :p
In other news, I'm re-reading, and relearning some of the simple simple simple principles of God's word. A recent example is the story of the woman at the well. I did a bible study about 3 weeks ago, and the idea of living water has been on my mind ever since. Silly huh? I learned about that when I was like 6?!?! Now God is showing me something about it?? psh... (that's how I felt at first. Then I felt like an idiot for not taking the devotional seriously the first time)

Side note.. how annoying was it for our Sunday school teachers to have to answer questions like, "Does she not drink water anymore?" "I'm a Christian, can I stop drinking water now?"
Hahaha ohh 1st grade Sunday school. How do those teachers do it??

So for Dustin... Pray that I would better understand God's love, and that I would better understand some of the fundamental principles God has been RE-teaching me :)

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom


Dusty-