backstroke ~~~ ~ more thoughts on the swim ...

a wise man once said
very wisely
that to follow him
meant everything

and required
my
everything

i'm trying to follow that very man

selah .............................

we are so befuddled by life here
in the now
caught up
sucked in

that we miss
the life we're supposed to be in
as in
as in new life
as in new creation
as in new vision
as in new priorities
as in new motivations
as in new intentions
as in new eyes
as in new heart
as in new spirit
as in .....
as in life in jesus
...

jesus recognized that early on in his ministry
and john the gospeler
spells that out in the early chapters

nicodemas the pharisee
who really should have known better
the woman at the well the samaritan
who had no earthly idea who she was dealing with
until he told her her life story

jesus wants us to move off the earth-level
up
into the spiritual
where my spirit
submits to his spirit
and my spirit regulates the rest of me

nicodemas was stuck in childbirth
and the woman in water-ing ...

jesus spoke of newbirth
living water

.... .

point is
my perspective is to be primarily
spiritual
not earthal

when God is moving
in my life
and he opens a door
and draws me to it
that is my command ...
"leave 'it'
follow me"
... period
end of story

until the time
he changes his mind
and mine
and slams the door shut
i am
in
all
of me
all i got
everything
...
that's my desire
for my desire
i want to want that more than anything

more than mother and father
more than children
more than family
and friends
and money
and whateveritisyouwantoadd ...

i
am
in

done deal

if you see me backing off that
hit me up
knock some sense into me
remind me of where i was headed
encourage me to keep on
to goforit
to not give in or up or out

encourage me
please ...
don't fight me on it ...
join me in it

selah ..~

i just watched a most horrible video
part of it anyway
of a roman catholic priest and 2 others
being beheaded
live
by jihadists in syria
june 23
..
i suggest strongly that you don't watch it

it is sobering
it is scary
it is hateful
it is bloody and violent
it is a matter of faith
primarily

........................................................................................
sobering

because one day
i
could be asked
to do
the very same thing

you ever thought of that ........ ... ... . ..  . . . . ... .. .

you better

i want to
humbly
look into
the eyes
of
jesus
and hear him
whisper
sweet something in my ear
like
welcome
friend

i want that

regardless
of the cost

he said
“if anyone wants to come with me
he must deny himself,
take up his cross daily,
and follow me"

i don't know i'm there
yet
in fact
i ain't

but you know what .....

i'm trying

i'm trying

shalom