The Monkey Business Illusion

Times in France are wonderful. Following up that incredible run the Lord has slowly stirred things up in the midst of this place. I always have a hard time understanding what is it that makes this place ( Europe) so unique to me or although i hate the word "spiritual".

Yesterday while cruising through the internet on my computer box i found this article and it was about how we as humans are unaware of a lot of things around us. Essentially through research and a clever video this scientist man did an experiment and the outcome showed that because you are busy looking for something else you miss a giant gorilla passing across the room...crazy. The result of the experiment clearly showed how little we notice. A second video was made and its even crazier how much we miss when we think we know what we are looking for ( the gorilla ). This video made me somewhat upset... in my head i claimed " i want to see the gorilla , i dont want to miss the gorilla in the room!!".

But the reality is that we all miss the gorilla in the room. This place is not more spiritual or closer to a place where God dwells. I believe here , it is just a little easier to spot the gorilla. I have not used a cell phone in the last 11 days , i havent constantly logged on to facebook and my ipod has been used to the sole purpose of listening to music about Jesus. I also am not in college, worrying about grades, assignments, being entertained, television and all that america offers me ( not a negative note ). Here things are simpler. I have replaced tv for prayer on the beach , cell phone texting to talking about Gods faithfulness , video games for actual exercise like running by the ocean. Life isnt more spiritual here , it is just simply more noticeable. It is easier to notice life . I wondered then if what we call our daily routines are simply a parallel image to that video, that we decide to keep counting how many bounces are being done and we watch the white players move back and forward and eventually we miss it.... we miss the big thing .... we miss the big picture and the big picture here folks is Jesus. Instantly that thought i had in my head earlier was  re-phrased , this time louder and a little more desperate
" I DONT WANT TO MISS JESUS IN THE ROOM!!!"

I kept rewinding the video before the end so i could know what i had missed. I watched it a couple of times just so i could absorb everything , so i could pick up all the elements i had missed, what had changed or when exactly it happened. I wanted to know how to spot the gorilla and everything else around it. Much alike walking with Christ it takes practice... it will take practice to know the things of Him and all that he has to offer. I have been learning that Jesus in His never ending glory is more than a bible and a poor prayer ... He is everything. Jesus came and lived and died not that we can be short sighted of the life that He has for us , He came to give us life to the full!! Life in everything with Him. God is more than a gorilla in the room , he is everything , he is life to the full , he is all the elements in that room and we are missing it... i dont want to miss it. I want to embrace all that the creator has made ... i dont want these things to go un-noticed. I want to see what Abba has made for me and delight in it.


Jesus let me see.   

         

Running fire

It has been quite a couple of busy days here in the south of France. Yet the Lord is sure to not take a vacation... As i mentioned before in the blog coming home always seems to bring peace and with peace comes clarity. The holidays or vacations present a certain challenge...it is quite easy to delight in the small pleasures of being on a break such as sleeping late, eating bunches,or just splurging in all aspects of life. Which brings me to think about my initial point, that our Creator knows little about the concept of taking a break...  God created the universe ( just about everything we physically know) only rested for a day ; the perfect conception of mankind and matter and a days rest was his only known break. Jesus was a pretty busy character to , he kept going from place to place and always with purpose. Side note to all this, i always wondered what kind of sandals jesus would wear today, or how many sandals he burned out because he walked so much. Coming back to the subject... our God is a god of purpose and intent, no man is left behind, he is faithful. Gods faithfulness is only limited by our own unfaithfulness and unbelief that he is indeed : faithful. Gods faithfulness never rests... and as it never rests it met me today here , in my place of rest, i may not have been looking for it but He was sure to stir a fire in my heart.

For more than perfect the day was something weird in me was stirring , i describe it as "something was with me or in me", this feeling that literally something is over your soul, not necessarily a bad feeling but that enables your ability to function, to think , to feel. Late in the afternoon Lauren proposed the idea of going for a jog. Feeling the way i was feeling i was highly opposed or simply just stubborn to get mooving. I ended up strapping some shoes and going at the last second and the outcome was unpredictable. I decided to listen to some music ( worship) while running so i strapped my ipod. As soon as the first notes hit a sudden energy overcame me , i prayed, i prayed that God in this time could deliver me of this "funky" feeling, that he could speak with me,  the first 3 minutes were of light jogging as i stared at a beautiful sunset...and then something kicked. Coming back a couple of hours in the day i was sitting at home  and watched a video about africa and mission http://vimeo.com/9071435. To fully understand this story know that my heart has had a desire to go speak the hope and glory of the good news of our lord jesus over that land... my heart once burned for africa, that fire slowly burned out with time. As the song played i was reminded of that video i had watched earlier ... of this calling to obey, to believe and go despite of our fears, about how much my heart craves the adventure of the unknown and dangerous gospel preaching. I was reminded of Jesus love for the broken in Africa, my heart burned again for them, as i ran the words of the video " who is going to love us" heavily resounded in my heart. When the worship song reached its chorus i found myself sprinting... full on power blasting through the sidewalk... a fire was burning in me. I wanted to run to Jesus... i wanted to run to where he will have me by his presence, i wanted to be free from all things and right then just go go go,  i wanted to be with abba. I never ran like i ran today... i held my hands in worship as i ran... jesus was running with me , working with me , speaking to me at every step. He told me how he loves me , how he loves those people in africa and if i wanted i could be the feet that carry the good news but that he loves me no matter what, He told me how he is faithful over all things like my family, relationships, comfort or even my own life. Jesus ran by my side, he even gave me push to run a little faster...

I want to run with Him... i want to run to Him. So today , tonight a heavy heart and a joyous heart is with me for i know He is at work as i ask  hard question like "where do you want me to run that i may find you?". I sure dont know where the Lord has his path written for me but i certainly look forward to reveal my love in faithfulness to His calling, its the least i can do for my Jesus.

So Jesus i am willing to go, please show me the way....

Europa day 1-2?

"I am home..."

At the arrival at the airport there was almost a childlike excitement as i glanced through the security doors and saw my dad.  Daddy was waiting at the door for me to come home. There is so much joy when you fly 24 hours and u remember the purpose of why you went through all that trouble... to me it is to get home to the ones i love , to find my resting place. I am very blessed to have this ; a loving home , a physical place to rest my soul. I think of the lyrics to the needtobreathe song " come lay your burdens down...come", to me home this is the place. It has been quite the adventure the past months and now i get to come home and i get to rest and lay my burdens down...no worries about the future, no appointments, concerns, duties.... i come to rest.
It has been a fun 24 hours and dramatic 24 hours due to late flights, British accents and mostly a tad of bad luck but we certainly made it. The journey continues to be interesting when you come to add the jet lag factor and im writting this blog at 5 in the morning local time...boy oh boy.
So tomorow or today or yesterday for those in texas the summer holidays will begin for me, the plan is simple for these 10 days by a routine i can only exemplify by a list.

-Food
-Exploring
-Beach
-More food
-More exploring
-Napping
-Snacking on french food
-Running
-Reading lots of books
-Eating while reading

that is the Mediterranean lifestyle diet... and i plan to practice it religiously.
And since this is 5 in the morning i will attempt to go to sleep and leave this as short and sweet.

( im here)

Europa

Today we leave to europe. hopefully ill get back to blogging again !
today i go to my place of rest... home. Thank you Jesus .