the mornings are beautiful here and it pours into the day. when i grab the moments before the real day begins to sit, strong mug of starbucks in hand, and focus myself in prayer, on the words of Jesus, on where i want my heart steadied.
today it anchored on luke. and the beatitudes. i was trying to make it to john, but jesus' words on the mount captured me, as they should i suppose.
"but i say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also, and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back..."
these words are exciting and revolutionary, until the taxi driver rips me off in the middle of the afternoon. then i'm not wanting to give anything except a few choice words...
and then i begin to remember my morning with the mount talk.
and just how offensive jesus' words really are. or really should be. loving enemies, offering more to those who take from us.
and i wonder if jesus ever got ripped off. did he bargain at the market for his bread and wine? he probably didn't let things like taxi drivers ripping him off cause his afternoon to spoil eh?
i see that i have yet so far to go in loving my enemies. in stepping into second place and putting others above myself. in giving past my abundance.
sarah prayed today that our hearts would literally burst within us out of love for jesus.
and i'm continuing to see how transition of living for myself to living a life focused around my savior is a great battle within.
its what will change my life. and the lives around me.
