Shaking our groove thang

I am sitting in the living room next to my grandpa and with my uncle, we're jamming to "Shake Your Groove Thing"
We've been listening to music for the past hour.
First George Jones, Then Patty Loveless, then we turned the radio on,
and now we've been listening to the oldies.
Grandpa is glued to his bed, but my goodness, can he still dance!!!
He's been shaking his legs, and dancing, raising his hand, tapping his legs to the beat.
It's been such a joy listening to him sing and watching him dance.
My grandpa even in his old age still knows how to LIVE life regardless of circumstances.
I want to be like my grandpa when I grow up.
He is amazing and I love him so much.

I laid next to him for a while and massaged his balding head.
My grandpa is so handsome!
I am so blessed to have him in my life, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than with him right now.

9 weeks and some odd days

These past two months have been very humbling for me. I've discovered more things about myself than I ever thought I would in an entire lifetime.

During the season of Lent, as I was preparing my heart for the resurrection of Jesus Christ with my church family, I went through a daily devotional, which started each day and ended each day with the same structure and prayers (different scriptures however each day). Every evening I would pray this line "Show me the truth about myself". Little did I know that it wouldn't just be a prayer that would be answered momentarily so I might be able to confess to Lord my need for him, but that simple prayer has become a means of shaping who I am daily...with almost every breath I breath now.

Everyday now I am faced with the truth, of myself, and the truth of God's love not just for myself, but every person I know and meet, and see.

At this moment I am ready to burst into tears at the thought of how much truth has been revealed in my life these past 9 weeks since Lent began, and now it's the Easter Season according to the church calendar, and only a week away from the Ascension Day, the day Jesus went to heaven, promising his Disciples that he will never leave them, and sending them out to do his work, and filling them with His Spirit, I find myself anxious, in a good way, awaiting this time of Pentecost.

I finally realize that I don't have everything figured out, and I really don't think I ever will. All I know is that I want to love people, the way God has loved me these past 9 weeks.

I went from denial, to doubt, to complete and total contemplation of apostasy!

I was Peter who denied Christ, I was disobedient Moses, I was Thomas who doubted and wanted proof, I was Judas who wanted money more than the bread of life, I was Jacob who wrestled with God. I was exactly who I didn't want to be, and never wanted to admit I would be, but in the midst of all my wreckage, sin, brokenness, Love came down and rescued me. God showed me mercy and grace, and continues to even more than ever because I finally realize how much he is all I need.

I am so grateful that I'm learning to die to myself and the person that I was, that Christ is emptying me out, so that there is room for him, room for his love so that I can share it with everyone I see.

I think I am beginning to understand what it means to die and rise in Christ. All I know is I am done talking about and dreaming of the person I wish I was, and I am so ready to live in the truth of who I am, who God has created me to be and the fullness of my identity in Jesus Christ.

I anticipate greatly the upcoming events in God's story! I'm reminded once again that I don't need to prove anything, just to love the hell out of everyone I meet as he increases and I decrease.

Thanks God for continuously showing me the truth about myself, it hurts only for a short while, but it's not so bad now that I know how much you love me.

<3

This probably won't make sense...I just need to get it off my chest.

Sometimes I wish I could just write these extraordinary blogs that will change people's lives forever, or at least mess with their brain, but it's not who I am.

Sometimes I really want to write music that will stir something new in someone's heart and mind, help them think or feel something they haven't before, but I don't think I will.

Sometimes I really want to be successful, I mean failures are welcome, but in mostly everything I do success and accomplishment. You know some people just have a gift for casting vision, and helping others buy into what they are doing, But I just don't and can't seem to do it.

Sometimes I really want to be very like-able. You know the person everyone wants to be around, the one who get's invited to many dinners, and parties, and events, but deep down inside if I were to ever be that person, I'd hate myself cause I'd end of being even more fake than I already am, and I can't really handle being someone I'm not.

Sometimes I wish I was more intelligent, be able to speak my mind clearly, and not stumble over my words, stutter and get nervous because I can't think straight when I am in front of people. I don't think I'll ever be good at that.

Sometimes I wish people would laugh with me more, because sometimes it's all I want to do, it helps me feel better, but I get afraid that if I laugh to much people will think I am to silly.

Sometimes I want to go back to college, just so I can say I an expert in something. But in all reality I get overwhelmed with finances and the ability to actually get through academically. Sometimes I want it more just to shut people up.

Sometimes I don't want to grow up because I like to see the world from a simpler perspective, trust everyone I meet, love them for who they are, and keep dreaming,

But then I get hurt, and I get discouraged, and then I don't want to give anything of myself anymore.

Sometimes I want to control everything in my life because if I do I feel like I can accomplish more on my own.

Sometimes when I see all the things I wanna be, and the things I want to try to accomplish, I realize how selfish I am and how fruitless this all is... I only want to be and do those things because I feel like I have something to prove...because there is so much I can do on my own, why not do them??

How foolish am I?

None of this will get me anywhere, none of this will make me happy. And life isn't about me getting what I want. My identity can never be found in those things.

I am weak, pathetic... I try so hard to find my identity in myself, and what I do :-(

But I know for certain I am loved by God.

Despite all the things I am and I am not,

this is what I can say,

that this is what I want despite all my "sometimes"...

John 15

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you,that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Yeah.

Jesus, I will find myself IN YOU.

thanks.