Saturday evening found me conversing with a friend over a few different topics... but one specifically that my heart and mind resonated with was how G-d has called each of us to bring His Love to others. Something I've struggled with over the years is confidence in myself because of Christ; and recently others have encouraged me in such ways in this area... my heart swells with the wonder of G-d's timing. "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which G-d has prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)

What is it that He's specifically hand-picked, created me to do? That is what I wonder. At this moment in life... I know that G-d calls us- urges us- to be (a little) like Him.
Yesterday morning- Sunday morning- confirmation after confirmation occurred. As we turned over the pages in Luke 19, reading the story of Zacchaeus, our pastor challenged us with the same question I've recently been asking myself every day: how I am truly different now that I am Christ's daughter? Because... life is now about having Jesus in my heart... and living each moment and breath with that knowledge. And following after Jesus, pursuing His kingdom, seeking to grow in Him... gives us a standard we know we can't attain, but for a reason going beyond ourselves, we try.
The wonderful thing about Zacchaeus, I realized yesterday, was that Jesus in his life began to change things almost immediately. What mattered most, he gave away.

It's easy for me to become trapped in my own little world, with my emotions, ideas, longings, fancies... but what G-d has been bringing me to see lately, is that we have a world filled with hurt and heartache, beyond the idealized faces and success.

Friends... to know Jesus... is to love Jesus. Continuing on with that... to love Jesus... is to imitate and follow Him. We are each a story of a changed life, just as with Zacchaeus. In fact, Jesus tells us that He specifically came to us... to seek and save that which is lost. This is the core.

What is pulsating in my soul at this moment... what I woke up with on my heart in the early hours this morning... is this: G-d is much less concerned with how much we give or do than He is with our hearts. He has told us that, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." So if I treasure what He treasures- people- He can trust me with the resources needed to take His message to them. What looks impossible or even deadly... is simply me stepping out into the waves as I grasp His hand.

What are you here for... now that you know Jesus? He has modeled His mission.. and turned that over to you and I. To be like Him... we must live to seek and save. We must be willing to risk it all. Let's develop a genuine love and increasing concern for each individual. Let's pray to be a witness. Let's let that transformation take over our lives. "Jesus... become my Passion." 
 It's time for our mission to begin- let's venture together into the great unknown.

You call me out upon the waters
the great unknown- where feet may fail. 
And there I find You in the mystery... 

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
let me walk upon the waters- 
wherever You would call me. 
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, 
and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.