As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19

I believe that the Lord has set me apart at this time to do a lot in me. He has pulled me away from life as usual for a reason. I was really encouraged as I listened to a sermon I have from a podcast. He said the bigger the bypass, the bigger the destiny. The Lord has been painting this picture about the heart and his kingdom over the past few months in my life. Over the past week he has been bluntly speaking to me about my heart in the books I read, in his word, and through others. In one book I read a little bit of it says: "The heart does not respond to principles and programs, it seeks not efficiency, but passion" - The sacred romance. As I began to really dig for as many scriptures I could find about the heart I remembered that my pastor back home is teaching about the heart as well. But the quote is so true, because we grow so weary of rules, regulations, and tradition. So many people everywhere are missing the passion that only Jesus Christ can give. Even Christians and we don't even recognize it. I see it in my heart too sometimes… somewhere along the way I have fallen to just doing this and that because it is the right thing to do and trying to steer clear of sin. Yes it's good to the right thing and not sin, but in the midst of it I wonder if I've missed the point because I forget that it's about the love relationship with the one who is madly in love with me. I obey him because I love him and I don't follow laws, but I follow His Spirit. It makes me think of the verse in Revelations 2:2-4 "I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love." I don't want to just live this life doing the right things and becoming spiritually dead, because I know Jesus offers life abundantly and since he is offering I am going to take it and run with it. I long to live this life with a passion for his name and to know the voice of my Shepherd more and more everyday.

The first day on the plane I spent time with the Lord and I came across the verse that says to make the most of every opportunity. It stuck out so much to me and has been ringing out loud and clear ever since. So what I am getting at is that I want to know that I am living this life of love that he has called me too. In loving the Lord my God with all my heart soul and mind and others as myself I want to go out in my everyday life with a passion for his name. I've guess I have really just been checking myself and asking the Lord to search my heart and my motives. I am here in Swaziland for The Kingdom. I want to make the most of every opportunity with the compassion that Jesus had. And this is Kingdom: speaking life into a people who are said to be wiped out by AIDS by 2050. Bringing hope to the hopeless and broken. It is so overwhelming to think about the devastating statistics of Aids. I could sit, wonder, and ask God why in the world did you bring me here? How am I suppose to make a difference? But the truth is God is still on the throne. The difference I make is speaking hope and life into the few I encounter and pouring into those precious children at the care point. If the body of Christ would step up to the plate and be the hands and feet of Jesus. That is what will matter in eternity is what was done for The Kingdom, not just some bible study, pew sitting, and keeping our noses stuck in our bible (all of the things are good, but what is the point if we don't take action in our communites and world?) So I beg you to examine your hearts.