So, my summer looks very different from summers before. I'm currently living in Minneapolis, doing school work, nannying, leading a bible study, and soon enough will be doing some work with a shelter for abuse victims...and in between singing and playing guitar. My life is spuratic, random, and sometimes mundane. But honestly I love it. This is a glimpse into what real life looks like after college. Hard, at times, busy, monotonous but good.
I just got done leading bible study. In it we are doing Tim Keller's book 'Gospel in Life.' Honestly, I was apathetic towards doing this bible study at first and didn't think I'd have the time or joy to do it. However, it is giving me more joy than I could ask for. Tim Keller talks about our city in the first chapter and how important it is to reach out to them. He mentions that sometimes we need the city for our spiritual growth more than the city needs us. The city being anyone that is around you, that needs Jesus of course...So, the people around me are the kids I'm nannying, the girls I'm discipling, the parents I work for, the shelter, and of course Rodger...the old man who lives next door and loves to garden. These are the people God has given me to share Jesus with, these are the souls that are searching for something that only Jesus can fill and I must tell them and love them, for their joy AND my own. I was reading through John 15 the other day and though, these verses take forever to unpack I'm sure. Jesus taught my heart something.
in John 15:9-12 Jesus says this...
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Jesus tells us to abide in His love, so that we can obey His command (love one another...) so that HIS joy may be in us and our joy may be FULL.
When we reach out to the city around us, or simply the people Jesus has put in our sphere to disciple or evangelize to, our joy becomes FULL. He paid the ultimate sacrifice as He laid down His life for us and now He tells us to love others and lay down our lives for others also...for our own good and well being. Because true JOY is found in Jesus and in sharing His love with others around us...
I think I am going to talk to Rodger about his garden tomorrow...
