Jesus is Enough?

I didn’t grow up going to Sunday school. But I always hear people who did, talk about flannel felt board Jesus, and how every answer to every question was always Jesus. But then at some point you have to grow out of the warm fuzzy Jesus mentality, and you need to mature past ‘Jesus’ being the answer for every question. Sure maybe when you were a child you could get away with Jesus being the answer for everything, but as you become more educated and sophisticated life’s questions and answers do to. Since your responsibilities have grown, and life itself is more complicated, the simple ‘Jesus’ answer will no longer cut it. It’s like you grow up and you see something more is required.

Right?

I guess I am just not so sure that maturity in life involves more sophisticated answers, and more complex solutions. What if maturity looks more like simplicity? Maybe I am naive and young (which I am), but for me growth has meant becoming more like a child again. I mean according to Jesus it’s the children whom the Kingdom of belongs to, right? And supposedly we have to in some way receive the Kingdom of God like little children or we never enter the Kingdom of God.

It sounds over simplistic, but Jesus is the answer. Jesus is all. Jesus is enough.

Maybe I am just not that sophisticated of a person, maybe I am over simplifying, but for me it’s ‘Christ plus nothing,’ He is everything and He is the answer. Or at least that’s what I am growing to understand, and that is the reality I am learning to live by.

Ps. I wonder those children on Jesus’ lap would have explained Jesus? Warm and fuzzy? Maybe they would use a flannel graph…if they had one.

Being Daddy

I'm flying home from our weekend Dare 2 Share conference, and I’m just thinking about my baby girl.  

Being a daddy has radically changed my life.  And the fact that I am daddy of a girl has been a game changer.  

I feel it has brought a tenderness into my heart that I never thought possible.

Being gone I sometimes close my eyes and picture laying on the living room floor with my baby girl in my arms, cuddling and laughing, and making all sorts of ridiculous baby noises.  It’s funny what I do for even just a smile.

This has only caused me to be more and more wrecked (in the best way) by thoughts of how much more God loves us.  We are His children, and His love is perfect.  We are on His mind. He is not away on some trip, or separated by some other responsibility, He is always there, fully available, and waiting for us to enjoy the love He has for us. 

As we experience this radical love of God, it should cause us to want go share His love with the world!

2 Corinthians 5:14,15 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you an Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”