Who is Jesus to me?

A Ukrainian missionary to Armenia preached from this passage a few weeks ago:  "'But what about you?' he asked.  'Who do you say I am?'  Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.'" (Matthew 16:15-16)  During his sermon, I wrote the following:  "'Who do you say I am?'  This is one of the most important questions in my life.  If I answer just as Peter did, "You are the Messiah," everything I say and do should be a reflection of this belief.

Many of the folks in my neighborhood, whether we have met personally or not, know there is an American believer living in "that" apartment on the 3rd floor.  They know this because "that" apartment has been home to 2 other families over the past 18 years that spread the aroma of Christ throughout this neighborhood by living in light of the Truth of who Jesus is!  

There are times when I'm walking my Shadow (my OLD dog) around the building, and a stranger will start a conversation, eventually coming around to knowing one of the kids who lived in this apartment, or their parents - remembering them even 10 or 15 years later.  The memories shared have always been positive, a reminder of the lasting impact lives reflecting Christ has on the hearts and minds of every person we encounter.  

For me, this reminder brings with it a deeper conviction that I must live my life daily before those around me in a way that exemplifies my faith in Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.  I want them to see Jesus, to desire Jesus, to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  May my life be a reflection of Him, even in the mundane, everyday tasks of life this day in my neighborhood, in this city, wherever He may lead me.

Gazing upon my Jesus!

Since returning to Kharkov in January, I've been using a book written by a friend to "jumpstart" my day - "Free to Thrive" by Andrea Lennon.  Today's scripture was from Psalm 25:15: "My eyes are ever on The Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare."

Andrea defined gaze as fixing my eyes in a steady intent, to look often with eagerness and studious attention.

As I "fixed my eyes" on Jesus this morning, I was filled with a renewed determination to seek The Lord regardless of the outside "noise" in my day.

Jesus....I need to see not only your eyes, but your heart!  I MUST know you....yet even as I think I am chasing after you, you are waiting with open arms right here for me.  I choose to embrace you, Jesus....to embrace you, Father.....to allow the beat of your heart to fill my ears, my mind, my heart - so that I will walk each and every step this day not as a zombie - mindlessly and mechanically following your will -  but as a child dancing after her father.....following the path you have placed my feet upon.....inhaling the sweet aroma of the Spirit as I run....running expectantly toward  the "prize" which is YOU, waiting with arms when I "seek and find" YOU!

"This is the air I breathe.....this is the air I breathe…..

your holy presence, living in me!"

This is my daily bread...........This is my daily bread

Your very word......................Spoken to me

And I ... I'm desperate for you.........And I ... I'm lost without you