The “Don’t know it yet”

I like coffee shops. I like people in coffee shops. I watch them in a very non-creepy way. Each of them with their different stories and I wonder what they are thinking. I wonder what they are feeling. Some are smiling, some are sad, some are odd and some are blank. So I wonder. And I write on my journal what they stories might be. Usually I start with the outside and try to read what it says about the inside. My friend is about to join me for coffee so I’ll have to cont. later.

You see, I have this friend. I think he is one of my kindred-spirits. We really could be twins separated at birth. We have that same passionate blood running in our veins. He is a really awesome dude, brilliant in every way and obnoxiously talented. I think he sweats talent! He is one of those people one can talk about anything. So we brushed up on politics, culture, languages, love and people. Just very recently we both experienced literally the same emotional agony and got together to reminisce about how that’s going to affect us as people. Who will we become because of that? Would we be stronger because of it or would we be fearful?! Yes, we try to feed our idealistic cravings at times.

We discussed many options of possible outcomes and future do’s and dont’s. I will post them in another post. I promise you will die laughing! We sure did! And yes we cried some. Yep, he is cool like that. We laughed our heads off again at the insanity of our “brilliant” alternatives.
You see my friend is not a Christian and I have never met anyone who really gets what Christianity is all about like he does. I think it’s because he has a phenomenal understanding of who he is, especially the “wild and crazy” as he calls it. He is so comfortable in his own skin. I respect that about him. He has such a strong sense of goodness in his heart. It’s so rare in most of the Christians I know. I think I have learned more about Jesus from him than most of my Christian community.

I like my friend and I am grateful for our kindred-spirits and creative spiels. Every time before we depart I tell him “I think you know Jesus. You just don’t know that you know yet”. And he replies “only you can say that and make perfect sense”. So he always leaves with a confused, pensive look saying “till we meet again”. And he can’t wait to meet again so I can tell him about the Jesus in him. And he listens and wonders. Then he writes more songs trying to verbalize what’s in the inside of him searching for the “don’t know it yet” Jesus. I can’t wait for the day when the “don’t know it yet” is here and now!!! I think he will be a fine addittion to the body of Christ.

Love you all deeply!

P.S. : To all those wondering minds, He is just a friend nothing more:). In case you are still wondering, please contact your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you!

Location, location, location...

I got this e-mail from a friend. It reflects some stats of weekly food expenditure in some random countries. What is the first thing that comes to mind as soon as you finish reading it?

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide. Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina. Food expenditure for one week $341.98

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca. Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna. Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27

Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo. Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo. Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village. Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp. Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

Déjà Vu

It was cold a few nights ago. The tip of my little nose turned red as I walked from my car to the door. So, I decided to stay in. Changed in some comfy clothes and started to cook dinner. Yes, I can cook:). It turned out to be a night of my favorite things. Puccini was playing in the background, grabbed my cup of green tea (decaff of course). Don’t you just love antioxidants! I like to drink out of this one cup. It has a deep orange color with black interwoven lines and dots. It makes me feel all cozy, don’t know why.

I started reading some old journal entries. I am talking the good old days. I love writing because it helps me unwind and download my brain. I have discovered a lot about Jesus and myself through my own ramblings. Yes, I like to think about Him because I love Him. And over the years it has become “our special” treat. I can hear Him more clearly or loudly I should say when I write to Him. And the beauty of it all is that He writes back to me, not on paper but on my heart.

Some of the entries were long and detailed. Yes, you could say I was going in circles. So, I had to get another cup of tea. Others were short: “Dear God, I want to talk to you but I have to go. I am already running late. I promise I will write when I get back. I love you!” I wonder whether God grabbed a cup of green tea when He was reading the long entries:) I know He was smiling and shaking His head when He was reading the short ones. Probably saying: “Child of mine, what am I going to do with you”.

The timer went off. I realized my rosemary chicken & roasted potatoes were done.I love rosemary. And it smelled delicious, almost like mom’s. I was thinking about what I had read on my journals. I found a common theme. God makes NO mistakes! Today is His will for my life. It was like my heart caught up with my mind and voilà, déjà vu! God, very carefully, had orchestrated everything for His purposes and glory. I saw traces of His protection. Everything I was denied from Him in those entries was for my protection and discipline. He gave them back to me. And after He did, I didn't see my "want" anymore, only His radiant glory. Each time His blessings were better, fuller, more abundant than I ever dreamed. I saw how He longed to bless me if I only let Him. And that brought me to tears.

As I was eating my dinner, my soul feasted on the reality that my God makes NO mistakes! That satisfied my soul like no granted “want” ever could! I have tried other places, but the only place my soul finds rest is in His Will alone. My dear reader, if you were denied something you wanted, I pray that you would be excited and full of anticipation, just like a child at Christmas morning. I know that unwrapped gift will be PERFECT, because it will be His Will!

Live by faith not by sight. All God's promises are "Yes" in Christ!

Love you all deeply!