Knowing About Jesus vs. Knowing Jesus

I have been learning to know Jesus for about 15 years now. It seems to be a common misconception that knowing about Him = knowing Him. This is opposite of what Jesus tells us in His word. Studying the Bible, it becomes clear that He desires a relationship with us. A friendship is what He offers. How do we build relationships with friends? By spending time with them, asking questions, sharing your hearts. That is available to us. All of us.

It doesn’t matter what we have done or who we think we are. Our backgrounds is irrelevant. They do not impress Jesus. He just wants whatever we have to offer, even if it is broken, ugly, or miniscule. As the relationship grows, our faith strengthens. It is an amazing experience. Defining. He is waiting for you. Wooing you. Yesterday He wooed me to Him on a sleepy, painful morning. Color is a gift to me, and He knows it.

“So glad you are up Christa…come sit with me.”

Psalms 143:8

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift my soul.

I read Joanna Weaver’s words today in Having a Mary Heart In A Martha World. She shares, “Jesus goes out of his way to prepare my heart to listen and learn. He waits for the moment I’m most ready to obey. And while I can still refuse him at any time, his rebuke is gentle. It woos me at the same time it disarms me, making me willing and open and ready to change.”

He is calling us to stop learning about him and start relating to Him. Today. It is the best investment of time we can make. The world will demand we do its tasks, but the quiet moments are where we build up our spiritual muscles. We relax, with our friend Jesus, and learn that our worship meets his wooing. In that connection, dynamic living is sparked.

31 Days Of Decorating With (Re) Purpose- Chalkboard Frame, Part Two

If you missed the first part of creating our chalkboard frame, click here.  You can see where we picked up by simply painting the pressed board (what the print was adhered to) with 2 coats of chalkboard paint. Make sure to let it dry completely before putting this piece back in the frame to avoid scratches.

Now the fun part…where to use this? A few ideas: in the kitchen with the day’s menu, or a welcome sign for company out on the porch. A friend does this beautifully with a display board and it is warm and inviting. I was inspired by a book we are reading, Having A Mary Heart In A Martha World by Joanna Weaver, to create a quiet space for prayer. Here is my interpretation using a quiet bedroom corner I included this with a few frames holding old calendar prints to help me focus.

I set it up right next to my “chair”. I bought it used from a friend over a decade ago, and it has travelled many places with us. This is my go to place.  Scripture can be changed frequently to draw my eye upward. This chalkboard has now become an important focal point, it has purpose.