leave it at the door.

Ah! How in the world has over a month gone by without me posting one single thing?? Well, no more! I love writing too much to leave you all hanging...plus, I owe several chocolate recipes:-) They shall be forth coming, but not this night. Just gives you something to look forward to...for longer! Tonight, I have so many things flowing through my head and trying to capture just one fleeting thought seems impossible.

I've been thinking a lot these past few weeks of how, no matter what anyone says, no matter their denomination, the only thing that matters when you come down to it all, is Jesus. Just more and more and more of Him. Nothing else, not doctrines, or laws, or does and don'ts will get us one inch closer to Heaven. And one day when we stand before our King, what will we plead? Our doctrines? What we did and did not do? No! The ONLY thing we can plead is Jesus and Him crucified. I desire so much to pursue my Jesus with my whole heart...to love Him more and more with each passing day, for I know if I do this all else will fall perfectly into place. I know as sure as I know the sun will rise tomorrow morning, that He is faithful to those who follow after Him with all their hearts.

It's strange to me how we have this idea that if we don't go to a certain church or believe a certain something, we're somehow going to miss Christianity and at times, salvation. As if running after Jesus were not enough, as if by not believing that something, our whole relationship with Him matters not. What can we possibly be thinking? If there's one thing that I want those who read this blog to know, it's that I believe with my whole heart and soul that Jesus is all that matters! I don't care what church you go to, what day you worship on, what denomination you grew up in, and what doctrines you may hold to, if you truly focus 100% on Jesus Christ, read each verse of His Word with Him in mind, knowing that all of it points directly to Him, you will find what the Christian life is all about! He is faithful and will never leave His children without all that they need when they search for Him with all their hearts. This is a simple truth, it's not this gray area that we can't be sure about, it's rock solid truth! Though, we do try to over complicate it much of the time. Yet, it is simple! Praise His name, He is enough! This is a truth we should rejoice over and know like the beat of our hearts. He is enough!!!

Ah, but I can never seem to be filled enough, I'm always left wanting more of Him! It's one thing I pray I never stop wanting, one thing I never want to be to full of, this knowing Him more each day. I would be refined and tried by fire that I may know all that He would teach me. I would leave all that I have, all that I know, to know Him more. I would be so emptied of self, that when others meet me, they would not even remember my name, but walk away thinking only of Him. May I never desire attention for myself, that my works are noticed, that my thoughts are esteemed, but let me forever decrease that His name may increase through my life. Let there be a resounding echo through every corner of my small little world, and may that cry and echo be "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!"

So, this is what I come back to the blogging world with. Have you tasted? Have you caught a glimpse of His precious face? If not, leave your doctrines at the door and truly get to know Jesus. I assure you, He is worth leaving all you have been taught for...

To go deeper on this subject I'd recommend you listen to this amazing sermon:
http://www.ellerslie.com/Eric_Ludy_Sermons/Entries/2011/7/10_The_Ellerslie_Experiment.html