"GUT" IS A FUNNY WORD

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

(I John 2:6)

Usually when my belly is rumbling, it's saying, Leah, I want some peanut butter, please. (It's a very polite belly.) And this morning, when my belly said, Good morning, Leah, I would love some coffee with peanut butter toast, I listened.

But around 11:20 this morning, during the worship service at Madison, my gut was just churning with a hunger that had nothing to with peanut butter or physical need. It had everything to do with the truth I started this post off with: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Sometimes seeking God's will is a test-and-wait-and-see-and-turn-around-and-try-again thing, which you do while slogging through a thick fog. And then sometimes God just hits you with a truth—maybe because you were ready for it, maybe because you made your heart available for it, or maybe because he just wanted you to listen up right then and there.

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

This morning was one of those clear-cut truth mornings for me. And by clear-cut truth, I mean it landed like a fireball in my belly, a meteor shower maybe, and worked its way into something straight-up practical while Pastor Dave preached.

It was awesome.

I've got all these crazy dreams about bringing fingerpaint to kids in the Ukraine, and helping the Roma women provide for themselves and their families, and waging a war of love against all kinds of apathy and discrimination and hate going on around world. The cool thing is, it's possible.

When I die to myself, just let fistfuls of selfish and insecure and stupid stuff go, just let God really have his say and way with whatever I've got, these dreams get real. All of a sudden, they're not far away somethings, but up-close, highly-focused callings. They're empowered by the only one who's got the power to ignite those dreams into a big blazing reality. They're things I feel burning in my gut each day I wake up. And as long as I'm still waking up (praise God), I will burn for that which God requires of and desires for me.

Whoever claims.

I claim the just mercy of Christ, I will proclaim his death until he comes, and I must walk in the way of life.

Mmhmm.