This photo was taken just yesterday (Saturday 9Dec) down in the Los Angeles area.  Andrew’s INSIGHT group went to a Buddhist temple as part of their study of world religions.  You can see the temple in the background, a Buddha statue, and our son –we’ll let you guess which one is Andrew! 

"Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said,

‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.’" -Mark 8:34 (NLT)

Following Jesus may take you to some places you’d never expect.  It will take you away from selfishness.  It may take you away from current friends and family; the familiar; the comfortable.  Following Him will lead you on a path of self-denial, but I’ve found the less of me and the more of Jesus I have –the more at peace I am.

I like to picture following Jesus as a step-by-step, daily, even moment-by-moment ongoing conversation with Him.  Sometimes I listen, sometimes I speak; sometimes it’s just enough to know He is with me –that we are walking together on the road of life.

Have you ever had the experience of talking with someone, but when you look at their face and their body language, you know that they are ’somewhere else?’  "Maybe they are bored with me," you think.  Or maybe they’ve just realized something they had forgotten.   Regardless, there’s a disconnect in the communication, maybe even in the relationship a little bit.

I’m still tempted by the things that distract me from Jesus.  But I’m finding as I follow Him that by His side is the place I really want to be.

He’s been talking to me about ‘trust’ these days.  Will I trust Him with the changes in our lives?  Will I trust Him with the days ahead?  Will I follow Him and trust Him, even though I can’t always see into the future?  In my daily reading this week, the I believe that the Holy Spirit pointed these verses out to me: 

"Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.   He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises."  Romans 4:20-21 (NLT)

I’m determined to follow fully, absolutely convinced that He is able lead down the road ahead.