J - Jesus Looking Heart

The first time I heard the phrase “Jesus looking heart” was at the Vineyard in Cloquet, MN. This phrase was spoken by the (awesome) pastor, Kris Sauter, and if you attend the Cloquet Vineyard, you will also hear Kris talk about the “good and beautiful life”. Both of these phrases have stuck with me since I first heard them, and I think it’s because I strive to have both of those things. I have a pretty firm grasp on what it means to live a “good and beautiful life”, but I must admit that I’m not 100% sure how Kris would define having a “Jesus Looking Heart”…Kris, in the small chance that you’re reading this, feel free to drop the definition in the comments. ;) I’ve always said that I want to live a life that Jesus would be proud of, and I think that that’s part of what it means to have a Jesus looking heart; to live your life asking “WWJD?” before speaking and/or acting, and to strive to have a heart like Jesus’.

I strive to have a Jesus looking heart, but I’ll be the first to admit that I fall short of that goal every single day. Sometimes I speak and act without thinking. Sometimes I only think about myself and what I want, or do things that are in my best interest without thinking of others. Sometimes I lose my patience. Sometimes I can be mean. The list goes on, and while I may not be perfect (newsflash: no one is), I can say that I try my best to be conscious of, and correct, my shortcomings. I do my best to be a happy, shining ray of light to others in this (often) dark and dismal world. With the increasing amount of hatred spreading across the world, I think we could all strive to be a little more like Jesus. Even if you don’t believe in God or Jesus, you can still strive to embody the characteristics that Jesus had.  

Generally speaking, Jesus was…

Loving

Caring

Selfless

Accepting

Forgiving

Patient

Disciplined

A healer

A teacher

A friend

This list of characteristics could definitely be extended, and I would like to challenge you to extend your own list of positive characteristics! Even the smallest positive action can make a difference in someone’s life. No, you alone are not going to change the entire world, but you can show the people you encounter every day that there is still hope and happiness in this world by letting your own ray of sunshine shine bright wherever you go. All it takes is a spark.

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” –Desmond Tutu

“There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.” –Bram Stoker

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” –Martin Luther King Jr.