Being Known

This week at Greek IV we talked about the woman at the well and one of the things we discussed was how everyone has a longing to be known and accepted. And to the Samaritan woman at the well that is exactly what Jesus did he knew all of her crap and told her about it, but still accepted who she was and loved her. We discussed how that essential is what everyone wants. We're all really good at putting on a face and acting like we have it all together to the majority of the world, but what we really want is someone to actually get to know us and see all our crap and be ok with it and love us. If you're lucky you get that in your close friends. They are the people you can take out your frustrations, hurts, etc. but they will still always be by your side loving you no matter what. Even if you don't have that with friends it's so awesome to know that Jesus is there and no matter what you do or don't do he already knows and he is always there waiting to love you. I just love that and I love looking at Bible stories with new groups of people so that you get to see it through different eyes and pick up on different things.

We also watched this modern day interpretation of the woman at the well which was really awesome.

Through this discussion someone shared a poem that someone else had given her that was really good so I thought I'd share it on here (to the 3 people that read this blog). The author is unknown as far as we know, but it's still a really good and an awesome reminder of all of the amazing plans God has for you and how much he longs for you to be satisfied in him before you look other places.

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,
To have a deep soul relationship with another,
To be loved thoroughly and exclusively.

But to a Christian, God says, "No, not until you are satisfied,
Fulfilled and content with being loved by me alone,
With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me.
With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with me alone.

Discovering that only in me is your satisfaction to be found,
Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship,
That I have planned for you.

You will never be united to another
Until you are united with me.
Exclusive of anyone or anything else. Exclusive of any other desires or longings.
I want you to stop planning, to stop wishing, and allow me to give you
The most thrilling plan existing . . . one you cannot imagine.
I want you to have the best.

Please allow me to bring it to you.
You just keep watching me, expecting the greatest things.
Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am.
Keep listening and learning the things that I tell you.
Just wait, that’s all.

Don’t be anxious, don’t worry
Don’t look around at things others have gotten
Or that I have given them
Don’t look around at the things you think you want,
Just keep looking off and away up to me,
Or you’ll miss what I want to show you.
And then, when you’re ready, I’ll surprise you with a love
Far more wonderful than you could dream of.
You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready,
I am working even at this moment
To have both of you ready at the same time.
Until you are both satisfied exclusively with me
And the life I’ve prepared for you,
You won’t be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me.
And this is perfect love.

And, dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love.
I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with me.
And to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union
Of beauty, perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.
Know that I love you utterly.
For I am God. Believe it and be satisfied.