Following Jesus has been and is something I'm still trying to get better at. I've not had a hard time really ever hearing God's voice, it's just that He is generally asking me to do things I'm uncomfortable with. I suppose this shouldn't surprise me, because all of the things Jesus said during His ministry were pretty uncomfortable. I wrestle with the words He often whispers to me.
He is usually asking me to do something opposite of what I'd like to do. He's usually turning my reality upside-down. I don't like how that all feels...but obedience is good and disobedience is generally met with so much regret...I'd much rather make a fool of myself.
Tonight I was at Trader Joe's in Woodland Hills. The Malibu/Calabasas crew have to travel a distance for the opportunity to shop at TJ's or Whole Foods. I'm finding that the valley side of things offers better stores and more of the people I'm used to...more diversity and such.
Tonight I was walking into Trader Joe's and I saw Angelyne looking at some strawberries placed next to the entrance. I kind of inwardly smirked and thought "what a character". I am sort of fascinated and heartbroken over these Hollywood icons who are obscure and unique.
Angelyne drives a pink corvette and is often seen around Malibu with her assistant(?) who is a young guy about my age. It is said that Angelyne is 46...but I would add 10 or 2o to that number as I have looked at her closely.
Well, tonight I was walking through Trader Joes and Jesus started talking..."Will you please go invite Angelyne to Church tomorrow."
I pondered how awkward it would be to approach this semi-celebrity and invite her to church. I reasoned that I had a lot to get done and that I was probably making it all up in my head.
I couldn't shake the feeling. I had no way to really rationalize that Jesus would an alternate opinion other than that he would like than for Angelyne to come to church on Easter Sunday and get to know Him a bit.
I thought of how Angelyne is His child...His daughter...and He desparately loves her and even died for her. If my Father had another daughter that He was desparately trying to communicate His love to...wouldn't you find her no matter what and tell her? So...I started looking for her in the store.
I saw that she and her assistant were checking out and so I decided to walk outside and "look at the flowers". I felt like a stalker...I didn't know if I should go back in the store...but I just waited by the exit. She came out of the door and I introduced myself and said that I'd seen her around Malibu a lot and wanted to introduce myself. She asked if I wanted one of her cards, and so she pulled one out of her purse. I took the sexy picture of her...and then proceeded to tell her that I worked at Malibu Pres and that I'd like to invite her to our Easter service at the park. She thanked me and seemed positive. Her assistant wouldn't make eye contact with me...but that's okay.
So I am praying that she will come. I am praying that as she goes to sleep tonight she will get just a little curious and consider coming...
I'm praying that when she does come, she will hear the good news that she is loved and seen by God. She doesn't need to pay for a billboard for God to see and love her. He already does. Every moment.
If you're serious about following Jesus, I think you should expect to have to do some kind of embarassing things that aren't totally socially normal.
I got into my car and kind of laughed about the whole thing. I thought, here I am...in my hoodie and jeans buying orange juice and flowers and God uses me. I'm pretty ordinary...and yet the only reason I think God whispers all of these instructions to me is because He knows how much I love Him and how I'll do nutty things for Him. I figure if He went to the cross for me, the least I can do is invite one of His eccentric kids to church.
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