Been thinking a lot about John 14:21 lately. Partly thanks to my friend Thom and mostly because I think that's what the Spirit is doing in my heart lately. I like the Eugene version:

"The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that's who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him"

although the point comes through in whatever version you choose. I do like the KJV "I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" however. I think the language is more powerful than "make myself plain." I have been thinking about what it means to see God while doing the things He has commanded us to do. I know the times when He has made himself plainest to me are the times when I am doing just that, and the more fully I am engaged (like on a short-term mission trips abroad), the 'plainer' He is. I think this was one of the biggest reasons I was so drawn to the idea of full-time missions work. If I could serve full-time, then I would experience God full-time. I know this is not necessarily the case and there would be dry times in the mission field as well, but I hate the idea of becoming complacent and 'distracted' in day to day life.

I like the whole U2 "Get Up Off of Your Knees" idea of 'don't just talk about it and listen to others talk about it, but get up and do it!' I want my family (especially the kids) to experience God through keeping His commandments. I like that VCF Boise makes it so easy by having these myriads of opportunities to serve just by showing up! My plan is to take everyone out once a month to the "Feeding God's Children" ministry to the poor in a downtown park. I know it's not the same as "fully engaged" in the mission field, but for now, short of dragging the whole family off to Nicaragua or Africa, it'll have to do!