Some of what I've learned from Blue Like Jazz

This is just kind of the basis of what I've learned. I'm still praying to God asking Him how He wants me to describe in detail what parts of this book have helped me deal with big aspects in life.

I have come to love Jesus passionately. I love people, and I want to expose God's love to all people whom I run into; I’ve learned to prefer the company of all people. I'm learning to be humble & meek. I've learned that it's not a church or an institution that hurts people; people hurt people. I've learned that I shouldn't seem like I am selling Jesus to someone, but rather make it really truly known that I know Him. I’ve learned to embrace Christian spirituality. I've realized that what I feel I want most in life, just might kill me. I've realized the seeds of change in my life, and I thank God every day for those people. I've realized that mankind hurts me, not God. I’ve realized that the issue I see on the surface usually isn’t the base issue that lies way beneath. I’ve learned to apologize to others for mis-represting God and who God really wants me to be. I’ve learned to expose the real me, the me that God has invented. I’ve learned that God wants to shine his light on me. I know I have this gift from God in which I read people pretty easy, but I am learning to see in people’s eyes, the trueness of a story. I’ve realized that the issue of getting frustrated and angry with one another usually isn’t the reason we see, the issue is whether or not people respect each other, whether they will overcome the idea of liking each other. I’ve learned to not let anyone decide my value, that my value comes from God. I’ve been praying for all of my friends, all of my family, and all of the people I run into throughout each day that they will be able to receive love. I’ve realized that the most important thing that happens within Christian spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus. Jesus is something you feel! I’ve realized that God’s love will change me. I’ve learned that both the conversation from my mouth and my heart need to be true, because if they aren’t both true, then God is not involved in the exchange, and I am on my own and this will lead people astray. I’ve learned to not withhold love from anyone. I want people to know God’s love so bad. I’ve realized that if things were explained to me now, then it would defeat the point of being somewhere with God when I die, somewhere that wouldn’t make any sense if it were explained now. I’ve learned not to chart God. I’ve learned that my heart is really longing to worship, and that there is no better worship than wonder. I’ve learned to love and reach out to people as they are and not just accept them, because I don’t ever want someone to feel unvalued when they are around me. I understand that by not reaching out to people as they are, then I am betraying not only that person, but ultimately God, because that selfishness blocks me from sharing my faith and mis-represents who God really is. I’ve realized that being prideful, and passive aggressive about my feelings can really harm me and make me feel lonely on the inside. I've realized that if I believe something passionately, people will follow me. I've realized that Satan's best tactic is not to get me to do evil, but to get me to waste time which leads me astray from God and His will for my life. I've realized that belief is something that happens to me, it is something I decide upon. I've realized that it is better to have people love the real me, than the me I invented. I've realized that people learn that they are lovable or unlovable from other people; I realize why God says so many times to love each other. I've realized that there is no addiction so powerful as self addiction, which is what I was stuck in for so long. I've realized that if I am not willing to wake up in the morning and die to myself then maybe I should ask myself whether or not I am really following Jesus. I’ve realized that God is the security that I need to rest in. I've realized that hatred is the product of ignorance. I’ve realized I need to meet “the enemy” where they are. I’m learning to pour love on to other people lavishly. I've realized that it's not my responsibility to change somebody, that is God's, my part is to communicate love and approval. I'm learning to always receive God's unconditional love and grace; it's a beautiful thing to me and the feeling is great. God is reality, and just like the elements of a story, are the elements of life, and in the end, God is my hero, the One who is here to rescue me.

If you've read Blue Like Jazz, then you obviously realize a lot of what I said is from the book, but a lot of what I just said, is a lot of what I've learned and come to realize. =)