Love Does

Love Does by Bob Goff

I recently finished reading Love Does by Bob Goff and couldn't help but share some of the things I learned from this book. First of all Bob Goff is incredible. I don't mean that in a put-him-on-a-pedestal kind of way (he would never want that), I mean it in more of an awe and gratitude type way. He gets how to follow Jesus, how to really love others, and how to live a heck of a fun life through it all. And I am so thankful the world has people like that to learn from. The verse "follow me as I follow Jesus" comes to mind, a verse that always intimidates and terrifies me because I'm afraid I'll never truly be able to say that. But I really do wish I was more like Bob Goff, which really means I want to live like Jesus on this earth. Here were some things I walked away with after reading this book:

• Love doesn't think about doing things for others, or wish good things for others, or even talk about loving others, it DOES. It says, "I'm with you, and we're in this together."
• God is crazy in love with us. With "a love that never grows tired or is completely finished finding ways to fully express itself." Do you guys ever watch the sunrise or stare at snow capped mountains or the sun sparkling on the ocean or eat a perfect piece of watermelon and think about how much God must love us to give us all that? I do sometimes. I think He makes the world spectacular and beautiful to point us to His glory, but I also think He does it to show us how worth it we are.
• "I used to think God guided us by opening and closing doors, but now I know sometimes God wants us to kick some doors down." This hit me since this year I really have been living my life through the idea of God "closing and opening doors" to guide me to where He wants me to be. And while I still believe that's true and He works like that, Bob illustrates that sometimes we need to be super tenacious in following our dreams.  (You'll have to read Ch. 6 for a great picture of this).
• Being used by God is as simple as saying, "yes." Say yes to big requests and amazing adventures and plans that may seem impossible at the time. God will show up from there, but He needs willing hearts to start with.
• Living a life for God isn't just about sacrificing and letting go of things we think we need or want. It's realizing that God wants us to play Bigger and Better and getting to end up with him.
• When you live and speak and act with palms up (literally), it's impossible to be angry or defensive or self-righteous. I have yet to try this, but I can't wait, it makes so much sense.
• And lastly, life with Jesus is the greatest adventure and love story all rolled into one. Not a promise to avoid heartache and tragedy and injustice, but a promise that we don't have to be afraid when He's by our side. 

I could keep going, but I've already surpassed my (personal) blog post length limit and there's a great chance you're already onto your next blog by now. But I hope you could at least take away one thing that I learned from this book, though I highly encourage you to go out and read it for yourself. There's no way I can capture the wisdom and whimsy of Bob in a blog post. 

Have a very wonderful day my friends, let's live out love today, shall we?

xoxo

Sara B

P.S. I have a very fun and heartfelt request to make of you. My friend Jen wrote an awesome screenplay and is hoping to get Kristen Bell to read it and agree to play the lead in it by having everyone possible tweet at Kristen today (it's Jen's bday as well!). It would mean a lot to her and me if my lovely readers could join in and help out too. Here's her blog explaining it and the really simple instructions on how to. Thanks in advance!! xo