Back to the Basics

"So, I have this awesome idea for a Camp theme," my friend Allison says to me during a random, yet much needed phone call. The whole idea was about going "Back to the basics" of our faith, our relationship with Christ, and our worship of our Lord.

It's a brilliant idea. So good. I love it so much. And, so naturally, I've been thinking about it nonstop since that phone call.

Jesus loves us. It's that simple.
Jesus died for us. It's really not hard to understand.
Jesus is our savior. It's easy to say.
Jesus will return. It's that basic.

But it wasn't until tonight (December 3, 2013) that it really hit me on how poignant going back to the basics really is. And.. as in many moments in my life.. it was brought to me through a song I was listening to.

Seriously. Have you heard Casting Crowns' new song? All You've Ever Wanted. The entire song is exactly what going back to the basics is all about. Some of the lyrics

All You've ever wanted, all You've ever wanted
All You've ever wanted was my heart
Freedom's arms are open, my chains have all been broken
Relentless love has called me from the start
And all You wanted was my heart

It truly is that simple. If we are to get back to the basics, we must first realize that, quite literally, ALL God ever wanted was our hearts. He did everything else for us. He opened up "freedom's arms". He broke all my chains. He for real did everything for us, and made it that simple. Just give your heart over to Him. All.

ALL.

All He's ever wanted was my heart
Your heart
Our hearts

And our hearts means something very basic as well. Our hearts hold everything that is dear to us. All He wants us to do is to give our hearts over to Him, so he can mold it into the heart He has intended for us. You know, one that follows after His heart. And yearns to be in His image. It's really not too difficult to understand.

We just cloud it out by all of our insane thoughts and needless actions. Doing good deeds, saying all the right things... But it's not that hard. He just wants our HEARTS

Join me, and let's get back to the basics.  Let's remember how simple Jesus love is for us. How, when it's all stripped down, All He's ever wanted was our hearts.

And so it goes...