Sharing...

Just gonna go ahead and share this post at Bohemian Bowmans for today. Read it. Think about it. Examine your own life.

A Full Life…

Are you struggling with contentment? Wanting more out of life than what you see day-to-day? If I only had __________, my life would be complete. How would you fill in that blank?

What does it mean to have a “full” life? A typical American might say a full life includes a fulfilling career, a spouse, and a couple of children, possibly good health and just a little more money than necessary, to be able to travel or at least take extended vacations, perhaps having an interesting hobby like art or sailing (and maybe a few infomercial gadgets). Other cultures might place more emphasis on one or another of those qualities. Many people in the world have good intentions and place their “fullness” of life solely in their family; as long as they have that, their life is “full”.

I would like to propose that not only are none of the above things necessary for a full life, but that having them can actually take away from the fullness of life. Hear me out…

A year ago I was expecting twin girls. On this date last year, I was almost 12 weeks along. We were about to make the official announcement. I was noticeably excited. And I truly thought that having children was going to make my life FULL. And if I had asked anyone around me, they probably would have said, “Yes, your life will be very full now – with twins!”

But God had other plans. His story for my life was going to be different than I thought. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect.

So, my question for you to ponder is: Is my life less full now that I don’t have the girls?

I’m here to praise God that it isn’t so. My life today is fuller than my life was a year ago. Why?

Is it because I filled my time with Seminary classes, volunteering at my church, remodeling my house, and directing a children’s camp? Is it because I spend more time with my husband and my friends? Is it because I started running and training for a half-marathon?

No. My life is fuller because before doing any of that stuff, I came to realize what makes life FULL.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” 

~Jesus, in John 10:10

Jesus didn’t come to the earth, die on a cross, and rise again 3 days later just to save you…He came so that you can have a FULL LIFE. A life full of HIM. He is what fills life to the brim, so that everything else pales in comparison.

What happens when a cup is full of water and you try to add more water? It spills over. THAT is the abundance of life God wants for you. HE wants to fill you up so that everything else in your life is an abundance, a spilling over!

Do you have this abundant life that Jesus talks about in John 10:10? Don’t you WANT IT? What more could we ask than for Jesus to come into our lives and FILL IT UP?!

Abundant Life…

This morning I was listening to the radio on my way to get McD’s for breakfast and Joni from Joni & Friends was speaking at some kind of event. (I caught it halfway through, so I don’t know all of the details.)

Now, before I go on, let me say that I had NEVER heard of this lady before so I had no idea what her life was like. And, of course, this was on the radio, so I couldn’t see her. As I listened, she started speaking about attitude. And about how Americans lately have a really bad attitude about life…how everything’s going downhill and our country will never be the same, yada yada. Then, she offered a “what if”: What if, instead of being so pessimistic all the time, we had a positive (but still realistic) attitude about life? What if we woke up each morning determined to make the best of each day? What if we shared that POSITIVE attitude with others and it spread? What if, as the Bible tells us, we had a Christ-like attitude as laid out in Philippians 2?

Here’s where she inserts a personal story from her own life. You see, Joni is a quadriplegic. Yep. AND, recently was diagnosed with breast cancer. Yep. She talked about her struggle each morning waking up and facing the day. Facing quadriplegia and breast cancer. Facing the fact that someone would have to give her a bath and put on her clothes and feed her. Facing GIANT struggles that most of us have no idea about.

Talk about perspective! And here she is, appropriately telling us to put on our big girl panties and DO LIFE. But not just survive…LIVE ABUNDANTLY.

I know there are days when I just want to stay in bed. And sometimes I feel like I have good reason to feel that way. You may be struggling with these same feelings or be in a situation where you just want to survive the day and go back to sleep!

DON’T. Jesus said that He came to give us life to the fullest. Abundant life. (John 10:10)

SO, how do we do this? Is it as simple as willing ourselves into a positive attitude? Is is simply a matter of personal choice?

Not exactly. I mean, like I said yesterday, I have good intentions all the time. I really WANT to have a positive attitude and to live life abundantly. But my want-to doesn’t translate into DOING so easily.

I think the key is the Holy Spirit. You see, without Him, you will never experience the abundant life Jesus came to give you. In John 10:9, Jesus says “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved…” So, FIRST, enter the door! Not sure how? Check out this story…

THEN, learn to trust Jesus with each day of your life. He knows what’s best. Ask Him what He wants for you TODAY.

And then, in the power of the Holy Spirit (who resides in every believer), LIVE ABUNDANTLY.

What will it take for you to embrace a Christ-like attitude and live abundantly?