I always want to chuckle when I hear myself say, "It's been a long day, or it's been a long week". A day is 24 hours long; a week is 7 days, 168 hours. Time doesn't change, or expand or contract according to our schedule. And a day doesn't get longer, unless of course you are Jack Bauer and 24 hours takes days!
I have been sitting here thinking of my week, and that thought ran through my mind, what a long week it has been. My schedule has changed: basically my whole life has been turned upside down, shaken and then ta da, let's get on with it. Instead of three days a week employment, showing up at work about 9 am and leaving by three, Tuesday and Thursday off so that I can get housework done and errands run, I am now employed full time. Or let's say two full time jobs is how it feels. Alarm set for 5:15, awake by 4:45 refusing to look at the clock so I can pretend I have at least another hour to sleep. At the shop by 8, back home by about 5. Trying to fit laundry and housework in after dinner. Bible study on Wednesday night at the house. Trips to the grocery store, gas station, the library if I am lucky. I'm tired just thinking about it. My life is full. But is it abundant?
That is what I am working on. I love the verse in John 10:10b that says "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
It doesn't matter what is going on in our lives. If we are employed or unemployed. If we are raising our children, or our grandchildren or are empty-nesters. We can have an active lifestyle or be couch potatoes. The verse in John is talking about the life inside of us, not the life around us. Jesus came to lay His life down for us that we might choose Him and thus choose life. There are times that I get so distracted by the life, the things going on around me that I forget what Life is actually about. I forget that I am not my own, that I belong to One greater than I. That I have been purchased with a price. That I am an ambassador of the King of all heaven and earth. I forget that it is not all about me. As comedian Brian Regan says, "It's all about you, let us know when you're all set, Captain You Planet". (When you're done reading this, take a moment and watch his video at http://youtu.be/G9em-ZCddWk. I said AFTER you read this...remember, it's all about ME right now...)
As I was saying, it is not all about me. It is about living a life that is pleasing to God. It is about that abundant life. In the Strong's concordance which translates the word 'life' from the original Hebrew it means "of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God; life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed." But not only a full life, but one lived 'more abundantly' again translated from the Hebrew, "superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon". That is what I want my life to be. I want to feel that when I lay my head down on my pillow at night that I have lived my day to the fullest. That I have given my all. That I have done everything as unto the Lord. That I have loved surpassingly. That I have blessed others superiorly. That I have sought God extraordinarily. That I have lived an uncommon life.
There are days we all just feel like a number. A face in the crowd. That we are lucky to get through by the skin of our teeth. (Side note, wondered about the origin of that phrase, by the skin of my teeth. No coincidence that is comes from Job 19:20. Now there is someone who seems to be having a bad day, a looooonnngggg week. Job, tried by the enemy, but so dearly loved by God. And in the end of it all, is given life, and life more abundantly!)
We are so much more than all of that to God. We are the apple of His eye. His chosen ones. His beloved children. He calls us friend. Next time you are going through your day, just waiting for it to be over, remember who you are. Remember 'Whose' you are. And as you go through your day, seek Him and His abundant life. Remind yourself that there are others out there who feel lost and alone and harried and harassed. That they would love to know that they are valued. More than a number. More than just a ship passing in the night. And as you walk in His love, as you share His most precious gift of Jesus with them that you are not just sharing part of your life with them, but that you are sharing His Life with them.
Live your life fully and more abundantly.
I have been sitting here thinking of my week, and that thought ran through my mind, what a long week it has been. My schedule has changed: basically my whole life has been turned upside down, shaken and then ta da, let's get on with it. Instead of three days a week employment, showing up at work about 9 am and leaving by three, Tuesday and Thursday off so that I can get housework done and errands run, I am now employed full time. Or let's say two full time jobs is how it feels. Alarm set for 5:15, awake by 4:45 refusing to look at the clock so I can pretend I have at least another hour to sleep. At the shop by 8, back home by about 5. Trying to fit laundry and housework in after dinner. Bible study on Wednesday night at the house. Trips to the grocery store, gas station, the library if I am lucky. I'm tired just thinking about it. My life is full. But is it abundant?
That is what I am working on. I love the verse in John 10:10b that says "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
It doesn't matter what is going on in our lives. If we are employed or unemployed. If we are raising our children, or our grandchildren or are empty-nesters. We can have an active lifestyle or be couch potatoes. The verse in John is talking about the life inside of us, not the life around us. Jesus came to lay His life down for us that we might choose Him and thus choose life. There are times that I get so distracted by the life, the things going on around me that I forget what Life is actually about. I forget that I am not my own, that I belong to One greater than I. That I have been purchased with a price. That I am an ambassador of the King of all heaven and earth. I forget that it is not all about me. As comedian Brian Regan says, "It's all about you, let us know when you're all set, Captain You Planet". (When you're done reading this, take a moment and watch his video at http://youtu.be/G9em-ZCddWk. I said AFTER you read this...remember, it's all about ME right now...)
As I was saying, it is not all about me. It is about living a life that is pleasing to God. It is about that abundant life. In the Strong's concordance which translates the word 'life' from the original Hebrew it means "of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God; life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed." But not only a full life, but one lived 'more abundantly' again translated from the Hebrew, "superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon". That is what I want my life to be. I want to feel that when I lay my head down on my pillow at night that I have lived my day to the fullest. That I have given my all. That I have done everything as unto the Lord. That I have loved surpassingly. That I have blessed others superiorly. That I have sought God extraordinarily. That I have lived an uncommon life.
There are days we all just feel like a number. A face in the crowd. That we are lucky to get through by the skin of our teeth. (Side note, wondered about the origin of that phrase, by the skin of my teeth. No coincidence that is comes from Job 19:20. Now there is someone who seems to be having a bad day, a looooonnngggg week. Job, tried by the enemy, but so dearly loved by God. And in the end of it all, is given life, and life more abundantly!)
We are so much more than all of that to God. We are the apple of His eye. His chosen ones. His beloved children. He calls us friend. Next time you are going through your day, just waiting for it to be over, remember who you are. Remember 'Whose' you are. And as you go through your day, seek Him and His abundant life. Remind yourself that there are others out there who feel lost and alone and harried and harassed. That they would love to know that they are valued. More than a number. More than just a ship passing in the night. And as you walk in His love, as you share His most precious gift of Jesus with them that you are not just sharing part of your life with them, but that you are sharing His Life with them.
Live your life fully and more abundantly.