"So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." -Luke 12:32
I've been doing a lot of reading and thinking lately... Reading a lot of inspirational/Jesus centered blogs, and thinking a lot about my future. You know, sometimes we just think we have it all figured out (myself included). We think, "Well, this is what everybody else does, so I might as well do it, too", without even stopping to wonder if maybe we were made for something more. We call our lives 'good enough' and hardly ever change. We've even become afraid of change. I mean, you must know what I'm talking about. Graduate high school. Start college. Pick career. Graduate college. Find job that keeps you comfortable and safe. Find man/woman that makes your heart stop (or sometimes the standard isn't even that high. All too often, people settle when it comes to marriage). Marry said person. Have babies. Survive the boring-ness of life. Retire.
We want safety and comfort. We want to be normal. We want to fit in. We do what everybody else does. Although, I suppose it's possible that some people don't even really think about all that... They just do life the way everyone else does it because they haven't stopped to think that it doesn't have to be that way. You have no idea how sad that makes me! There is SO much to get out of life! God has given it to us as a gift. It just kills me to think about how many people out there are wasting the time they've been given on the mundane.
And you know, we are incredibly blessed as a nation. We HAVE the resources to live life to the fullest. We have the money, we have the opportunity (whether you think you do or not. With God, all things are possible), we have the health, we have the freedom. We are wasting these precious resources!
There are people out there that do not have them so easily available. There are plenty of things they would love to be able to do and see and experience. They're stuck. In Malawi with my team of preteens (10-13 yrs.), we met a man named Miscious. He definitely loved living life.. And you know what? He lives in Africa. The 'normal' for him is not being able to acheive our 'normal'. One day, as the whole lot of us was walking down a dirt road, one of my team members asked Miscious when he was going to come visit us in America. With a distant look in his eye, Miscious responded, "That is my dream."
People DREAM (!!) of being able to just come to the country we live our "boring" lives in! Do you realize how crazy that is? Even if you never set foot outside of America, please, please at least come to grips with how fortunate you are to live here. And you can definitely live life to the fullest without leaving the country. You are so blessed. Don't you see?
Another Malawi example- I met a man named Yohanni (sp?) who talked with me for a while as we were walking down [another] dirt road. He loves to sing. It's his absolute passion. His dream is to become a big time, famous singer. And you know what? He's doing everything he can to go after that dream. Whenever there was an opportunity, he sang. You could just feel the passion in his voice. He's not giving up on living life to the fullest. He's going after his dream, regardless of his circumstances.
Here in America, we have dreams too. Call it a bucket list, if you will. We have a list (written down or not) of all the things we'd like to do before we die. I wonder how many people actually accomplish even one of these goals before they "kick the bucket?" Seriously. Think of something that's always been a dream of yours. Something that made you say, "If I get nothing else out of life, I am GOING to (_______)." Now think for a second about what you've done to make that happen. Believe it or not, anything can happen. If you've got Jesus, you've got it all. Did you know that God intends for us to have full lives? He finds joy in blessing us.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10
All this to say:
1) If you haven't found Jesus, FIND HIM. You are missing out on His love, provision, guidance, friendship, and abundance.
2)Continually search for God's plan for your life. If He's given you a passion for something, however crazy it may be, that's a pretty good indicator as to what God wants to do through you. He's given you the gifts/talents that you have. Discover what they are. Use them to love God and love people. "For with God nothing will be impossible.” -Luke 1:37. I'll have you know, this is said quite a few times in the Bible. Believe it.
3) If you have done #1, there is absolutely no reason you can't accomplish your goals and dreams. God knows the desires of your heart. He's the one who put them there. If you dilligently seek Him, he will take care of you and bless you over and over again. He would not give you useless desires. You have them for a reason. "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37:4. You take care of the Kingdom's work (delight yourself in the Lord), and He will pour out His blessings (give you the desires of your heart). God LOVES blessing His children. Trust me on this one.
4) GO LIVE YOUR LIFE. Don't let your circumstances stop you! Don't let your selfishness stop you! Have faith! Don't let anybody talk you out of God's plan. Sometimes even your family can't see what you and your Savior see. Don't let that stop you. "Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close." -Psalm 27:10. He's always there for you. He is all the support you need. Are you getting this?
"We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer." -Prov. 16:1
---(These are the plans that we make apart from Him.)
"Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed." -Psalm 16:3
---(If your actions are committed to the LORD, you most likely have the right plan, anyway. Or you're at least headed in the right direction.)
Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy. -Abraham Joshua Heschel
---(Embrace it!!)
Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once. -Lillian Dickson
---(Make the most of it!!)
"All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." -Walt Disney.
---(It all started with a mouse!)
Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life. -Buddha
---(There is adventure everywhere you are. Find it.)
