Thursday, January 7, 2010
L.I.V.E. (part 3)
The best laid plans.......
Yup. You can finish that sentence yourself. I had all the intention of completing this series just after the first of the year. Or I should have, while I was still on vacation. But for some reason, I have had a mental block on the letter "V". Sure there were lots of "V" words I could go with but nothing that just jumped out at me.
And then Wednesday, January 6th rolls around & still nothing. You hear that. NOTHING!! Oh nuts, how can I finish this series if I don't have the "V". I can't get to "E" (which I already have down, btw) if I don't have the "V" yet. <you really need to help me out here. What should it be? A little help here God????>>>
Okay. I admit it. I got into "PANIC PRAYER" mode. One of those "Help me now God please". No thankfulness beforehand. No gratefulness in my heart. Just plain old demand it now kind of prayer (aka-Drive thru prayer). Yes, that really moves God's heart now doesn't it? And yet, I still prayed. More ideas came into my head but none of them felt right. So, what to do? How do I come up with "V"? (sounds like an old tv show doesn't it). What do I post???? I need some help here. I need........THAT'S IT!!! I need..
VISION
How can you live life without vision? You can't. Oh you can 'live' your life but is it 'just getting through each day' kind of living? Or, is it purposeful, intentional and focused living? The latter is what I want my life to be like. Waking up each day with a purpose, focused on the day ahead; being intentional in the moment. And as I live each day intentionally, that unfolds the bigger VISION of the next day/week/month/year/years ahead. Sounds good doesn't it?
Exactly. It "sounds" exciting and fulfilling. And yet, I'm rather unsettled about it. Don't misunderstand me here. I do have 'vision' but not necessarily like many people do. Some people say their 'vision' is to "go to college, get rich, retire early". For others it's "get married, have 2 kids, house in the suburbs w/a white picket fence". And still others, "save the planet" OR "save the (insert animal name here)". Visions, with their own good qualities/intentions, but are those really" living life" kind of visions?
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." So, if Jesus is the "life", the "living life" kind of visions I'm talking about can only come from the one who IS life. Jesus.
Jesus can give us the "vision" for what will bring our lives all of the fulfillment, satisfaction, or accomplishment that we may be looking for. As I said before, some people find it (or try to) in their careers, family or personal accomplishments. But how do those help you "live" life? Does your life revolve around your career, your family or your accomplishments? If so, what does it give you in return? Money, love, gifts, recognition, attention? Out of all of those, I can honestly say, only love can bring any kind of satisfaction. However, is it conditional love or unconditional love? Love based on how you feel toward the other person or is it love no matter what the feeling is? There is only one love that I know of that is unconditional--the love of God.
John 3:16,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
That's the only love that is unconditional. That is the only love that gives true, eternal satisfaction and fulfillment. Family love, while a blessing, cannot compare to the love that God has for us by giving us His Son, Jesus, so that we may have eternal "life".
The one who IS life and the giver of ETERNAL life is where we should turn to LIVE life. The vision for our life comes from Jesus. And the only way to find out that vision is to start a relationship with Jesus. Do you have a relationship with Him yet? If not, I encourage to pray this prayer with me now:
Yup. You can finish that sentence yourself. I had all the intention of completing this series just after the first of the year. Or I should have, while I was still on vacation. But for some reason, I have had a mental block on the letter "V". Sure there were lots of "V" words I could go with but nothing that just jumped out at me.
And then Wednesday, January 6th rolls around & still nothing. You hear that. NOTHING!! Oh nuts, how can I finish this series if I don't have the "V". I can't get to "E" (which I already have down, btw) if I don't have the "V" yet. <
Okay. I admit it. I got into "PANIC PRAYER" mode. One of those "Help me now God please". No thankfulness beforehand. No gratefulness in my heart. Just plain old demand it now kind of prayer (aka-Drive thru prayer). Yes, that really moves God's heart now doesn't it? And yet, I still prayed. More ideas came into my head but none of them felt right. So, what to do? How do I come up with "V"? (sounds like an old tv show doesn't it). What do I post???? I need some help here. I need........THAT'S IT!!! I need..
VISION
How can you live life without vision? You can't. Oh you can 'live' your life but is it 'just getting through each day' kind of living? Or, is it purposeful, intentional and focused living? The latter is what I want my life to be like. Waking up each day with a purpose, focused on the day ahead; being intentional in the moment. And as I live each day intentionally, that unfolds the bigger VISION of the next day/week/month/year/years ahead. Sounds good doesn't it?
Exactly. It "sounds" exciting and fulfilling. And yet, I'm rather unsettled about it. Don't misunderstand me here. I do have 'vision' but not necessarily like many people do. Some people say their 'vision' is to "go to college, get rich, retire early". For others it's "get married, have 2 kids, house in the suburbs w/a white picket fence". And still others, "save the planet" OR "save the (insert animal name here)". Visions, with their own good qualities/intentions, but are those really" living life" kind of visions?
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." So, if Jesus is the "life", the "living life" kind of visions I'm talking about can only come from the one who IS life. Jesus.
Jesus can give us the "vision" for what will bring our lives all of the fulfillment, satisfaction, or accomplishment that we may be looking for. As I said before, some people find it (or try to) in their careers, family or personal accomplishments. But how do those help you "live" life? Does your life revolve around your career, your family or your accomplishments? If so, what does it give you in return? Money, love, gifts, recognition, attention? Out of all of those, I can honestly say, only love can bring any kind of satisfaction. However, is it conditional love or unconditional love? Love based on how you feel toward the other person or is it love no matter what the feeling is? There is only one love that I know of that is unconditional--the love of God.
John 3:16,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
That's the only love that is unconditional. That is the only love that gives true, eternal satisfaction and fulfillment. Family love, while a blessing, cannot compare to the love that God has for us by giving us His Son, Jesus, so that we may have eternal "life".
The one who IS life and the giver of ETERNAL life is where we should turn to LIVE life. The vision for our life comes from Jesus. And the only way to find out that vision is to start a relationship with Jesus. Do you have a relationship with Him yet? If not, I encourage to pray this prayer with me now:
Dear Jesus, I need you. I want a relationship with you. I understand that I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. Please forgive me. Restore me to a relationship with God the Father. I ask you to forgive me, heal me and restore me now. I accept you as my Savior and my Lord. Make my heart and life your home. Thank you. Amen
Congratulations!! You are well on your way to "living" life. If you prayed that prayer for the first time, I encourage you to find a bible-believing, spirit-filled church. If you know a Christian, talk with them and find out where they go to church. But most of all, pray and ask God to show you where He wants you to go to church. He will show you. I know He will.
And for those who already know Him, step back and look at your life. Are you "living" life the way God intended you to live it? Each of us have a purpose and call on our lives that God had planned before we were born. Are you living that vision? If so, praise God. If you're not sure, it's time to pray. Ask God. Find wise counsel and ask them to pray with you. Vision. In the vision is living life.
Until next time,
RSPS Sunny
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