You know what I like about this quote?
It says to me...live life OUT LOUD!
Stop sitting on the fence of life and get moving!
You don't have to be perfect and your life does not have to be perfect for you to make a difference to someone, somewhere. I think we oftentimes look at our circumstances and allow them to fully dictate to us what we can and cannot do. I've been there. In a mindset that told me because I lacked this or that qualification or resource that somehow it excused me from doing anything at all. Guess what? It's simply not true...
simply not true.
Abundance is not a prerequisite for giving...love is.
Jesus put it this way...
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30
Making a difference begins by realizing you are loved by God. Followed by loving God. Followed by loving others. Take a minute and read I John 4. Pretty amazing stuff there...its not that we loved Him but that He loved us first and GAVE Himself for us. It's out of His love for us that we now ought to love others.
Making a difference will never happen if you just sit there watching and excusing yourself from life. Nothing you do, no matter how small or large, for someone else is insignificant. Even if it seems silly or ridiculous, as the quote above says, "...it's absolutely better to be ridiculous than boring". Boring never got anything done or anyone's life changed or made an impact in a community. Stepping out with your imperfect self and your small, crazy idea can be risky; but history tells us that the people who took a risk and were called crazy are the ones we now applaud for their genius.
God has filled you with His life and creativity and empowered you to do something by His love. Get rid of your excuses, get off the fence, take a risk and do something. Jesus multiplied five loaves and two tiny fish and fed thousands. I know that He can do the same with what we give him.
Look at what you have in your hands right now.
What can you do with it?
How can you use it to help someone?
"Give away your life; you'll find life given back,
but not merely given back—
given back with bonus and blessing.
Giving, not getting, is the way.
Generosity begets generosity."
Luke 6:38
Until next time...living & loving!!
Sister Kathi,
ReplyDeleteJust thinking about this "Inspiring" post.
It causes me to think about the "ridiculous" ways we can express a lived-out life. To me living "ridiculously" means to be free to be extravagant in the giving of our finances, resources, giftings and time.
As I have gotten more mature (older), I realize that I have no time to withhold anything. All that God has given me must be poured out. Love has no value if it is stored up and never extravagantly, lavishly, ridiculously given or demonstrated to others.
We don't feel loved if no one ever says: I love you, or demonstrates their love by spending time with us or giving us a hug, sending an encouraging text etc. A simple act of kindness can meet so many needs! Love means nothing if it never spoken or never demonstrated. Love should never be withheld, contained or only received. Love is active: love with all your heart, soul, mind and strength!
I know you have spent countless hours working on the conference and although I'm sure it has been fun for you, I know it has also been hard work.
Thank you for loving us and continuing to sow into us so we can sow into others!
Love you!
Sylvia Forthome