Thursday, June 30, 2011

Just Okay is Not Enough

I heard Matthew West's (no relation) "The Motions" on the radio driving back to Farmville. I hadn't heard it in a while, but I've always liked it and it particularly struck a chord with how I've been feeling. Here's the main part of the song:

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

I absolutely dread the prospect of living in mediocrity. Now, I'm not talking about social and economic status. I'm talking about a life of meaning. I'm talking about a life of passion. I'm talking about John 10:10 when Jesus says:

"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." (AMP)

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (NKJV)

"My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (NLT)

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (NIV)

I'm talking about Psalm 23:5 when David says "my cup overflows" and about Philippians 3:10 when Paul says, "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead."

I'm talking about life beyond the ordinary.

The word abundantly in John 10:10 translates from the Greek word perissos, which means “excessively, superabundant in quantity, or superior in quality; by implication excessive; preeminence; exceedingly abundantly above, more abundantly, exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, vehemently” (Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary).

Therefore, this is beyond everyday blah blah blah let's just get it done life. This is not living for the weekend or to get off at 5 or 'I can't wait for this' or 'I can't wait for that' life. This is it doesn't matter what I'm doing I'm living it up life. It's every moment is a gift life. It's I go to church, to work, to the gym, and to hang out with my friends because it's what I'm made for not because it's just what I do and it's expected of me life.
It’s a I’m going to rejoice because he says to rejoice life. It's I'm going to eat up every second like its a fresh baked apple pie life. It’s a contagious life. It’s a I feel like I’m S. M. Lockridge saying that’s my king I wish I could describe him to you life. It's I'm a participant not a spectator life (thanks Michelle!).

It's life beyond motions. It's beyond autopilot and cruise control. It's beyond our imagination, but not beyond God's.
It’s a life on fire.


“But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” – Revelation 3:16


I want to be hot chocolate, not chocolate milk that’s been sitting out too long. I want to be strong coffee that wakes people up, not a questionable substance that may or may not be last night’s dirty bathwater.


I want to live a life of influence, not in a prideful way, but in a I live life to the fullest way and that causes others to do so also.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

There is No Random

I seem to be becoming surrounded by bloggers, so maybe it's about time I kept one. Just a warning: this is an attempt people! No promises as to frequency or content ;)

Perhaps I should start with the title. "There is no random" is something one of my Chinese teachers told me once. (She's a secret believer, so I'll leave her name out! Not that you can access Blogger in China, but better safe than sorry.) I remember her very seriously turning to tell me this on a crowded Chinese street, huddled deep under our sun umbrellas as we walked, sometime in the summer of 2008. We had been discussing what appeared to be a 'random' mistake someone had made in issuing me the incorrect visa (long story!!).

At the time I think I wanted to laugh because of the awkward English statement, but at the same time I was struck by the simplicity and truth it holds. "There is no random" as in God's got everything under control. Nothing is an accident or a surprise to God. He already knows what's going to happen and how it works into his perfect, sovereign plan. So when we can't see how something makes sense or could turn out well, we've got a Creator who sees the big picture. He has the vantage point to step back and see all the pieces being woven together. He understands how something that seems out of the way to us is actually the straightest path.

"For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
- Isaiah 55:9

“You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!"
- Psalm 139:16-17

"The Lord directs our steps,
so why try to understand everything along the way?"
- Proverbs 20:24