Life and Life in Abundance

The thief comes to kill steal and destroy, but I have come to give you life and life in abundance.  Joh 10:10

To Dwell on the Negatives or Not?  That is the Question!

Some days it is so easy to look at all the things that go wrong. It’s easier to dwell on the negatives and allow it to consume you than to look at the positives – to notice, or rather to really take note of the beauty in everyday life.

Take my kids, for example, some days my kids drive me up the walls.  In that moment I take for granted the gift of parenting.  I fail to notice that my kids are happy, well-adjusted kids, who have the drive to succeed and handle life and marvellously well at it!

This post was meant to be a private post.  Initially, the aim was to document my sorrows, but the more I think of it, the more I have a reason to sing and a reason to worship!

What is Life in Abundance?

The word abundance comes from the word overflow.  Google states the following words as synonyms for abundance as follows:

Profusion, plentifulness, copiousness, amplified, affluence, multitude, oodles, lavishness, bountifulness, infinity, opulence, exuberance, luxuriance.

Just notice something for a moment – abundance speaks of quantity and quality!

Abundance for me refers to unsurpassed peace, despite my current reality, it speaks of qualities beyond my thinking!

The Message translates the second half of the verse as follows:  “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

Eternal life is grand – but what about real life?  Have you ever thought of your life as authentic?  Have you ever considered that the things that you’ve been through in life, can bring another, deeper dimension to your character?   To what you have to bring to the table?

Abundant of Resources

The day before yesterday I had the honour of sitting amongst a group of ladies, sharing stories of our lives.  The best moments in our lives, our worst experiences we’ve faced and the things that we are constantly attacked and challenged by.

Do you know what I realised?

The enemy really isn’t all that creative!

He uses the same thing to steal from me, that he uses on the girl next to me.  And the person next to her shares a similar story.  A story of rejection, a story of feeling unworthy of being loved.  Our stories may have a different origin, but we are all facing the same kind of struggle – and honestly – enough of it!

It is time to take hands, join heart and face these things together!

It is time to see the bigger picture, to work towards attaining overflow.  There is so much beauty in sharing and conquering hardships.

Life in Abundance, Leads to Generosity

Naturally, as soon as I attain overflow, there’s more for me to give.  Generosity is a concept I have been juggling around in my head since last year.

There has been a principle for me to learn – a hidden gem, that is only being revealed, bit by bit, piece by piece…

1. Abundances stem from a place of vulnerability.

The courage to be brave in my brokenness and to face my fears, conquer the consequences of my actions and even accept my failures.  (And just so we are clear – never in a million years, could I do this in my own capacity, it’s only by and through Christ’s grace that I’m able to attain all of that!)

2. Boldness (Vrymoedigheid)

Vrymoedigheid is the Afrikaans word for boldness, yet, vrymoedigheid, starts with the word free.  In my mind vrymoedigheid, speaks of the freedom in being bold.  The fact that boldness isn’t ‘strong and confident’ but rather, humble in courage!

 3. Generosity

Piecing it all together…  because I am humble in courage, I am able to go to God with my praise and petitions and I am able to ask for His help.  As I draw near the throne room, my life is being enriched, with the fullness of His peace and comfort.

Because I am aware of my own limitations, I am able to be vulnerable and push through, leaning into the discomfort.

During the process of pushing through, my duty and privilege is to journeying with those on a similar path.  By being faithful in my walk and caring for those around me, I attain life in abundance!

And finally, abundance leads to generosity.  I have, so I am able to give.

What will you focus on Today?

Today may have it’s set of challenges, but I choose to focus and apply my thoughts on the beauty of life and making my prayers and petitions known to God in the throne room.