a pretty extraordinary blessing

It was just yesterday, actually. I was reading Luke 21 and it said, "all these others made offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford -- she gave her all."

What she couldn't afford. She gave what she couldn't afford to lose. What she couldn't afford to let go of. What she needed to stay alive -- that's what she gave. 

When it's all said and done and I'm standing before God, no-one's gonna be standing around discussing apps or clothes and how so and so tripped and was so humiliated and you're so glad it wasn't you-- 

We're going to be before God. Can you even imagine? "I can only imagine." And all that will matter is how we've loved. What we've given of ourselves. 

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. -- Matthew 10:39

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. -- Matthew 16:25

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? -- Matthew 16:26

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. 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

I absolutely love this quote by CS Lewis.

When I was reading The Kite Runner, I had this thought come into my head: 

"To go there, would be to surely lose your life." 

"I don't know if I would be willing to help them, because I might die, and I have everything here -- my family, my friends, simple happy dreams." 

A line from Taylor Swift's song Treacherous came to mind; 

nothing safe is worth the ride

Africa. War-torn countries. Dirty water. Orphans. Poverty. 

And I've been thinking lately, or maybe I've been listening. 

I live my life entirely for me. 

To give up our lives is to do the things we're afraid to do simply because we know we have to. It's to remember that this life isn't something we'll be a part of forever. That the world can kill our body but God holds our soul. 

 “If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me." -- Matthew 10:38-39

"Nothing but our souls will last forever. I've got to give all I am while I can."

Let it go. All we hold onto; give to Jesus what I can't afford to lose. 

We're a people who say, "Later. Next time. When I'm able. Braver. Stronger. Taller." 

We went on a walk the other day, and we found ourselves face-to-face with the ocean. Mum paused to take a photo. "I was gonna take one," I said, "But I decided I could take it on the way back." 

"There's only one thing," she said. "What if it's a round trip?" 

What I want to leave behind in 2012: 

Worry. Anxiety. Fear. 

What I want to take into 2013: 

ARK; act of random kindness. 

Simple faith, plain trust

I reckon freedom comes when we give all of ourselves up to God. Truly give life up to Him. 

relient k;

overthinking (accoustic)

curl up and die

the thief

“We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God’s messenger. Accepting someone’s help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing.” Matthew 10:40-42

It's not some big mission that we've got to stress over. This is life, mates! Let's have fun, right where we are! Laugh. Do things we dream about. Swim. Play. Have fun! And care. Care about eachother. 

dear God,

thankYou for life. it's a pretty extraordinary blessing.