Living Life Intentionally

I am reading a book by Erwin McManus called “wide awake”.  There is a quote in the book I want to share with you.  It reads “You don’t get to choose your parents, your race, or your skin color; you don’t get to choose your language or economic condition when you were born into this world.  You don’t get any say about the beginning of your life journey, but you have a great deal to say about the destination of your journey and how that journey shapes you.”

 

Do you live life intentionally looking to make a better future or do you get stuck in the circumstances of your beginnings?

Connecting

Mother Teresa said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. ” As a member of the global community we all have a part to play. Sometimes finding that part is no easy task but it is vital to our emotional, spiritual and even our physical health. Living life as our Creator intended us to live means giving up our agenda for His. But how do we know what He wants for us and from us?

Recently, on a flight back from Dallas, I talked with a young lady who was getting her master’s degree in a type of holistic psycho therapy for the terminal ill. It was quite a lively conversation to say the least. She was a delightful person. We didn’t connect on a lot of levels but we did agree that the joy, fulfillment and sense of purpose we have in life is directly related to our connection with the world around us.

Jesus was a great example for us as a, “connector”. He connected with people because of His love. He met people at their point of need and loved them right where they were. We often don’t connect with people because of our fear or because of apathy. I would contend that if we spent more time trying to, “connect” with people around us and make every effort to contribute to the world, the revelation of our life’s purpose would soon reveal itself to us. It’s when we love and give in increasing ways that we find joy, peace, purpose and fulfillment.

When Plans Change

A month ago my friend Ray, from Dallas called to invite me to go to Mexico with a group of volunteers. We were supposed to drive 16 hours from Dallas to Muzquiz, San Miguel, for a work project, but 2 days before I was to meet Ray in Dallas he called to say, “I can’t do the trip.” I was disappointed but honestly, after hearing about decapitations in Mexico, I got over it pretty quick.

Oftentimes life throws us a curve; plans change, people disappoint us, expectations fall short and we’re left wondering, “what happened?” How do we respond to all of the disappointment we encounter in life?

The second century Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius said, “Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.” I think that about says it all.

Sisters

Over the last few years as I have made many changes in my life. I have also had the privilege of getting to see growth and changes in the life of my sister. What an amazing joy it is to get to share in her journey and have her share in mine. My sister is more than a blood relative she is my best friend and my sister in Christ. My life is blessed and my sister is one of my biggest blessings! I look forward to the continued journey that lie ahead and discovering all that God has in store. How amazing it is living in relationship and fellowship with not my sister but others and God.

Who in your life shares in your journey? Do you live in relationship and fellowship with others or are you isolated from others and on your journey alone?

Community...

I have had a lot of opportunity over the last year and a half to learn about living life in community. I have shared meals and had fellowship with good friends here in the states. I have been welcomed into the homes of people across the ocean who speak a different language than I do, eat different foods and live in houses far different than my own. I have attended churches and worshiped with people across the US, Asia, Africa and Central America. I have prayed with people living in country's where their lives are at risk for being Christian. I have prayed with people not sure how they will feed their families and I have prayed for people who while helping street kids stumbled across a human trafficking ring and now their lives are being threatened. I have also been prayed for and I have seen many of those prayers come to be. I have shared a home with family, I have shared a home with friends and I have shared a home with strangers who quickly became family and friends. :-) I have been there for others in need and others have been there for me when I was in need. I have had times of rejoicing and I have had times of sadness but I have not been alone and never before have I felt a part of the world I live in as I do today. Living in community is hard work, but I have found it well worth the effort. :-)

Do you isolate yourself or are you part of a thriving community where you can share with others in life's pleasures and pain?