When All is Given

There’s a song in my chest
There’s a dance in my spirit
An adventurous quest
He’s calling me to it

I feel the joy in my heart
His rhythm in my soul
Now I’ll smile and shine
Until I am whole

He has gripped me
He has captured
Now I can spin in his love
For I am enraptured

He’s holding me close
But his heart drums wild
I can feel his excitement
When I believe I’m his child

His delight pierces
Every lie, every fear
Until I am his
And I have no other care

His love is breaking through
His truth rules all
When I step off the edge
He’s breaking my fall

Lowly Nobility

How do we make a difference in this world? Are you willing to go somewhere with me? Who needs to be loved today? Can you think of anyone? Who feels worthless, unlovable, and dirty? You are the same. You are. The only difference may be that you know that you are loved and have a purpose and a place here on this planet. But do you really know? Because if you did, maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to love those who think no one will ever truly love them. Love the unlovely. I may be bold, but I can almost guarantee you this will set you free in a way that nothing else ever can. Look for the treasure amongst the dirt. What you find may astonish you—it may open up your heart in ways you have never anticipated or even wanted. It might hurt, yes. But you have to ask yourself if loving someone is worth the pain. God Himself did. And the answer was yes. How can we act any differently than the King of this world? In His reality, embracing the filthy, the smelly, the ugly, and the lowly is true nobility. So before you ever call yourself a child of the King again, a prince or a princess of the Kingdom, please, let me challenge you by having you ask yourself these questions: Who am I loving today? And am I loving them because it is easy, or have I chosen, like the One who has done the same for me, to love even the ones that may hate me or have no lovely quality about them? Don’t get me wrong, I myself am challenged by this most noble of callings. But I must be found faithful to my God, who gave everything for me.

Outlive your Life, a book review

“Outlive Your Life” by Max Lucado is definitely a wake up call to Christians, particularly in America. Most people with genuine faith in God would admit that they have a desire to make a difference in the world. We can see the problems, the poverty, the hurting, and the many issues that need revolution, but what can we do about it? In this book, Lucado demonstrates how in small practical ways, and by merely obeying the Word of God, we can make a difference in the world around us. We don’t have to go to a foreign country on a mission trip or to be a missionary, but are we willing to take the opportunity if it comes?
This book is written in a very down-to-earth style that paints life in a simpler way. It definitely brings conviction, but without conviction, we won’t make a move in the right direction. Lucado challenges us to look beyond seeming limitations and helps us to apply biblical stories to life today.
If you want to be inspired but also feel a call to action, read this book. You might find that you have to do something different, or you won’t be fulfilling the calling common to every Christian: To be a follower of Jesus and shine his hope in this dark world.