Living Abundantly in God's Transformative Love

As I think about on this day and my oldest celebrating her 11th birthday, I remember. marveling at what my wife went through to give forth life marveling at how much she loved this child to take her body through pain anguish causing her body to never be the same way again that it was going to be before she was pregnant with this child it makes sense that of all the ways that God could have come to dwell with us all the ways that God could have incarnated himself all the ways that God could have wrapped himself in flesh he would do it by becoming a babe who had to be pushed into this world [00:43:50] (63 seconds)


Love is why Christ came. Not just because God so loved the world. But also because this woman named Mary loved her little baby. Love came forth. Because God's desire was for us to live. And not die. And so the question that I want to invite you to ponder today family. Is are you living? Are you living? Because Christ incarnated himself came alive and lived a full human life. And gave up his life just so that you and I could find life. [00:51:09] (49 seconds)


This means that from the moment that you are born again into a new life and from that moment you never perish, though this body, this temple may fade away. We get to celebrate having life everlasting. But family, there is a difference between truly living and just existing. Jesus came that you might have life. And have it what? Not so that you would just exist. Did not come just so that you could get that nice flat screen TV. [00:56:27] (47 seconds)


he did not come just so that you could have the latest iphone or ipad he came that you would have life what i have found out is that everything that man makes breaks every iphone you gets going to break every droid you gets going to break every car you bob's going to break down every article of clothing you have is going to find holes in it but god has given us a life everlasting [00:59:35] (31 seconds)


not just going through the rigmarole too many of us are caught up in the rhythm of routines the endless grind the mundane cycle of days and that look the same after the same and feel the same but when we accept jesus oh I have found that there's a whole nother kind of life something comes alive on the inside of you something that makes you want to walk in your purpose something that makes you want to seek God's presence and God's face something that money cannot buy and clothes cannot cover there's a life on the inside of me and no matter what somebody says about me they can't kill that life they can't steal that life they can't take away that life because this life is eternal it's everlasting [01:04:14] (52 seconds)


this is the abundant life that Christ has given us it is something that is within me that is bigger than anything that's in this world and so existing is surviving, but living is thriving. Existing means waking up each day, going through the motions, meeting the bare minimum and surviving. It's doing what you have to do, not what you're called to do. [01:11:29] (31 seconds)


and you can't outrun this love you can't hide from this love oh I heard one writer say if I made my bed in the pits of hell oh you'd find me there oh what I love about God's love is it covers everything that I'm ashamed of oh let me go on because I said 12 minutes existing is surviving but living is thriving existence is defined by fear but living is marked by faith [01:16:20] (36 seconds)


fear is the thief of life it whispers in your ear stay in your comfort zone don't take risk play It's safe. But faith boldly tells us, step out the boat. Walk on the water and believe that Jesus is going to hold you up. When we exist, we let fear dictate our choices. We avoid challenges, we cling to what's familiar and we never move beyond our limitations. But when we live by faith, we trust in God's promises. [01:21:53] (44 seconds)


In other words, I don't know how God's going to do it, but I believe God's going to do it. I don't know how I'm going to make it through this situation, but I know God's going to bring me through this situation. I don't know how God's going to provide, but I know God will provide. I don't know how my heart will be mended, but I know God will mend it. I don't know how to make it through this grief, but I know there's a blessing because Jesus said, blessed are those who grieve, so they shall find comfort. Amen. [01:25:00] (33 seconds)


when we live by faith we trust in God's promises we move mountains we dream God -sized dreams and we boldly proclaim I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength when we embrace God's love we walk by faith and not by sight love is here but existing is surviving but living is thriving existing is defined by fear but living is marked by faith and last existence right on time amen [01:28:53] (36 seconds)


I'm trying to have an impact on eternity. I'm working on getting a crown that I can lay at the feet of the Lord. I'm working on getting a crown that I can lay at the feet of the Lord. I'm working on getting a crown that I can lay at the feet of Jesus. I'm working on loving my neighbor as myself. I'm working on praying for those who despitefully use me. I'm working on being a disciple of Jesus Christ, a follower. I'm working on God's justice. I'm working on walking in his goodness. I'm working on loving my neighbor and I'm working on being the kind of father, the kind of spouse, the kind of pastor that God will ask me to be. I want to honor, I want to honor him in everything that I do that's living. [01:47:46] (43 seconds)