What if...

So this blog came about because of a ton of "What if" questions that would swirl around my mind as I was driving, any time I was alone actually. About the same time was reading a book recommended by a friend (Thanks S.M.) called "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning. I couldn't put it down. And I thought "What if it changed your life?" What if...

So this many months later I just finished rereading this book again. And I find myself in the dark of my sisters office on an old and slow IBM laptop asking "What if it changed your life?" I mean really. What if it did? What if we quiet holding on to the things of this world that mean absolutely nothing? That tomorrow could be gone? Heck forget about tomorrow what if they were gone 5 minutes from now? What am I talking about... I'm talking about 'things', possessions, fears, relationships, fill in the blank.

This entire blog has been a journey for me. I woke up one day both literally and figuratively and my eyes were wide open to the reality that "but if all that we do is absent of Jesus, then this so called love is simply in vain" (Mercy Me song BTW). Just recently heard that song but that was what was going through my head. What is this life about? Why are we here? What if we started living like eternity mattered? What if we started living like the "things" we collect on Earth is nothing compared to our rewards in heaven. What if we actually believed in our God who loves us so much he sent his son and that belief in turn motivated our actions and our daily lives?

I'm not saying that the things of this world are useless or all bad. I'm just saying what if instead of our focus being on those things, and our focus being trying to keep up with the Jones' and trying to impress people we don't even know, we really began living with a humble attempt at doing what Jesus says "Love the Lord God with all your heart.... and love your neighbor as yourself"?

What if we acknowledged our faults, quit trying to hide our sins, and showed the world through our lives that the love of God does really set us free, that a love so amazing we can't even begin to comprehend it? What if...

Ugh... could go on all night I think. I normally sleep great, bed heaven was by far in my life one of my best purchases of "things" ever :) (FYI... bed heaven is my name for the TemperPedic bed I bought with college graduation money... no fancy vacation for me, nope a new bed... hahaha!) However tonight I'm out of town and not in bed heaven. I'm thinking there is a big possibility that I'll toss and turn all night because this is on my mind and in my heart. Actually, I'll go to bed with peace. I will pray that those that read this will be moved, moved to live the life they are called to live in the SON! I will pray for God's peace that has been daily evident in my life in the last 2 1/2 years to allow me to sleep peacefully tonight. I want to change the world, I want to shake the world by it's collar and say "Jesus Saves!!"

But for now my audience is you, so I ask....

What if changed your life?

And once again I'll answer "HE has changed mine." HE is a living God. HE is the reason we have breathe, HE is the one I will stand before someday and give an account to. HE thankfully sent His Son to stand with me and HE knows my name.

Heard a youth pastor pray one night and he just said, "Passion or burn." I'm stealing that line tonight. My choice is passion and there is nothing that can stop it.