Abundant Life!

Hello Everyone, miss me???!!!! Lately it has been hard for me to put more then 420 characters together (because of Facebook), that I seldom blog. Only when God gives me something that truly speaks to me, do I sit down and type it out on here. He just recently showed me something that spoke to me and I hope it speaks to you as well.

Just the other day I was in a local store. I was 2nd in line at the cashier, and overheard he saying hello, how are you. The man replied "breathing". It seemed they knew each other and continued to talk. He asked her "how are you?" She said "I would have to say breathing as well". I thought to myself, how sad. Their live comes down to Just breathing! Where is the joy?! Now I do not know whether these two were Christians or not. If they are not Christians then I can see how their life would amount to only breathing. There is no joy, no hope, no peace, no passion without Christ!

BUT how often do we as Christians say something similar?! Oh I know I have! Complaints, worries, anger, whining. We all do it. Oh at least I do it! But God brought this scripture to mind right there in line:

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

"Have it ABUNDANTLY!" In the NIV it says to the FULL! Filled to overflowing!

Other verses that speak of what God has for us (and these are only a few):

Nehemiah 8:10

Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

Colossians 1:11-12
May you be strengthened with all power,
according to his glorious might, for
all endurance and patience with joy,
giving thanks to the Father,
who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

God has not called us to a life of woe is me. God has not called us to just exist and breathe (even though breathing is an awesome gift he give us every second of every day!) God has called us to ABUNDANT LIFE! To a life lived to show HIS GLORY! To a life of beauty and thankfulness!

So the next time someone asks me "how are you doing?" what will my response be? What will your response be?