What have you got to lose?

Life. Death. Days. Minutes. Hours. Judgment. Schedules. Rejection.

What is standing in our way from living?  

From sharing Christ with every single person we meet in some way...

Random acts of kindness. 

Friendship. 

Encouragement for people we know. 

Compassion for those who have been shattered.

Radical love for the poor.

Appreciation for your parents.

Gratefulness for an education.

Happiness simply to be alive.

Talking with one of my best friends a few days ago, we discussed a certain situation I have in my life that I was unsure how to act on.  Responding to my fears, she quoted a Facebook status I had put up that day that read, “What have you got to lose, think of all you have to gain” from a Third Day song I loved. Immediately, I started laughing.  Mostly because it was ironic...but then I started thinking..

You see, I have this bad habit of giving out advice that I know in my heart is truthful, but then when it down to myself I cannot accept it all the time.  I mean it makes perfect sense, right?  I think ‘God has a story written in every one of our hearts and has given us a hopeful future…but that excludes me’

WHY am I so doubtful?

God, You consistently appear in the workings of my life and I have felt you. 

I can see Your beauty in the leaves,

in the stillness, in the conversations I have with others about You and Your love.

The passion I have for You can nearly break my heart because I want to grow deeper with You.

How can I let my heart lead my faith in You when every breath I take in this world is numbered?

What have we got to lose God?

Our image?

Aren’t we called to live for the glory of Your name alone?

Matthew 16:25

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Jesus, Your truth is the only one I desire in this life. 

Like the seasons that move this life forward and changes the colors of the leaves,

I will live and die.

I have nothing to lose in this life because this is all I have that you have given me.

It’s time to start giving.

Giving our heart and soul every day that our hearts still beat for You.

Searching for Your truth to invade the darkest crevices of our hearts.

Battling against the ways of this world for Yours to be made known.

Pushing for Jesus to renew the hope we had at the beginning.

Resting in the stillness of Your creation every single day.

To love so deeply, so richly that we need Your heart to support us.

Lord, You have my attention and my prayer is that You would get the attention of those You gaze upon and chase every day.  Every breath is a second chance for a new beginning.

“I have chances everyday to live like You, die to myself, and give myself away…” –“While We Sing” Leeland

Give me the courage to take those open doors and free chances you give me and to ignore the risks or sacrifices it would take to complete the work.  Jesus, I want to find You, I want to know You and I want to show others who You are.

When we choose to live a reflection of the life You led, we fade away and Your beautiful mercy and compassion is put on a stand for others to see and understand.  We are living extensions of Jesus Christ and it’s time to start loving like this world has never seen before.

                                                   What have you got to lose?

                                                                    This life?

                                       Losing it for His sake is the only way to find it.