Live Bountifully in a Messy Life

I’d like to offer a warm welcome to the visitors popping in from Suzie Eller’s blog. I invite you to take a few minutes and look around. You may want to start with my About Page. 

My prayer is that you find something on this site that encourages and inspires you to tap into God’s amazing grace to live abundantly in this messy life.

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Her head bowed. Her eyes downcast. I tried to pass her a smile, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze to catch it. 

This was supposed to be a happy event, featuring a Christian comedian and a joy-filled worship leader. Spirits should be soaring and smiles and laughter a given. 

I watched her as she entered the convention hall and slowly made her way to the far corner. Just a young girl, her teenage shoulders appeared to be carrying the weight of the world. 

Wishing I could wrap her in my arms, my heart ached for her pain. As I followed her with my eyes, I silently prayed. 

Dear Lord, Please be with this young lady. You know her, Lord. You love her. Her heart is heavy, Lord. I don’t know her pain, but you do. Comfort her. Help her to feel your presence in a new way tonight. Bring others around her to listen and just be with her. In Jesus name. Amen. 

I wanted to do much more for this grieving girl.

I wanted to run after her. To wrap her in a warm hug.

I wanted to assure her that she is not alone. That this pain will not last forever.

I wanted to give her peace in the midst of her hard.

I wanted to tell her that she didn’t need to carry the world because Jesus Christ had already done that.

Gifts for a Messy Life

On His shoulders clung the horror of the sins of the entire populous, past, present, and future. The depravity of the human condition met Jesus in full at the cross. 

The depravity of the human condition met Jesus in full at the cross. Click To Tweet

But what looked awful became the ultimate Good. What ended in bodily death, resulted in everlasting life. Where peace seemed impossible, God orchestrated it. 

He did all of this so each of us could be with Him in heaven forever! And then He did more!

The Lord lavished gifts on us to see us through our earthly walk.

The gift of grace.

The gift of mercy.

The gift of love.

The gift of hope.

The gift of peace.

Uncountable, these blessings. All means to living bountifully in a messy world. 

The Exchange

Jesus died so we can claim the abundant life, in heaven and in this life! 

Jesus died so we can claim the abundant life, in heaven and in this life! Click To Tweet

He continues to pour out His grace on us, so we can remain hopeful in hopeless situations. So we can find joy in the midst of sorrow. So we can walk in peace when life reigns chaotic. 

You can be sure whatever troubles this young girl is covered by the grace of God. Whatever troubles you is too!

Turn to God with your struggles, frustrations, heartaches, and pains. Let Him fill you up with just what you need.

Exchange the weight of your world for the light yoke of Christ. 

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Reflections:  What weight do you struggle with? Have you considered exchanging it with the Lord? 

Closing in on 4 years of counting and I’ve surpassed 4,000 gifts in Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare! What a blessing! Here are numbers #3996–4016. Read my entire list by clicking here.