live passionately

Last night we began to reflect on what would we do if we had only one month to live. The resource that we are using comes from the book One Month to Live by Kerry and Chris Shook. I would encourage you to read a copy. Last night we focused on living our lives passionately and with purpose. The scriptures were from John 15:1-5, 2 Timothy 1:7, and Matthew 25:14-30.
There were other quotes about living our life in a meaningful way. The first was from an anonymous source, "Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away." Too often we put off living based on our worries, anxieties, and what the book calls the someday syndrome. I have heard so often people in the last days of their lives express regret for the things that they had not done and wanted to do. This does not encourage recklessness but is a reminder that sometimes if we wait for the right time, it never comes. This is especially true for relationships. Don't put off to tomorrow letting people know that you care for them. If there has been estrangement, don't let that continue. I have never known anyone who has gone to their time of going home to God regret the time that they spent with loved ones.
Another way of living passionately is to find ways of being fruitful in what we do. It is important to remember that we are able to accomplish much in our lives when we take time to center our lives in Christ. If we want to make a difference in our life and the lives of others we take the talents God has given us and use them. Both the gospel of John and Matthew speak of this. It also means the willingness to risk greatness. Not to let our fears be the determining factor of how we live. Know that God will empower us in the choices that we make and be willing to face the unknown with confidence in the Lord.
Another way of living is to listen to our dreams. There have been many times that I have heard and I have discounted dreams. Part of this is honoring what the Spirit says to you. Some dreams may be more than what we can do now but at least acknowledge your dreams. Write your dreams down and pray about them. Is this what God wants from you. Part of honoring dreams also is a way of honoring yourself. Taking care of ourselves is vital to effective living. If we are unwilling to treat our physical body as a temple to the Lord and care for ourselves, we will be unable to care for others or even to love God. One of the quotes I used came from the book on the standard Airline Safety Announcements regarding oxygen masks. We are to put on ours first so that we can help others.
Howard Thurman also stated about living, "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have become alive." The time is now. The kingdom is now. God is now. And when we do something realize that there are no mistakes only learning. Thomas Edison when trying to invent the light bulb stated, "I have not failed. I've just found ten thousand ways that don't work." Come alive, center in Christ, know that God will empower us, and let us live today, right now.