Day 1: To Live Passionately - Embrace Fear and JUMP!

I believe there is something - Someone - inside of us who tells us that there is more to life than just sitting in the boat, staying inside our comfort zone, or just letting go of the adventures that life may bring.

We were made for something more than merely avoiding failure. One of my friends once told me as I was about to make a hard decision: "Marge, it's okay to commit a mistake, as long as you're learning from it and won't do it again. It might surprise you, that you become wiser than people your age who are afraid to make a decision." What happened to that decision? It was a definite Fail!" (a fail that has caused so much pain to my parents huhuhu)

There is something inside of you that wants to jump off the bridge or to walk on water - to leave the comforts of everyday existence and experience the supreme adventure of following God.
What's your boat?
- Your boat is whatever represents safety and security to you apart from God Himself.
- Your boat is something you are tempted to put your trust in, especially when life seems to get stormy and shaky..
- Your boat is something that makes you so comfy that you don't want to give it up even if it keeps you from joining Jesus on the waves.
- Your boat is something that keeps you from enjoying the adventures of extreme walk with God!

And for you to know your boat.... YOUR FEAR will direct you to it!
... What is that "thing" that produces so much fear in you? Something that when you think of leaving behind, you are stepping out in faith?
... Areas in your life that are shrinking back from fully being courageously trusting God
... Wind and Storms in life - expected or unexpected!

Fear will tell you what your boat is... and leaving it behind may be the hardest thing you'll ever do! - I hurt my parents so much because of some of the decisions that I have made and I'm sure I will still make mistakes!!! For me, that's the hardest thing! But because of the grace God has given me that allows me to be in faith and allows me to obey whole-heartedly, I know God will turn even the worst of mistakes to the best of miracles.

As the wind never leaves the Earth, so it is when it comes to our fears / wind and storms that will come and shake our life. Fear will never go away as long as we want to grow and experience adventure!

We have to embrace fear and JUMP because the decision to grow is choosing between risk and comfort.

I learned to embrace fear (hahaha.. to embrace my vest and pray) then I JUMPED! ( to be honest, that's the longest 3 seconds of my life!!!!)

Each time you do something - stepping out in faith, choosing risk over comfort... its not that fear goes away, you just get used to living with fear. You realized that fear has no power to destroy you!

But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid."

Matthew 14:27 (The Message)

***I'm reading One Month To live by Kerry and Chris Shook, and John Ortberg's If You Want To Walk On Water You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat

One Life To Live

When would you dare to step out from your comfort zone?
When its too late?
When its the only thing left to do?

Discover how to use our life to live out God's purpose and plan on the earth.

Oh! Teach us to live well!
Teach us to live wisely and well!

Psalm 90:12 (The Message)

Attend our One Life To Live Seminars!
Attend our Weekly One Life To Live Series!

Challenge: TO MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT.

Story 1: Hotdog Again?!

I want to share a wonderful story of a construction worker who brought his lunch every day to work...

All men who are working for the project would always eat together during break time. Every time the construction worker would open his lunch box, he would say, "Hotdog Again!!!!!" Every day same scene was repeated, he'll open his lunch box and will say, "Hotdog Again!!!!"

And this went on for weeks.. other men were so tired of hearing him say the same thing every day... so one of them finally said to him: "If you're so tired of eating Hotdog Sandwiches, why don't you ask your wife to make you something besides a Hotdog Sandwich!?"

and then he replied, "Oh, my wife doesn't make the sandwiches.. I do."

This story resonates with many of us. We sometimes feed ourselves with alot of Hotdogs and don't do anything about it.. Many stay stucked in negativity with a perspective framed on deprivation rather than abundance. For example, they choose to see the glass as half empty.

We have been blessed with the ability to make choices; these choices offers us the opportunity to see things differently and to change our behavior. We don't have to eat hotdog sandwiches every day. We can let ourlives be touched by the positive energy around us and see the good that is right in front of us. We can find things to laugh and be connected to others. We can find ways to be grateful for the blessings that are granted us daily. We can change our thinking from negative to positive. We can learn to believe in ourselves and live each moment we are given more fully.

I think we should also open our spiritual lunch boxes daily and find some soul food in them.

If we could find some laughter and joy we would be healthier and wiser people.

If we could find some surprises and reasons to hope we would be more balanced people.

....the best thing about this is that we can be empowered to this for ourselves!

We can be people who make a choice to live fully.

We can be people who learn to see the joy in the moment.

We can be people who surround ourselves with positive, healthy people.

We can be people who feed ourselves more than hotdogs!!!!

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126: 2-3 (NIV)

Philippians 4: 10-13

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because i am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:10-13

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength... Philippians 4:13

1 of my favorite love letter from God...thankYou Father!!!