The Adventure of a Lifetime

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. (1 John 5:1 NIV)

So much of our faith-walk is an adventure. Once I began this journey and started to believe in God and believe God, the adventure began. One day I was living my life with no Spiritual accountability and they next it was all different. This new path was the result of a moment of thinking, "there must be more to life than this."

Now don't get me wrong, I was a church goer, I was involved. I knew the right things to volunteer for, the proper way to behave...at church.  But therein lay the problem. My actions for the 1 or 2 hours a week at church were not the same as the rest of the week, my motives were not honorable.

Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome. (1 John 5:3 MSG)

Slowly I was convicted by my actions; I learned to behave different. I learned to do the things Jesus did as I read the words Jesus spoke. Little by little I became a disciple of Jesus. And as you know, nothing is ever the same again. I still sin, still make mistakes, still say and do things that hurt. But I am able to recognize the sin in my life and change; repent and walk in a new direction.

That is where the adventure comes in. With eyes and my Bible wide open, I step into the future with hope and joy and the love of Jesus. "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:12 NIV)  Are you up for an adventure? 

1 John 5:1-12

Adventurous Prayer

1 Timothy 2:1 (MSG) 
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

My dream for years has been to own a small RV and travel. This was my retirement dream, but as luck would have it, it was my husband's worst nightmare. But, now, after living seven plus years alone, I finally came to the realization that I needed a dream and so I resurrected that old one; which by the way never really left my heart.

To travel over the U.S., meet people, see the sights. To live a life of adventure is so appealing at this time in my life. What fun to step outside my norm and take some chances. To meet folks who don't know Jesus and maybe have an opportunity to make that introduction. So, what is stopping me? Why don't I do it?

Common sense steps in and makes me conduct a 'wisdom check.' I am prompted to ask questions like: What changes do I need to make in order to follow this dream? What are the risks? What could happen? Will this adventure impact me my life and my future?

But, any adventure worth considering is worth dreaming and even planning for. There is nothing that says it is forever. No, maybe just give it a try in small doses. How about a couple weeks in a rental camper? Just to test the waters.

I have been praying about my future, about my dreams and my reality. Wisdom often stops me in my tracks and tells me I am not being practical. My finances do the same sometimes. But I am going to keep praying and I know God has a plan/dream for me. I just hope it includes some real adventurous moments.

What about you, are you filled with a hunger to follow a dream that maybe doesn't seem steeped in reality? Pray, pray every way you know how. See what God might do. Perhaps we'll run into each other on the road.


1 Timothy 2:1-6

Acts 4:32-5:11

Bold Giving

Bold defined means: fearless and adventurous; willing and eager to face danger or adventure with a sense of confidence and fearlessness. Have you ever felt adventurous and daring when you dropped the envelope or roll of cash into the collection basket at church? Do you feel that way every time? Most of us don’t. Is that wrong? There’s a song by Matthew West called, My Own Little World. One of the lines reads; “I throw a twenty in the plate, but I never give ‘til it hurts.” Is it supposed to hurt?

Today’s reading holds a story about a group of believers who shared everything, including all of their possessions. They were “one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of the possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. There were no needy persons among them.”

This makes me think of a commune situation. If the numbers weren't too high, and everyone shared what they had for the good of the cause it might be an awesome little community. But now look at this big world. How can we possibly even make a dent in the multitudes of needy across the globe? The numbers are unimaginable, yet God calls us to reach out in many places throughout the bible:

Romans 15:1-3.

Deuteronomy 15:11

1 John 3:17-18

Acts 20:35

Proverbs 19:17

Proverbs 22:9

Luke 12:33-34

…and the list of clear messages to serve others goes on. Whether it is giving at the church to be dispersed as the church ministries determine, or reaching out directly to those in need within our own life, it is what the Lord expects of us. And, our giving is not to be with reluctance, for “God loves a cheerful giver.” 

2 Corinthians 9:7

On last Monday’s radio show with Chuck Swindoll, he described world ministry in this way: It’s like working in a mine. Some go down, to do the actual work while others stay on the surface and hold the rope. Both are needed, as the job cannot be done without one or the other. We can jump in and directly serve if that is what we are called to do, or we can hold the rope in support of those who are equipped to go down. Holding the rope can be just as bold as going down, as long as we don’t let go.

Read/Listen to Acts 4: 32-5:11

Watch/Listen to “My Own Little World” by Matthew West