Currently I am leading a study called PASSION PURSUIT with a group of women. I have been glad that the group has been small and intimate. The issues we have addressed have been transformational, not just for the others, but specifically for me. Often it has been in the community with these women that I have been changed-
- Through their authentic sharing
- Through the caring for one another’s deepest aches
- Through the Holy Spirit illuminating our hearts and our longings
In one of the chapters, we have talked about the fact that God wants us to experience pure pleasure.
John 10:10 says
- NIV: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
- NLT: My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
- MSG: I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
But I have wrestled with John’s words a lot over the past 4 weeks. I struggle to FEEL all of those other words that make me think of LIFE.
Several observations I have noted:
- This does not just refer to eternal life- meaning what’s yet to come, thought that is a significant part of the LIFE described.
- This means NOW-
- Right now have LIFE
- Right now experience a rich and satisfying life
- Right now have a better life than you ever dreamed of.
What do you think of when you read about that kind of LIFE?
- Energy
- Breath
- Vitality
- Being
- Freedom
- Heart
- Excitement
- Get up and go
- Joy
That kind of LIFE impacts
- My spiritual health
- My marriage
- My relationship with my girls and their husbands
- My business
- My finances
- My physical health
- My relationships with friends and my community
- My influence on my world
However, through a series our Pastor has led us through at church called the PATH Of DESCENT, I have uncovered questions I have found myself asking- or hearing others ask are:
- Why would God- who wants us to have a rich and satisfying life, allow us to experience such pain such as losing a job, or dream, or a child?
- How can you experience PURE pleasure when our hearts and minds are tainted with death and loss and abuse?
- How do you experience PURE anything when you know yourself- and the choices you made that you intentionally acted on that were sinful, not to mention those times we slip into sin when we aren’t alert?
How do we reckon some of those questions with what we read in God’s word? How do we balance the path of descent with abundant life?
Now- I know all my theologically thinking friends (and husband) already have some terrific answers. Thank you for being willing to correct my thinking- but don’t! Not yet anyway! You see these questions and the emotions that go with them are a huge part of the conversation that the Lord and I are having together. From the conversations I have had with others, I know I’m not alone in the dialog.
Those who are honest enough to ask the hard questions directly of our Heavenly Father who makes the promises in His word, need to hear His answers. As we consider Holy Week, it seems like the perfect time to consider the journey to the grave and then resurrection.
I’m still listening for the answers! I promise I’ll share mine with you. I’d love to hear yours too. But in the mean time, what are some of the questions you find yourself asking this Holy week?
Maybe identifying the questions will help us hear the answers with greater clarity.
I’d love to hear yours!
So…during this HOLY week, what have your thoughts, questions, comments been on LIFE! or life? (my last post)
I’ve had a kazillion thoughts this week- I won’t bore you with them here, but I’ve included a few in private post so I can remember some of them. For those who want to know more- click here to read.
For a list of scripture that speak of LIFE, click here to read.