This summer I was in what we would be taught is the "real world". I worked full time as an event planner's intern. It was so much fun, but also really difficult in many ways. I absolutely loved my time in the office with Missy and Kait. All of the laughs at the weddings, the tense moments of making sure I didn't send the groom off at the wrong time, the dancing in the back, the itineraries we swam in, the decisions made on a moments notice, the sending out the caterer at the wrong time with the wrong food, the clients who didn't care a bit and just wanted to be married, the clients who cared about every single detail being exactly as planned. All of it... made such a memorable summer. Thank you, Missy for this opportunity. Thank you, Kait for doing this with me. I couldn't imagine doing this with anyone else.
Through my time in the "real world" I learned a bunch. About people, about "success" about "happiness", about being professional, and mainly just about how the world works. I have conversed with such a wide range of people. Every person unique, every person having different experiences with life.. most of which were never once spoken about.
Through these times, I got to see the fun. The exciting. The happy. I heard the love story. I almost saw more happiness in some of the clients in my own self which had me questioning this "life to the full" (john 10:10) that I had heard about ever since I became a Christian in 2006.
Life to the full to me was exactly what I was seeing: laughter, friendships, fun memories. It was confusing me because I was seeing all of these things in lives that are not sold out to Him. I was seeing laughter, friendship, fun moments without Jesus even mentioned or even in the mix. I wondered do I even need Jesus for life to the full?
Through these times, I got to see the fun. The exciting. The happy. I heard the love story. I almost saw more happiness in some of the clients in my own self which had me questioning this "life to the full" (john 10:10) that I had heard about ever since I became a Christian in 2006.
Life to the full to me was exactly what I was seeing: laughter, friendships, fun memories. It was confusing me because I was seeing all of these things in lives that are not sold out to Him. I was seeing laughter, friendship, fun moments without Jesus even mentioned or even in the mix. I wondered do I even need Jesus for life to the full?
My friend Bobby had posted a blog post he found. The list is titled "possible ten reasons Christians tend to look jolly well for their age". After I clicked on this... the list that was posted is the answer to my questions above. Life to the full... yes is laughter, friendship, and fun moments. But it's more than that. It's life to the full no matter the season. And it's in Jesus that the "more than that" comes.
Its this following list... its these things that cannot be produced by a perfect recipe of personalities, food, weather, and timing. These can only be produced by Him. It's when we ask and receive these from Him, that no matter the season, we know what life to the full is.
So that in the moments of the perfect recipe of friends, food, weather... you will have life to the full. That in the moments of few friendships and little laughter... you will have life to the full. That in the moments of complete "success" and full bank account... you will have life to the full. That in the moments of waiting for the next check... you will have life to the full.
Don't miss out on allowing your maker take his utmost care of you, during your time on this earth. Ask and receive this life to the full. Laughter, friends, and fun memories will be that much sweeter.
- Peace – Deep peace stills all else. (john 14:27, philippians 4:6-7)
- Deliverance- From addictions, distorted mindsets (of self, of others) (colossians 1:13)
- Sleep – There is just something about being right with God that means you get a deep and refreshing sleep. (And often full of good, hopeful dreams!!!) (proverbs 3:21-24, psalm 4:8)
- Restoration – The Lord promises restoration. To your cells, to your memories, to your relationships, to your self confidence. To restore is to "return something to its former place or condition". (joel 2: 24-26)
- Healing- Clearly illness takes its toll on the countenance, and Jesus came to relieve us of physical and emotional suffering. (psalm 103:2-3, exdous 15:26)
- Support- Belonging to a church means there is always someone to turn to for a helping hand, reducing the strain on the individual (galatians 6:2)
- Abundance- Good food and plenty of it, always having enough for that moment. He provides all we need, and normally more than that just because. (deuteronomy 28:1-68, 2 corthinthians 9:10, philippians 3:19)
- Victory -We have victory over Satan who comes to kill steal and destroy, but we have the authority and victory to prevail under the blood of Jesus. Yes, that includes FEAR. No fear when Jesus is around! (1 john 4:18, romans 8:37, romans 8:31, 2 timothy 1:7)
- Love- Living in love ramps up the happiness factor, which in turn increase endorphins and so improves our immune system, helping to keep healthy and looking well (romans 8:30)
- Faith = rest, God has our back. When you know He has your back, you rest no matter the situation. (jeremiah 29:11, matthew 11:28-29)
