A·bun·dant - [uh-buhn-duhnt]

As I wrote this, I was putting together the last Sunday School time I will teach for the youth at my church for the foreseeable future. I was praying about one last encouragement and message to give them, and eventually, I didn't feel like I had a choice, all that came to my mind was John 10:10, "The Thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and have it in abundance." 

So much comes back to Abundant Life, and so much is covered under Abundant Life. First, I looked up the word Abundance, and dictionary.com came up with "Present in great quantity, more than adequate. Over sufficient, well and richly supplied, abounding." And for synonyms things like overflowing, plentiful and profuse showed up.

I think back to a time when my used-to-beroommates and I once made friendship bread. So, if you don't know anything about friendship bread, it's called friendship bread for a reason. I'm no chemistry buff, and I don't need to know how it happens - all I know is that somehow, someway, the stuff MULTIPLIES like no other! :) So, you should probably have a lot of friends to give it to, because each batch you have more than you need and divide it amongst your friends. [I have seriously considered how you could end world hunger with this, no joke. If you could just give everyone access to a fire or oven and the few non-dry ingredients you add, we'd be in business. :)] Anyways one time Jenn, Shiela and I had the stuff coming out our ears and we were about ready to start throwing it at people. :) I think that's the kinda thing that Christ was getting at here though. 

It might seem silly, what I'm trying to get at is the point that when somebody would come over, it was second nature to us to give some to our guest. It only made sense. We weren't going to waste the gift we were given. Just like that, as a believer, I was not meant to live life for my selfish hopes, dreams and desires. We were all called to something higher. We were meant to give life away to others. To be an example to others. To show others where the Well-Spring of Life is. We were meant to live in an overflow.

When I think of abundant life, I also think of quality. Not just the overflow, but that there's an overflow of THE BEST of the BEST. We were meant to live life without fear, regrets, outside of our comfort zones, and completely abandoned to The Cause of Christ. We weren't meant to settle and be stagnant. Life with Christ is meant to be a life long adventure of service. That may look different for everyone, but we were meant to constantly be pursuing Greatness. That's what I think of with abundant life also.

I'm still trying to figure out what this practically looks like for me, and how to really engage in it. I want to take hold of every bit of life God has to offer. To drink and feel it deeply, to the core. If life makes me smile and laugh, I want to feel it down to my toes. If life makes me cry, I want to taste the tears as they fall. If life seems boring, I want to look for adventure. When life seems to be spinning too fast, I want to find my Focal Point in Christ. I want to be still and know He is God. However that looks, be aware of His presence NOW and in the future. I invite you to join me. It's crazy. Natalie Lloyd once said "Loving God is an adventure that will take you all over the world to some of the most scary and wonderful places. And at the end of the day, you're still in His arms! What a lifetime!"