2014 - A Year of Living Awesomely!

Is this your view?

It's mine.
Well, those aren't my actual loafers, but that's right where I'm standing.


Actually, this was my real view this morning:

Not as exciting to look at, huh?
Nope, not if that's your attitude.

But it doesn't have to be. And it's not gonna be mine.
Not this year.
And honestly, not ever again.
Because as of yesterday, I planted my feet firmly on the edge of a cliff.
This year is the year I jump.
It's the year of living AWESOMELY. (that's a great word, I don't even need to add an exclamation point to it.)

So, listen. Don't you love it when God just shows up? I mean, plants his truth right in your path and it's exactly what you needed to hear at exactly the right time?
(actually, He does that all the time, but mostly we're too busy on our smart phones to notice it. Uh-huh, you know who you are.)
I heard His voice twice already today, both after coffee, but that's grace, right? He knows me pretty well.

The first was in the word - always a good place to start.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - "...anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (NLT)

How stunning is that? 
Isn't God the best motivational speaker EVER?
I belong to Christ - therefore, I am new. I have a new life. 
And that's not just a one time deal - we have new life every day. 
A fresh 24 hours of LIFE. 

I don't know about you, but I don't want to waste that time just trudging through.  So, this year - I choose to live AWESOMELY. 
In the car pool line at school. 
Doing laundry. 
Sitting at the ice rink 5 days a week, freezing my parts off. 
Walking the dog, checking homework, having surgery (yeah, that's happening), loving my family....

It's ALL a gift. 
This year, I'm pursuing God's best. 
Actively looking for the awesome in every day. 
Because it's there, really and truly, it's there. 
And we even have instructions. Wanna see?


2 Corinthians 5:15 - "...those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ" (NLT)

WHY?
2 Corinthians 5:14 - "...Christ’s love controls us." (NLT)
or in the NIV - "...Christ's love compels us."

What is Christ's love compelling you to do? 
What is your awesome this year? 
Where will it take you? 
Are you living for yourself - if you're in Christ you might want to re-think that. It's a waste of time anyway - you know that, right? 

The second place that God showed up this morning was unexpected. 
I discovered a fresh voice in kind of a roundabout way, but that's God's way sometimes and it's pretty cool. 
Anyway, I read a couple of his blog posts (It's mattham.com if you want to check him out) and found this quote: 

"Life will be full of moments that can define you, derail you or drive you.  
You make the choice on how you respond.
The tragedy of difficult times is when we let them defeat us.
Refuse to be defeated.  Instead, continue."

Difficult times??? Check.
Been there, done that, wore out that t-shirt.

But look, how can we "refuse to be defeated"?

We can CHOOSE to Live AWESOMELY. 

With a Courageous Heart,
~~Robin