Extradorinay Life

I REFUSE TO LIVE AN ORDINARY LIFE!!!

While Emily and I were eating lunch with my mom today, I overheard this lyric in a song playing over the intercom.  I can't remember any other part of the song other than these words, I refuse to live an ordinary life. These words really stuck with me.  I have thought all day what these words mean to me personally.  The one question that I have asked myself is this: What does an extraordinary life look like to me?

Do I feel like an extraordinary life means to live a life collecting material objects?  Do  I feel like I can only live an extraordinary life by how the world views me?  Does this mean that I must strive to have a high paying job and compete for big raises and bonuses?  Should I have the right home in the right neighborhood that is the envy of my family and friends?  Does this vision also include the best and most expensive vehicles with all the bells and whistles?  Must my child attend the best and most impressive school/college?  After I ran the good race, would I feel like that I led an extraordinary life?  Or would I feel like I still missed the mark and something was still missing from my heart?

So as I sat and asked myself these questions, I found that my heart kept returning to Jesus and envisioning what He thinks is an extraordinary life.  Jesus first told us that love is the most important trait to have.  1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."  We know that God is love because He tells us throughout the Bible how much He loves us.  We read in 1 John 4:16 NIV, "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." 

 I started thinking that having compassion for others is another way to live an extraordinary life.  Being on this path of widowhood, I have found that my heart is open to pour out compassion for others that are hurting.  Part of the healing process is to reach back and encourage others that are behind you on this journey.  God shows and tells us to have compassion as He has on His children.  Psalm 116:5 NIV tells us, "The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  Having a heart that pours compassion on hurting family and friends not only blesses the recipients, this action will also bless you.  Compassion opens your heart to allow love to flood and wash over you. 

Trusting God's will to guide you in good and bad times will definitely lead you to live an extraordinary life.  Every day I practice trusting God's vision and path for my life.  I find that surrendering to His will and trusting Him to work everything out in my life feels me up with joy and hope.  The best gift I can give myself is trusting Him with my journey.  Trusting Him in the good and bad times is what God wants us to do.  "In You, Lord my God, I put my trust." Psalm 25:1 NIV.  "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56:3 NIV.  I have found that trusting God is an every day struggle because it's our human nature to try and control every facet of our lives.  I have found that when I trust Him with my path, He always sets my feet in the right direction. 

I feel that living an extraordinary life has nothing to do at all with what the world views as being "successful".  I think living an extraordinary life is measured by how much you love others, how you shower compassion on your fellow human beings, and trusting God's will for your life.  When you allow God to shine through your life, you are drawing others toward God's light.  Matthew 5:16 NIV states, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."  I refuse to live an ordinary life because I want God's light to shine through me and lead others to the salvation and grace that only God can give.  Leading non believers to God's love, compassion, and showing them what trusting God looks like is leading an extraordinary life.  Showing others that you are not just talking the talk, you are also walking the walk will hopefully lead them to sharing God's favors.  Imagine what this world would look like if we were all leading extraordinary lives and refusing to be ordinary. 

Lord, please help and direct me to lead an extraordinary life that reflects Your love and compassion.  Please help me every day to put my trust in You and only You because Your love never fails, it never disappoints, never abandons.  I pray that I become more Christ like each day so others can see You through me.  Thank you Lord for the trials and tribulations in my life because without them, I cannot glorify You through my good and bad times.  I pray that I draw others to want to know You and seek salvation.  Lord You are THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and The LIFE and I pray others will accept and surrender to You.  Thank you Lord for all You do for me.  In Your Precious Name I Pray..Amen!!