As you walk out each day, do you live it radically, intentionally? I don't want to look back on my life and realize that I just let it happen; that I drifted by and didn't live a purposeful, radical, worshipful life. I want to experience radical love, radical joy and extend radical grace and forgiveness. What a way to honor the One who created us to worship and fellowship with Him!
Radical love isn't easy. It's easy to love the lovely, the popular, the accepted. It's not so easy to love the unlovely, the angry, the rebellious, the unaccepted. Radical love seeks out those who have been rejected and those who lives don't look like ours and extends a hand, a heart, a hug. Scripture says "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." This is true worship.
Radical joy isn't easy. It's not difficult to be happy when all of our circumstances are going well and all things are just the way we like them. Happiness is not joy. Radical joy is knowing that God will use everything good and bad in our lives to bring us blessing. He will not cause bad things, but he will take bad things and use them for good. This can fill you with radical joy, when others would look at you and say, you should be sad or mad or bitter right now. Scripture says "He will turn our mourning into dancing." That is true worship.
Radical grace and forgiveness aren't easy. People do heinous things that we can't even wrap our minds around. They break our hearts and they abandon us. God doesn't ask us to keep these people in our lives. But He asks us to forgive them and extend His grace. That's radical. That's not what the world teaches. Scriptures says "if you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the alter and go. First be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift." That is true worship.
I want to live an intentional and radical life, making everyday a sacrifice of love, joy and grace. What a way to worship God in all I do!
I'm joining with Paula Ebert and others on
Worship Wednesdays. Hop on over to her blog and see what others are saying about worship!
From His Lap,
Hi Erin - as I read I was thinking, yes, yes... and then i got to the bit about radical grace and radical forgiveness. Sooooo difficult but, if I want to live my life pleasing to God, then I have to get there. Great post my friend.
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Tracy
Tracy, it's the hardest thing ever...radical grace and forgiveness. But when I think of the things my Lord has forgiven me for, I know I cannot withhold that from others. I'm glad you enjoyed the post!
DeleteBlessings,
~Erin
I've added this post to my list of favourites on my blog (a tab on top) to remind myself and anyone else, what is required of us.
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Tracy
I'm honored, Tracy. I know that you live an intentional radical life!!
Delete~Erin
So beautiful, Erin. Neither of the descriptors in the title come easy for me. Intentional... a lot of times I feel like that line in Elizabethtown... "I feel like I've been asleep all my life." Sometimes I feel like I'm just existing, not truly living. And I know this does not please God. Radical intentionality is such a good way to express how we should be living our lives. Great post! So glad you linked up! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for inviting me to link up with your wonderful blog, Paula! You are a blessing and I bet that your life is more radical than you think!
DeleteBlessings,
~Erin
Erin, this is a beautiful post and I love the words "radical" and "intentional"...but have been on my radar a lot lately......You have given me much to ponder today...
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I went back and read the post about your dad's hands and it was so touching..I couldn't stop reading.....What a blessing that you had your father's strong hands to teach you about our heavenly Father's strong hands....Beautiful....
Nancy, I'm so glad you stopped by. I would just hate to stand before God at the end of my life and place before Him a life filled with complacency and blandness.
ReplyDeleteMy father is the most amazing man and I just had to write that last post as a tribute to him. I wanted him to know how I feel about him. I didn't want to wait until it was too late!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Blessings,
~Erin
thank you for the reminder that we should not show favoritism (James 2:1-7). We are all loved by God, and those of us who are saved are holy and sanctified just like me.I'm no better and they are no worse. But our culture today depends almost solely and certainly constantly on outward appearances. Living radically as you succinctly stated is living by loving all.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Elizabeth, amen!
ReplyDelete~Erin
Hello there,
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of two favorite books I've read. . .Radical and What's So Amazing About Grace?
Yes, I try to live intentionally. . .no better way:)
Beautifully written Erin!
Kristin, I'm going to have to get both of those books. Thanks for recommending them. I'm always blessed when you stop by!
Delete~Erin
Wonderful post Erin! I do try to live an intentional life. Some days do slip by and I wonder what happened there, but for the most part I do try to have purpose to each day. The sober reminder that all our days are numbered and that we need to live them without regret at the end of the day helps. Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteOhhh, those are good words, Cheryl. I'm so glad you stopped by! We can only do our best from day to day and God sees our hearts! Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteBlessings,
~Erin
Wonderful post, Erin. Worshiping with our whole life is probably the most pleasing worship of all to God. Very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you, Karen. It's not an easy task but a daily challenge that can make our lives rich and full!
DeleteBlessings,
~Erin
Another great post Erin! This is so inspiring, your posts always have me thinking, I am reading a book about just giving God your all, and thats where I am, and this ties in with that, thanks again for a blessed post.
ReplyDeletePamela, that's all God asks of us...to give Him our all. You have such a sweet spirit. Thank you for your kind words!
DeleteBlessings,
~Erin
Erin I love how you tied loving people with an act of worship. So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shannon! I think it's the highest form of worship!
DeleteBlessings,
~Erin
Erin, this is a great post and very timely for me. I have a brother that fits the not so easy to love description you gave which also makes it hard to extend the radical grace and forgiveness. But God is good and He has been showing me if not for the grace and forgiveness He has shown me I would be hard to love also. Thank you for yet another reminder. I know you didn't just write this for me but I am one that it was meant for.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you...Chelle
Chelle, I'm so glad this post blessed you. It's a hard walk to live, love and forgive so radically! I will pray for your relationship with your brother. God knows how precious family is and He will work in your brother if he allows Him!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
~Erin
So well written! It is easier for me to love those who are in need, than to forgive those who have personally hurt me, and worse when it was intentional. I know God wants us to forgive and that is my weakness I must work on.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post and a wonderful reminder!
Thanks for your kind words, Amber! I think we all struggle with loving those who have intentionally hurt us. I remind myself that we intentionally hurt Jesus! Thank you for stopping by!
Delete~Erin
Excellent post my dear! I guess radical is the same as Christ-like...I'm all for that!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Becky! Thank you for visiting my blog!
DeleteBlessings,
~Erin
Erin, I'm all about being radical in my faith, so I could very much relate with this beautiful post. Giving radical grace...that's something I most definitely need to work on. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings my friend!
~Rosann
erin, this is inspiring and so motivating.
ReplyDeletei can't tell you how many times the "bad" has turned into good in my life...always teaching me lessons and strengthening my faith. my friends and i were just talking about this tonight...how everything placed in our life is there for a reason...and God knows what we are capable of and what we can make of our hardships...it only brings us closer to him.
thank you for sharing your heart.
and thank you so much for all of your sweet words and the hope that you hold onto in our journey. <3
lots of love
maria