A: Abundance

I am so excited to be joining in on Blogging Through the Alphabet again! I completed all 26 weeks last year, and I hope to complete all 26 this year. Looking back, I didn't have a central theme to all of my posts. I considered a theme this go-round, but I couldn't decide on just one. So, this year, it will be random once again!

As I thought of a topic for the letter "A", the word that came to my mind was Abundance. The simple definition in my dictionary is "a great supply; more than enough".

As I look around my house, I am overwhelmed with abundance. We have a refrigerator full of fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs and leftovers (another example of abundance). We have not one, but two deep-freezers full of fresh beef from one of our cows and fresh venison from the deer my husband and children have killed this year.

Our bookshelves are overflowing with books - I even had to put some in my storage building. The kid's rooms are so full of toys, we have to buy more baskets and bins to store them in. We have more Bibles than people in our home. Our closets are so full of nice clothes, we are always running out of hangers.

 

We have central air-conditioning and heat to keep us cool or warm, plus a fireplace. We have flushing toilets and electricity at the flip of the switch. We have clean water with the turn of the faucet. We have beds with mattresses, sheets, blankets, and pillows. We have two reliable and luxurious vehicles to drive, as well as money to fill the tanks.

I have five children so I have an abundance of hugs, kisses, tears, tantrums, long talks, laughter, and snuggles. I have an abundance of entertainment throughout the day, games to play, puzzles to put together, and books to read. I have an abundance of laundry to do, meals to cook, beds to make up, and toys to pick up.
 

I could go on and on, but I think you understand. Your home, too, is full of abundance.

 

John 10:10 "I came so that you may have life, and have it more abundantly."

(another attempt at hand-lettering from me)

 

Jesus came to give us life, but not just any life - abundant life. Does this mean he came so that we could live in beautiful homes with nice cars and designer clothes? So that our kids could have all the latest electronic gadgets, be involved in all of the extracurricular activities they want and have more toys than they could ever play with? So our bank accounts could be full, but our hearts empty? No - not at all.

I don't believe in a prosperity gospel, but I do believe that God blesses His people. I don't believe that you should be close to God so you can have all of the material and worldly possessions you desire. I believe the abundant life Jesus is talking about here is not worldly-focused by Godly-focused, heavenly-focused, Kingdom-focused.

He came so that we could have an abundance of grace, forgiveness, mercy, healing, and peace. When we find these things in Jesus, the material and worldly possessions don't mean as much anymore. We have all we could ever need in Him, so there is no voids left to fill with superficial things.

Ephesians 1:3 says "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." Notice is says every spiritual blessing, not just some of them or most of them. God has given us an abundance of spiritual blessings, as well.

I also believe that you can't deny the abundance we as Americans have. Even if you aren't rich by the world's standards, you probably have a home with running water, electricity, and air-conditioning. You most likely have real floors instead of dirt floors and a roof over your head. You probably have closets full of clothing and shoes, even if they're not brand-name or even brand-new. You have food in your pantry and refrigerator, a TV to watch, a phone to use, internet access...we live like kings and don't even realize it.

The response to our abundance should be giving. We have the ability to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and bind the wounds of the injured. We can mend broken hearts, give rides to the people who don't have transportation, and offer hospitality to the less fortunate. There are so many things we can do, so many things we should do, so many things we are called to do. If we ignore the needs of others, we will answer to God for it one day. If we see someone who needs help and refuse the help we can give, we will be accountable.

We need to remember to thank God every day for the luxuries we enjoy and take for granted, for the abundance we are constantly complaining about.

 Join us in Blogging Through the Alphabet! It's not too late to start; in fact, this week is the first week. So please join the fun!