Radical

I'm alive! Ha ha You may have thought I died from my lack of communication but these holidays have been so busy and full of nonstop bliss. Also when I do have time I am too tired to even think about sitting down to write.

So over the break I have read 3 books and I am currently halfway though books 4 and 5! I know I did not even read this much at school but these books are mostly  "easy" read books. Except for one. I am about half way through Radical by David Platt. My precious boyfriend gave it to me for Christmas! I have been dying to read it because Dr. Platt is the preacher at my church in Birmingham. I love the book so far! But anyways the book has but so many thoughts and ideas in my brain about the Lord and the relationship I have with him.m

The first chapter is entitled "Someone Worth Losing Everything For".  I love this quote from the chapter that says.

"But if Jesus is who he said he is, and if his promises are as rewarding as the Bible claims they are, then we may discover that satisfaction in our lives are not found in what our culture deems most important but in radical abandonment to Jesus."
 (Platt 3)

I could write a whole post on just this statement and I think I might!

It DOES NOT MATTER what our culture thinks is the next biggest and best thing. It DOES NOT MATTER that I have the best resume. It DOES NOT MATTER what parties I go to or places I go. It DOES NOT MATTER sorority I am in or group I am involved in. It DOES NOT MATTER what I do on this Earth.

If Jesus is the man he says he is. The perfect, holy, Son of God who came to this Earth to sacrifice himself for me. And if all his promises are as rewarding as the Bible claims they are. That I get to spend eternity in heaven worshiping with MY FATHER. Why does it matter about anything else?

This semester this was a struggle for me because being in a new place and not having the support I did at home it was easy to get caught up in what the world thinks is important. We are told that we need to be involved in particular things because it will make our resume look good in the future. We are told that we need to be in a certain sorority because that's the "coolest" one. We are told that we need wear a particular style[long frat tees and leggings] and brand [Uggs,  Ray Bans, David Yurman, Tory Burch, Seven, JCREW]to look attractive or to be cool... [I know this sounds cliche but really you get judged if you don't]. The thing is though, this is all a bunch of crap. The Lord could be coming back any day now and when he does all of that will be gone. I get stuck in this too don't get me wrong but it makes me laugh sometimes at the people I see at school when I try to imagine what they would do if they lost all the things that they think are important to them [materialistically speaking...iPhone, mac books, clothes, shoes, keurigs].

"Somewhere in our lives we missed what is radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable."

Be radical.

One of my favorite quotes that I try to live by is.... Your life should not make sense to Non-Believers if you are living Radically for the Lord.

With Love from my Father,

Diane Elizabeth