Thankful Thursday - Perspective (& Giveaway!)

I am so glad God has allowed mie to grow and gain a better perspective for life on Earth, what's important and what's not.  We miss out on so much because we get caught up in this world and the pleasure and pain we experience here.  In some ways I think our comfort, success, etc., is a driving force away from Christ and toward our own selfish desires (whether to experience pleasure or avoid pain).

Small Town Joy wrote a good piece on that here yesterday.  Go check it out.

Our small group at church has been reading through Francis Chan's "Crazy Love".  We are almost to the end and I have been very blessed by each chapter.  The core of the message is that there is nothing more important in this life than living 100% for the Almighty God who is both big enough to have created universe upon universe and yet intimately involved with His creation enough to care about each detail. With this in mind, nothing else will ever be as fulfilling or worthwhile, either here or in eternity.  If you haven't read this book- please do so.  If you don't have a copy - stay tuned for a giveaway.

One thing that has stuck out to mie as we've read through the chapters is how much this message has permeated my life over the years.  I didn't necessarily grow up in the church.  I've had plenty of people in my life that have exposed mie to bits and pieces of the true gospel, but even as late as high school I still hadn't had a true appreciation for how holistic God's plan is - He doesn't need mie to help design my own destiny.  In fact, I'm still learning that.  Nevertheless, over the years through trials and tribulations he has pulled mie to Him.  I can't say there has been a single moment that has been more significant than others, more impactful, or more valuable.  Instead I've experienced one thing after another that God has used to grow mie and correct mie and shape mie into what He desires of mie.

I'm a work in progress, I know.

In our recent small group discussion someone mentioned how they look up to mie (and others) as someone who provides an example in their Christian walk.  That is so amazingly humbling.  Who am I?  Just another person who has been granted the opportunity to receive undeserved grace and who is being transformed, little-by-little, to someone who cares more for Christ's mission than my own.

In that same discussion we answered the question - what do you want to be remembered for?  I want to be remembered for doing what Christ asked, and this not about me and how great my choices were (or were not) but that people would know without a doubt that the God I serve is real and worth anything we could ever sacrifice on Earth.

Interested in reading this book?  Well - here's a giveaway for you!

"Crazy Love" Giveaway
I will be giving away a copy of this book by Francis Chan through by drawing a winner from entry participants received by 3/16/12 (That's next Friday folks!).  Want to earn entries?  You have 3 options:

1. Post a comment below with what the phrase "crazy love" means to you.
2. Use my little handy, dandy buttons below to share this post on facebook, tweet on twitter, or create a blog entry about this post & the giveaway.  When you're done, leave a comment letting mie know what you've done.
3. Blog about something (an event, a struggle, etc.) that has altered your perception for the better, then leave a comment with the blog link.

Ok - 3 opportunities to enter!  Get at it :)

I'll announce the winner on 3/19/2012.

*P.S. - This giveaway is 100% supplied by Mie and no one else.  Just so you know.