I was speaking to a beautiful and strong friend last night who has recently gone trough a difficult breakup. She loved him dearly and he told her that he loved her as well, and yet one day he walked away. And she said three words to me with a deep sadness in her voice. As she looked down at the table she softly said, “I feel broken.” And her tone told me that she had lost hope…lost hope in ever putting the pieces back together again.

Most if not all of of us have been there on more than one occasion. Whether it was due to a relationship or great loss in our life…brokenness can come from many different scenarios. And in a moment we’ll start looking at how to put the pieces back together again.

Today is a big day for me, because I’m going to attempt to rewrite the last chapter (year) of my life. I did not like 2022, and therefore have decided it didn’t happen. If I should have turned left I turn right. If I should have swiped left I swiped right. And many times I chose wrong over right.

If you did not like last year then let me ask you a big question, “Did you make any mistakes that have truly ruined your life?” As in, you or someone else did something you can never ever overcome? The answer is no. Yes, we still feel the sense of failure from losing a job, heartaches from losing love, or grief from the passing of a loved one, but we are not beyond repair. However, many of us came out of the last year feeling irrevocably broken spiritually, relationally, and/or physically.

You were not created to live a broken mediocre life. You were not designed to live a life full of depression, anxiety, anger, jealousy, resentment, and add your own negative experience or emotions to the list. If you only remember one thing from this EXHILARATING blog post remember this…the creator of the universe calls you a masterpiece, and Jesus said that He wants to give you an “abundant life.”

I have a large cross tattoo on my back, and in the middle you will see written John 10:10 (if you buy me dinner first). The verse says, “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come to give you an abundant life.” Some translations say, “I have come so that you may live life to the fullest.” It’s in red letters meaning it was Jesus speaking to us. As you can see, we are also warned that there is an enemy that wants to steal, kill, and destroy. And while that may sound like your ex-wife or husband…many think the enemy is the devil. Okay, I know that is what some of you call your ex, but stop trying to be funny. I personally believe that evil does exist, but often times we are our own worst enemy. So how do we get this abundant life?

Jesus simply asked us to follow Him. I know, there were 17 steps to join your church, but there is only one step for Jesus! He said, “Follow me” so that you may have an abundant (not perfect or pain free) life. How do you follow Jesus? By loving others. And we should add that He also wanted you to start with loving God and yourself!

If you and I want to live a life of abundance we must ignore the enemy, and focus on love. Every choice we make should go through a few filters:

• Would Jesus think this is a good choice for me and others?
• Will this choice show love to others?
• Will this choice be good for my wellbeing (love of self)?
• Based on my past, how is this decision likely to impact my future? Don’t let history repeat itself! Learn from your mistakes.

A life of abundance can be wealth and health, but only if it includes peace and joy. As we age, we realize the importance of good health, peace, and joy. Wealth without them is nearly useless.

In 2007 I had a beautiful family, and was making $39,000 a year to be a pastor of a small church. And out of that HUGE salary I had to pay for my own healthcare, and my house payment was $1,400. It was the most stressful job that I have ever had, but I had both peace and joy. In 2019 I was making more money than I had ever made in my life, driving my luxury sedan, and had no peace or joy. The difference? As a pastor I was focused on loving others, and in 2015-2021 I was focused on myself (who is often times the enemy). Today, I find myself in a battle as I pursue peace and joy, but I know where it’ll be found.

The abundant life can only be found in living a life focused on loving and serving others. You can do it from a garbage truck, fixing cars, being a nurse or doctor, defending others as a lawyer, coding, programming, teaching, being a barista or bartender, driving a bus, selling insurance, being a stay at home parent, talking on the radio, or even writing a blog. Where ever you are in life there are people waiting to be loved. You pursue a life of love and service and you’ll know what it means to live in abundance. I pray that you and I will embrace what it means to live life to the fullest, and begin to watch the pieces be put back together again.

Love you,

Tony

Please share the blog with those who need to be encouraged. This is sponsored by me! TonyRussellInsurance.com