Welcome to the first post of Abounds! As I write this I am filled with both apprehension, and excitement. I don’t know what God is going to do with this or who it is going to reach, but I pray you find encouragement as you join me on this faith journey. Abounds was an idea that came to me in a season where I felt stuck. Not just creatively, but stuck in my purpose. I am currently a 4th grade teacher and though I like it, I found myself wondering “what if I did something different?” I tried searching for jobs, but nothing ever came into fruition. Even though nothing happened on the job front,I still had this feeling that I needed something to change. I wanted, needed to create. 

I’ve always loved creating. I first started creating through song-writing when I was in elementary school. That quickly became the main way I would express myself. Slowly that turned into a love of any form of writing altogether. In college this love of writing and story telling combined with a newfound love of studying theology and philosophy. I had recently become a Christian when I entered college, so the study of God, His word, and how different forms of philosophy interacted with Christian doctrines fascinated me. It stretched me. It renewed me in a way that I can’t quite explain. Even though I’m an elementary school teacher my brain often wanders into thoughts about deeper things, and I want to use Abounds to explore more of those thoughts deeply. 

I also want this blog to be a source of encouragement and knowledge that spurs myself and others closer to the Lord. I am writing Abounds because I am learning—slowly—what it means to live from Christ’s abundance rather than my own limits. 

You see, I naturally have what I call a “heavier personality.” By this I mean I am more inclined toward deep emotions and tend to connect more with sadness and lament. This disposition is not sinful in itself; it is a God-given part of who I am and carries real strengths. However, this natural bent can become a pedestal for ungodly sorrow, self-pity, and anxiety. This is especially true when I allow my emotions to interpret reality for me. Jesus has shown me that when I unquestioningly identify with everything my emotions tell me, I put my personality in a place of authority it was never meant to have. I begin to view entire situations and seasons through sorrow and pity, complain about my weakness or perceived unfairness, exaggerate circumstances, and assume the worst of others to justify my feelings. I am repenting of these actions—not of my personality itself. I am tired of allowing its darker tendencies to rule my life. My personality is a gift, but it is not Lord. Christ alone holds that place.

And Christ calls us to joy, endurance, faith, grace, and His strength. My repentance has meant learning what it means to abound in Christ, and creating new patterns in order to live out His identity for me. 

Philippians 1: 9 – 11 says, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” 

This verse depicts Paul’s prayer for the church in Philippi. He urges them to allow Christ’s love at work in them to increase so they may be led to further knowledge and insight. With this knowledge they can discern what is right. Their decisions will allow for sanctification, or their continued growth in holiness, both in themselves and others. They can grow in the righteousness of Christ to the glory of the Father.

Christ wants our love and knowledge to abound. He has been showing me how love naturally fights against the dark feelings of my personality. Love turns earthly sorrow into humble lament and prayer. It shows me the joy and faithfulness of Jesus in hard situations. Love and knowledge allows me to see His grace more clearly, to be more aware of it. Knowledge of Christ’s love and who He is reminds me that yes, I am weak and yes, things are unfair, but HE is faithful, and full of compassion. HE is my refuge and strength in times of trouble. His love urges me to ignore false accusations or fantasies my mind wants to create. Rather it prepels me to look at the true beauty of others, and to think the best of them. I have found that only in Christ do we abound. 

Dear Lord,

Thank you for today and everything in it. I thank you for how you have made all of us so uniquely, each of us different. I pray for these writings, that you bring them to whoever needs them. May they spur your Church in love, and may those who don’t know you or aren’t sure about you read and be drawn closer to you. I am an imperfect being, praying for your provision and guidance for these writings. May you be glorified in them. I love you, and need you Father. In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” Psalm 103: 8