Live Life Out Loud...Draw... don't Withdaw.....

Today.....I'm going to begin by telling you about last night....

I'm not normally a American Idol follower....but last night I got a phone call from my daughter telling me she had been to the live taping of the show in Detroit...A friend of her best friend was competing....she said I should watch it because she was right up front....moving and grooving....and smiling....and clapping....and the camera found her a few times.....

She couldn't talk long....because she was also invited to the after party with all of the AI contestants...and local celebs.....

We were able to catch AI...and....sure enough...there she was....the Amazing Mr. Brintnall and I just laughed.....my dear daughter....she lives life out loud!  It makes us joyful to see her living life out loud!!!!

Life is meant to be lived out loud.....

Believers in Jesus should be heard and seen.  Christ followers should be influencing society....yes..... in weighty things like politics and business and families.....but also in culture, in social media, in the arts....

Jesus told His followers to be "salt" and "light".....

Remember that song you sang as a kid in church....or maybe at summer camp....."This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine....."  God made you a light....but.... He never used the adjective "little" to describe you.......

Jesus said we should like an entire "city on a hill" that could be seen for miles.....that is no "little" light.....

Living life out loud is being that city on a hill....full of light.....

Light draws people to it....your eyes automatically connect with light....

People are starving for light and life....the world is a very dark place....downright frightening...and.....just...plain.....dark.....

Each one of us can be the light...As I watch my daughter live her life out loud, I am faced with asking myself these questions......

"How am I doing with that?  Am I living life out loud or am I staying silent?  When I enter a room, do I withdraw into the corner or are people drawn to me?"

When you live life out loud, you will DRAW not WITHDRAW..... when you walk into a room....people will be drawn to you....they will want to be around you....and they will always feel better after having been around you than they felt before.....

That doesn't mean that you have to be the "life of the party" or some obnoxiously loud individual....

To draw people to you.....just care....it starts with a smile....a genuine handshake....looking them in the eyes....and asking them about themselves......and don't be afraid to get excited about what they have to say....about the possibilities for their lives....about how much God really does care for them.....

People are drawn to enthusiasm.....some call it "positive energy"

.....actually enthusiasm is from a Latin word which came from the Greek....it's a combination of two words....theos....which means God.....and en.....which is a preposition....meaning within.....

Enthusiasm means God within.

God is not timid.

God is not fearful.

God is not rude.

God is not self centered.

God is not cold.

God is not......boring!

Your enthusiasm...God in you....is not timid, or fearful, or rude, or self centered, or cold, or boring.... THAT is what draws people.... AND THAT is how you LIVE LIFE OUT LOUD!

Live Life Out Loud....Be enthusiastic.....Care about people.....Believe in them..... Hope with them.....Dream with them....and don't be afraid to tell them....You will be that city on a hill.....

If this blog made you think...or made you smile...or made you wonder.....please share it with someone else...that's one simple way to live life out loud today!

Until next week, dear reader....God bless....and do something today to fulfill your purpose.....