What's in a Name?

So I suppose I'll begin my blogging journey by explaining the meaning behind the name that I’ve chosen for my blog, “Chasing After Life.”  After some reflection I’ve realized that I have spent a large chunk of my life searching… searching for acceptance, peace, love, meaningful relationships, etc.  It wasn’t until two years ago that I realized that Jesus was just what I had always been searching for.  It was about time…  After 16 years of attending church every Sunday, hearing every kid-friendly Bible story (an extremely high number of times, might I add) from a multitude of Sunday school teachers, and experiencing love from a blessed Christian family-- I FINALLY realized.  Disclaimer: This is not a bash on any of those previously mentioned things, I truly do believe that those people put in my life loved the Lord; however, it is a reality check.  On top of being loved by and loving the Lord, how many of us really show love? How many of us really understand how to be a Christian… how to be like Christ.

I know for a fact that I don’t have all of the answers.  I’m not even close.  What I do know is this— I don’t want to be a self-proclaimed Christian.  I want to be like the Christian’s in Acts.  I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit… ALWAYS.  Showing God’s powerful, healing love.  Acts 11:26 says, “and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”

I wonder how that was initiated.  Did the disciples decide to give themselves a label?  I’m not entirely sure… but whenever I read this I think of the miracles the disciples were performing, the massive amounts of people they were bringing to Christ.  I have a feeling that it was those outsiders who established the name.  How great of an honor is that?  To be given the label of Christ-like. 

^^Pardon my ramble…

Anyway, I want to be the type of Christian that when other’s see me, they see Christ.  They say, “Your God will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16)  The only way I know to become that person is to whole-heartedly commit my life to Life. 

So for all of my days that is what I plan to do: Chase after Life.