<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULoDFRGfGQtSlvT0MmqhEsXp8Hdsw2C-2ABhe5-bt_um1xEAoM-bU3yO7b7NEGc-492Kk9kfn0NsxhEa4twKHxpKsALacz4wTrfrts1qq_KIcc_ZJLE4YBcru3bnLpqCewNCGQxZWk1GrYrIaQoKyH_M17o9Bpy-LJwNHasdjcceJUwvnT1shpLskOnY/s2200/more__largepreview__.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULoDFRGfGQtSlvT0MmqhEsXp8Hdsw2C-2ABhe5-bt_um1xEAoM-bU3yO7b7NEGc-492Kk9kfn0NsxhEa4twKHxpKsALacz4wTrfrts1qq_KIcc_ZJLE4YBcru3bnLpqCewNCGQxZWk1GrYrIaQoKyH_M17o9Bpy-LJwNHasdjcceJUwvnT1shpLskOnY/s320/more__largepreview__.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif;">"I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly," Jesus Christ, Gospel of John (10:10)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Abundance does not necessarily mean "more."&nbsp; In fact, there is a deception of "more", that comes whenever we are told that "IF we do "more" of X, Y or Z, then we will have "more" of happiness, security and joy - the fundamental goods of life."</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The reason why it is the deception of "more" is because "more" never works out is because the goal posts of "more" are always moving; it is never enough and never going to deliver the fundamental goods.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The good news is that Jesus has come to offer us abundant life, life that doesn't begin with "IF" but "I am the Good Shepherd."</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A reflection then on what the abundant life looks like and how we can distinguish between the "Deception of More" and the invitation to the abundant life.</p>