2017 Word of the Year - Purpose

The New Year is one of my most favorite things in life.  It's the possibility of all things becoming new. It's getting the mind in the right place to make things happen. It's getting organized and thoughtful about where you're heading.  

I gave up making resolutions about 5 years ago. I tried a new way of looking at the new year. By participating in the One Word project, the past five years have been focused on specific things I needed to work on.  My previous year's words have been Passion, Live, Transform and Believe.  The words were specific for the season of life I was in, and each had a scripture to inspire them. If you go through my blog, you can find each one there.

This year, I believe God is leading me to the word "Purpose". I live a lot of life on auto-pilot. I get to the end of the day having not accomplished anything worth remembering or not remembering anything I've done. Yes, I have busier seasons, and I stay fairly busy most days, but most of the time I am just going through the motions checking off lists.  

Instead of getting to the end of 2017 wondering if I did anything that mattered, or with purpose, I'd like to get to the end of the year saying "Everything I've done was done with purpose, on purpose."  That is my motto for this year - Live life with purpose on purpose.

John Lennon wasn't the first to say it, but made it famous in his song "Beautiful Boy" - "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."  

Purpose is synonymous with Intention and Determination.  Living with Intention and Determination, living with Purpose.  I don't want to be planning life and then find out that it has passed me by. Instead, I'd like to look back at the end of my years and say yes, I lived with purpose.  

I want to serve God with purpose, I want to be a friend with purpose, I want to be a mother with purpose, I want to be a wife with purpose, I want to give with purpose, I want to exercise with purpose, I want to study the Word with purpose, I want to love others with purpose.  Everything I do, I want it to be done with purpose on purpose.  

Proverbs 20:5 "The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out." God has gifted each of us with purpose that we have opportunities to discover. We are able to have insight to these gifts and talents as we live each day with purpose. Peace comes with knowing Who has called us and to what He has called us. You are in the right place, at the right time, and so am I.

The purpose of life is to discover your gift.

The work of life is to develop it.

The meaning of life is to give your gift away.

“Finding Your Strength in Difficult Times: A Book of Meditations” by David Viscott

31 Days Seeking God

I have been a Christian for a very long time.  I asked Jesus to come live in my heart when I was 5.  I loved Jesus more than anything, going to bed listening to teaching tapes and writing love songs to Jesus by age 7.  I went to Christian school for a few of my elementary school years.  I was in church Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night and for any special meetings in between.  I was a teenager in a youth group that went out and ministered several times a month at local churches and street events.  

Somewhere along the way, I learned the art of wearing the mask.  Hiding behind Christian clichés became my life.  After years of hiding, my heart became hard and tired.  I stopped seeking, stopped longing and the wonder of Jesus left.  

Recently, the Holy Spirit spoke to me in the middle of our Pastor's message and said "this is for you."  He was teaching on "seeking the Lord."  Immediately, I knew it was time to take Him at His word.  Jeremiah 29:13-14 (MSG) "When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree."

Oh God, I don't want to be disappointed.  I want to seek you with my whole heart.  I want to find you more than anything else.  This has been my prayer for the past month, and I’ve been learning to seek God with fresh eyes.  You know, when you’ve been in a relationship a long time, it is easy to lose that excitement of the new love.  I want that excitement back when I talk about Jesus, when I think of Him.

This 31 day series was born out of a desire to seek God with my whole heart.  To see Him, to hear Him, to know Him.  Join with me, and seek Him with me.  You will not be disappointed to see Him in your everyday life.  One of the rewards of seeking God is getting to know His promises.  The bible says His promises are Yes, and by that we say Amen.  I am going to spend 31 days seeking Him through various promises.  

There are many ways to seek God.  We can seek Him in prayer, worship, His Word, spending time with other believers to be sharpened, and the list goes on.  I hope you will join me and let’s fall back in love with Jesus.  Let’s let Him restore to us the joy of His salvation!

POSTS:

Day 1 - Be Anxious for Nothing
Day 2 - He Will Give Rest
Day 3 - He Will Quiet You by His Love
Day 4 - He is Near to the Broken
Day 5 - He Will Fulfill His Purpose for Me
Day 6 - He is Our Provider
Day 7 - His Grace is Sufficient
Day 8 - He Restores Us
Day 9 - He is Our Peace
Day 10 -  He Cares for You
Day 11 -  He is Faithful
Day 12 -  He is for You
Day 13 -  He is Our Joy
Day 14 -  He Keeps Watch Over Us
Day 15 -  He is Our Helper 
Day 16 -  He is Our Refuge and Strength 
Day 17 -  He Leads Us to Still Waters
Day 18 -  He Gives Us Favor
Day 19 -  His Mercies are New Every Morning
Day 20 -  He Fills Our Hearts Desire
Day 21 -  He is Our Redeemer
Day 22 -  He Makes All Things New
Day 23 -  He is with Us Always
Day 24 -  He Will Strengthen Us
Day 25 -  He is Working in Us
Day 26 -  He Makes All Things Possible
Day 27 -  He Moves Mountains
Day 28 -  He Works All Things for Our Good
Day 29 -  He Will Go Before You
Day 30 -  He is Our Freedom
Day 31 -  He Finished It All

Fill Me, Lord

Linking up for Five Minute Friday, for the first time over at Kate Motaung's place.  This is a fabulous community of bloggers that link arms on Friday to write for five minutes flat, no editing.  Come join in the fun with us!  This is Kate's first week since taking over for Lisa Jo Baker!

Fill me, Lord.  It's a simple prayer, and it's one I've prayed a thousand times, or more, in my lifetime.  The thing I often forget is that God is just waiting for me to take the first step in getting that prayer answered.  I can pray that prayer until I no longer have breath, but if I don't do my part, I will still be as empty as I ever was.

Have you ever heard the saying "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink"?  That's how I feel about my part in Jesus filling me.  I'm standing on the edge of the water, and He's calling out to me to step in.  He's calling me to get filled up, but if I just stand there at the edge, I can not get filled.

Too often I am more apt to fill up on the junk instead of the one thing that can keep me satisfied.

Instead of filling up on peace, I drown myself in the cares and chaos of this world.

Instead of filling up on joy, I get so focused on problems and the hopelessness that accompany them.

Instead of filling up on love, I allow anger to seep in and boil over to those who are most important to me.

Instead of filling up on the goodness of God, I meditate on how people have failed me.

Instead of filling up on Jesus, I fill up on TV, movies, books, the internet, and anything else that turns my heart from Him.

This is a surrender of sorts.  I want to be filled with Him.  Empty me of me, so I can be filled with You, Lord.  Let my sights be set on You.  Let my hope and trust rest in You.  I don't want to be spiritually dehydrated and spiritually anorexic.  Let me fill up at your table, and let your great love satisfy me.  

Bloom

It's been a while, but I'm finally linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and the amazing Five Minute Friday community of bloggers with the word prompt BLOOM.  

I don't consider myself a "mommy" blogger.  It's not because I'm not a mom, because I am.  It's because, as a mom, I feel the most inadequate in all my roles in life.  I don't have creative ideas for road trips, or pinterest worthy ideas for getting the kids to obey and do chores.  

However, motherhood, has altered my life in so many wonderful and fulfilling ways.  Motherhood, in all it's triumphs and fears, in all the laughter and tears, in all the trials and victories, is where the most growth has happened in my life.  

For years, I looked to my mom and some of the ladies I grew up knowing as "second" mom's to me as being the ideal mothers.  They were the unattainable perfection for my unrealistic goals regarding being a mom. I held them on a pedestal, and now I understand where my admiration came from.

These ladies labored long and hard for years raising their children.  They went through the very growth that I am going through now.  God grew them spiritually through their natural work of motherhood.

I am a terrible gardener, and would consider myself a brown thumb.  

Something I've learned recently about growing a good plant that will bloom in it's season is this: it requires pruning.  Pruning is necessary to bring forth the harvest, the fruit, the full bloom.  God is in the business of pruning our broken, dead and overgrown areas of our lives so we can bloom into the gift He's called us to be - to bloom into the purpose for which He's called us. 

This is what wikipedia says about the purpose of pruning:  Reasons to prune plants include deadwood removal, shaping (by controlling or directing growth), improving or maintaining health, and both harvesting and increasing the yield or quality of flowers and fruits. 

God is working away in us, removing the dead parts, shaping us to direct our growth, and he's improving our spiritual health to increase the yield and quality of the fruits that we bear.  

Motherhood, is the place where I realize just how much of a sinner I am, and how far short of God's glory I fall.  But, when I look at those mature mothers, who are like strong, old oak trees, who have weathered the storms and still bloom with green leaves, when I look at them, I now understand the reason they bloom  is from the pruning through the early years.  

They are the perfect example of Psalm 92:14 (AMP) "[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age..."

Let your roots dig deep into Him, for it's in deep roots that we will bloom.  Let's be determined to learn in this season of motherhood, and see where God wants to take us to bloom.  This is a season of pruning for me, and now I'm truly grateful for the growth that is taking place.

Faithful and True

It's a quiet Thursday morning.  There is only about a month left of preschool for my youngest, and these quiet Thursday mornings will turn into a symphony of laughter, excitement, and maybe a little yelling.  He's boisterous, that one.  More on him later.  For now, I write.

When I started this blog 3 years ago, I intended it to be a journal of sorts.  I had a few friends who "followed" me, but not many really read it.  So, I felt free to write about everything.  These friends knew my struggles anyway, so it wasn't news to them.  Over time, it has evolved into something I love doing, and though I may not have hundreds of daily readers, I believe God has called me to it.  

I was trying to come up with some catchy title for my blog, but couldn't think of anything.  I ended up with God is always working in us because I thought about the "Experiencing God" bible study that Todd and I did together.  The ONLY bible study we've done together in 12 years of marriage, sadly.  However, in that study, the thing that struck me most was a part that talked about how God is always working in us, and God reminded me of that when I was trying to come up with a name.  

The point of all this is that lately I've been distant from God.  Not really pursuing Him, at the same time believing He is near and has me quiet for a season.  I don't know if the flood gates are about to open, but I do know that He is working in this quiet season.  He is ALWAYS working in us, even when it feels like we are all alone.  When we are on the mountaintop or the valley's, He's right there working in us.

I don't know who came up with this illustration, but I love it!  I mean, I want it plastered on my walls.  See, I grew up believing the opposite was true.  I believed that God's plan was perfect, straight and had no detours.  I believed that my faith was lacking if I went through a trial, and that for some reason, I might even be in sin if I was walking through a valley.  Tell someone who struggles with self-worth, depression and insecurity that they are in sin, and it just exasperates the issue.  

Instead, over the years, God has been so faithful and true to His word.  He loves me through it all.  His grace IS sufficient for me.  There is purpose in our pain, there is purpose in our suffering, and in our race to the finish line, these things produce character and hope in us.

Romans 5:3-4 "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope"

So, now I can look at a picture like this and see how God has shaped the ups and downs in my life to produce character in me, to give me hope in Him, to know He is continually working on my behalf.  He loves us, friends.  He loves us so much that He has a plan and a purpose for our lives.  He desires to walk with us through the valleys just as much as He is with us in our mountaintop experiences.  Our greatest growth in Him usually takes place in the valley's.  It's through these experiences that He shows His faithfulness in the most intimate ways.

Let me encourage you to find your hope in Him.  I am finding mine in Him.  Let me encourage you, also, that you are not alone.  We all go through ups and downs in life.  Jesus said we would walk through things that wouldn't be fun.  But, we can have confidence that He is faithful to watch over His word and to perform it, and He is the way, truth and life.  He is always faithful and true.  

Do you believe God has a plan for you?  Do you believe you have purpose?  What do you know God has purposed for you to do in life?  

Change on the Inside

Are you like me?  Do you like change, but hate the process of change?  Do you desire things to change, but don't want to put the work into making it happen?  I wish I had a genie in a bottle most days.  A little too much "I dream of Jeannie" reruns in my childhood, maybe?

I am so guilty of desiring all kinds of changes and never stepping foot in the direction, which would make the change reality.  I tend to like doing things the same way over and over, but expect a different result.  I know, that's the definition of insanity.  I never said I wasn't just a little bit crazy.  

But really, change isn't going to happen over night, just like a butterfly has to spend time in it's cocoon before it spreads it's wings.  Change is not going to happen because I do something different one time.  It's going to be a day by day, sometimes minute by minute attention to detail.  It's going to be when I purpose in my heart that today will be different and nothing can shift me off that focus.  Real change is a God thing.  

I have lots of lists of things I want to change.  Journals lie around my bed with half-hearted "goals", but really they were wishes and hopes.  

I want to lose xx pounds by the end of the year

I want to save xx amount of dollars

I want to do a family bible study every day

I want to learn a new hobby
I want to...

The point that I miss, every time I make my lists, is that I'm dismissing what God might want to be doing in me at that time.  He is ALWAYS working in us.  Sometimes the picture is bigger than our 3 bullet points and neat little lists.  Perhaps he puts the desire in my heart to lose some weight.  But, when I don't invite Him to help me in the process, I start doing it in my own strength.  You know what?  My strength fails me.  Again, and again.  I can't do life on my own, try as I may.  I must get into a habit of inviting the Lord into my day to day, into the little things and into the big things.

I do want to lose xx pounds, and save xx dollars, and all those other things.  But, I can't do any of it without Jesus by my side, directing my path.  Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  When I get into His word, spend time communicating and listening to Him in prayer and meditation, and worship Him, I can hear Him more clearly, see the pathway more clearly.  

He is ready and able to help me change whatever we are needing to change.  He plants those desires in my heart for change and is wanting to walk through those changes with me.  

What is God wanting to change in you?  Where is He wanting to grow you in Him?  Will you take a leap of faith with me, and let Him light our path to show us how to make those changes?

The Good Shepherd

Last night, just as I was drifting off into sleep, the Lord showed me that I was just "getting by".  You know, it's something when God shines a light on your heart and reveals the broken places.    For too long, I've been just getting by when it comes to my relationship with Him and with others.  Just living a life of little faith.  That's not living.  At least, it's not the abundant life Jesus said He would give us.  

Most people think of abundant living as something that involves having lots of things, experiencing lots of exciting things, the big house, and the nice car.  What if abundant living was less about our possessions and status and more about pouring out into others.  What would abundant life really look like if Jesus was standing right here telling us now that He wants to give it to us?  Because, I think that's what He's doing.  

Do we dare take a step of faith and trust Him for Who He says He is?  Do we dare follow Him like He says in John 10:4?  "...the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice."  I'm being challenged in this.  The word I got for the year is to Live.  Not to be, but just to live.  How can I live fully and confidently in Him, if I question the path He's leading me on?  

John 10:3b-11a "The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but theydid not understand what he was saying to them.

7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd." 

I believe abundant life is something we can all walk in if we choose to live fully and intentionally in Him, to take steps of faith and trust He's right in front of us.  To live generously and trust Him more.  To expect answers and to prophesy over the dead and dry things God has placed in us that have been replaced by cobwebs and unbelief.  

The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came to give us abundant life.  What has the thief stolen from you?  Dreams?  Opportunities?  Hope?  Jesus is the good shepherd, He came to bring us to life in Him.  This is the abundant life.  Abundant life has less to do with having it all and more to do with living fully and with purpose right where you are.  

There is nothing more empty than having it all, and living without purpose.  Life feels meaningless and not very abundant.  God is calling us to more abundant living and less aimless living.  What if we determined to take the small steps of faith to follow Him, wholly committed to His plan and purpose for us?  How would that change your life?  My life?  

He calls to me.  He is calling to you.  He calls me by my name because He knows me fully.  I know His voice.  It's distinct, and rich with wisdom and understanding, and deep love for me and you.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd calling each of us by name and leading us out.  He goes before us and we follow Him because we know His voice, and the stranger we'll not follow.

Father, I thank you for calling to me, and drawing me to you.  I thank you that I know your voice and the voice of the stranger, I will not follow.  Help me to hear you clearly as I study your Word and spend time with you in prayer.  I ask that you would touch each person that reads this, that you would reach out and revive old dreams and give new hope.  I ask that you would shine light on their dark places and show them how to live fully in you, right where they are.  Just as you are working in me, I thank you that you are working in each person.  Thank you for giving us abundant life through Jesus, and for bringing us to full life through his death, burial and resurrection.  In Jesus Name, Amen!

A Thankful Heart: Growing In Him

I asked my friend, Lisa, to write up a post for me.  She brilliantly came up with this beautiful post.  Let's ask, seek and knock together.

By: Lisa Drever

If you know me, then you know I don't have a green thumb. I'm not the best at consistently watering plants and I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to actually planting things. Lucky for me spiritual growth is something completely different! Don't get me wrong, spiritual growth and the growth of a plant do have several similarities.  God can take a tiny seed and grow a huge tree. When we forget to "water" our spiritual selves, we get sickly.  Sometimes we need to trim back our spiritual selves to make core branches stronger.  Some plants have beautiful blooms, some fruit, some have tall trunks with strong branches, some are small, prickly cactus; but they are all beautiful, and they are each the plant God created them to be.  The most important similarity is that plants, like our spiritual selves are always changing.  

How do we foster spiritual growth?  In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus tells us: 7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  Jesus is talking to his disciples specifically about persistent prayer. To me it is also a beautiful guide to three components of spiritual growth. 

Ask

Asking is the most basic part of spiritual growth but it is still the most important part.  Asking is telling God we desire Him and want our life to be His. It is the first step in starting a relationship with Christ. We ask through our prayers. We can ask God for many things, forgiveness, guidance, assistance, encouragement, hope, safety, and security. But it is important to notice that we ask God. We don't tell God our plans and needs like we might to our spouse. We ask, we beg, we humbly beseech. God grants us many blessings whether or not we ask for them. However, we can not truly be called His until we ask that it be so. A great way to start or restart spiritual growth is to ask for it. When we ask God we must truly desire it. Asking requires very little action on our part but can have the most amazing results. God knows we aren't perfect; he made us that way. He delights when we acknowledge our dependence on and need for Him.  Ask. God wants you to.

Seek

Seeking is the next step in spiritual growth. When you seek, you take some action in growing closer to God. This includes, reading the Bible, going to church, having fellowship with other Christians, doing something that helps you to learn more about God. Seeking also includes making changes to put God at the center of your life.  It might mean replacing time shopping on the internet with time learning about Christ on the internet, or even just praying. Some people may seek before they ask.  The order isn't important but it is not enough to seek without asking or ask without seeking both are needed for spiritual growth.

Knock

To me, knocking is the hardest, yet can be the most dramatic and rewarding component of spiritual growth.  Knocking is placing yourself on the God's doorstep and asking to be let into His kingdom. It requires complete faith in Christ. It requires giving your life, your obedience and service to Christ. It means putting yourself out there. Yes there. Outside your comfort zone. outside of your bubble. It means giving God control.  Knocking is an action. You can't want to knock, or pray to knock, you have to do it. Knocking can mean (sometimes radical) changes to your lifestyle, sharing Christ with non-believers, serving fellow sinners, and more. Not everyone can go on Mission Trips, but you can ask for God to show you and seek out opportunities to knock. He will answer and he provides His Holy Spirit to empower you to do anything.

The best part about spiritual growth is, that Christ says when we ask, seek, and knock God WILL answer. It may not be the answer you think, but it is the answer you need.  Christ also says we must do all three. It is not enough to merely ask, to seek, or to knock. All three are required.  We can not be content to ask and take no action. We must seek to guide our judgment. We can not knock without knowing where the door is.  God knows we aren't perfect. God knows we have times of growth and times of neglecting our growth. His answer is persistent reliance on Him for that growth. He didn't say try, try harder, and try some more; or read the bible, go to church, quit sinning give away your possessions and work in a a soup kitchen, and then you are worthy. He says ask God, seek God, knock on the door to God. In short, RELY on God for your spiritual growth and it will be given to you abundantly.  

Dear God, I thank you for opportunities to grow as a follower of your son, Jesus Christ. You plant a seed I each of our hearts. By leading us to ask, seek, and knock you nourish our growth. We do not deserve to receive your love, but when we ask for it, it is there. When we seek to know you more, you reveal your truths, when we knock at your door as your obedient servant, you open it. We praise you in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.