Needed and Necessary??? Who Me?

When I wrote this post a few weeks ago, it sat in the draft area because I didn’t feel the timing was right to put it up. 

Saturday morning seemed perfect. 

Friday night and all day Saturday, I was one of several speakers sharing at a seminar held at our church.  Part of my speaking time included sharing parts of my testimony.  Let me tell you—that was NOT a comfortable place for me.  Up on the platform of the church sanctuary with microphone in hand was way out of my comfort zone.  I even contemplated not wearing my glasses thinking perhaps it would be easier if all the people’s faces were blurry. J   

Grace came down in buckets and I survived.  I think I was actually understandable in most of what I shared.  Afterwards, I had the privilege to pray with a couple ladies and talked with several others about all things Jesus.  It was a rich weekend!

I came home and read through the notes some of you had sent about what I posted.  After reflecting and smiling a bit I thought, “Only you, Jesus, could ever do anything with the me behind my story!  That in and of itself amazes me!”

Then Sunday came. 

I sat with my girls in Sunday School as we talked through some of their junior high aged questions given to me anonymously the week before.  It was good.  God helps me every Sunday answer questions and respond to statements these sweet, innocent, hurting girls have and I know without a doubt that the Holy Spirit is on the job—because I would fail them every time if I was left on my own.

Here is some of what is coming against my girls and other teens in our church:

* Heavy drinking parents.

* Getting sucked into the “emo” world.

* Eating disorders.
* Pornography. 
* Fears—fear of failure, of man, of rejection, of being the cause of Dad's anger and his leaving.

* In the midst of divorce with the breaking, fighting and crumbling all around.

* Learning to live life not fearing seizures.

* Love-starved=not just boy crazy, but aggressively seeking attention

* Deep-seeded anger that has become rage and bitterness.
* Abuse—emotionally, physically, sexually.
*  Rebellion against authority and contempt—fighting for what they are entitled too.
*  Performing/masquerade/going through the motions.
* Crippled by inadequacy.
* Questioning worthiness.
* Emotional Torments.
* Insecurity.
* Deep father wounds.
* Shame.
* Control.

* The ones we only see occasionally, depending on which parent has them.

* And the quiet ones who concern me because I do not know their story.

Sunday I broke!

We were at the tail end of the Missions potluck {I love potlucks, by-the-way!} and one of my sweetest, quietest girls came over to talk to me.  It wasn’t what she said—or even what she didn’t say.  I can’t explain it, really.  But when she walked away—my heart broke and tears burst.

How can I even begin to love these girls well enough? 

How can I make a difference in their lives?

How can I love away their hurt?

I feel so inadequate!

And you know what . . . all I CAN do is love them. 

I can love them by listening, encouraging, supporting and answering their call for help as best I can by the help and grace of God. 

I can pray for them and trust God to work miracles in their heart, mind, emotions, relationships and day-to-day living.

I can battle for them in the spiritual realm by standing in the gap and rebuking the enemy's attacks against them!

I can be present for them and cheer for each one because they are worthy of being cheered for!!!

I can sacrifice my time, energy, money, focus, talents and ability in the kitchen to assure them they are worth the effort to love on.

I can stop expecting from them 

and fully offer myself to them.

Who needs you today?

What can you do to love some hurting heart well today?

I’d love a few more ideas myself! J

YOU are needed and necessary 

in your sphere of influence! 

YES YOU!!!
and me.

The Difference In Lists

In April, 2009, I wrote the following article for Above Rubies magazine; Issue 76.  I came across it the other day and . . . well . . . got sorta smacked in the face.  Today I share it with you as a reminder to us both of what is important in our lives—time spent in relationship with those we love!

Deep blessings and peace as you walk with Jesus,
Robin

“It is not how much you do,
But how much love you put in the doing”

Mother Theresa’s words got me thinking. We women are famous for our daunting “could never accomplish in three days let alone one” TO DO lists. What if, instead of making a list at the beginning of the day of all that needs to get accomplished, we turn it around a bit? What if we made a list at the end of the day of all the “unseen” acts of love? I believe this list would be more telling as to how productive the day actually was.

Imagine the following…it won’t be much of a stretch, I promise :

• kissed and bandaged an invisible “owie”
• read baby his favorite book seven times
• held my tongue when the boys traipsed mud through the house after digging up all the flower bulbs along the front walkway
• officiated over a toilet funeral for the beloved goldfish
• sang a song and smiled each time a diaper was changed—that would have been 27 times
• lovingly rocked and soothed a little one cutting teeth
• spent all night cleaning up vomit since all the children decided to share their germs with one another
• made Daddy’s favorite dinner
• gently combed the tangles out of daughters hair
• softly, calmly soothed an autistic son as his frustration began to escalate
• fulfilled a request made by hubby that seemed unimportant
• stayed on top of the day’s lessons although feeling mentally spent
• set down the day’s lessons recognizing tensions were high over that math concept
• lovingly picked up a crabby baby who really should have napped longer, knowing it was going to be a long evening
• forgot about needing a shower and smelled in the sweet aroma of the new baby
• asked for forgiveness after being too quickly bothered by an act of childishness
• disciplined rightly, lovingly and firmly when an infraction of God’s or house rules occurred
• played a game instead of spending those few precious “free” minutes in a book
• got off the computer when wanting to “surf” a little longer, knowing it had been enough
• baked chocolate chip cookies and let everyone have a spoon of dough
• started up a pillow fight
• listened intently to older son explain how something works that you have little to no interest in
• opened ears and closed mouth when older daughter wanted to “talk”
• gratefully accepted a bouquet of dandelions (or swamp grass :)
• drove to Homeschool Co-op when wanting to stay in the bathrobe all day
• danced with either Prince Charming or Cinderella
• graciously accepted tea and crumpets served on plastic dishes, resembling water and stale crackers
• read a book to kids old enough to read to themselves
• made popcorn for family movie night
• cheerfully helped with a science project knowing a big mess was awaiting in the end
• drove a child to the Special Olympics event and cheered for everyone
• laughed when really wanting to cry

We still need that TO DO list. It keeps us focused, on track and accomplishing those things that are our responsibility. Maybe we could add to the top of that list, after the word “do”, the words “in God’s time”. Offering up our time to God (Psalm 32:15) to be used as He desires is a beautiful act of worship (Romans 12:1).

I’m going to make my list tonight and I encourage you to do the same. I think you’ll be amazed to see how much love you put in your doing today even if it looks like not much got done. Similarly, if you don’t have a lot to add to that LOVE list but you got a lot accomplished from the day’s TO DO list, keep that in mind when writing out the next day’s list. Maybe “love a little bit more” should be at the top of that one.

Just a thought...

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Black Saturday

The day after Good Friday . . .

The day before Resurrection Sunday . . .

HOPE . . . a simple word and yet not simply earned.

The words to a song state, “All our hope is in you, Lord, the light of the world.”

Without God’s light, 

no thing could penetrate the darkness of that Saturday.  

Without the darkness of that Saturday, 

the light would not be so transforming on Sunday!

We rejoice!  For victory belongs to the Lord!  
Victory over sin
Victory over the grave
Victory over death of life and death of living purposeless and estranged from God!

Victory is His!  Victory is sure!

Victory has been accomplished—

at the cross and at the cross roads of each heart 

seeking and responding to His call 

upon their soul to repent and be saved!

Victory is God’s in His precious Son, Jesus!

I weep much today over His death, the brutality of His lashings, the heaviness of the cross He bore and later was bound to.  The nails did not, could not hold Him there—but love...

Love bore the stripes that now heal.

Love walked Him down the road to Golgotha.

Love carried the weight of the beams across His weakened body.

Love laid Himself out—arms open wide—the sacrificial Lamb.

Love kept Him on the cross when mocked and jeered.

Love took on the weight of the sins of the world for all and for all of time.

Love carried the deceptions of the evil one embedded in the minds of captives.

Love freed the captives from sin’s slavery and from the chains of death!

As Love was lifted up, so was the salvation of any lost soul who has or will someday bow their knee in confession and repentance—in need and recognition of that Love.

Death could not be victorious because God’s perfect Love penetrated the darkness of death and won!  Victory is His because Love is His!  He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things good, holy and righteous.  His love casts out all fear.  

There is no fear—there is no darkness where His Love abounds.  

There is no death where His Love prevails.

Victory is God’s!  The captives are His!  Because Love is His!
He loves willingly and unconditionally and equally.  
His love is complete. 

His Jesus is His love given over for many.
His Jesus is His love poured out for all mankind.
His Jesus is His love sacrificially, once for all, perfectly given to all who would recognize God as Lord of their lives and over their world.

Love is defined by Jesus!  If we want to love well, we need to study Jesus—reflect Jesus—live as Jesus lived amongst those living around us. 

Victory is in Jesus!  Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection completed God’s love.  From the beginning of time this was His plan; to love the world from darkness to light in the hope of His perfect Son, Jesus.

All victory is Theirs!  All victory will ever be—God’s in Christ Jesus!

Death, burial, grief, struggle, sin and hardship all have their day in this sinful world.  The darkness will have its day.  But joy comes in the morning!  Joy unspeakable and full of glory!  God’s glory!  The glory bore on the cross of Love.  Nothing can and nothing will conquer either one.

The victory is already God’s!  
The victory is God’s until the end!  
The victory is God’s for all eternity! 

Sunday’s a comin’...O happy day!

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Why Do We Withhold Love & Gratitude?

My refrigerator wears this white board dressed in black letters of love—

Simple! 

Simple thanks! 

Simplest of words conveying the grandest of messages!

I love you—I appreciate you—You mean much to me—

I am grateful for YOU!

It’s the being together, not the giving of gifts.

It’s the fellowship, not the food.

It’s the laughter, not the same stale stories or new.

It’s the love opened and poured out upon one another . . .

Like the perfume once filling a woman’s alabaster jar, the jar broken—extravagant perfume lavished upon the dirty feet of a Teacher, a Prophet, a Lover of sinners.  Her hair oiled in fragrance and tears wiped His feet with gratitude.  Unwelcome in that place, she found welcome at His feet.  She could not withhold her affection, her gratefulness . . . 

her love!

How then can I? 

For Jesus? 

For those around me? 

For those I live with? 

For those I sup with? 
For those I learn with?

For those I struggle with? 

For those who hurt me out of their own hurt? 

For those who don’t get me—and don’t try to? 

The words have lived on my board several days now.  A quick grab of the door to grab the juice and the words, once again, grab my heart. 

I am loved! 

I am wanted! 

I am appreciated!

I am significant to the lives around me!

I am grateful for the words given in gratitude for me!

Who among us does not need to hear such words!

Some times the words are easy to give, other times not.  But simple or difficult we don’t take the time to offer word gifts.  We don’t recognize the opportunity to love.  We don’t always look to see.  And even when we do—we don’t always act.  We withhold gracious love and heartfelt gratitude because it’s inconvenient, we’re busy or we are—simply, unwilling.

For you, dear Jesus, I promise to love and not withhold gratitude and affection.  Holy Spirit, only by your help and grace can I extend to others what I “feel” is withheld from me.  Out of love for you, Father—I will let it be known by words and deeds that I am grateful for this creation of Yours that bears their name!

. . . Amen!

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Let Me Be Enough

Dear One,

Embrace what I’ve asked you to do with no hope of gaining any glory in the process. 

Let my pleasure in your obedience be enough. 

I know you want to measure your success in what you do—offer to others—by their reactions, their expressions towards you concerning it . . . towards the substance of what you’ve given. 

Instead . . . chase after Me and be pleased in your obedience.  
Be pleased and fulfilled just knowing that you have glorified Me in your offering.  

Let that be enough.  

Let it always be enough.

Let what I think of you be enough.

Let who I have created you to be, be enough.

Let my will for your life be enough for you. 

And letting it be enough, let it bring you joy—

joy unspeakable and full of glory—

My glory!

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16   

Any glory received is a reflection of Mine shown down upon you.  

Let go of everything not of grace and not good—

pride and hurtful responses that reflect rejection.

Let My pleasure in you be enough 

because it always will be.

The response of man toward your obedience to Me can be disappointing.  Let that refine your gaze more intently onto Jesus.  

Treasure My words of affirmation.  

My love and esteem never runs dry.  

My pleasure never falls short. 

Let Me be enough, Dear One, for I am all you will ever need!

Your Abba Father

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Beyond Words

As we pause 24 hours on this day set aside to focus on love, I think of something St. Francis of Assisi said—not your typical Valentine's Day fare, but this is how I am learning to love others well . . .

"Tell everyone around you of the great love of God. 

When all else fails, use words."

And as a lover of words—with a deep, sincere passion for God...I wish I followed this wise teaching more often!

I am learning to facilitate learning by asking other’s questions which stir up thought and discussion.  This stimulates conversation within—between them and God, as well as them with themselves!  But I am also learning to not preach and to teach as little as possible—to back off and let God work.  That’s the purpose of those fruits of the Spirit.  And I pray that they become more and more evident in my life.

I want to be an encourager—not a discourager.  Heavy, long-winded speeches do just that.  I care deeply about God and people and all of our walks with Him.  I want to share what is on my heart. 

Too much talk turns people off!

I attended Beth Moore’s simulcast because I wanted to sit and listen to her teach the Bible.  

I made the choice to sit under a teacher.  

You choose to come here, to sit and listen to me share my walk.  

You have made the choice to be here.  

In my home, in my church, in my daily life, in my small group—even with the junior high girls in my Sunday School class—they have not chosen to sit under me as a teacher.  They have not sought me to teach them about God and the Bible.  In the girls’ case, they are plopped into my classroom because their parents choose to attend that service.

I am learning to come alongside to encourage in love, ask questions and listen.  He is showing me that this not only stimulates their own growth with a more personal fit, but my growth as well.

“Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”  Hebrews 10:24

We need each other!  
We need encouragement!  
We need one another to stimulate us to love and good deeds!

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

We all want the fullness of Christ!  
We all want to walk in the good works God prepared for us!  
But we get discouraged, we get lazy, we get passive, we get weary.  (Gal. 6:9) 

In this verse from Hebrews, I see encourage and love.  Find all the ways you can to do those two things.  This world is full of discouragement and hate.  God came that we may have life and live abundantly (John 10:10).  Living my life in that abundance is a far greater testimony than using words from my mouth or from this keyboard in defense of God and in defense of my self and my beliefs!

Everyone needs love.

Everyone needs encouragement.

Everyone needs nourished hearts and emotions.

Everyone needs a Savior.

Everyone needs God’s love.

Too many words in the mix 

turn off the heart’s ability to hear what is being said. 

But love! 

Love has a language that reaches beyond.  

Love has the extraordinary ability to express what words never could. 

God IS love!  Am I?  Or am I merely words?






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It Is Well

It is well with my soul, 

because it is well with me and God!

He delights in me!

“The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” 
Psalm 147:11

I am chosen!

“God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”  
2 Thes. 2:13

I am holy!

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.”  
Eph. 1:4

I am dearly loved!  

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  
Col. 3:12

I am blessed!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  
Eph. 1:3

My hunger pleases Him!

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  
Matt. 5:6

My desire to grow pleases Him!

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  
2 Peter 3:18

It should be well with my soul—it IS well with my soul—

because God is pleased with me!

Not every day will be happy, 

but every day can be well with my soul!

As I keep coming to Him, as I keep seeking Him—

I am finding my fulfillment in Him!

I am learning to let His pleasure in me be enough!

Not fearing man’s response to me.  Not being crushed by the lack of it.

He is enough!

Learning to consciously take captive all thoughts of failure, of lack.
Learning to not let my day, my circumstance, my need deflate me.
Learning to not let others opinions, judgments, actions define me.
I seek Him—His face—I seek only to please Him, find Him . . . and I will.
—I am!

I rejoice in the days to come, for it is well with my soul!




Is it well with your soul?
Is it well between you and He?
Do you see yourself as Jesus sees you?
Are you in a stuck place?







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Simple Truth

You are loved!  Deeply and completely—perfectly loved!

Surely you’ve heard those words before.  Perhaps even said them to yourself or to cheer on another.

But….

Do you believe it—really believe it is true?  About you?

Do you feel it—deep within, do you feel intimately and magnificently loved?

Do you recognize it—or are you searching for affection and fulfillment?

Do you live it—are you walking as one who is wanted; with a smile on your face and head held high?

The simple truth is…God loves you!

He loves who you are today as much as when He created you.  He loved you as you were being wounded and emotionally injured as a child growing up in this evil, hateful place.  He loves you in the midst of hardship and while enduring injustices.  He loves every inch of your being—every hair upon your head.

HE. LOVES. YOU!

Regardless . . .    (continued over at {in}courage today)...

Dear One

Long before they were penned by man, these words of endearment were thought by Jesus...

                                                               ...for you and over you! 

You are valued...so very dear to Him!

He died for you!
He cares about you!

He is interested in you!

He is watching over you!
He prays for you!

He hears and responds to you!

You are dear to Him—the King...the One and Only Sovereign!

You cannot know all things and all ways, but you can know your place in His heart! 

You can know security!

Live as one who is greatly prized—for you are just that, Dear One...loved and desired!

Hearts and Mouths

My words spill and as much as I would like to stop the harsh flow as it cascades and covers the heart, mind, and emotions of my child there is no stopping up the ears ability to receive Mama’s tone of anger, frustration, disappointment, and weariness...

                                                                              with me...

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”  Proverbs 15:28

The righteous heart ponders.  The wicked mouth pours.

Remembering can be blessing...or unyielding with pain.  It all lies in the memory. 

How will they remember my voice?  How will their quiet thoughts recall my face?  Will it be warm grace notes laced in curvy smiles reflecting love and approval?

                                                                 ...or scowls retching ugly?

“For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”  Matthew 12:34

A godly heart considers words to be spoken assuring they are spoken in love—seasoned with gentleness, kindness and humility.  The ungodly heart—the selfish bent on implementing his own way ruled by the flesh—does not care to control the tongue.  Self, pride, anger, and offense rule the heart and harsh retaliation easily spills—if not spews—from the mouth, disfiguring the face.

The law of kindness responds while the flesh reacts.

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.”  1 Peter 3:15

Time spent with Him makes a heart more like His. 

Jesus never reacted—He responded.  Even in the temple as He cast out the moneychangers and sellers—His response was not one of reaction instigated by anger, but a response to the ugliness He witnessed in a place reserved for holy.  He was angry with the disrespect, the evil—the thorns among the rose.  He didn’t react to getting pricked by the thorns.  He responded to their presence.  His heart pondered liberation without His mouth pouring hatred or ugliness.  His response was right and He was not stopped by the people for His destruction.

How do I respond to their presence?  What has been my reaction to sin, disobedience and childlikeness?  Is it not...at times...a reflection of my own poor ability to die to my self, my sacrifice, and my pride?  My reaction to them only validates my own struggle with sin, with disobedience to yield and with childlikeness insisting on my own way.

Pour into me, O God, I pray!  I am so very desperate for You!  They are desperate for You in me!

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord.”  Psalm 19:14

You Are

You. Are. Loved!

You are deeply, perfectly, intimately loved!

Your worth to Him and to our world is not—nor is it ever—based on your performance or success in it!

You. Are. God’s!  And He adores you!

Do not turn away!  Instead, receive the depth these words convey.  God speaks over you...

Acceptance—for who you are and where you are at.

Devotion—to be all you could ever need or want.

Fulfillment—in all those places of lack needing filled.

Delight—in your voice as it enters His throne room.

Passion—to draw you ever closer to Himself.

Promise—for both sides of eternity—heaven and earth.

He. wants. you!

You are cherished—being His most treasured possession!

When no one else seems to want you or what you have to offer—He does!  He wants everything you’ll give Him. 

You are found in Him in your willingness to be lost.  In losing out on the world, the things of the world—all the cries, the pleas made to your flesh from the world—you are lost to this world and found at His feet.

There is rest for you!  Just in believing His will is good and receiving His words for yourself.  He knows that is what you want.  It is what He wants to give.

Don’t try to make grace happen.  Just rest in Him and believe Him and you will receive.

Trust Him to fill your cup.  Keep it held up.  Discouragement and doubt work to spill the contents.  A shaky hand cannot hold the cup firm.  But when it spills—there is always more to receive.

Do you need more faith?  Or less doubt?

Both!  And as faith grows, doubts diminish.

As you declare more and more—“yes, I believe regardless of what I see!”...the grip of doubt loosens.

And as you see His faithfulness you believe more and doubt less.

Intentionally look for faithfulness—God’s as well as your own.  Look for where He has shown Himself faithful to you.  Look for where you have shown yourself faithful to Him.  Record it. 

Write in a journal your relationship of faithfulness to one another.  If not in pen, in type.

And those days you feel doubt—say out loud, “I trust you, Jesus!”  Speak truth against the lies.  Don’t muster up more strength, don’t fight your way, don’t guilt or shame or beat yourself with the stick of condemnation.  


Tell the world—your self, your circumstance, your adversary—tell them all... “I trust you, Jesus!” 

Then, simply...do the next thing you need to do.  Trusting, believing, refuting, and standing firm in your confession!

“You ARE good, God!  You ARE faithful!  And I WILL trust in you!”

Intense love does not measure—

It just gives.

~Mother Teresa~

Father...

I drop those things I grasp in my hand and place My hands in Yours.

 I pull my eyes from those things I hold precious and turn my gaze towards Your glory.

I release my affections from others, from acceptance, so my heart is free to seek You without distraction.

For when you are more precious than all else, more real to me than all else and when I love You more than any other—then shall I know complete satisfaction.

Not that You desire I be stripped of earthly pleasures, but that the wellspring of blessings called peace, hope and joy may flow.

For only when seeking first the Kingdom of Heaven—in giving wholly my hearts affections—shall You meet every need, heal every pain, nurture every seedling, water every desert!

I have Your promise that when I seek I shall find; and Your promises are sure...they shall never pass away.

Soli Deo Gloria!

What's Your Song?

Have you ever asked about your song?  You know—the one that God is singing over you!  Don’t you kind of want to ask and find out?  I mean...really...the God of all the universe is with you, is delighting in you, is loving you and rejoicing over you with singing!!!!  Don’t you want to know what He is singing over you???  I’ll admit I sure do!

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:17

I asked Him once before and heard the song “It is Well” in reply.  At first I thought, how can He be singing this over me?  A little more time spent quietly in His presence and He showed me it was “well with my soul” because it was well between Him and I!  (You can read a little more on that exchange here if you’d like.)

So last night, before going to bed, I took the authority that is mine through Christ Jesus over my thoughts and asked again... “Are you singing over me today?  If so, what song?”

Immediately my mind was flooded with a song I have not heard, sung or even thought of for years!  The chorus of Keith Green’s, “O Lord You’re Beautiful”.   But...the words were changed and I wrote them out in my journal as they sang in my head...

My child...you’re beautiful

Your face is all I see

And when your eyes are on My own

My grace abounds to thee!

(I’ve listed the complete original lyrics to this song at the end if you are unfamiliar with it.)

I just let the words sing over and over and over again before feeling led to write down more thoughts from Him concerning me.

“You are beautiful because you are My daughter and My treasured creation.  Beauty is in all I do.  Beauty and love for all My creation.  My attention is always turned towards you.  Because I love you.  Keep your eyes on Me and My grace will continue to abound in and over your life.”

He is singing over you as well.  In the stillness of your time with Him today, ask Him about your song.  His love for you is not a secret!  Believe in this lavish love and listen for it.

Ask...believing...and you shall receive....

Keith Green—O Lord You’re Beautiful

Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful

Your face is all I see

For when your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me

Oh Lord, Please light the fire

That once burned bright and clean

Replace the lamp of my first love

That burns with holy fear

I want to take your word and shine it all around

But first help me just to live it, Lord

And when I’m doing well, help me to never seek a crown

For my reward is giving glory to you

Purpose To Pursue

Okay...so I’m reading through the book of John rreeeaaallllll slow and got stopped the other day on “He (Jesus) purposed to go forth...” (1:43) 

Of course, all the questions started smacking me at once...

How am I at purposing?

Do I go forward with purpose?

What areas in my life are in need of more purpose?

I desire to be different!  I don’t desire likeness or sameness with those around me.  The difference I desire is the difference of Jesus!

Many who call themselves by His name, God knows not (Mt 7:21-29).  There has to be purpose to live my life in such a way that Jesus is reflected in my word, my deeds, my actions—in all of my being.  If He “purposed” than so should I!

Jesus also loved well!  My purpose should be to love and love well.  Not out of myself because that love will always fall short.  Mine is conditional and circumstantial.  Jesus loved regardless of person or station.  His love was pure, His love was deep, His love was intentional.  Is mine?

What about befriending the lonely?  Do I pursue the lonely?  In all my relationships there needs to be more giving on my part with no expectation of receiving...other than the Father’s pleasure.

Do I purpose to please God and only God?  There will never be disappointment in His pleasure.  The only time it is not enough is when I rest my eyes on the acceptance of others.  Ahhhh...I’m learning to let go of this one more and more.... J

“He purposed to go forth...and found....”

Finding takes action!  Finding truth, finding peace, finding restoration, finding purpose, finding freedom, finding any thing worth anything takes effort and action.  Being purposeful in my pursuit of Him will lead me to find more than I could ever ask or imagine.

Purpose to pursue!

Jesus pursued that which the Father directed Him to.  Where He went and who He ministered to was established by God.  But as He was guided by God in where to go and what to do and say—He did these things purposefully.  He did not hesitate.  He did not debate the worthiness or impact of the effort.  He did not seek after His own desires (food, sleep, rest...life!).  He willingly focused on and exerted Himself to accomplish the will of the Father.

This is what He has called us to as well.  He has called us to live purposefully and actively in the place He has placed us.  Allowing ourselves to be directed by Him through the Holy Spirit in the way we should go.  And then—to go forth with zeal!

Not always will it be fun or what we want to be doing.  Not always will it make sense or its true impact realized in our eyes.  Some times it will just be hard!

I am learning to let God’s pleasure in me be enough—in many areas...relationships, expectations, dreams, ministries, responsibilities, difficulties...what have you.  And I am finding, when I choose to let Him be enough...He always is!

I purpose to pursue God and godliness!

I purpose to live differently--like Christ!

I purpose to do the work involved in following the Light!

     

I purpose to go forth and be found in Him!