Enter into your purpose

Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Who are you living for? It is a valid question, is it not? We wake up each new day, actively choosing to live for someone or something. The one given over to substance abuse might not realize it, but they are living for a 'thing', not for someone. The one so concerned about what others think isn't living for themselves as much as they are those others who consume their thoughts, actions, and heart. If we choose to live for Christ, we are making a different choice - to lay down our lives, allowing his life to flow through us. We receive a new life in Christ Jesus. We choose to live differently when we say 'yes' to Jesus. Someone may not realize the life change that is about to transpire when they say 'yes', but there is no denying it - change is happening, will continue to happen, and isn't done until Jesus says it is done! 

We no longer live for ourselves - we live for Christ Jesus. Does that mean we no longer think for ourselves, blindly following some religious rigmarole? Rigmarole is really just a long set of actions or words without any real purpose. Christ gives our lives purpose. Before saying 'yes' to him, our purpose may have been to find whatever brought us immediate pleasure, a budding relationship that made us feel good, or some other endless pursuit that really didn't pan out as we hoped. When we said 'yes' to him, our 'purpose' changed. Purpose is nothing more than the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. We were created to enjoy relationship with God - sin interfered with that purpose. In Christ Jesus, our sin is erased, we enter into our purpose, and our reason for 'existing' becomes clear.

We 'act' differently because our purpose changes. We 'choose' differently because we find our purpose, sometimes for the very first time. This new life isn't one of indentured servitude - it is one of freedom. It could come as a surprise to some, but following Jesus is not onerous, but rather freeing. We don't know what will truly fulfill us until Christ enters into the spaces of our lives that were created to be filled with his Spirit. Just sayin...

Can we outrun God?

The Lord spoke to Jonah son of Amittai: “Nineveh is a big city. I have heard about the many evil things the people are doing there. So go there and tell them to stop doing such evil things.” But Jonah tried to run away from the Lord. He went to Joppa and found a boat that was going to the faraway city of Tarshish. Jonah paid money for the trip and went on the boat. He wanted to travel with the people on this boat to Tarshish and run away from the Lord. (Jonah 1:1-3)

Is it possible to run from God's calling in your life? Yes! Can you do it with a clear conscience? Nope! The truth of the matter is that we cannot outrun God, nor can we deny his calling in our lives. Those whom he calls are also equipped. The calling may not 'measure up' to what we 'desire' in our lives, such as when Jonah was called to go to an evil city, filled with all manner of sin, to bring them the message of salvation. His desire was likely to see them burn for their sins rather than go right into the midst of their 'filth' and 'depravity'. They were known for their idol worship, depravity, enslaving nations, and plundering the peoples of the land - but God wanted the message of salvation brought into their midst. Can we undo God's will? Nope!

We oftentimes don't understand 'why' God asks us to do what he does, but we should trust he has a bigger plan than we might first imagine possible. A big city - perhaps made 'bigger' in Jonah's eyes because of how depraved they were as a hostile people. Tell them to stop - a hard message to hear when you actually want to make a change in your life, much less when you like the way you have been living! When we are resisting the purposes and plans of God, we will find ourselves struggling with taking the first step of obedience. We might not really want to do what he says, but there is wisdom in taking the first step, even though we don't see the purpose or understand the bigger picture. 

Is it possible to outrun God? Nobody has succeeded yet, so I am pretty sure the answer to that one is 'no'. I had a friend in Bible College that told us of the many months he had tried to outrun God. A drug dealer, dishonest in all his business dealings, and living a hardened life. He recalled how he heard message after message about how he needed to change his life - get right with God and turn away from all the 'bad stuff' he was engaged in. Yet, he ran. While running, he was amazed to see that even the power poles on the side of the road looked like crosses! God won't let us resist forever - he will place reminder after reminder in our path to help us see there is no better way than within his will. Just sayin!

Pebble or Jewel?

I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about. God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

"Rough diamonds may sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles." (Thomas Browne) Worthless pebbles are sometimes kicked underfoot, tossed aside, or left unnoticed. Would it surprise you to know that is you took one of those 'worthless pebbles' to a jeweler and had him see what he sees within the stone, he might reveal something quite different than what you might have seen in it? In much the same manner, Jesus beholds each of us, rough, ragged, kind of beat up by life, nothing too much to look upon, but within each of us he sees a thing of extreme beauty and value. 

God has made us who we are - complete with all our quirks and idiosyncrasies. Nothing we have done has dissuaded him from realizing there was a design to our creation, a purpose for us to fulfill, and a means by which we are to fulfill that purpose. We are his creation and as such, we can stand assured he sees a gem inside of each of our crusty and battered shells! It is time that we begin to let Jesus define our value by what he sees and has purposed for each of us, not the world, the guy or gal next to us, or even our imagination.

Whenever we create an image of ourselves that differs from how God sees us, we are pursuing an image that won't lead to us fulfilling our purpose as God has planned for us. Too many times we focus on 'image' rather than 'character'. God's plan is for us to allow his character to be developed within us, then allow his character to begin to define and refine our image. Don't get that mixed up or you might just be in pursuit of what is nothing more than 'pebbles' and be missing out on what really could be 'jewels'. Just sayin!

A thing no longered marred

You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (2 Peter 2:9-10)

Too many of us overlook the "as a result" in this passage. Because we are chosen by God, made into a holy body of believers, we can show others the way to find grace. There are times we feel like God could never use our story or talents, but nothing is further from the truth. We all have been called to move away from darkness into the light of his grace. We may not occupy a pulpit, but we have a story to tell and it begins with grace.

Once we had no identity worth speaking of, but that all changed the moment we said yes to Jesus. What did mercy change in your life? How did God's grace make a difference in your choices? There is a message in the answers to those questions. A message you are uniquely fitted to share right there in your circle of influence. If you don't tell it, who will?

Many times we think God will use the beautiful, but I have found many a thing someone else labeled as junk and brought it back to a thing of beauty to be used in a totally different way. Maybe this is what God does with us. He takes what has been labeled as junk and remakes it by grace. Then the thing that once had a somewhat marred and stained past becomes a thing of beauty to be used anew in his hands. Perhaps we should see ourselves as he does. Just sayin!

God's plan is...

If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.  

(Romans 12:7-8)

God has a plan for each of us, even though some of us think God isn't able to use us, or that we have no 'calling' on our lives. We might be 'gifted' in ways that aren't really obvious as 'God's calling' on our lives, but just because it isn't something obvious such as preaching from the pulpit doesn't make the gift any less needed or important. Are you a giver? Do you equate that to a 'calling'? If we read this passage correctly, it is indeed a 'calling', especially when one has learned to give abundantly and without selfish purpose. All of God's gifts are meant to be used - but have you stopped to notice all of God's gifts are for others, not ourselves?

Serve one another - do it well. Teach well, so others begin to understand what has been difficult for them to comprehend any other way. Encourage so as to build up, challenge, and create a drive to accomplish whatever is at hand. Give so generously that the blessing is multiplied many times over, but leave no strings attached to your gift. Lead in a way that honors those you are leading instead of assuming the honor belongs to you. Be kind in ways that produce goodness in others. Gifts that just seem to keep on giving are indeed God's calling - they are all because he has an anointing on our lives and uses us as he sees fit.

The willingness to be used by God is paramount. The condition of heart that leads to obedience regardless of where or when our gift is called upon to be used is critical. God's plan is to have a body of believers willing to be poured out exactly as he sees fit to use them to meet needs all around them. The one who thinks they are useless or of little worth in God's kingdom has probably not realized God's calling is real and backed by his grace in their lives. We may not 'feel' called, but when we finally begin to operate within the calling he has placed upon our lives, in ways he directs, we see great things accomplished in his name. Just sayin!

Eyes fixed, heart dedicated, and mind focused

But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!” (Psalm 22:6-8)

Have you ever been under attack so badly that you imagined you no longer mattered - that your existence was like that of a worm, crawling defenselessly along the ground, only to be trampled underfoot? That is a pretty low view of one's life, isn't it? Here was David, the anointed king of Israel, bemoaning his life, feeling like everyone and everything was working against him. If the king could feel this way, what makes any of us think we can escape similar feelings on occasion? There will always be times when we face such hardships with a bit of doubt, frustration, and even some whining!

In these moments of deepest despair and depressing circumstances, we have one of two actions - either we give into them and allow ourselves to be beaten down, or we look to the one who will never abandon us or forsake his care over our lives. The outcome is based on the choice we make. There is a principle taught in counseling studies that suggests having a 'plan' to deal with troubling emotions and responses ahead of time will help when faced with those issues in real time. The 'pre-worked' plan actually gives us a means to dispel the worry and fear associated with the issue. If David 'had a plan' in this moment, it wasn't quite clear in the way he was talking, was it?

He is really just telling us how OTHERS saw his circumstances, but maybe he saw them differently. The very next verse begins to tell us exactly how David saw himself: "Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born." (vs. 9-10) Thrust into God's arms at his birth - his God from the moment he took breath into his lungs. That paints a different picture, doesn't it? He might be feeling a bit beaten down by life and his 'foes', but he was never rejected by his God. We can be beaten down by all the things and people around us, but we should never begin to believe all THEIR actions outweigh God's!

David's 'pre-worked plan"? Trust God with his whole heart, even when the difficulties were mounting, and the future seemed as bleak as it could be. How? We only need look a little later into this psalm to see him "proclaiming God's names to his brothers and sisters" - not allowing anyone to think God's plan and purpose was being overturned. He would "fulfill his vows in the presence of others who worship God", because he had determined to not ever turn his back on God, even when he didn't see him or feel his movement around him. This is the 'pre-worked plan' - keep his eyes fixed, his heart dedicated, and his mind focused. Maybe we could develop a similar plan! Just sayin!

Step forward in boldness, not blindness

“Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue. (John 9:30-34)

It is a rather long story, but I will shorten it a bit for us today. A man born blind just 'happened' to be sitting by the roadside as Jesus came by one day. Jesus made mud with a little spit and some dirt, rubbed it on his eyes, told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam, and he came back with his total sight restored. He tells the Pharisees and religious leaders, but they are aghast that anyone would do such a thing on the Sabbath. They send for his parents, even though he was a grown man, asking if he was really born blind. There is no doubt he was blind, but now has totally restored eyesight. The miracle was lost on the religious leaders, for all they could see was that the healing was done on a Sabbath day - a day when no work of any kind was to be performed. Aye! What a silly lot we are at times! We get so focused on the stuff that doesn't really matter and miss the 'huge' thing God is doing right in front of us. 

The most amazing part of this story is this man's response to the 'learned leaders' of the day. His response is a challenge to their unbelief - something I wonder if he would have ever tried to do if he wasn't first touched by Jesus. If he were not from God - - - that statement probably ruffled more than one feather. All the leaders can see is that the man is 'unlearned' and a 'sinner', so he is incapable of teaching them anything. It is a sad, sad day when a life touched by God is judged by one's past and not seen for the magnificence it has once filled with grace and love. When we discount the work of God in a person's life, no matter how 'crude' or 'unlearned' that person may be, we are dismissing the power of God's grace. To dismiss grace is a very dangerous thing, indeed!

It warms my heart to know that God can take the 'rawest' of a life and use it for his glory. We don't need to be well-educated, or even super-talented to be used to bring truth and light into this world. We just need to be willing to step forward in boldness to declare the work he has done within us. To some, the work he has begun within doesn't seem to be 'complete', so they fear their message won't matter. This man had his eyesight for a mere matter of minutes before he began to boldly challenge the beliefs of those who were supposed to be the most 'learned' amongst the people. Not with haughty intent or prideful anger, but with sympathy for their lack of vision. One who now had vision challenged those who should have had the most vision. Amazing how God works, huh? Just sayin!

Lost Your Way?

Rollo May has reminded us, "It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way." Really ponder that reminder for a bit, because most of the 'running' we do in life is a result of having made choices that have led us down paths we would otherwise not have traveled. It also seems we 'pick up pace' as we run toward what we know we shouldn't be moving toward in the first place. We have chosen what we want over what we need.

No, the Lord is all I need. He takes care of me. My share in life has been pleasant; my part has been beautiful. I praise the Lord because he advises me. Even at night, I feel his leading. I keep the Lord before me always. Because he is close by my side, I will not be hurt. (Psalm 16:5-8)

God's plan is for us to pursue godliness - decisions that will promote and maintain his presence, peace, and power within our lives. Does it ever amaze you that the 'wrong direction' is the easiest one to pursue? I think the enemy of our soul knows if he made temptation too 'difficult', we'd never veer away from God's commands. The one who has lost their way will be the first to admit just how 'easy' it was to get off track with what they knew was right. 

What does it mean to be 'lost'? It can simply mean to be set 'adrift' - really having no purposeful aim in life. Not all of us are 'goal setters', but without a purpose, it is hard to set a course. It also carries the idea of being 'absent'. Too many times we can be 'present' but be totally and completely 'absent'. Our bodies may be there, but our hearts and minds are just somewhere else. 'Lost' people don't always realize they aren't 'present' in the true sense of the word. They just aren't all that aware of being 'absent' in the moment.

If we desire God's best in our lives, we will soon realize mindless drifting is just not what he has in mind. We all need a purpose - a path to follow. We all do much better when we have 'followed the directions' set our for us than we do when we have struck out on our own. Just sayin!

Led with intent

The Lord gave us each a mind, and nothing we do can be hidden from him. (Psalm 33:15)

I've been both a follower and a leader. Everything I did as a follower was based on some insecurity I had formed that almost demanded I do things to please others. In order to "feel" accepted, I did what others asked - even when what they asked would be contrary to what common sense, learned values, and/or sound advice would have warned against. My wrong choices have landed me (on more than one occasion) in many a predicament which required either my attempts at covering it up (when what I did was clearly wrong and would land me in trouble) or in me being "accepted" but all for the wrong reasons entirely. Being a follower is not always the best thing - unless the one you are following is Christ! Even as we follow Christ, he doesn't want us to do so blindly or without purposeful intention. To this end, he gives each of us a mind and expects we will use it!

What we believe doesn't always affect how we act. I did a whole lot of stuff in my youth which was contrary to my beliefs! A follower actually comes along behind another and follows in the same direction. As kids, we'd play this game of "follow the leader" - one would be the leader, taking us through various obstacles hither and yon, and we'd line up behind the individual doing exactly what they did. If we wouldn't do it, we were out of the line. Some of the choices of the leader were easy to follow - like when they turned three times in place, or jumped up and down on one foot, then sprinted across the lawn. When they climbed out on a tree limb and jumped to the ground, some just wouldn't take the risk of breaking a bone in the fall! Too often, those who wouldn't go to the extremes were labeled as "chicken" or "cowards". Way too many times, I did things I wasn't comfortable with just because I did not want to wear either one of those labels!

What would life be like if we learned to follow with intention rather than because we feel pressured to follow or too insecure not to be in the group of others who are following? I think we might just find we wouldn't follow so closely to some of the practices which are "required" of us in Christian circles today. We might just choose to read our Bibles at our own pace rather than having to follow some reading plan or reading through it in a year. We might just go to church somewhere that embraces us just as we are rather than having to get all "prettied-up" in order to be accepted. We might even find we make some decisions based on our own convictions rather than always having to do things based on the convictions of another!

If God gave us our mind, don't you think he intends for us to actually use it? I'd suspect every one of us has at one time or another chosen to be a follower of another's advice, urging, or guilt - even when it contradicted what we wanted or knew better than to do. Any time we choose to blindly follow, we are in danger of following the wrong leader. Any time we choose to purposefully follow - making choices based on what we know to be true - we are actually lining up behind a leader we can count on to lead us well. God knows the intentions of our heart - the purpose of our mind. He also knows how to lead us into things which are going to stretch our understanding and give deeper root to the matters of heart which will make us richer and stronger. If we are going to follow - it better be with the right intent. If we are going to choose a leader to line up behind - it better be one who will not lead us astray. If we are going to lead - we better be following the right leader ourselves! Just sayin!

Is this the right thing for me?

Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get. (Proverbs 20:18)

Most of us don't get up in the morning and set out aimlessly on our day. Even that cup of coffee you are drinking is made with purpose - you wanted it! Purpose can also be described as determination - being directed toward a certain point and then doggedly making every effort to get to that point. Our "purpose" is to be found in Christ - his life within us is to give meaning to our steps and a sense of determination to our actions. Some of us don't feel like we understand our purpose in life - having been shot down a few times when we tried to step out to do something or having believed for way too long that our actions don't matter or make a difference. We can come to Christ with our feelings of being "aimless" and "purposeless" - asking him to bring clarity, give us direction, and to bolster us for the journey ahead.

We come to a place of understanding our purpose knowing how purpose is 'formed' within us. You might liken it to what someone who does ceramics uses in creating the item they desire. They use "molds" or "forms" into which they pour the "raw, runny clay". It cannot hold any form apart from being placed into the mold and fired. The "mold" is a way of bringing the "raw stuff" into a particular "form" which once subjected to the heat will become hardened and able to be painted and glazed, in order to be fired once again. This might just give us a little hint as to how our purpose is "formed" - not all at once, but with repeated steps which make it clearer and clearer until we see the finished purpose come to pass within our lives.

We form our purpose by asking for counsel. Asking might make us appear as though we don't think for ourselves, or that we are "weak" in some particular character trait. This may not always be clear to us - so wise counsel is important to assist us in knowing how it is our purpose is 'formed' within us. We have to beware though of those who might want to make us fit into a mold which we were never intended to fill. This is where we also need the confirmation of the scripture and Holy Spirit to help us "clarify" any counsel we might receive. The important part of this is that we "ask" for help when we don't actually know what next steps to take.

Sometimes our aim in life doesn't come out as we would have liked - but it doesn't make those steps we took toward fulfilling that purpose any less special to our heavenly Father. He will put on display every faithful step, even when it turns out less than we might have imagined! Purpose doesn't end with knowing it - it is something which never ends because we are perpetually clarifying and acting upon what we discover. I have "acted upon" some things I thought God may have been directing me toward. I sought counsel from wise friends, read the scriptures, and felt I was moving in the right direction for my life. In the end, I found I wasn't finding much fulfillment in those pursuits, so I abandoned them. They weren't the right "fit" for my life. Was God "mad at me" for having pursued them? Not at all. In fact, he used even those "flops" as opportunities to clarify my purpose in life. This is what we do in life - step out, sometimes stumbling a little in the process - then get up again and step on.

I used to do this all alone - thinking I had it all together. Now, I recognize how much my "all together" was really nothing more than pride and arrogance. We cannot be too caught up in wanting to do things all on our own to actually ask another for help. When we are, we might "fit a mold", but we might be too blind to know it wasn't the right "mold" for us in the first place. Just sayin!

God's sense needed

Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it; the open-minded find it right on their doorstep! (Proverbs 14:6)

There are people in this world who believe that selfishness motivates people to do things. There are probably more than a few individuals like this, but once someone invites Christ into their lives, it is almost impossible to live that way any longer. A cynic has to believe every action has some underlying "ulterior motive". As we come INTO Christ, the "motivations" of our life begin to change - moving from being a little too self-centered to being "other-centered". The result of becoming more Christ-centered is that we also become more and more "other-centered". This is a good thing since our ego gets us into more scrapes than we might like to deal with in this life! Wisdom is only truly found when we are able to embrace it and as long as we are embracing everything that focuses on and pleases self, we will not be able to open our arms to embrace wisdom.

Egocentric individuals have little regard for the beliefs or interests of others, appearing quite self-absorbed. The "self-absorbed" have little to no room to absorb anything else! It is like being a saturated sponge - you can try to make the sponge hold more water, but it just has no more capacity! Perhaps this is why when some seek wisdom, they have such a hard time holding onto it! It may not be that they don't encounter wise principles and practices in this lifetime, but they just don't 'absorb' them. All of us have a tendency to be a little too self-absorbed on occasion. As Christ begins to take our eyes off of ourselves, turning them fully toward him, we begin to see there is a world outside of ourselves. At first, Christ needs to help us maintain our focus because we don't realize how much our focus determines the direction we will take in this life. As we grow in our relationship with him, it becomes easier for us to recognize when that focus is turned a little off "center".

No man or woman who fully beholds the magnificence of his majesty can ever walk away unchanged. Wisdom takes the form of exchanged priorities, deeper expressions of love and caring toward others, and a little less need to have the world rotate around us. Wisdom is not only the knowledge of what is true and right, but the judgment to act upon it. The cynic's judgment is self-based. They have no "center" outside of themselves, so every action they take is based on how they will appear, what will benefit them from the experience, or 'what's in this for me' kind of focus. The wise embrace the fact that God's work is best revealed when the transformation occurring within is expressed outwardly in the way we treat others, the opportunities we find to elevate another, or 'how can I be a blessing to another' kind of focus.

The cynic may act upon "common sense" in much of what he or she does. The wise act upon "God's sense". It is the enlightenment God brings which helps us to make solid decisions and to take steps forward when it seems like we don't have all the answers up front. The cynic will weigh things out to see if the cost is too great for them. The wise will realize that all "God things" come with a cost - a little less of our self in the mix means we get the best out of the circumstance! Just sayin!

Life Hack #19: Be Not Pulled

Life Hack #19:

It is part of our make-up to be drawn to that which pleases our senses, isn't it? As little babies, we were fascinated with all things sparkly and bright colored. The slightest hint of gleam and we'd direct our attention toward the object. Smell the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread and your mouth begins to water for the enjoyment of savoring a warm slice lathered in rich butter. Hear the tender notes of some melody and your toes will start tapping with the beat. Our bodies respond to stimulus from without, but that response begins on the INSIDE of us in response to the thing we are "taking in" through one of our senses. Learning "temperance" is a difficult thing in this life, but if we don't exercise a little self-control over our "sensual intake", we will find ourselves in places we'd probably not like to be! Today's life hack is not about alcohol, but rather the 'appeal' of things to our senses and how we should 'govern' what we allow to spur that 'interest' within.

Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of self-pity? Who keeps getting beat up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? It’s those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business. Don’t judge wine by its label, or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor. Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with—the splitting headache, the queasy stomach. Do you really prefer seeing double, with your speech all slurred, reeling and seasick, drunk as a sailor? “They hit me,” you’ll say, “but it didn’t hurt; they beat on me, but I didn’t feel a thing. When I’m sober enough to manage it, bring me another drink!” (Proverbs 23:29-35)

We first need to be aware of what appeals to the eye. The "eye-gate" is the primary "entry point" which we need to monitor because sight is a tremendous gift. Intake through sight becomes the place where imagination begins to take over. We "see" and then we begin to imagine what we see as our own, how it will affect us if we could just take hold of what it is we see. In the Garden of Eden, why was the serpent so successful when he posed his questions to Eve? Maybe it was because she had already been gazing at the fruit anyway - sight had already paved the way for desire! It tickled her senses - because she "saw" and seeing created desire. Desire is not a bad thing, when tempered with self-control and the wisdom given by the Holy Spirit. Desire gets out of hand when everything we see becomes something we have to get or partake in.

We need to be cautious about what we hear, as well. People will always attempt to tell us things which simply are not true. We cannot believe everything we hear - we must become "testers" of what we hear. Each believer must really get to know the Word of God for themselves. In so doing, you are ensuring you have the foundation to "test" what you hear against what you have studied, recognizing when it just doesn't seem to be quite right, and then seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit's guidance to determine if this is just a new truth you haven't really grasped yet, or if it is truly something you need to reject.

We must be cognizant of our values. We don't judge a book by its cover. When we have a set of core values which align with the Word of God and principles taught in scripture, we stand a better chance of "interpreting" input wisely. We see individuals for their inherent worth in Christ Jesus, not what they contribute to society, or how influential they are in today's social circles. We hear the sweetness, as well as the longings of the heart of those who share their lives with us. We learn to use gentleness in urging someone to move forward who has been stuck in a rut for a long time. The values we learn at the feet of Jesus help us to put life in perspective, so we aren't drawn to the things which bring hurt or harm into either the lives of those we are in community with or our own.

We must learn about how our senses "drive" and "pull" us toward certain behaviors and life views. There is much in this life that can repel us, but probably much more that can draw us in if we are not exercising a little self-control. The "shiny" doesn't always sparkle once we take hold of it! The "luscious" doesn't always flatter once it is consumed! Just sayin!

Do you ask for directions?

Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. I am only a foreigner in the land. Don’t hide your commands from me! (Psalm 119:17-19)

Have you ever heard the saying, "You have not because you ask not"? In reality, many of us spend very little time asking God to open his word to us. We go right to it, open it up, then start reading. When nothing seems to 'pop off the pages' at us, we get a little concerned. We ought to! We neglected to ask God to open the truths hidden deep within those words. Sometimes they are quite obvious, but at others, we need help understanding how they apply to our lives right now.

When the psalmist (King David) said he was a 'foreigner in the land', he wasn't applying that term to a real strip of land. He was saying he was a foreigner when it came to understanding God's word. There are lots of times we probably feel like 'foreigners' in God's presence, but nothing could be further from the truth. What does someone who doesn't know the lay of the land need to do? They need to ask for directions! If we want to make the most out of our 'quiet time' with God, we need to ask him to help us get the most of it!

Richard Evans reminded us: "The undertaking of a new action brings new strength." If your times with Jesus have been less than stellar, leaving you feeling a little 'depressed' because you didn't seem to get much out of them, then maybe it is time to 'undertake a new action'. It is time to ask for his help - for his direction! If we want all the strength that comes from spending time with Jesus - in his word, mulling it over and over until it sinks in, and then taking it along with us throughout the day, we will want to begin by asking for him to assist us. Just sayin!

Adjustment needed?

We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. (Charles R. Swindoll)

Who is like the wise man? And who understands the meaning of anything? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine. The hard look on his face is changed. (Ecclesiastes 8:1)

What are we truly able to change? Many times, we think we can change others, but that probably hasn't worked so well for any of us. We have a hard enough time trying to change ourselves, much less another! We might think we can change the circumstances upon us, but most of the time we can just 'adjust our attitude' toward them. We sometimes believe we could have changed the world, but the world likely didn't want to be changed as we wanted it changed! Change is inevitable, but our attitude toward it is not. We choose the attitude by which we will face change as it comes. We don't change the past - it is already set. We don't change the future - it isn't in our control. We can impact the present - all by having the right attitude toward past, present, AND future.

Wisdom is what most of us actually need, but we seek other answers. We search for some 'truth' that really isn't there, all the while missing the truth that God wants us to see in that moment. We rally around events, people, and ideals we cannot possibly fully understand, but neglect to bring God into the plans around each of these. In the end, we wonder why things went so miserably wrong and why we feel so terrible over the matter or relationship. We left God out - we didn't make room for his wisdom in OUR plans. The fool trudges ahead, regardless of what God reveals, thinking he is wise in his own reasoning. The godly know they are foolish, regarding God's wisdom over their own in order to remain in the place of safety and godly protection.

Attitude is a choice. We can grumble against the plan of God - the place where we might find ourselves heading right now - but we all probably know that won't end as well as hoped. We can embrace it - thinking there has got to be a better way than the way God is choosing, but we know half-hearted commitment to God's plans isn't really what he is after. We can admit we are struggling with where God has us headed - honestly acknowledging our internal struggles with his plan - facing the circumstances with a commitment to see them through God's way, not our own. Which one do you think will bring us closer to God's desire for our lives? If you said the latter, you are probably right. 

God's ways may be hard to accept at times, but when we allow our attitude to be one of 'not my will, but thine', then we are likely to do more than 'endure' them. We are more likely to invest ourselves in his plan when we release our stubborn will and allow him to lead us. Attitude always determines altitude. Where we focus the most, and the 'attitude' we have within our hearts - that is what determines how well we will come through it all. Wisdom isn't always the same thing as understanding - we don't always need to understand God's plans to wisely walk within them. Just sayin!

Go ahead...be undone

God gives out Wisdom free, is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding. He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well, a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere. He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones. (Proverbs 2:6-8)

Let's look at two traits described in this passage - being sincere and steadfast. To be sincere, one must be free of hypocrisy, deceit, or falseness; totally earnest in their pursuits; genuine or real in their living. To be steadfast, one must be fixed in one's direction - what we may refer to as being steadily directed. This also calls for us to be firm in our purpose, resolute; firmly established in our path. For the one whose life is tapped into the wisdom, knowledge and understanding which only comes from being intimately connected with Christ, these traits are assured, but we must work to see them incorporated into each and every area of our lives. Most of us desire to live free of hypocrisy, yet when it comes to being totally "real", it is quite a different story, isn't it? We somehow perceive we will be "judged" for being who we 'really' are, so we "play act" a little to kind of "cover up" what we think others don't want to know about us. Truth be told, the other person is probably doing the same thing. Steadfastness is something we equate to the "never say die" mentality. We label someone as steadfast when we see them going the extra mile, undaunted by failure, or simply "plugging away" even when others have given up. When the going gets hard, most of us wish someone would actually come alongside and just tell us it is okay to quit!

God expects sincerity. Plain and simple. No backing down on this one, friends. There is something which can only be displayed in the sincerity of our lives, so trying to be something other than what we really are is doing God's grace in our lives a disservice! Sincerity in a scriptural sense is really the evidence of pure desires and motives. We all veer from this at times, but God knows the intent of the heart and he is not distracted by our failures! In fact, he is encouraged when we come back to him with our failures and actually lay them at his feet. He knows there is something he can do in us at that point. Look at what our passage says: He is a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere. A bodyguard is an "escort" of sorts - purposed to protect the one they are escorting. God has his eye on us, even in the midst of our failure, and his purposed plan it to protect us! God also expects steadfastness. If you ever struggle with sincerity even a little bit, you probably also struggle with this one, as well. Sincerity opens the door for us to be steadily directed in our path. When we are real about our struggles, God is consistent in his direction. Consistency is one of the character traits of a good bodyguard. He is ever vigilant to keep an eye on specific things which could potentially 'trip us up'. His vigilance is unwavering. We can stand assured, God is steadfast in his commitment to us, even in our wavering condition! His vigilance over our lives never ends.

Sincerity and steadfastness give us a pretty solid foundation upon which we might walk. I know this because I struggled with sincerity for a long time. I tried to hide behind all kinds of facades - both good and bad. Then one day, I came to the realization it was too hard keeping the facades straight! I could not remember which one I wore in which circumstance. Maybe you have found yourself in the same place. What you lack in sincerity you will reveal as lacking in steadfastness because the foundation is not solid! Remember, God doesn't expect perfection - he examines the motives (the heart). Just because the heart is sincere doesn't mean every action will be perfect. It means we will easily recognize when we aren't acting as we should! It also means we will quickly seek to rectify the wrong action! There is a relationship between the sincerity of heart and the firmness of the foundation upon which we stand. If the heart is fickle, constantly moved this way and that by every emotional whim, the foundation will be pretty shoddy. The closer we get to being real with God, allowing him to make us "comfortable" with who we really are, and then allow him to remove the masks we wear, the better the foundation will be in our lives. God keeps his eyes on all who live honestly - he pays special attention to those committed to living according to his purpose. It cannot be said any better! We may be a little shocked to examine ourselves in the light of God's Word - seeing ourselves as we really are. In the moments which ensue after we first recognize the lack of foundation, we may feel a little "undone". Yet, it is in our "undoing" that God is free to begin his "doing" in our lives. Just sayin!

Desire is a step toward receiving

As Jesus left the house, he was followed by two blind men crying out, “Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!” When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, “Do you really believe I can do this?” They said, “Why, yes, Master!” He touched their eyes and said, “Become what you believe.” It happened. They saw. (Matthew 9:27-29)

Become: arrive at; grow into; develop into. If someone were to walk up to you and tell you to "become what you believe", what would you become right here and now? What would you "grow into" or where would you "arrive at" in your life? This might be a very telling question for some of us. Most of us don't really have a plan for where we'd like to "arrive at" or what we truly would like to "grow into" in a spiritual sense, much less a physical or emotional sense. We simply live day by day, making the best of each moment, and wonder what the next will hold. I don't think God expects us to "plan out" every moment of our lives, but I do think he has a unique place in our lives for the faith to believe for great things in him. Imagine being blind in a crowd. It is one thing to be blind when you can pick your way along a street you may know like the back of your hand. There will still be untold unanticipated obstacles in your way, but at least you know the path you are traveling. These two men were blazing new territory on this day - the crowds pressing hard toward Jesus and they were in the thick of it. Maybe these men were just being "ushered" along by the crowd, but they know where they wanted to be and they were headed in that direction! Jesus was their aim! Healing was their hope!

They cry for mercy. They ask the great Healer for his favor - not for their healing, but for his favor. I wonder if they secretly really believed for their healing - asking for his "favor" to accomplish this? If we really understand this word "favor", then we know it is something we cannot "justify" - we have no reason to expect it based on anything we deserve, but we are counting on the goodwill of another to grant what it is we wish for. They pressed along with the crowd and right into the living room of Jesus' house! Yep, it says that when Jesus arrived at home, they went right inside with him! They weren't willing to remain on the outside, listening for some "beckoning call" from the Healer that might suggest to them they could enter into a privileged place. They just press right into his presence. I think God honors this kind of faith - the faith which presses beyond what someone might say are the "acceptable boundaries". Going into someone's home uninvited was just not acceptable then and it isn't any more acceptable today.

Don't lose sight of the fact that Jesus did not have them thrown out! He simply took notice of them there. I wonder what difference we might accomplish in life if we put ourselves in a similar place with Jesus - in the place where he cannot help but take notice of us. This was in the place where he was the most "intimate" with others. Think about it - isn't your home the place where you associate with others in closeness. This is what intimacy really is - close personal relationship with others. These men put themselves in a place of "close personal relationship" with Jesus. In so doing, they find themselves up close and personal with Jesus! The Healer's home became their place of greatest hope! In response to their confidence and trust in their Healer he asks: "Do you really believe I can do this?"  I wonder how many times we actually take our "faith" to Jesus and he looks back at us with this question? I think it may be more than we imagine. The question is pointed - do YOU believe I can do this? Not that YOU can do it if you just believe hard enough, but that the Master can do it. I guess I would have seen these men's faith as already answering the question. Yet, Jesus poses the question. Why? Perhaps it was a confirmation of their intense desire and fervent hope.

I think there are times Jesus is asking us to clarify and confirm our desire - what it is we envision we will "become" - arrive at, grow or develop into. There is nothing wrong with Jesus asking this question. It clarifies the purpose of us drawing near. It is one thing to arrive in the presence of God, it is quite another to be sure what it is we need once we are there! They had a "vision" of seeing! Their desire was to arrive at sight! Jesus usually goes one better than what it is we desire - have you ever noticed that? They want physical vision - I think he probably was bringing some clarity to their spiritual vision first! In response to their faith, he tells them to "become what they believe". If Jesus were to say this to us, I wonder what we'd become right here and now? Often, what we believe is what either holds us back or propels us forward. Their belief drove them further into the presence of Christ. I wonder where our belief will drive us today? Will it find us pressing through the crowd and right into the very "personal" space of Jesus? If it does, what is it we will seek there? Knowing what it is we really desire is often the first step in receiving what it is we will receive. Just sayin!

Aimless or Purpose-Driven?

We all probably have those introspective moments where we consider our future. Have you ever asked yourself if you are where you are supposed to be? Is this the career path you are supposed to follow? Is this the relationship you are to be involved in? Is this the best you can do, or is there more? We all take time on occasion to consider those questions, but the truth of the matter is it doesn't matter where we are, God can meet us right where we are. We don't have to be this or that, get here or there, or accomplish this or something else. God meets us right where we are right here and now - coming to us long before we even realize he has drawn near. The important thing to remember is that God isn't as concerned about where we believe we should be, but rather are where he wants us to be.

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:8)

Where does God want you to be? Chances are where you and I are 'at' right now is exactly where he wants us to be - in his hands, under his wing, and filled with his grace. That is the perfect place to be, after all. No career, relationship, or 'best thing' we could pursue will ever outweigh the placement of being under his care. God has us where he wants us - not to scrutinize our lives and hold our feet to the fire - but to lavish grace upon grace in our lives. That may be hard one to swallow for some of us who were raised rather 'religious' - always feeling like we had to accomplish or do something to get into God's good graces. The reality is that we 'get into God's good graces' through Jesus Christ and no other way.

Imagine for a moment being kind of aimless. You find yourself just drifting along - kind of like a cloud high up in the sky - the wind carrying you wherever it wants. Some might look upon your life and see a 'free' person, able to do whatever is desired, going this way or that, but they fail to see the wind that drives you across the sky totally without control of where you will end up. Freedom isn't aimlessness - it gives purpose and direction to our lives. Yes, there is an ease at which you move, but it is because of what drives you, not because of anything you are doing yourself. In Christ, we become 'purpose-driven' individuals - the 'wind' of the Holy Spirit actually 'driving' our lives further and further into God's grace.

We aren't aimless - we just may not always fully know where we are headed! I know the general direction of my life, but do I know what tomorrow holds? No, not at all. I think I will go to work as usual, making my way across the twelve miles of roadways into the parking garage and then walk that last block into the building. If something is going to stop me in my tracks along that route and I don't make it to work, can I possibly know that today? I might have an 'inkling' that something weird is about to happen, but I don't know the future because only God knows that. Does that make my life 'aimless' - no it makes it a 'faith-walk'. 

Purpose-driven lives are 'grace-driven' lives. They are being where God wants us - right there in the center of his grace, being 'driven' by his purposes and plans. Where are we driven? Into the storm? Into the wide-open spaces? We know not, but we can trust God to continue to lavish his graces upon us whether it be in the midst of the brewing storm or the wide-open peace-filled spaces. Just sayin!

Filled gaps

Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that. (I Corinthians 1:7-9)

Wouldn't it be nice to "not need a thing"? To be so "set" in life, nothing we could buy or be given is really needed any longer. If you were to ask a child what they "needed", their list of "needs" would perhaps include the latest super-hero characters, a new building set, or an electric scooter/moped - they might include books, clothes of the latest fashions, or more. If you ask an adult, their "needs" would be a little loftier - like a new set of tires for the car, the full collection of new pots and pans for the kitchen, or the shiny new appliance down at the local retailer. We probably have been asked what we want, only to answer back, "I have everything I need. I don't need anything else." It is likely true - we have a lot of stuff! But "stuff" doesn't fill the most important gap in our lives!

You and I don't need a thing - because we've received all we need in the person of Christ. We've got it all! What we often fail to recognize is just how much we have been given in Christ. Some of us only look at Christ as "fire insurance" - a means to avoid hell in the hereafter, but not really having much 'use' for him in the here and now. Others of us see Christ as a nice person - filling us with good feelings on occasion. Still others see Christ as a means to an end - thinking being "in Christ" entitles us to some sort of place of privilege. The issue with each of these "views" is their lack of connection with the work of Christ in our lives. Jesus is indeed our "means" to avoid hell, but we miss out on so much more if all we do is buy a piece of property and never see it developed! 

We might experience some "warm fuzzies" once in a while because we have Christ in our lives - maybe because we experience peace for the first time, or come to a new understanding of his peace settling our fearful hearts in the midst of a place where we definitely needed his protection. To merely focus on the "warm feelings" knowing him produces never helps us to focus on living "above" our feelings. Seeing Jesus as our "sugar-daddy" (the one who we go to whenever we have a need and then expect it to be met just like that) makes us guilty of treating God as our servant - something totally backward to God's plan of us being his servants. All God's gifts are right in front of us. This is the focus, not just that we avoid hell, get warm feelings, or have God at our service. God desires for us see the thing right in front of our eyes which we have such a hard time focusing on correctly. We possess all the "gifts" we will ever need - we just have to become familiar with how they operate in our lives. God is right there alongside each of us - getting us started and seeing us become proficient in their use!

God gets us started - he also sees us through to the end. In many cases, we give God access to "get things started" in our lives, but I wonder how many times we don't leave things alone long enough to let him see it through to the end? We have the "warm fuzzy" experience - but then after life begins to kick up around us again, we don't remember the "warm fuzzy" as much as we "feel" the presence of the present issue. The work God began is still being "worked" - we are just not keenly aware of it if we are just focusing on the "feeling" of the moment. Chances are, the present issue is just another means to bring out something within us where God is focusing his attention. There are two actions of God on our behalf "after" he gives us the gifts: keeping us steady and on track. In giving us the gifts, he knows we need to know how to use them. I have some "toys" (the electronic type) which I have purchased over the years. I learn some of the basic stuff - like how to turn them on, get them to play the songs I want to hear, and the like. Yet, I never really use them to their full potential. I possess a smart phone and Alexa devices - both probably smarter than the user! I don't take the time to find out much about the "other stuff" they can do because I am comfortable with what they already do for me!

I wonder how many times we approach God's gifts this way - not really concerned with how much more they could be developed in us simply because we are content with what we have already experienced. If I only used my smart phone to make and receive calls, I really did not need a smart phone! If I use it to alert me to my next appointments, keep my grocery list in, and be a tickler of upcoming birthdays, I am getting the hang of using it, but still way below its potential. If I actually begin to explore the apps, I may begin to surf the web, purchase a meal on the way home which will be waiting for me as I arrive at the local restaurant pick-up window, and even regulate my home air conditioning for me while away. I am coming closer to using this device as its "designer" intended. Same with Alexa - controlling lights whenever I need them on or off, starting the coffee pot, or changing the channel on the TV at the sound of my voice. God gives us gifts which will only reveal their full potential in our lives when we really nuzzle up to him and learn how to apply them in our lives! Just as with my smart devices, we have to "use the apps and skills" he gives us! The "gaps" in our lives are best "filled" with the gifts of God. Just sayin!

Know Your Target

Michelangelo reminds us: "The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." Yup, this is so true - it isn't that we don't aim - it is that we settle for aiming low. What is your aim in life? Whatever it is, you always want to aim a little higher than your target if you ever expect to hit it. If your target is moving, you track a little in front of it because you expect that the target will move into your aim. The thing is that God doesn't give us 'moving targets' to aim at in life, so his target for us won't move into our aim - we have to adjust our aim to hit his target! The purpose of aiming is to hit something, not hope whatever it is will just happen into our aim!

My eyes are on the crown. I want to win the race and get the crown of God’s call from heaven through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

My eyes are on the crown - this is a clearly defined target, is it not? The first thing we have to know about aiming is that there needs to be a target. Without a clearly defined target, we will just pursue anything that moves into our view. If you have ever watched any of the special forces train for their missions, they are repeatedly practicing to hit the 'right' targets. They are presented with targets symbolizing the ones they want to hit and the ones they need to purposefully avoid. In other words, they learn to be aware of their environment at all times and they adjust their focus so as to be able clearly identify the right target in their path.

I want to win the race - we are now given a little insight into what is behind hitting the target. There is a strong desire to acquire the target. A target in our focus is not enough - it must be acquired and then achieved. In the military we spent hours on the practice ranges learning how to differentiate between the environment and our target, then to actually acquire it in our scope, and fire upon it with accuracy. Those hours of practice were not so much focused on just our aim, but also on helping us to differentiate the right target - to spot it when it seemed to 'blend in' with the environment around it. What we wanted to do was acquire it before we were stopped in our pursuit.

We need to be proficient at differentiating between the targets that distract us and those that we are really supposed to acquire. When we acquire the right ones, we take aim. We pursue that target with purpose. What target has God placed before you? Chances are that specific target is going to get you closer to achieving the main objective he has designed for your life. Ignore the right targets and you will find yourself aiming at arbitrary ones that are doing little more than confusing your life. Focus on the right one, being attuned to how it presents in your life and what it is you need to do in order to hit it - then you take aim with the intent of hitting it spot on. Just sayin!

Be a BIG Dreamer

For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

If you were to hear those words spoken over your life today, what would you imagine yourself doing with the help and power of God actually guiding you to accomplish it? I think we 'dream dreams', but we seldom see those dreams come to full fruition. We have 'big plans', but they somehow fizzle out before they ever get finished. The more dream, the harder it seems it is to see those dreams become a reality. I dream of retirement and I am getting closer to that place, but today is not the day to accomplish that dream. Just because we dream something doesn't always make that dream come true - but if God is the author of our dreams, those things are already set in motion within our lives that will help to bring that dream to fruition!

Disney used to say all our dreams could come true if we had the courage to pursue them. I don't think he was terribly wrong, but I do think there are some dreams that require a little more courage than others. The dreams God has for us - the things he has planned for us - these may require a little more courage from us than some of the other 'run-of-the-mill' dreams we could muster up in our imaginations. God's dreams are "BIG" dreams - plans for our well-being and not for trouble. How many of your dreams could you say were going to enhance your well-being? Some of my dreams when I was a kid would not have done much to enhance my life, but I still pursued a few of them. Today, I find myself much more 'selective' about the dreams I pursue - because I have learned God's dreams for my future are much more reliable than my own!

I came across this quote the other day and wanted to share it with you: "The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do." (Sarah Ban Breathnach) Dreamers who do - this conjures up the idea of 'putting feet to our dreams'. In other words, we take action. Too many times we know God has placed within us a 'plan' or a 'purpose' - we can feel it and sense it with each intake of breath - yet we don't act upon those plans or step our into that purpose. Dreamers who do are more than 'fanciful believers' - they are committed to the plan and know each step they take brings them closer and closer to the fulfillment of the dream. 

Dream big - there is nothing wrong with that. Give those dreams to God and ask him to sort them out for you - helping you to see which ones are the ones he knows will enhance our well-being and keep us out of trouble in life. Big dreams in the hands of an even BIGGER God have a way of changing the world! Just sayin!