Category: Purpose

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There’s More!

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning. The dove are cooing and the sparrows are chirping. The clouds in the sky are catching the early morning rays of the sun. It’s a beautiful day.

But, there’s more!

I think every age group deals with identity. When we’re young we wonder what our grown-up lives will look like. Our careers, our family, our homes, our cars. All those desires and dreams are waiting to be discovered.

That’s not all there is to it.

Once we begin our careers and lives in the adult world, we find ourselves on a journey to fit. What company or career path am I best suited for? What mate and life partner is my “one and only”? Starter houses are left behind in the search for a forever home.

Is that all there is?

Our thoughts reflect the lyrics from a Peggy Lee song Is That All There Is. “If that’s all there is, my friends, then let’s keep dancing Let’s break out the booze and have a ball If that’s all there is.”

And then, we come to those of my age group, the retirees. Career and achievements are mostly in the past. We’re often told we’re the lucky ones – “you have all this free time and no responsibilities”. However, we still have hopes and dreams, purpose and possibilities. We haven’t come to the end, just a new beginning.

God has designed us with a purpose, a plan, a destiny that is so much greater than anything we can imagine! He sees in us a Christ-like quality and gives us His power to accomplish great things.

If we’re living a life that is comfortable and one in which “we” can accomplish what we set out to do with no extra help, we’re settling for less than what God wants to do through us.

“With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.” Ephesians 3:20

Let’s dream bigger and trust God to direct us to impact our world with what He’s calling us to do – God will use us where we are if we trust Him. I keep thinking of a man named Caleb who was still going strong at 80, conquering armies and taking new territory in Israel.

“I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. 12 You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. 13  You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you” Jeremiah 29:11-13 CEV

Wherever we are on life’s timeline that’s not all there is – there’s more!

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My Heart Speaks

How often do you listen to your heart?

I know when there are big decisions to make that I get very quiet and listen to what God is speaking to my heart. I’ve been doing this for years. When our kids were teenagers they would ask about going somewhere or doing something and Dave and I would have to say, “We don’t have a peace about that”.

More often than not, it wasn’t what they wanted to hear but we had made a commitment that if the Lord didn’t give us a peace, if we felt uneasy, we wouldn’t give them our permission. But we were also honest with them to tell them we would pray about it further and if the Lord replaced the uneasiness with peace we would give them the go ahead.

“And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.” Philippians 4:7 ERV

It’s important that we keep our hearts open so we don’t miss the Lord’s direction.

“Good people have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they say good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they say things that are evil. What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts.” Luke 6:45 ERV

Our hearts learn to speak in much the same way as a toddler learns to communicate. By repetition, a smile child learns “Mama, Dada, Drink, Cookie, No”. By the repetition of our thoughts and meditations our hearts learn to communicate. They can express love, gratitude, understanding, forgiveness, kindness and mercy or the opposite can occur, jealousy, prejudice, anger, criticism, hatred and selfishness.

“Don’t let me do what I know is wrong. Don’t let sin control me. If you help me, I can be pure and free from sin. 14 May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.” Psalm 19:13-14 ERV

I know when the Lord impresses my heart with verses like these I will have an opportunity to put them into practice very soon. He is directing my thoughts and wanting me to be a living example of His words.

“Lord, help me control what I say. Don’t let me say anything bad.” Psalm 141:3 ERV

Take a few more minutes this morning to fill your heart and mouth with pleasing words. At the very least if you have to eat your words they will be sweet!

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Home

A year and a half ago Dave and I made a decision to sell our sticks-n-bricks house and move to full-time RV living. It was a big change!

Family keepsakes were distributed, garage sales were held, downsizing became a by-word. We often look around our much smaller space and talk of how happy we are we made that decision.

Home.

It’s not the possessions inside but the love and the memories of those who share it with you.

Home.

That word is a word of comfort. This place is beautiful and peaceful and it’s good to be home. We love it here – other places are nice, pleasant and welcoming but they just aren’t home.

Reminds me of the old song we used to sing, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through.”

This morning as I was reading and thinking of home, I felt the Lord ask me if I feel that same sense of comfort and peace, the feeling of home, when I spend time in His word and in communion with Him.

You know I do!

Sometimes He points out things that need to be done, not the dishes in the sink or the laundry and even the floors that need to be swept. He points out the things I need to work on and I’m ok with that. He just wants me to enjoy all He has for me.

This Psalm took on a new light this morning. This is where my heart calls home.

“Lord All-Powerful, the place where you live is so beautiful! 2 Lord, I cannot wait to enter your Temple. I am so excited! Every part of me cries out to be with the Living God.

3 Lord All-Powerful, my King, my God, even the birds have found a home in your Temple. They make their nests near your altar, and there they have their babies. 4 Great blessings belong to those who live at your Temple! They continue to praise you. Selah

5 Great blessings belong to those who depend on you for strength! Their heart’s desire is to make the trip to your Temple. 6 They travel through Baca Valley, God has made into a place of springs. Autumn rains form pools of water there. 7 The people travel from town to town on their way to Zion, where they will meet with God.

8 Lord God All-Powerful, listen to my prayer. God of Jacob, listen to me. Selah

9 God, watch over the king, our protector. Be kind to him, the one you have chosen.

10 One day in your Temple is better than a thousand days anywhere else. Serving as a guard at the gate of my God’s house is better than living in the homes of the wicked.

11 The Lord God is our protector and glorious king. He blesses us with kindness and honor.

The Lord freely gives every good thing to those who do what is right. 12 Lord All-Powerful,

great blessings belong to those who trust in you!” Psalm 84 ERV

Welcome Home!

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It’s More Than Grammar

Have you ever thought about the difference between “with” and “in”?

If you have water in a glass and you take it to the table it is “with” you. But you can leave that room and leave the water behind. However, if you drink the water it is “in” you. It gives life to your cells and nourishes your body.

All through the Old Testament we find that God was “with” His people. When Jesus came, one of his names was Emmanuel, God “with” us and wherever Jesus went He took God with Him.

Once we accept Jesus as our Saviour the Scriptures says that we are “in” Him.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:6-10 KJV

His fullness fills us with His life, His love, His character. Wherever we go we take Christ in us. We bring His nature, His life to every circumstance and person we come in contact with.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. 4 In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. 5 And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. 6 And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves.” Ephesians 1:3-6 ERV

There is no need to beg God to be “with us”. We need to be aware, vitally aware, He is always “in us”.

“This message is the secret truth that was hidden since the beginning of time. It was hidden from everyone for ages, but now it has been made known to God’s holy people. 27 God decided to let his people know just how rich and glorious that truth is. That secret truth, which is for all people, is that Christ lives in you, his people. He is our hope for glory. 28 So we continue to tell people about Christ. We use all wisdom to counsel every person and teach every person. We are trying to bring everyone before God as people who have grown to be spiritually mature in Christ.” Colossians 1:26-28 ERV

He lives “in” us so that we can take Him with us to the world! Let the Lord shine in you today.

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Watch How You Jump

Jumping to conclusions, making snap judgements and circumstantial evidence have destroyed so many relationships.

Years ago, I worked in the Dean of Students office at a local community college. I was hired to help with the new student handbook and to serve as Admin Assist. to the Dean of Students.

Our office was responsible for student ID’s, vehicle usage for the sports teams and even the campus security. We had lots of students coming and going through our office who worked on campus. But one young man in particular stood out.

I was a mature married woman of 32. I had 3 children, a husband and was a “good christian woman”. He was in his early 20’s, tattooed and pierced, looking like a character from Pirates of the Caribbean. He could have been a stand in for Johnny Depp. I judged him based on his appearance and nothing more.

After working with him for several weeks, he came in one morning, late again. When I asked why, he told me that the devil had really been working against him that morning – car wouldn’t start, flat tire, wife was sick and it had really stolen his joy. He asked me if I would pray for him throughout the day so that he could keep a good attitude and do his job well!

Oh Lord, I apologize! I judged wrongly, I wasn’t looking for the good in this man, I was looking at him through my own prejudice and I was wrong!

Why am I telling you this? Well, this morning I was continuing my read through I Samuel and Samuel made the same judgement. The Lord had rejected Saul as king because of his disobedience and Samuel was sent to find and anoint a new king for Israel. He found a man, based on outward appearance, that he thought was God’s man of power for the hour.

“When Jesse and his sons arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely this is the man who the Lord has chosen.’ 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man.’” I Samuel 16:6-7 ERV

And then came this young man, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, a shepherd. David hadn’t even been invited to the dinner because his father had misjudged him as well.

“Jesse sent someone to get his youngest son. This son was a good-looking, healthy young man. He was very handsome. The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Get up and anoint him. He is the one.’…The Spirit of the Lord came on David with great power from that day on. Then Samuel went back home to Ramah.” I Samuel 16:12-13 ERV

Are you like me and misjudging someone based on appearance or education or some other external character? Perhaps you are the one that is the recipient of snap judgement.

Let me encourage you to ask the Lord to show you the heart of people; let the Holy Spirit love through you and see those around you as God does.

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Just Keep Preaching

This morning I saw something in the book of John I hadn’t seen before. It put a big smile on my face.

John, chapter 8, Jesus is teaching in the Temple. People are curious about His teachings and hoping to see a miracle. Jesus’ teachings were like none they had ever heard. He taught with boldness and conviction from a heart of compassion.

The religious leaders were often offended by what He said and secretly they were plotting ways to silence Him. He had gained too much popularity and they saw Him as a threat.

So here He is teaching again.

“Early in the morning He went back to the house of God and all the people came to Him. He sat down and taught them.” John 8:2 NLV

The religious leaders come marching in, disrupting His teaching, with a woman. A woman they said was ““Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.” (vs4) They were trying to trap Him, they wanted to be able to accuse Jesus of breaking the law of Moses that said those who were adulterers were to be judged and stoned.

I mean they dropped this woman right down in front of Jesus, demanding He give a judgement of her. Jesus said nothing. He just knelt down and began to write in the dirt.

“The Jewish leaders continued to ask him their question. So he stood up and said, ‘Anyone here who has never sinned should throw the first stone at her.’” (vs7).

Then he knelt down and continued writing. The story continues that those who had accused her began to leave one by one, the oldest ones first, until it was just Jesus and the woman.

Now let me say here, no one knows what Jesus wrote on the ground. It isn’t recorded in Scripture. He may have written the sins of the accusers; He may have written Scripture from the law of Moses but what He wrote either convicted them or brought them to shame. It caused them to leave.

“He looked up again and said to her, ‘Where did they all go? Did no one judge you guilty?’ 11 She answered, ‘No one, sir.’ Then Jesus said, ‘I don’t judge you either. You can go now, but don’t sin again.’” John 8:10-11 ERV

Now I know this story very well. I have imagined myself being there that day. I can see the woman – naked, ashamed, tears rolling down her cheeks, trying to cover herself. Completely humiliated. Ready to face a death sentence. All of this has made her a public spectacle.

Jesus’ words bring deliverance, not condemnation. He sends her on her way forgiven.

But here’s the part of this story I hadn’t seen before.

“Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12 CEV

Jesus, undeterred by what had just happened, went back to teaching. He stayed on message. He didn’t get distracted by accusations or man’s opinion. He stayed true to the mission He had received from the Father.

Each day we have situations that will try to distract us from the mission that God has called us too. Let’s learn from Jesus and just keep preaching!

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Oh My, Look at the Time!

That’s what I said to myself when I woke up this morning! I really slept in.

We are all so conscious of time. Appointments, work, school, dinner with friends all require us to look at the clock. But there are other times too – times you can’t find on a clock. Those are the ones I want to talk about this morning.

Look at the time.

Since we are connected through the internet it may be early morning, midday or perhaps you are reading this in the evening but whatever time it is where you are it is time to praise the Lord!

You could be in a time of trouble, a time of fear, good time, dinner time, party time, time of loneliness, time of sickness or time of concern. No matter, it is time to praise the Lord.

Why?

Because He is Lord of all and Lord over all and all who trust in Him will never be ashamed!

Just so you know, all those times listed above – I’ve been there and the thing that ALWAYS brings me through is praise time. Remembering that my heavenly Father is bigger than anything here and that He has a plan for me to prosper and have good success gives me reason to praise.

“I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. 2 I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. 3 Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.

4 For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears. 5 Others too were radiant at what he did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection! 6 This poor man cried to the Lord—and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles. 7 For the Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence him.

8 Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him. 9 If you belong to the Lord, reverence him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs. 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing.

11 Sons and daughters, come and listen and let me teach you the importance of trusting and fearing the Lord.” Psalm 34:1-11 TLB

Oh my, look at the time! Look at the timeline of your life and praise the Lord for bringing you to this place.

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Correct Guidance

I love Psalm 143. No matter how many times I read it, it always reveals something different to me.

I have read nearly every morning for years. Verse 8 is the way I start my day – “I want to learn more about You, Lord. I put my trust in You. I need Your guidance”.

That’s the way it is with God’s word; when we read it with an open heart it is the Living Word of God. Directed by the Holy Spirit, taught by the Spirit and encouraged by Him to do the word of God definitely becomes the Word of Life and sustains us better than bread and makes our hearts at peace.

“Listen, LORD, as I pray! You are faithful and honest and will answer my prayer. 2 I am your servant. Don’t try me in your court, because no one is innocent by your standards. 3 My enemies are chasing me, crushing me in the ground. I am in total darkness, like someone long dead. 4 I have given up all hope, and I feel numb all over. 5 I remember to think about the many things you did in years gone by. 6 Then I lift my hands in prayer, because my soul is a desert, thirsty for water from you. 7 Please hurry, LORD, and answer my prayer. I feel hopeless. Don’t turn away and leave me here to die.

8 Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance. 9 Please rescue me from my enemies, LORD! I come to you for safety.

10 You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path. 11 Be true to your name, LORD, and keep my life safe. Use your saving power

to protect me from trouble. 12 I am your servant. Show how much you love me by destroying my enemies.” Psalm 143

King David faced physical enemies; the enemies I often face are my own inadequacies and limitations. The amount of time I know the Lord has protected me from trouble has been innumerable, He keeps my life safe. He hears my prayer!

Come to Him for guidance this morning. He’s waiting to show you the right path!

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Sweet Smell

Have you ever walked through a rose garden when it’s in bloom or sat on a bench surrounded by gardenias? Here in Arizona our senses are being aroused by citrus blossoms and wildflowers.

In the early 2000’s my mom moved to Montana where Dave and I lived. Right outside the back door of her duplex was a tall lilac bush. Each time she opened the door she would be greeted with the aroma of lilac. She told me she remembered being a small girl and smelling lilacs at her home.

That smell, that sweet fragrance, reminded her of home!

The Bible tells us that our lives have a sweet fragrance to offer to the world.

“ We thank God for the power Christ has given us. He leads us and makes us win in everything. He speaks through us wherever we go. The Good News is like a sweet smell to those who hear it. 15 We are a sweet smell of Christ that reaches up to God. It reaches out to those who are being saved from the punishment of sin and to those who are still lost in sin. ” II Corinthians 2:14-15 NLV

Old Testament sacrifices were to have a sweet odor. The sense of smell played a role in their offerings.

“You may prepare sacrifices to give thanks in any of these three ways. Bring your sacrifice to a priest, and he will take it to the bronze altar. 9 Then, to show that the whole offering belongs to me, the priest will lay part of it on the altar and send it up in smoke with a smell that pleases me.” Leviticus 2:8-9 CEV

Offerings of thanksgiving to God were to be a mixture of fine flour, olive oil and incense. When they were burned by the priest, the offering had a sweet smell that was pleasing to the Lord.

Just as the priests presented the sacrifices to the Lord and it pleased Him, we should offer our lives as a pleasing sacrifice. We are to be like Christ and our lives should be like His, a sacrifice that pleases God. Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 that we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto God.

So, the question comes, is my life one with a sweet fragrance? Do I spend more time thanking God for His goodness and His love than I do complaining about how things could/should/would be better “if only”? As a Christian – a Christ like one – my life should be an offering that pleases the Father.

“Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2 Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 CEV

It’s not only the Father who notices that our lives are a sacrifice, but those around us will also notice.

As we enter this week before Easter, I desire for my life to “smell sweet” with praise and thanksgiving to the Father and also with forgiveness and love to those I meet.

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Cup of Cold Water

Today I want to talk to you a bit about little kindnesses. In the Bible we see time and again where the Scriptures say “He was moved with compassion” or “His loving kindness”.

Loving-kindness can be when the waitress brings you the wrong meal and you don’t go off on her but you are kind in your words and sincere in your appreciation for her hard work.

Loving-kindness is when you show patience at the grocery store with the young man or woman bagging your order isn’t as efficient or speedy as you would like them to be. Or when you child hasn’t cleaned up the yard or taken out the trash like you told them to do and you find out that they were wounded by a friend or embarrassed by a teacher and they were just to distracted to get it done. So you help them finish the chore.

All of these are practical examples of loving kindness. I like doing little acts of kindness. For the most part all it costs is time but it means the world to the person receiving the help.

Jesus called it giving cups of cold water!

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet, just because that person is a prophet, will be given the same reward as a prophet. Anyone who welcomes a good person, just because that person is good, will be given the same reward as a good person. 42 And anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is my follower, will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:40-42 CEV

Now I know some will look at these verses and focus on the reward but I really think what Jesus is trying to get us to see is that nothing, not matter how small, goes unnoticed to the Father. When we are reaching out in love; extending loving-kindness to those around us is an example of the Christ that lives in us.

About ten years ago I spent a few days in the hospital and when I came home I wasn’t able to do much for a week or so. Some sweet ladies brought me cups of cool water. One neighbor came over each morning to take our dog for a walk and she did my ironing. Another neighbor cook enough extra each night for Dave to enjoy a nice dinner and she did my laundry. These acts of love were priceless and the thought of them still brings a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat. Just this week Dave had outpatient surgery and friends brought lunch to us the next day.

Cups of cool water.

I ask the Father to make me more aware of those that are in need. I want the world to see my Father’s love in me.

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