Tag Archives: God’s Purpose

Having the Courage to Change

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I have written many times over the past year since I started this blog about changing our life’s direction and changing ourselves and where we go.  We often times find ourselves on paths that don’t seem to make a lot of sense to us and therefore can get ourselves caught in a life of complacency and not motivated.  We simply just coast along and see where the chips may fall.  Trust me, I have been in that position many times.  A life with a mindset that is complacent and not sure what needs to happen next.

I’ve also written that we all have a purpose in life.  God created each and every one of us in a unique way and with a unique purpose and path.  All of our paths are meant to glorify Him, but the path that we take are often times very different.  Ultimately, however, no matter what assignment God inspires us to do, we are meant to complete those assignments in a way that brings Him glory and continues to share the Good News of Jesus Christ through our works and how we interact with others.

What about you?  Do you find yourself fixated on the purpose of glorifying God?  Do you feel that where you are right now is doing work that God purposed you for or you do you find yourself in a spot that seems to suck at your soul and keeps your heart and mind not fixed on God.  Max Lucado said that, “You change your life by changing your heart.”  If you don’t find that God is that center, then you need to change your heart so that He is.  Once He is, then you are more prepared to do the tasks He purposes for you.

People will often sulk because their not happy with their job or where they are in life.  They sit and complain, but don’t plant the seeds they need to plant in order to move.  They don’t talk with God to see where He wants them to move and sit in misery.  Again, I’ve been there too.  You can get yourself out of cubicle world or out of that job or task that simply has no purpose or value.  Don’t let that keep you from realizing what it is God purposed you for.

Now, I know for many, change can be very difficult.  Change is hard on anyone, especially if it means doing something dramatically different than you’ve ever done.  For me, I’ve found my story has taken me on a path that enables me to share and relate with both worlds.  I know what it is like to sulk and feel life wasting away in meaningless work doing what I thought was the right thing.  Since I’ve been reborn and now see where God is leading me, I can share just how glorious that is.  No, I’m not all the way there.  It’s a long road that can be often times difficult and even test you when the world tells you what your doing is not right.

In this case, I look to Joshua 1:9, “This is my command – Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Even if we cannot see what the end result will be, and I surely don’t know how far God will lead me on this path, I know that I have to strong and courageous.  God will be with us through everything we do.  We need to not turn from Him, but rather let Him lead us.  He will always be there.  If you hear Him say it’s time to move, have faith in where He leads you.  While it may not make much sense on the surface.  He has a purpose for it and following through will show His glory that much more, not just to you, but to the world.

We’re All People…We’re All Broken

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I’ve been greatly inspired these last several months, weeks, and days.  My family and I found a new worship home this year, rather found our way back to our worship home.  It’s been an eye opening experience to be able to worship God every week with so many believers.  So many people who have their own story as we all do.  So many people who have had their share of pain, struggle, and brokenness, as well as joy and happiness.  This morning on my way to the office I was listening to the radio and hearing discussion about an article that referenced the fact that throughout the Bible, New and Old Testament, God used people that were broken to advance his Kingdom and Glory.  Only Jesus pleased the Father and did not fall short of His Glory.

With the release of God’s Not Dead this past weekend, I started thinking more how God uses so many different people in so many ways to help advance His Kingdom and share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  I’ve been connecting with more and more people these past few days on social media, particularly Twitter that are involved in ministry, involved in the movie, and people that are connecting with God’s message.  I realized that we’re all people and we’re all broken.  God is using each and every one of us in a unique way for His Glory.  While we may have different assignments and paths, we all have the purpose of being Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Each and every one of us now and throughout history has a unique story that has brought us through trials and struggles.  My pastor challenged each of to write out our testimony and share that with everyone.  Our story of life through struggle and brokenness and to redemption.  Our personal testimonies are a huge way to bring others in and show just how God is working in our lives and how faith in Christ transformed.  A few years ago, He transformed me big time.  I was lost spiritually for way too long.  I am writing out my story and you will all see it very soon.  I pray that it finds its way to many more as I show what God has done in my life.

We can all do the same.  If your faith has transformed you, share it with others.  Open up about your own brokenness and how Christ redeemed you.  We can all do this.  We all have a story, we all are just people, and we’ve all been broken to some degree.  Pray and figure out where God wants you to work for His Kingdom and use your story to bring others to the Kingdom.  It’s a huge battle that we all as a body must take part in and are purposed to do.

Faith is So Simple

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Do you ever think of faith in God in terms of complexity?  Have you ever felt that having faith and worshiping Him is too complicated and involves too much?  Sometimes it does appear that way.  All too often there are churches that try to over complicate matters of faith with man made ideas and dogmas.  They drive believers to jump through so many hoops that it starts to clutter the real purpose of faith and what it means to be faithful to God.  Truth be told, it’s not that complicated.  What does faith mean to you?  Do you find yourself trying to do a lot to follow someone else’s rules for worship and devotion?

Look back in scripture and think long and hard about moments of faith that shown throughout history and displayed for us in the Word.  Start with Noah.  He was instructed to build an Ark because God planned to destroy a world that had become so evil.  Noah trusted God and did so.  Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac to test his faith.  As much as he did not want to, he trusted God and took him to be sacrificed only for God to stop him right when he raised his blade.  Moses was told to free the Israelites from Egypt and trusted in God’s power to guide him through the task.  David trusted God to help him defeat Goliath.  Then, above all, Jesus showed tremendous faith in God and His mission throughout his life and surrendered His own life so that we might be saved only to be raised again and conquer the grave.

Do you see the idea and simplicity behind it all?  Faith is complete and full trust and devotion in God.  To seek Him in all we do and and seek to glorify Him in our lives.  It’s that simple folks.  Full and complete surrender.  2 Timothy 2 tells us that we should pray.  Pray for everyone and ask for God’s intercession on their behalf.  Give thanks for everyone.  God wants us all to be saved which is why He sent his son to purchase our freedom.

I was thinking about this this morning when reading scripture and it talked about about the Israelites continuous complaining to Moses about being led out of Egypt.  If they would have simply surrendered and trusted where God was leading them, it would have been a different journey.  God would probably not have made it a 40 year journey to ensure that the older generations died before reaching their promised land.

It took me a while to realize this all.  Through my life I’ve been to numerous churches from different denominations.  Each having different rules of worship, different dogmas, and more.  When sitting in church a couple of weeks back.  My pastor talked about just how simple it was to be faithful and pray.  We don’t have to over-complicate folks.  Walk with God each day.  Build your personal relationship with Him.  Accept Christ as your savior.  Show faithfulness each day in your life and glorify God in all you do.  Faith is so simple.

Having Courage to Pursue

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How often have you ever had an idea or thought come through that you wanted to pursue after, but then decided against it?  It’s in those moments where you know have a great thought or idea and you know it can be powerful, but you hear something discouraging you or you fear what others may say about it.  It could be a simple idea for a new project at work or it could be a life changing move in life such as starting a new business or something.  It could be anything.  Something lights you up and gets you motivated but when crunch time comes, you shy away.

I’ve certainly been there.  I’ve been there a lot in the past year since I started writing to this site and posting to my Facebook page.  I get motivated and then discouraged or just lose motivation due to distractions or wonder if people even care about what I have to say. I wonder if what I am doing here really made any impact.  While I don’t write as much now due to a busy family schedule, I realized that even if only a few people read it makes a difference that can impact more.  I share my thoughts and testimony in hopes that people will be able to find their God given purpose in life and pursue it with no excuses or apologies for it.  Part of my gift and purpose, I’ve realized is writing here and when I hear others mention it knowing they read, it’s encouraging to know that just maybe I’m having an impact even if it is just on a few.  I start with a few in hopes of impacting many more.

Anyway, I digress.  My example is just one, but to my point, if you ever have that idea or passion that you know you are called to pursue in life, that is when courage is needed.  Your faith in God can be a big factor in building that courage.  That naysayer that you hear in your head telling you no or being discouraging is the adversary trying to cloud you thinking.  Don’t listen to that.  Talk to God, get on your knees every day and I promise you, your faith will build your courage and when the time is right, God will tell you when it’s time to move.  Marcus Tullius Cicero said that, “A man of courage is also full of faith.”  Your faith will drive you forward and God will prepare you to battle this world and pursue your purpose.  Don’t let world distractions get in your way and discourage you.  Have faith and courage and you will succeed in achieving what God purposed for you.

According to His Purpose and Not Ours

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Over the last year, I have written a great deal about purpose. Many people to this day striggle with what it is they are here for wonder aimlessly trying to find the answers. Often times, it is related to a career path where we try to find something we are passionate about and gives us fulfillment. The more I wrote, the more I realized that our purpose is much bigger. Our purpose, each one of our purposes, comes from one source…God. The issue we have to contend with is unlocking it. The thing is that it’s right there in front of us already. It is breathed through the Word of God and we just have to take that time to walk with Him and learn it. Yes, God will giveeach of us differing assignments, but it all circles to one single purpose, to honor and glorify God, to worship God, and to Walk with Him, and witness for Him.

Each of use has struggled with this. I most definitely have. Our hearts and minds get in the way and then our direction begins to cloud with worldly distractions. We face problems that we think are too big to handle and even doubt God’s ability to answer and help. There is one truth I know though. God is way bigger than any problem or struggle we face and by living for His purpose we will see that realized always. When I lost my Dad a few years back, I was lost. I struggled and wondered aimlessly for sometime trying to figure out what really mattered. My faith was not a central point as much as I said it was. In essence was not honest about my struggle and continued to wonder if I did have a purpose. God’s purpose was revealed through this struggle though, even though it took a while to see it. The purpose of walking closer with Him and worshipping in prayer and worship.

Two years ago, I recommitted myself to my life missions with my family, when I committed to the Resolution to them. That Resolution hangs as a daily reminder now of where God is leading me. Now in the last year, since starting 4 Pillars, I think God’s next purpose is being realized in working with God through what He gives me and witnessing for Him of just how powerful He is in our lives. So yhis is where I will continue to go. I commit to all of you and before God to continue walking in step with Him daily and to testify to His glory.

We all have our own skills and talents in how we can do this very thing. Please dont’t sit back in life. None of us were meant to be by-standers. Romans 9:11 says that…”God chooses people according to His own purposes.” He is calling on every single of us if we will listen and let His Spirit shine down through us. Let’s answer that call. It’s His purpose and not ours.