Do you feel you have a purpose in life? I don’t mean being a wife, sister, mother, husband, brother, etc. I’m referring to a purpose for being alive today; the reason you were born and brought to this moment in time. A divine calling. As a Christian, you soon learn that we’re not just saved, and then we go to heaven. God doesn’t want that. He created us. He has a job for those who follow Him. And don’t mistake this calling as a religious activity or holy hobby. Our sole mission in life as Christians is to go, spread …
Perception
Perception is described as “the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.” In other words, it describes how we take a scene or scenery and process it with anything different than before (how we look at reality). I’ve talked about perception before. But, today as I was driving to work, my perception of the area was different. I now live on the other side of the city and the surroundings have a different impression on me. More than all of this is my perception of life since Jesus came into my life. I’ve had seasons …
No Turning Back
Roadways often have on-ramps to allow access to the highway. These on-ramps are not to be used to back off of the highway, but I’ve done it before. I know it was probably illegal but I was desperate. As I was backing down the on-ramp, desperate to get off the bridge that was backed up for miles, I prayed I could reverse my decision and go in the other direction. I managed to back off the main highway and turn around in the other direction, possibly escaping an hour delay in my trip. As it is in life, I often …
He’s Still Working
My granddaughter told me something that reminded me that God is still at work in my life. There have been times in my early years when I’ve felt alone, abandoned and even neglected. My first memory of these feelings was when my dad died suddenly, when I was only ten years old. I didn’t understand it. I went to Sunday School. I learned about God. But, what I learned and what was happening just didn’t add up. My world had suddenly collapsed without reason. Looking back I can see how God was working in my heart, even then. He saw …
Perfection
Some people strive for perfection. In their job, relationships. They think if they just do this or work harder in that area, it will be perfect. The problem is not the efforts you put into something or someone, it’s the intention or purpose of the efforts. The reality is, outside of God’s grace, we all fall short. Without God in your life, every relationship, every job, it’s a struggle to maintain, to be the best. I’m not saying not to work on those relationships, or fulfill that life long dream/career. I am confident in saying that with God at your …
Hungry?
Hebrews 2:18 – “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those being tempted.” Have you ever been hungry? I mean real hungry. Like you hadn’t ate real food in a few days? Not many of us, if any, can answer that question with a yes. But yet, my heart breaks for the poor and those that are hungry today. Did you know that Jesus Himself came from Heaven and became a human so that He could suffer the same things we go through. And through that suffering, He made a way out. A better …
Stories
Life is a series of short stories. A year ago I was hiking the jungles of Peru. Two weeks before that, I was sitting on a front porch with an elderly gentleman, watching the clouds go by and thankful for my blessings. It’s only been a year, but he’s passed on, and even though I am sad that he’s gone, I feel blessed to have known and cared for such a great man. Today, I sit with a lovely lady. Once a model, today she faces her days with lost memories of the past. But still, …
Create a Story
Facebook has a feature called, “create a story,” which allows you to tell a short story, include photos or a video. It’s a short message to capture your attention. I’ve always been intrigued with people in different cultures, and those who have lived a totally different lifestyle than me. After listening to the many stories from the people of Peru, I realized for the first time in my life how blessed I am with material possessions. These people possess more than that, they possess a spiritual awareness. They spoke of how God has brought them …
Inventory of God’s Faithfulness
I’ve often paused and taken an inventory of my life. And, this leads me into seeing God in every detail. A pastor once reminded me that Christians especially need to reflect on God’s goodness. We need to stop and make a list of all the times God stepped in and helped us through difficult moments. How about you? Have you ever made a list of all the times God has blessed your life? The seasons where life just wasn’t as you had planned, and then something shifted, in your favor. We often remember the bad times, when we didn’t get …
Memories
As I hung my wind chimes on my new front porch, I’m reminded of my mom who has gone on before me. This particular wind chime was given to me from one of my dearest friends. She had engraved my mom’s name, her date of birth to death. When I hear the chimes ringing, I’m reminded of the many memories we shared as mother and daughter. Memories are a funny thing. Some things people say will remind you of good or bad memories. Some things you see from older days will remind you of those gone on …
Family Secrets
Some families have their traditional holidays. Some have their own secret family recipes. This is a good thing. But, just try and get that secret recipe or secret ingredient that grandma puts in the pumpkin pie and you’ll realize soon that some things should be left alone. There’s no secrets in God’s kingdom. There’s no mystery in how you can get to Heaven. God’s plan of salvation is laid out all throughout the Bible. Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are …
Renew Your Promises
I’ve heard of people who renew their wedding vows, years after their wedding day. This is a visible reminder to each other and to others that they are committed, still. We can make promises to our kids, family or friends with good intentions. But, what happens if we break a promise? First of all, a trust is broken. A once intentional vow to another has been shattered, ripped apart. It’s hard to get back the trust from a severed promise, but it’s possible. As a Christian, we don’t have to worry about God giving promises that …
