I want to see my big picture in life fulfilled. I want to get to the end result. So much so, that I can forget to focus on the here and now - the path it takes to get to the end result. I can get so eager, so restless to see my purpose fulfilled that I don't see the steps right in front of me.
As I've prayed this year, pursuing my purpose, God showed me something. There's a path that I have to take to see my purpose fulfilled. There are steps that I have to take and places I need to grow. There's responsibilities that I have to meet now so that I'm ready then. I've focused so much on the end that I've forgotten about the now.
I've felt God's voice so clearly showing me that there's a plan for now, just like there's a plan for the end result, too. A plan that can't be fulfilled in the long-term until the plan for now is fulfilled. I've been so consumed with moving forward that I've missed what's right in front of me.
As I've come to not only hear what God was speaking to me, but listen to it, I've come to realize that the only way to move forward is to stay still...for now. Stay still and grow. Stay still and learn. Stay still and connect. And as I stay still and fulfill today's purpose, I'll move forward to my life's purpose.
God, give me focus on what you've placed in front of me now. Give me the courage to stay still. Help me to grow where you've placed me so that I can see my big picture fulfilled.
Welcome to my blog, My Sacred Hideaway. The words you'll read here come from sacred times with my Father. I pray you're blessed.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Captured by the Unimportant
Have you ever looked at your to-do list or your calendar and thought about penciling in time to eat? Or breathe? You realize you're so busy, that the things that should happen without a place on the calendar are the things that are falling by the wayside. Yes, there are a lot of seemingly important things on that piece of paper or smart phone that need to be done, but what about what's really important?
We make a list of what we need to accomplish at work, at the grocery store, the errands that need to be run, the plan for that party. We run non-stop and keep ourselves busy, all the while captured by the unimportant. All the while neglecting the things that matter the most. What list did we put our spouse on? What list did our kids make? What list did our quiet time & Bible time make it to?
I think it becomes so easy to get wrapped up in the "to-do's" because there's nothing wrong with them. A lot of them are even necessary. But we get so wrapped up in the to-do's that before we know it another day has passed and we've missed another chance to connect with our kids, connect with our spouse. Another day has passed without time in the Word. We've let the things that have little to no long term significance push the things, the people that matter most to the bottom of our list of priorities. We're so captivated by the unimportant that we don't even realize how the important is slipping away.
What's the unimportant that's captured you? What really important things have slipped too low on your list of priorities? Put the to-do list down and pick up that devotional. Put the smart phone away and find out what the best part of the day was for your spouse and your kids. Become captured by what's truly important!
We make a list of what we need to accomplish at work, at the grocery store, the errands that need to be run, the plan for that party. We run non-stop and keep ourselves busy, all the while captured by the unimportant. All the while neglecting the things that matter the most. What list did we put our spouse on? What list did our kids make? What list did our quiet time & Bible time make it to?
I think it becomes so easy to get wrapped up in the "to-do's" because there's nothing wrong with them. A lot of them are even necessary. But we get so wrapped up in the to-do's that before we know it another day has passed and we've missed another chance to connect with our kids, connect with our spouse. Another day has passed without time in the Word. We've let the things that have little to no long term significance push the things, the people that matter most to the bottom of our list of priorities. We're so captivated by the unimportant that we don't even realize how the important is slipping away.
What's the unimportant that's captured you? What really important things have slipped too low on your list of priorities? Put the to-do list down and pick up that devotional. Put the smart phone away and find out what the best part of the day was for your spouse and your kids. Become captured by what's truly important!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
One Word
I've never been a New Year's Resolution person. I've never really seen the point. If there's something you should change or stop or fix or do better, why wait for January 1? Why not just do something about it as soon a you recognize it?
This year things are just a little different. I'm not making resolutions, but I am being intentional about one word. One word. It's something I heard on the radio. A pastor at a church in Georgia challenged his church to not make resolutions, but choose one word. And be intentional about that one word throughout the year.
My one word for this year? Pursue. Pursue, verb: to strive to gain; seek to attain or accomplish (an end, object, purpose, etc.).
This year I will be intentional to PURSUE the things important to me. I will PURSUE the people and things that hold my heart.
This year I will PURSUE my family. I will actively seek to gain precious memories with my family. I will PURSUE them by being the wife and the mom that God calls me to be. I will PURSUE them by helping them see the desires of their hearts become realities this year. I will PURSUE them by being present in our lives. Not just here, but present.
This year I will PURSUE God's path for me to fulfill my purpose. I will PURSUE the promise that He made, "I know the plans I have for you..." I believe that God has given me the beginnings of a vision or plan for my life. I will PURSUE the glimpses until the full picture is known. And I will PURSUE the courage it will take to step into the unknown.
This year I will PURSUE my Father like never before. I will strive to gain a greater knowing of Him in my life, my marriage, my family. I will PURSUE His voice every day, so that even in the midst of chaos, I know His voice. I will PURSUE knowledge and growth from His Word, not just read it as a daily obligation.
As the year moves on, I'm sure there are other things that my heart will PURSUE. But these three pursuits will be my focus this year. Do you have a plan? A resolution? A word? Before the year gets too far gone, I'd like to challenge you to DO something. Maybe for you it is a resolution or two. Maybe it's putting feet to a plan. Maybe it's choosing one word to be intentional about in your life this year. Whatever it is, DO IT! God has a plan for you. God has a focus for you, not just for this year, but for your life.
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." Jeremiah 29:11
This year things are just a little different. I'm not making resolutions, but I am being intentional about one word. One word. It's something I heard on the radio. A pastor at a church in Georgia challenged his church to not make resolutions, but choose one word. And be intentional about that one word throughout the year.
My one word for this year? Pursue. Pursue, verb: to strive to gain; seek to attain or accomplish (an end, object, purpose, etc.).
This year I will be intentional to PURSUE the things important to me. I will PURSUE the people and things that hold my heart.
This year I will PURSUE my family. I will actively seek to gain precious memories with my family. I will PURSUE them by being the wife and the mom that God calls me to be. I will PURSUE them by helping them see the desires of their hearts become realities this year. I will PURSUE them by being present in our lives. Not just here, but present.
This year I will PURSUE God's path for me to fulfill my purpose. I will PURSUE the promise that He made, "I know the plans I have for you..." I believe that God has given me the beginnings of a vision or plan for my life. I will PURSUE the glimpses until the full picture is known. And I will PURSUE the courage it will take to step into the unknown.
This year I will PURSUE my Father like never before. I will strive to gain a greater knowing of Him in my life, my marriage, my family. I will PURSUE His voice every day, so that even in the midst of chaos, I know His voice. I will PURSUE knowledge and growth from His Word, not just read it as a daily obligation.
As the year moves on, I'm sure there are other things that my heart will PURSUE. But these three pursuits will be my focus this year. Do you have a plan? A resolution? A word? Before the year gets too far gone, I'd like to challenge you to DO something. Maybe for you it is a resolution or two. Maybe it's putting feet to a plan. Maybe it's choosing one word to be intentional about in your life this year. Whatever it is, DO IT! God has a plan for you. God has a focus for you, not just for this year, but for your life.
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." Jeremiah 29:11
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
What's Your Shoe Size?
My son wears a size 2 shoe. Recently he made a discovery. Inside his shoe is a tag that shows his shoe size in different countries. In Europe, he wears a size 32.5. In the UK, it's a 1. As he made this fascinating discovery, he excitedly told me that he wants to buy all of his shoes in "Europe size" because there his foot is really big. I tried to explain to him that his foot is the same size no matter where he is, no matter how big or small the number is. But he still wants to be a 32.5.
The shoe thing got me thinking though. Problems are like shoe sizes. Some are smaller, some are bigger...and sometimes they grow like our need for larger shoes. But regardless of the size, our perspective of the problem is directly related to how big God is in our eyes. Maybe that problem you're facing is a size 2. But your unwillingness to let God have it, your worried mind and human nature see the problem as a 32.5. You see your problem as bigger than your God. The details of your problem are no different. Nothing in your situation is different. But your reaction, your peace of mind, your comfort level are so weakened because all you see is the 32.5. But giving God control, letting go and seeing it through God's eyes allow you to see that problem as a size 1. Has the problem changed? No. Have the circumstances changed? Probably not. But the peace and comfort that comes from letting God take control make the problem seem smaller, more manageable. You begin to see your God bigger than your problem.
What size is the problem in your life? And how do you see it? If all you see right now is the 32.5, let go! Allow God to move in the situation and in your life. Just like my son's shoe, it's not really bigger because you look at the bigger size. But it sure can feel smaller when you choose to see the smaller size.
The shoe thing got me thinking though. Problems are like shoe sizes. Some are smaller, some are bigger...and sometimes they grow like our need for larger shoes. But regardless of the size, our perspective of the problem is directly related to how big God is in our eyes. Maybe that problem you're facing is a size 2. But your unwillingness to let God have it, your worried mind and human nature see the problem as a 32.5. You see your problem as bigger than your God. The details of your problem are no different. Nothing in your situation is different. But your reaction, your peace of mind, your comfort level are so weakened because all you see is the 32.5. But giving God control, letting go and seeing it through God's eyes allow you to see that problem as a size 1. Has the problem changed? No. Have the circumstances changed? Probably not. But the peace and comfort that comes from letting God take control make the problem seem smaller, more manageable. You begin to see your God bigger than your problem.
What size is the problem in your life? And how do you see it? If all you see right now is the 32.5, let go! Allow God to move in the situation and in your life. Just like my son's shoe, it's not really bigger because you look at the bigger size. But it sure can feel smaller when you choose to see the smaller size.
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