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.
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
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
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Tinkerbell's My Teacher
Have you ever watched a movie that, in no way, is meant to convey a spiritual message, but God hits you over the head with one anyway? That happened to me yesterday.
My 3 year old wanted to watch her Tinkerbell movie yesterday morning while I did laundry, so to occupy her, I popped the DVD in. As I went about the business of laundry, Tinkerbell played in the background. As I stopped for a break, something about this movie caught my attention. See, as a new fairy comes to be, he or she attends a ceremony where their specific fairy gifting is revealed to them. There are water fairies, wind fairies, animal fairies and more. In this ceremony, the young fairy stands in a circle surrounded by the symbol of each of the fairy giftings. The young fairy, Bell, stands and surveys all of the symbols around her. After a time, a magical mallet finds its way to Bell as she discovers her gifting as a Tinker fairy, hence the name Tinkerbell.
But Tinkerbell quickly loses focus of her gifting, her purpose. She's caught up in all of the "great" things the other fairies are gifted with and what they get to do. So much so that she tries to change her fairy gifting to no avail. After much frustration and many mistakes, Tinkerbell begrudgingly works within her gifting.
This past month or so at church, our series has been "Who Are You?". Because when you know who you are, you know what to do. As I watched Tinkerbell, I couldn't help but think she had it easier than a lot of us. She was told early in life what her calling was, so doing it should have come naturally. But she struggled with it like so many of us do.
Tinkerbell was so wrapped up envying what everyone else could do, that she completely lost focus of the special, unique and necessary gift that she had. How often do we do that? We see that person that sings, that person that plays an instrument, that person that speaks or teaches, that person that counsels...the list goes on and on...and we focus more on what we can't do than what God made us to do. We struggle to "fit" in areas that God didn't make us for, then find ourselves frustrated when we aren't successful. We wonder why we don't feel fulfilled, yet try to fill places that aren't meant for us. And maybe we finally, begrudgingly fall into a place that utilizes our gift.
And then it happens. In the midst of our poor attitudes and unwillingness to embrace who we are, God allows something to happen that causes us to realize our purpose. Tinkerbell had that moment. Everything was falling apart. Spring was not going to come, but Tinkerbell was determined that she could use her unique and necessary gift to save Spring. And she did. And she loved it.
When we not only realize our purpose, but fully embrace it, God can use us greatly. When we realize that our gift, while maybe not the one in the spotlight most often, is unique and necessary, our hearts serve without reservation. When each of us individually embraces who we are and acts on that, we can change our church. We can change our community. We can change the world.
Tinkerbell got to save spring. We get to save souls. Know who you are, so you know what to do. Then DO it.
My 3 year old wanted to watch her Tinkerbell movie yesterday morning while I did laundry, so to occupy her, I popped the DVD in. As I went about the business of laundry, Tinkerbell played in the background. As I stopped for a break, something about this movie caught my attention. See, as a new fairy comes to be, he or she attends a ceremony where their specific fairy gifting is revealed to them. There are water fairies, wind fairies, animal fairies and more. In this ceremony, the young fairy stands in a circle surrounded by the symbol of each of the fairy giftings. The young fairy, Bell, stands and surveys all of the symbols around her. After a time, a magical mallet finds its way to Bell as she discovers her gifting as a Tinker fairy, hence the name Tinkerbell.
But Tinkerbell quickly loses focus of her gifting, her purpose. She's caught up in all of the "great" things the other fairies are gifted with and what they get to do. So much so that she tries to change her fairy gifting to no avail. After much frustration and many mistakes, Tinkerbell begrudgingly works within her gifting.
This past month or so at church, our series has been "Who Are You?". Because when you know who you are, you know what to do. As I watched Tinkerbell, I couldn't help but think she had it easier than a lot of us. She was told early in life what her calling was, so doing it should have come naturally. But she struggled with it like so many of us do.
Tinkerbell was so wrapped up envying what everyone else could do, that she completely lost focus of the special, unique and necessary gift that she had. How often do we do that? We see that person that sings, that person that plays an instrument, that person that speaks or teaches, that person that counsels...the list goes on and on...and we focus more on what we can't do than what God made us to do. We struggle to "fit" in areas that God didn't make us for, then find ourselves frustrated when we aren't successful. We wonder why we don't feel fulfilled, yet try to fill places that aren't meant for us. And maybe we finally, begrudgingly fall into a place that utilizes our gift.
And then it happens. In the midst of our poor attitudes and unwillingness to embrace who we are, God allows something to happen that causes us to realize our purpose. Tinkerbell had that moment. Everything was falling apart. Spring was not going to come, but Tinkerbell was determined that she could use her unique and necessary gift to save Spring. And she did. And she loved it.
When we not only realize our purpose, but fully embrace it, God can use us greatly. When we realize that our gift, while maybe not the one in the spotlight most often, is unique and necessary, our hearts serve without reservation. When each of us individually embraces who we are and acts on that, we can change our church. We can change our community. We can change the world.
Tinkerbell got to save spring. We get to save souls. Know who you are, so you know what to do. Then DO it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)