What is love? There are many definitions. I think love is loving someone else as Christ loves us. You're willing to sacrifice for that person, you're willing to put them and their needs before you're own. You demonstrate respect, trust, honesty, loyalty, and forgiveness. You support and encourage that person, you help them to be the best version of themselves. You help them live out their life purpose and draw them closer to God. You're willing to compromise and communicate with that person, and you love that person for who they are, accepting their weaknesses and appreciating their strengths. We all like to receive love in different ways. If you haven't read the book, "The Five Love Languages" I highly recommend it, also take the quiz and find out what your top love language is! It's interesting, mine I easily guessed beforehand, "Words of Affirmation." That means I not only like to be shown love, but I also like to hear it. Along with words of affirmation there is, acts of service, quality time, gifts, and physical touch. We think because we liked to be loved a certain way that our partner should want to be loved the same way, but that's not always the case. Learn how they are best loved, and work on giving them the love they are best at receiving. Learning what they expect from you in a relationship, keep expectations in perspective, and try to meet those expectations the best you can. Relationships are a two-way street. There is always give and take and it's important to find that balance to keep a healthy relationship. What does God want for us in a relationship? The Lord reveals that the ultimate purpose of marriage is not to make us happy but to glorify God. God is our greatest love, no one can replace that, that's why He doesn't find someone to complete us, but to compliment us. He brings two people together to help one another draw each other closer to Him, and to help, support, and encourage one another to live out our purpose. I think having a strong foundation of faith, going to church together, and praying together are a few of the best ways to create a solid relationship centered around God. It's so important to find someone who has a strong relationship with God and loves Him more than you. The book "When God Writes your Love Story" by Eric and Leslie Ludy is a great book that focuses on how to find a "God-written" love story. Take time to notice the little things, let them know you care about them, how much they mean to you, and that they are loved! Sometimes we take for granted relationships in our life and forget to remind someone how important they are to us. We assume they know, but isn't it nice to be reminded sometimes? Do thoughtful gestures for one another, compliment each other, remind them what it is you like about them and why you fell in love with them in the first place. Do something you know they'd enjoy, let them know you're thinking of them, surprise them, tell them how thankful you are to have them in your life, it never hurts to let someone know they are appreciated, wanted, and loved!
When I went to college I attended Chi Alpha, a Christian fellowship in the Fargo-Moorhead area..they did a relationship series and these were the 12 questions they told us to ask ourselves when choosing a lifelong partner: Am I in the right place with God that someone can compliment my life instead of become my life? Do I understand my calling so I know who is a good fit for me? Would this person make a good parent for my children? If you became very sick would this person stay with you and care for you? Would your feelings for this person change if they gained 100 lbs? Do you trust your credit rating to this person? Are you willing to give you independence up for this person? When you're going through a difficult time will this person be there for you? Do you trust this person in making big decisions? Can this person be trusted to follow scripture and pray together? Does this person treat their parents with respect? Does this person love Jesus more than they love you? Because they have to. "And now these three remain: faith, hope, & love. But the greatest of these is Love."- 1 Corinthians 13:13 "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through all circumstances." - 1 Corinthians 13 "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, Love never fails."- 1 Corinthians 13:7 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."- 1 Peter 4:8 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 "Woman came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be walked on, not from his head to be superior, but from his side to stand with man. Under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved." - Genesis 2:22 "Do all things with love." - 1 Corinthians 16:14 "A true marriage requires two people who choose to love each other even on those days when they struggle to like each other." "A good marriage is the union of two forgivers" "The Lord says the most effective way to love someone is to allow His love to flow through you to them." "Be in a relationship where both people think they're the lucky one." "Great relationships aren't built in a day, great relationships are built daily." "Be compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love." "Love like there's no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, love again." "The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now." "To love is to receive a glimpse of Heaven." "You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly." "A life without love is no life at all." "No relationship is stronger than the weakest person in it." "The grass is greener where you water it." "Do not look to draw worth or value off of another person." "Love is not finding someone to live with, it's finding someone you can't live without." "One of the best feelings in the world is knowing that your presence and absence both mean something to someone." Thanks for reading!! Here are some resources I found with helpful relationship advice: http://www.beliefnet.com/Love-Family/Relationships/Marriage/7-Kinds-of-People-You-Definitely-Want-to-Marry.aspx?b=1&p=7&utm_campaign=GlobalScope&utm_medium=paid_distribution&utm_source=JesusChristPageDeskMarryKindSEPT http://www.beliefnet.com/Love-Family/Relationships/Marriage/10-Purposes-God-Intended-For-Marriage.aspx?b=1&p=10 http://www.beliefnet.com/Love-Family/Relationships/Galleries/9-New-Ways-to-Deepen-Your-Relationship-Bond.aspx?b=1&p=10 http://www.beliefnet.com/Love-Family/Relationships/6-Ways-to-Keep-Your-Woman-Happy.aspx?p=5&b=1 http://www.beliefnet.com/Love-Family/Relationships/9-Things-Successful-Couples-Do-Differently.aspx?p=11
0 Comments
Prayer is an amazing opportunity we have to communicate with God daily. The nice part is He already knows our prayer before we even communicate it to Him..but He loves time we set aside to talk with Him. We never have to worry if we can't find the words to say because He already knows our every thought, want, and need. The power of prayer is amazing, it's life-changing! God hears us and He answers. He answers with a 'yes', 'not yet', or 'I have something better in mind." Think back to things you've prayed for in the past..has He answered? I'm absolutely amazed when I look back to things I have prayed for and see all the prayers of mine He has answered. God is SO good, people!! The Lord says, "Dare to ask things of Me, remembering who I am." Too often when we pray we forget that we're talking to the World's Creator, if He is capable of that, surely He can answer our prayers. He works miracles everyday!! Never doubt the power of a prayer and what The Lord can do, he is capable of anything! I also see that the prayers He didn't answer because He had something even better in mind. "Some of the best things in life come from unanswered prayers." Don't be afraid to ask God to pour blessings on you, send your requests to Him and watch in awe at what He can do if we just dare to ask.
We love to send our own requests to God, but here's something to think about.."If God answered all of your prayers..would the world look different or just your life?" Pray for others, pray for your loved ones, pray for those in need, pray for healing & peace, the world needs prayers!!! Let God use you to answer prayers! We can release blessings on others lives, heal and help people through our prayers. Pray that God uses you as a vessel to help others seek Him and be a servant for Him in this world. Prayer is also a time to thank God for all the blessings He's poured out in your life. There is SO much to be thankful for. God rejoices when we send our praises to Him, He loves when we send appreciation to Him from our grateful hearts. How awesome that we can pray ANYTIME! Pray first thing when you wake up, thanking God for another day! Pray throughout your day asking for guidance and strength. Pray at meals, asking God to bless the food before you. Whisper a short prayer anytime of the day, "Lord, I trust you," "Thank you, God, for everything." Pray before you go to bed. Being in constant communication with Him is a gift and should be our number one priority every single day. Don't wait for a time of need to pray, pray all the time!! Watch to see how He answers your prayers, it is amazing!!! "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."- Matthew 21:22 "I know that God will give you whatever you ask of Him."- John 11:22 "Because He bends down to listen I will pray as long as I have breath!"-Psalm 116:2 "God can give you all gifts in abundance, so that at all times you have all you need plus an abundance for all good deeds."- 2 Corinthians 9:8 "Don't forget to pray today, because God didn't forget to wake you up this morning." "Prayer changes everything because it releases God's wisdom into your circumstances." "You are never so high as when you are on your knees." "Pray more, worry less." "Prayer is the most important conversation of the day." "Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work." "Keep on praying for faith, it is through prayer that you develop all your wonderful qualities of soul." As I write about prayer today, I especially want to lift up in prayer the family & friends of Siobhan McCarthy and the community of Wheaton. May The Lord wrap His arms around you with comfort and fill you with His peace and strength. Thanks for reading! God's greatest promise of all time!! Everlasting life with Him in Heaven! Can you even wrap your head around this? This place we are right now is only temporary, our true home is Heaven. The most amazing gift of all time, Christ dying for us and our sins so that for all who believe will live eternally with God. This is our true destination! It fills my heart with so much joy, it makes me smile ear to ear, I can't even physically contain what this means!! I love the song "I can only Imagine" (found at the bottom of this page.) It describes the feelings so accurately..I mean can you imagine what that day will be like? Sometimes I wonder why we even get so wrapped up with all of the rift-raft of our lives on Earth..it causes us to forget our ONE goal, and that is to get to Heaven and live forever with God. Stop and remind yourself of this amazing sacrifice that's been gifted to us, thank God for this promise, let it fill you with so much happiness and allow you to look beyond your current circumstances here. We can't even begin to dream of the life to come. The Lord says, "You have good reason to be joyful, because you're on your way to Heaven." One day we will fall in to the arms of Jesus and be home forever." -John 14:3 "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He gave up His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16 "So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." -John 16:22 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." - Romans 8:18 "The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can't supply is proof that Heaven is our home." "There is no need to worry about the future. When the time comes I will personally escort you into Glory." We all strive to show the world around us that we live a "tidy, structured life." The truth of the matter is no matter how great and organized someones life looks from the outside there is no such thing as a tidy, structured life. The Lord Himself assures us of that. Everyone has underlying issues weather it has to do with family, friends, marriage, career, self-image, illness, money, addiction, and so on. The pressure to be perfect can sometimes consume us. We feel like we have to show everyone that our life is perfect, or at least pretty close, when in all reality a perfect life is not attainable. We think that being busy and productive means we are doing all we can to glorify The Lord, we wear exhaustion as a status symbol of success. We think that the harder we work and the more we try to do the better off we are. When we try to live independently away from God we experience emptiness and dissatisfaction. We might gain the world but we lose what truly matters. Sometimes God forces us to slow down and reminds us that time spent with Him is our highest priority. There is no need to get caught up and stress about having everything together..we all sin, we all fall short, we all have our own problems present weather they're noticeable to others or not. We all struggle in different areas, sometimes we don't see the imperfections in peoples life, but they are there. If life was perfect on earth, what would we have to look forward to? God knows we're imperfect, He sees our flaws, He knows all of our sins, He knows we fall short, and He loves us anyway. The Lord says, "Much frustration and failure result from you seeking perfection in this life." It is impossible for us to be perfect people and live a perfect life on Earth. Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, God wants us to pour our energy into seeking Him. When we focus on Him we can stop worrying about what other people think. The Lord says, "Glorifying and enjoying me is a higher priority than maintaining a tidy, structured life." We can try to have our life together, do everything ourselves, and make our lives look great to other people, but that's not His purpose for us. Isn't it relieving that God doesn't expect us to be perfect and have everything figured out? We like to plan our days, our months, our life...but that is not how we were designed to live here. God wants us to give our day over to him and watch to see what He will do with it, it's not our job to plan every part of our day in an organized manner. Don't make the mistake of thinking your 'messy' life isn't enough. Take the pressure off yourself, stop comparing your life to those around you, we aren't here to impress people or compete with others for perfection. Besides, the "perfect life" has many different meanings. Embrace the imperfections and pray for spiritual structure. Be compassionate and kind to others, we all struggle no matter how great things seem form the outside. Don't be afraid to admit your life is "messy." We're all fighting our own battles, we're all human..wouldn't it be easier if we all tried to be understanding of the imperfections in all of our lives? Pray for others, look for ways to help, put yourself at their level..we can all relate in someway. Most of all, be kind and compassionate to others as Christ is to all of us. Prayer: "Dear Lord, please help me to focus more on you & less on trying to live a perfect life in an imperfect world. Help me to let go of my need to live a tidy, structured life and live the life you have planned for me. Amen." "Because of The Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:22 "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." - 1 Peter 3:8 "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."- Proverbs 3:6 "Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins."- Ecclesiastes 7:20 "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out."- Romans 7:18 "Live from the heart of yourself, seek to be whole-not perfect." "It is easier to be happy if you look beyond imperfections than seeking happiness by trying too hard to make everything perfect." "There is no need to be perfect to inspire others, let people be inspired by how you deal with your imperfections." "The grass isn't always greener on the other side, its green where we water it." "The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday." Do not worry about seeking perfection in this fallen world. God doesn't ask us to be perfect or live an orderly life, He asks us to actively seek Him. Living a tidy, structured life here on Earth and leading everyone to believe our life is perfect is not what will get us to Heaven. We do not need to perform in order to see His love. Take the unnecessary weight of your shoulders, seek God in this 'messy' life and He will show us perfection. Thanks for reading! One of God's greatest promises to us, "So nothing you do or fail to do could ever separate you from My Love." The feeling is overwhelming isn't it? That no matter what God LOVES us. This relationship can't even come close to being accomplished with anyone else! He promises, "No matter what you may lose in this life, you will never lose your relationship with Me." If you're feeling rather meek..your sins are feeling heavy, regret is on your mind, you haven't forgiven yourself, you're carrying mistakes from the past, you feel not good enough, you're feeling a little low, or you just need a gentle reminder.. remember this..God is FOR YOU. He LOVES you, no matter what. His grace is sufficient, His love is abundant, He forgives! Take that breath of fresh air and love yourself. "His love never never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me." He loves us more than we can even begin to comprehend. Never let yourself feel less than a child of God. You are cherished, you are His, and that is more than enough! "Your love is better than life." - Psalm 63:3 "Praise The Lord, He is good! His love never fails!" - Psalm 136 "For I am persuaded beyond a doubt that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39 "God shows and clearly proves His love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8 "God loves us more in a moment than anyone could in a lifetime." "Grace is God doing for us what we could never do and what we will never deserve." Go through this day [and everyday] knowing you are a child of God and HE LOVES YOU! Nothing could ever separate us from His love. Be overwhelmed by the power of His love for you! Have a blessed weekend!! Thanks for reading! Have you smiled at someone today? Have you reminded someone how much they mean to you? Have you prayed for someone? Have you said I love you? Have you gave a friendly wave? Have you said a simple hello? Have you helped someone without them having to ask? When is the last time you went out of your way to do something nice for someone?
It's so simple to be kind to others, and yet sometimes we fail to do so. We're too busy, we assume they already know, we feel unconformable, we get caught up in all the things we need to do for ourselves. It's easy to forget in our busy lives how easy it can be to spread kindness everywhere. Being kind to others doesn't require a lot of time or effort, but yet it could make someones entire day, change their perspective, put a smile on their face, and let them know that someone was thinking about them and cares. All we really want is to feel loved and to know that someone cares about us. The Lord says, "Take time to be good to My people, this is where true joy in life is found." Take time to live in the presence of The Lords light and let your life shine bright in the lives of others. He is truly pleased when we love others as He has loved us. Ask God to use you a vessel to spread His love and kindness into the world. You will be amazed by the opportunities He gives you to be a blessing to others, you may be just what they needed! A simple smile can brighten someones days, a thoughtful gesture, a friendly hello, helping someone and expecting nothing in return. Go out of your way to do something nice for someone, show someone you care, let them know they are loved. You won't regret it and you'll find that being kind to others will make you happier in return, it has a positive affect on both the giver and the receiver. Think about what you can do to make someones day, it could be a complete stranger, it could be someone close to you. Remind the people you love and care for how much they mean to you, you never know when it could be the last time you get to, don't waste an opportunity to share love and kindness. With our words we can release favor into the lives of others, make it your mission to speak blessings. Prayer for kindness "Dear Heavenly Father, help me to love others as you have loved me and treat people the way I want to be treated. Let your love flow through me and into the lives of those around me. Amen." The quotes really say it all! "Do all the good you can, to as many people as you can, as often as you can." "You will rise by lifting others." "Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." "If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." "Practice tenderness, look for opportunities to compliment, notice the little things, study inner beauty." "Be the reason someone smiles today." "Be the change you wish to see in the world." "The best feeling of happiness is when you're happy because you made someone else happy." "Anger doesn't bring about the righteous life that God desires." "Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect, mirror what you admire." "Fill your mind with truth, your heart with love, and your life with service." "Be compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love." "Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much." "Love well, give generously, serve selflessly, laugh much, adventure often." "Pride wants to critique, but a truly humble heart celebrates others success, talents, and happiness." "Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you." "Love to love, hate to hate." "Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."- Proverbs 3:3 "A good name is more desirable than great wealth. Respect is better than silver or gold." -Proverbs 22:1 "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see The Lord."- Hebrews 12:14 "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." - 1 Peter 3:8 "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." -Colossians 3:12 "Gracious words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."- Proverbs 16:24 "But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." - Matthew 5:44 Spread kindness around like confetti!! Thanks for taking time out of your day to read this blog! :) Have a wonderful day!! I remember growing up my Grandma Marsha had two quotes in her kitchen window. One was, "Let go and Let God." The other read, "Good morning! I will be handling all of your problems today so have fun and enjoy! Love, God." What beautiful reminders to wake up to every day. We tend to be good at letting circumstances control us, letting our stress get the best of us, and worrying about things out of our control. I always have to remind myself to stop worrying about things, after all, worrying isn't going to help or change the outcome. The relieving news is that God doesn't ask us to figure it all out. He wants us to immediately turn to Him in times of stress, placing our concerns in His sovereign hands. He Has complete control over our lives and He can take care of any problem that arises. Take a moment each day to release your worries, let go, and let God have control. Free yourself from any negative thoughts and be content knowing that He has everything under control. When we trust Him enough to give up control, He has the power to transform. Watch to see what He can do. Commit everything into His care, and turn from the path of planning to the path of peace. He wants us to trust Him to use the difficulty for good in our lives. And as soon as we place our worries in His hands, He will place peace in our hearts, and we will see the good He can bring out of every situation.
Prayer for peace: "Dear Lord, please help me to take all of my worries and place them in Your loving hands, allow me to let go and let you have control over all that concerns me, replace my restlessness with Your peace. Amen." "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."- 1 Peter 5:7 "When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I." -Psalm 61:2 "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him." - Psalm 37:7 "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"- Matthew 6:27 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble."-Psalms 46:1 "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul."- Psalm 94:19 "If we prayed as much as we worried we'd have a lot less to worry about it." "We want God to prove Himself so we can trust Him, God wants us to trust Him so He can prove Himself." "When my need for control starts controlling me, I need to stop and ask God for His perspective and peace." "Just do your best and let God do the rest." "Worrying does not empty tomorrow of it's troubles, it empties today of its strength." "Anything under God's control is never out of control." "One of the happiest moments in life is when you find the courage to let go of what you can't change." "Whatever is worrying you right now, forget about it. Take a deep breath, and trust in God." "Though my world is shaky and uncertain, I can rest in the arms of a completely unshakable God." Let go of your own will, and let God have full control. As soon as we release our worries into God's hands we can feel at peace. Take a deep breath, let go & let God. Thanks for reading! Have a great day! Have you ever been in a season where you're waiting for God to fulfill a dream or desire He's placed in your heart? Maybe you're in one right now. God places us in a season of waiting to draw us closer to Him, to fully rely on Him, and to trust that His timing is perfect. You are exactly where God wants you to be right now, every experience is apart of His divine plan for your life. The Lord says, "When the time is RIGHT, I can transform your long-held hopes into delightful reality."
God has three answers to our requests, "Yes", "Not yet", or, "I have something better in mind." Sometimes we struggle to be patient and give up control. We get our minds set on something, the plan looks perfect to us, we have it all under control, and we want it to happen right away. What we forget is that we're not in control and we can't see the big picture. We tend to get frustrated, impatient, and sometimes give up hope when things don't go exactly as want them to or happen right when we think they should. God see's how all of the pieces fit together and has our best interest in mind. Hold onto His promises, He knows when we're ready for that next big step. In our waiting season, we can find rest in the fact that we can be content in all circumstances because we have God at all times and He is all we need. Enjoy where you are at this very moment, live in the present, and focus on all the blessings in your life. Remain hopeful and prayerful, sending your requests to God and trusting that when the time is right He will answer them. Remain joyful, and praise the Lord with thanksgiving. Keep your faith and learn to lean on Him even more, knowing that He understands far more about us than we do ourselves. When the time is right, He will create a breakthrough. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Worrying about how or when it is going to happen is not our job, our job is to just believe, trust Him wholeheartedly, and keep the faith. "God has perfect timing for everything. Learn to wait on Him. This brings Him honor, and it brings you peace."- Psalm 27:14 "But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure."- Romans 8:25 "I wait for The Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope."-Psalm 130:5 "Be still and rest in The Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him."- Psalm 37:7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."- Philippians 4:6-7 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."- Galatians 6:9 "In the multitude of my anxious thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!"- Psalm 94:19 "I remain confident of this, I will see the goodness of The Lord."- Psalm 27:13 "Jesus replied, You don't understand what I'm doing now, but someday you will."- John 13:7 A passage from Susie Larson [She's amazing, like her page on Facebook to read her blessings each day!] "May you learn to rest in the finished work of Christ. May you refuse to let your emotions dictate your perspective. You have Jesus, you have His presence, and you have His promises! When what your eyes see are different from what your heart deeply desires, look up and pray. If you're in the 'not-yet' season, take time to worship God because He's all you need. Take time to thank Him to, because He's been good. And dare to ask for the impossible, because He's a wonder-working God." My journal has a never-ending abundance of quotes to share!! "God has perfect timing, never early, never late, it takes a little patience and faith, but it's worth the wait." "When you learn to embrace where you are, that's when God will take you further than you can imagine." "Stress makes you believe everything has to happen right now, faith reassures everything will happen in God's timing." "Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting." "To us, waiting is wasting. To God, waiting is working." "Be where you are, not where you think you should be." "Sometimes when things take longer than you thought they would, its just a gentle reminder that you have more time than you thought, and that there's a journey to enjoy." "Remembering God's goodness fuels me to keep praying and trusting God for those answers yet to come." "I can see the light that is coming for the heart that holds on." "Be positive, patient, and persistent." "Keep your mind going in the right direction and your life will catch up with it." "We often make the mistake of thinking that if we hurry we will be at our future sooner, but it only causes us to lose the present." "Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it." "Great things take time." Below is a helpful link I found with advice while you wait for the God to reveal the next glorious adventure He has in store for you: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Galleries/5-Ways-To-Endure-When-Youre-Waiting-on-God.aspx?b=1&p=4 Take this time of waiting and focus on your relationship with God. Trust Him and believe in good things to come. Keep your faith, and wait with a patient Heart, His timing is perfect. Thanks for reading today's blog! :) Have a happy & safe Labor Day weekend!! What is my purpose? Some of us may feel like we already know our purpose, others might feel like we're still searching for ours. The best part is that God has a purpose for each and every one of us. We've been saved by the grace of God and we are here for a reason, He is living out a divine plan through us.
"Long before you began seeking Me, I had designs on you for glorious living. My overall purpose embraces and enfolds you—helping you understand who you are, giving meaning to your life." "It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." -Ephesians 1:11–12 I truly believe our number one purpose is to know God. A quote I read, "I am convinced without a shadow of a doubt that the most valuable pursuit we can embark upon is to know God." In every moment of every day our highest priority is our relationship with Him. Once we seek Him with all of our heart He will shine through us in any way He chooses. What do you like to do? What are you good at it? What are you passionate about? Consider how you can use these interests to serve God. There is a reason He has given you a passion for certain things, some you may have not even discovered yet. Don't be afraid to use them. He has given us all the tools we need to change peoples lives and leave the world a better place, we just have to put them to good use! We don't need to rely on our own abilities to make a difference in this world, allow yourself to be a servant for God and let His spirit work through you. He wants us to dream the impossible, but He also will teach us that the impossible is only made possible by Him. The purpose God has planned for us is not something we can accomplish with our own strength. Ask The Lord to expand your impact and opportunities in such a way that you can touch the lives of His people. Don't walk away from a dream God has placed within your heart, take a closer look and allow Him to display his love and power through you. Sometimes all it takes is to step out of our comfort zone and be willing to wander into what may seem unconformable and unfamiliar to see what God has in store for us. Be willing to use the gifts God has given you to explore opportunities, give back, help others, and serve Him, and then thank Him for those gifts for they are not of our own self-doing. I just finished the book, "When God writes your Life Story." By Eric & Leslie Ludy. It's a great book on finding your true purpose, I recommend it. Here is a passage that really stuck with me: "As lofty as your goals and dreams may be, they probably still miss the definition of true success as defined by heaven. True success is found only when you finally learn to adopt God's purpose statement for your life and relinquish your hold on your own ideas of success. Do not separate God from the details of your daily life. We are here on earth to know God intimately, fully, and correctly, allowing Him to showcase to the world around us His loving nature, His attitude, His thoughts, His emotions, and His actions through the way we live. We are here to simply abide in Him, enjoy Him, and be a vessel for Him to work through to change the world around us." Once we make Knowing him our first priority, He makes our unique role and purpose in this world clear. When we walk with The Lord, surrender our self-gaining ways to Him, and seek ways to live out the purpose He's placed within us, it draws us nearer to Him and we feel purposeful and fulfilled when we use our gifts the way God has intended us to use them. My prayer for purpose: "Dear Lord, thank you for the skills, talents, knowledge, and opportunities you've blessed me with. Please help me to use these gifts to live out my purpose, help others, and serve You. Amen." "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."- Ephesians 2:10 "Whatever you do work at it with all your heart, as though you are working for The Lord and not for people." - Colossians 3:23 "Now to Him Who, by the power that is at work within us, is able to carry out his purpose super-abundantly, far more than we dare to think or ask for, beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams."- Ephesians 3:20 "A man's mind plans his way, but The Lord directs his steps and makes them sure."- Proverbs 19:21 Quotes from my trusty journal: "Make up your mind that you are not going to quit until you see the fruit of what God has placed within you." "You'll never be more satisfied than when you are doing what God created you to do." "Whatever God calls you to do, He equips you to do as well." "Bring so much joy to your job that is can't be called work." "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." "Let your passion lead you to your purpose" "If you love what you do you'll never have to work a day in your life." "Once you become fearless, life becomes limitless." "You are destined to accomplish your dreams, to leave a mark on this world, there is nothing average about you." "Give God your weakness, and He'll give you His strength." "Don't stop until you're proud." "Is what you're living for worth Christ dying for?" "Only those who risk going to far can possibly find out how far they can go." "Let us never hesitate to say, this is only the beginning." Don't be troubled by the fear of failure, God's love for us never fails. Nothing we do, or fail to do, can separate us from God's love. He see's our efforts, passion, and persistence. Take your selfish dreams, desires, and plans, lay them at His feet, and allow Him to work through you in anyway He wishes. Get out there and attempt something so large that failure will be guaranteed unless God steps in, you will be amazed at the wonders of His work. God can do far more than our biggest, most incredible dreams and you have an amazing purpose in this world! Thanks SO much for reading! |