Like a Child

Matthew 18:3 (NLT) Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven."

I recently read Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo (click here for info on the book). If you haven't read it, I seriously suggest that you do. It's about a little boy who goes to Heaven during an emergency surgery. The most endearing part of the book is as the boy, Colton recalls his memories of Heaven.

I was so humbled by reading this book. Here this boy so excitely believed everything and bodly told the story. Would I be so forthcomthing and so bold about a similar experience? Being a believer and having read the Bible, I wouldn't doubt, but would I be afraid of what others thought? Am I afraid of what others think of me about my personal testimony? Do I boldly proclaim my faith in a room of unbelievers?

What does faith like a child look like? Strip away the doubt. Take away all the fear of what others think and just live, live for God, live for the purpose He created you for. Go back to the days when Santa brought you presents and you couldn't sleep the night before Christmas in anticipation of tomorrow's presents and activities. That is faith like a child. It's no fear, no doubt and extreme excitement for Jesus! If anyone tried to tell you Santa wasn't real, would you have laughed at them and fought for your cause? Well stand up and fight for Jesus! There's not many times in life that someone will tell you to behave like a child.

Love

I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I...”

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew
from What Love Really Means by JJ Heller (song)

I love JJ Heller's song "What Love Really Means." The lyrics so beautifully capture people's anguish to feel love from something or someone and how God yearns to show us His love. His real love.

I especially love, "and now that you'll listen, I'll tell you..." Have you ever wondered where God is? Why did this happen? Were you listening? God loves you and He wants more than anything to show you His love.

Did you ever let this verse sink in to the depths of your heart and soul? Read, let it sink in for a minute.

John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Reflect on God's love for you this Easter. Think of the above verse. Think of the cross. The cross is the ultimate symbol of God's love for us. Happy Easter and God Bless!

God's Instructions

“Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. ⁹ You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you." Exodus 25: 8-9

I admit at this part of the Book of Exodus, I find myself much like I would have been a few years ago, in one of my college general education requirement courses. You know the ones, you have to take them, some are interesting, some you're just thinking, "oh wow, what's the point?" Heads resting on the hand with the occasional sigh and daydream in the midst.

As I'm reading my One Year Bible, I start getting into the part of Exodus where God is intstucting Moses how the Israeliites are to build the tabernacle. This goes on for quite a few chapters. My brain is starting to wander, when I turn to the next chapter...more instructions!

At this point, I'm paying more attention. The instructions are so detailed, so specific. As I think about all the work that went into this, God's not leaving anything to imagination. I then started to wonder how many times God was trying to get my attention with detailed instructions of my life and I was too busy trying to speed to the end of the chapter.

God has a direction for us, He will lead us where we need to be, but are we paying attention? Are we listening? Or more importantly are we obeying Him?

Endurance for the Race

Romans 5: 3-5  ³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
 
Endurance is something I can relate to as a long distance runner. I love a long run, am I sick to enjoy that burning feeling in my lungs? Probably. As I run (especially when outside) I feel so close to God, out in the nature He created relying on Him to help me finish the race. With each mile, it just gets harder. In high school, as a cross country runner, I would tell myself, "Ok, make it to the tree or that hill," and as soon as I made it to my goal, I'd make another one and so on. Something to help keep my mind off the task at hand. Before long, I realized how therapeautic it was. On a bad day, I'd go run. The edorphins from running and the quiet to think was just the trick to heal the wounded heart or stressed out brain.
 
As with any kind of exercise, the more you do it, the easier it gets and more you can add on to your routine, or in my case, the more miles you can run. So with life as we face trials, we're running a race, a spiritual race. There's so many wrong ways to handle problems: drinking, drugs, overeating, anger and so on. When we face our problems head on with God by our side, admitting we can't do it without Him, our character builds and each and every trial, while probably just as painful as the last (depending on what it is) can get easier, because when you learn to bring it to Him, when you rest in the Lord of peace, when you "Trust in the Lord and lean on not your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5)," you're not doing the race alone. Instead, God is carrying you the rest of the way.

A New Journey

Jeremiah 29: 11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."

It's not the destination, it's the journey...I'm sure you've heard that one before. I have been a born again Christian for 11 years now. My journey might not seem like a long one to someone who has been born again a lot longer, but often in those 11 years, I have wondered where God wants me. What does He want me to do? What is my God given purpose? Don't we all or have thought that at some point in our lives? And it seems like I have had so many different paths and directions along the way.

Restless for some quiet and time to write, I was seriously annoyed with my toddler and her resistance to nap time this afternoon. Reluctantly, as I didn't know if it would work, I pulled her out of her bed and went into a dark, quiet room to rock her in the recliner. She was quiet as a mouse and snuggled into her momma so tight. God whispered to me in the quiet as I'm grumbling about the lack of quiet time I would get this afternoon. "Isn't this the quiet time you so desired?" It was... it was quiet, it was peaceful and soon my darling fell asleep in my arms. It's been rare for her to fall asleep in my arms for quite some time. As her second birthday quickly approaches, I relished in the moment of quiet and rubbed the soft cheek of my little love as she peacefully drifted off. Mommy needed that, mommy has missed that.

As I reflect on my journey and know it's far from over, it's quite reassuring that I know I am a wife and a mother. Two very important roles. What other adventures and paths will God bring my way on my journey? It's comforting to read Jeremiah 29: 11-13 and know His plans are good.

A new blog, a new day

Once titled New Beginings, I thought it would be appropriate to retitle this blog to Journey of Purpose as I feel I'm starting a new chapter in life to find out who God created me to be. Stay tuned for a new post.

March's Newsletter Article

Stop and Smell the Roses

As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him. 19 “My lord the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. 20 I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel* to greet my lord the king.” 21 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei should die, for he cursed the Lord’s anointed king!” 22 “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!” David exclaimed. “Why have you become my adversary* today? This is not a day for execution but for celebration! Today I am once again the king of Israel!” 23 Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, “Your life will be spared.”
2 Samuel 19: 18-23 (NLT)

I don’t know about you, but to me the winter has drug on and on and on and on… well you get the point! Personally, there is just something about the winter months that just depresses me and makes me get into that ho-hum routine of life. I forget to notice things around me and start the same robotic habits. I get into a rut.

Back in December, I decided to plan a trip to Charleston, South Carolina to visit a very good and long time friend of mine from high school as she was not going to be able to come home to visit over Christmas. I planned the trip for mid- February and thought nothing of it until a week prior as I had gotten into the winter doldrums. My trip finally arrived and as it is with most of my flying experiences, I experienced delays. So although a tab bit irritated at first, I accepted my fate, and sat down for the five hour unexpected layover in Memphis and read my Bible. I poured over 2 Samuel. At first, I had thought of the time lost with my friend, Becky, but reading the Bible was calming. Reading about Shimei begging David for forgiveness because he cursed and threw stones at David (see 2 Sam. 16: 5-14), and David forgiving him was speaking volumes to me about humility and little did I know, God was going to teach me more lessons on humility and His beauty.

My visit to Charleston was made perfect in the beautiful, calming, and peacefulness of Magnolia Plantation. At first I had just been excited for 67 degrees and sun, that day I left with much more. My eyes were filled with absolute beauty and wonder. I could not believe all the different and gorgeous flowers I saw and the diverse plant life, including the unique Spanish moss that hung off the very old trees. With all the ponds and rivers and wildlife, I didn’t know if my eyes could take everything in at the historic and old plantation. Towards the end of the afternoon, Becky and I climbed a very high wildlife tower the tour guide had suggested. We were the only two people in the tower. Neither one of us spoke as we stared across the landscape and captured the fresh air, beauty, and animals below. It was quiet, it was peaceful, it was God’s creation. How humbled I felt. Humility, according to The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, means the opposite of arrogance and pride; an attitude that grows out of recognition that all we are and everything we own are gifts from God. Everything I am, everything I own, everything I see, everything is from God. And in that tower, I said a prayer of thanksgiving for the beauty and wonder that is God. I thanked Him for the trip and the escape from winter, if only it was just for a few days. The trip was a gift from God and a reminder of all His glory.