This blog series has been temporarily delayed due to a badly needed trip to Publix.
The cupboard was bare...that's DEFCON 1 in the Denny home!
We are now restocked and ready to go. All is now right in Scott's world.
I'll be posting Day 6 either later tonight or tomorrow afternoon.
Blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
DAY FIVE: Seeing Life From God's View
What is your life?
James 4:14b
I don't even know where to start today. As I read Chapter 5 it was if I was reading recent events in my own life. I was able to relate to so many of the points that were made. So let me just go ahead and dive in.
First, let me begin by saying our own perception of life is limited to our finite view. We are who we view ourselves as. Our perception of life determines so many things about our lives - our morals and values, our beliefs, our priorities, our expectations, and our relationships just to name a few. In other words, our lives mimic our views of life. If we think life is a party...well, guess what? We'll live the partying lifestyle. In psychology, there is a term for this - it's called self-fulfilling prophecy. We live according to what we perceive life is.
Warren asks if you were to picture life, what image would come to mind? Whatever image that comes to mind is your life metaphor. So right now, before you read any further, close your eyes and picture what life looks like to you. Whatever you pictured just now is your life metaphor...it's a glimpse of how you view life.
I don't know what your image is but I'd love to share mine with you. It even surprised me. When I pictured life, I pictured a young Mom in a white dress swinging a young child around in a green lawn next to a lake. (I know, I had a very detailed image but it was the image that instantly popped into my mind.) What I felt as I pictured that scene was love, joy, and laughter. Yep, that's the image of life that immediately came to my mind. I bet psychologists would have a field day with that one!
But God's perception of our lives is quite different from ours. His view isn't limited by the here and now. He has infinite perception across all of eternity. He knows that life is so much more than what we often make of it. Unlike us, His view of life is undistorted. He sees the true picture. Our life image is influenced and often tainted by this world - the experiences we have, the influences all around us, and the people in our lives can distort our perception of life - thus creating a faulty view. To fulfill our purpose, we must get a proper perception of life. We can turn to God's Word to find that proper perception. Paul writed in Romans 12:12 "Do not conform yourselves to the standard of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God."
Whatever your view of life is, according to Warren, the Bible outlines three life metaphors:
- Life is a test.
- Life is a trust.
- Live is a temporary assignment.
For me, these three things are not really new concepts. I've heard these concepts before I ever read The Purpose Driven Life. However, I just never heard them stated together quite so succintly and quite from this 'view.'
Life is a Test: "God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart." 2 Chronicles 32:31
As I read this verse I was convicted. This past year has been no joke for our family. Money is very tight - the tightest it's been since we first married. I've had ongoing health issues. Our first child left the nest. And Scott's Dad is declining rapidly. And to make matters worse, during a majority of this time I felt that God was so far away and I was all alone. I can pointedly remember one occassion in particular where I was so overcome by it all. I simply couldn't take it anymore. I curled up in a ball, my body wracked with grief, sobbing incessantly, and crying out to God - yet I felt nothing. I knew that God had promised to never leave nor forsake me. But I just didn't sense Him there like He's been before. It could have been my own spiritual state that caused Him to withdraw. But then He does withdraw from us at times to test our hearts. In retrospect, I now know that this past year has been one BIG, FAT, HAIRY MOTHER of a test. The Bible says, "God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you a way out." (1 Corinthians 10:13) I'd love to say that I think I passed this test with flying colors, but that simply would not be true. I failed...and I failed miserably. When I couldn't sense Him there for me, I fell back and leaned on the visible - the things of this world. In other words, I returned to my 'Egypts.' God had provided the grace, but this weakling little sissy girl just didn't have the guts to step out on faith! Looking back, I know I must have disappointed my Lord and Savior. That grieves my heart to no end. But the wonderful thing about our God is that He is the God of infinite chances...He has FORGIVEN me, given me additional opportunities to 'get it right', and in recent months, things have started to finally turn around. I guess it's taken a year for me to finally show signs of the character He was trying to develop in me to begin with. I'm just so hard headed that it took a long time to relearn how to TRUST Him even in seasons of drought:)
Which leads to the next life metaphor...
Life is a Trust: "The world and all that is in it belong to the LORD; the earth and all who live in it are His." Psalm 24:1
God has entrusted you and me with all that we've been given. Everything you and I 'own' is not ours...it all belongs to God. He's just loaning it to us during our time here on earth. We are only stewards of what He has given us. And as stewards of God's property, we are to be responsible, wise, and care for that which we've been given. God has trusted us. But we must trust Him in return. Boy, did this really hit home to me. I can't say that I've exactly been a good steward with anything lately - though I've tried to be, past mistakes and bad decisions undermined the stewarship side of things. But what I've got to realize is that everything I have is not mine to begin with. So in essence, when I don't trust Him with money, relationships, jobs, etc...I'm acting like a little child who won't return his friend's toy. I am hanging on to things for dear life shouting, "Mine! Mine! MINE!" when all along it belongs to HIM! I stand convicted!
Life is Temporary:
I've written to this life metaphor in a previous post. This life is temporary. It is the preparation for eternity. What we do in this life will carry over into eternity. So I must live wisely, being a good steward of that which I've been given, and living a life of character, faith and integrity.
One day, we will be evaluated and rewarded according to our life here on earth. I may not had done so hot on this last section of the test, but I pray that with God's help, I will do better from here on out.
Life is a test and a trust.
Verse: "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones." Luke 16:10a
QUESTION: What happened to me recently that I now know was a test from God? What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me?
Grace and peace, friends!
In His Love, Cathy
(Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Life. Zondervan. 2002. Print.)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
DAY FOUR: Made to Last Forever
"This life isn't all there is. Life on earth is just a dress rehearsal for the real production. You will spend far more time on the other side of death - in eternity - than you will here." (Warren)
So often I live life for the here and now. I let the busyness, the pressures, the worries choke out what is truly important in life. So often the temporal things demand attention, shifting my focus from eternity. What I say (or what I don't say) and what I do (or what I don't do) matters in this life...it carries over into eternity with me. What a fool I have been, living as if all that mattered were the immediate without considering the eternal. It is not like I didn't know this. I've just been out of tune lately and let the cares of this world choke out the reality of eternity.
Reality isn't just our life on earth. Reality is eternity. We'll be spending a lot more time on the other side of death than we will in life on this earth. So why is it that I forget that important fact and cave into the pressures and desires of this world? It's because I'm human, capable of bad judgement, making mistakes, and being just plain out demanding. I am capable of sin.
But that isn't how God originally created us to be. We were created in His image...meant to last for eternity! Where we spend eternity is up to us...for those of us who love and place their trust in Jesus Christ, we will spend eternity with Him. Those who reject salvation through Jesus Christ will spend eternity apart from God...in a place of eternal condemnation.
I was reminded in today's devotion that if God didn't exist, if this life was all there was, then there would be no purpose, no meaning to life. There would in essence be no right or wrong, no good or bad. We could do what we wanted, when we wanted and not suffer any eternal reprocussions. However, death is not our final termination. There is life after death. And we are held responsible for our words and deeds in the hereafter.
I've realized that lately, I've just been winging it through life - you know - shooting from the hip. Sure, I've been responsible and done the best I could to be a good person. However, God expects more from us than that. We must live our lives on purpose - for His purpose. In 1 Corinthians 9:26, Paul writes, " So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing." In other words, we aren't to wonder through this life aimlessly. We are to have purpose in every step we take. Superior athletes take their training and practices seriously. This life is our training ground for eternity. It's not enough to sit back and watch from the stands. It's not enough to jog around the track a time or two. We are IN the race so we must train diligently and finish strong.
I must remember that there is more to life than just the here and now.
Verse: "This world is fading away along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God you will live forever." 1 John 2:17
Question: Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing that I should start doing (or stop doing) today?
Grace and peace:)
In His Love, Cathy
(Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Life. Zondervan. 2002. Print.)
So often I live life for the here and now. I let the busyness, the pressures, the worries choke out what is truly important in life. So often the temporal things demand attention, shifting my focus from eternity. What I say (or what I don't say) and what I do (or what I don't do) matters in this life...it carries over into eternity with me. What a fool I have been, living as if all that mattered were the immediate without considering the eternal. It is not like I didn't know this. I've just been out of tune lately and let the cares of this world choke out the reality of eternity.
Reality isn't just our life on earth. Reality is eternity. We'll be spending a lot more time on the other side of death than we will in life on this earth. So why is it that I forget that important fact and cave into the pressures and desires of this world? It's because I'm human, capable of bad judgement, making mistakes, and being just plain out demanding. I am capable of sin.
But that isn't how God originally created us to be. We were created in His image...meant to last for eternity! Where we spend eternity is up to us...for those of us who love and place their trust in Jesus Christ, we will spend eternity with Him. Those who reject salvation through Jesus Christ will spend eternity apart from God...in a place of eternal condemnation.
I was reminded in today's devotion that if God didn't exist, if this life was all there was, then there would be no purpose, no meaning to life. There would in essence be no right or wrong, no good or bad. We could do what we wanted, when we wanted and not suffer any eternal reprocussions. However, death is not our final termination. There is life after death. And we are held responsible for our words and deeds in the hereafter.
I've realized that lately, I've just been winging it through life - you know - shooting from the hip. Sure, I've been responsible and done the best I could to be a good person. However, God expects more from us than that. We must live our lives on purpose - for His purpose. In 1 Corinthians 9:26, Paul writes, " So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing." In other words, we aren't to wonder through this life aimlessly. We are to have purpose in every step we take. Superior athletes take their training and practices seriously. This life is our training ground for eternity. It's not enough to sit back and watch from the stands. It's not enough to jog around the track a time or two. We are IN the race so we must train diligently and finish strong.
I must remember that there is more to life than just the here and now.
Verse: "This world is fading away along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God you will live forever." 1 John 2:17
Question: Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing that I should start doing (or stop doing) today?
Grace and peace:)
In His Love, Cathy
(Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Life. Zondervan. 2002. Print.)
Monday, March 21, 2011
DAY THREE: What Drives Your Life
(Got a little off track the last few days due to a family beach trip on Friday and then Michael's soccer tournament this past weekend in Perdido Key.)
"What drives your life?" was the title of Chapter 3 in The Purpose Driven Life. The question glared at me from the top of the page. It immediately captured my attention. Before even reading a single word of the chapter I was already prayerfully considering what my answer would be.
"Everyone's life is driven by something." (Warren) So what was driving my life? Was it God or was it me? After taking a long, introspective look I decided that at times, it was God driving my life. However, quite honestly, lately it's definitely me. I seemed to have no problem shoving God out of the drivers seat...like a little child demanding, "Hey, I want to drive!"
But as I read further through the chapter, I began to learn more about myself. I learned that my desire to 'drive' my life stems from areas in which I lack trust in God. For example, when I'm stressed, facing a problem, or dealing with pressure I tend to want control. Sure, I pray about it but at times, even after praying, I hold onto the problem. I even recognize that I have a tendancy of turning something over to God, completely trusting Him at the moment I do so, only to later attempt to wrestle it right back from Him. I have control issues. I like to drive.
So, what drives my life? Warren outlines five of the most common emotions that can drive your life.
Recognizing what drives your life is like an addict facing the root of their addiction...it's the starting point for fulfilling God's purpose for your life. Understanding what drives my life forced me to face up to the fact that I wasn't exactly the Christian I thought I was. I had in my mind that I was free from some of the problems that seem to drive the lives of others. I never thought that there might be something other than God driving my life at this point in my Christian walk. After all, I considered myself a 'mature' Christian. Though I knew I wasn't perfect, I thought that I had developed a more complete and trusting relationship with God that I actually had. In other words, I was a legend in my own mind! The reality was quite different than my perception. I still have stuff...lots of stuff.. to work on!
Understanding what drives your life is an important step in knowing God's purpose for your life. You can't live a life on purpose for Him if He's not the one driving!
Living a life on purpose for God has some pretty amazing benefits. Of course, our motivation for living for God should be first and foremost because He is God, He is glorious, and He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place for our sins. But there are some other benefits for a purpose that are intertwined with His wonderful character. Knowing your purpose:
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot...after reading this devotion as I was on my way to work this morning, KLOVE was playing Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel." I think God was really trying to 'drive' this point home. Gotta love how our wonderful God works!
By the way, what drives your life?
VERSE: You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3
Question to Consider: What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?
Praying for you, friends!
In His Love, Cathy
(Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Life. Zondervan. 2002. Print.)
"What drives your life?" was the title of Chapter 3 in The Purpose Driven Life. The question glared at me from the top of the page. It immediately captured my attention. Before even reading a single word of the chapter I was already prayerfully considering what my answer would be.
"Everyone's life is driven by something." (Warren) So what was driving my life? Was it God or was it me? After taking a long, introspective look I decided that at times, it was God driving my life. However, quite honestly, lately it's definitely me. I seemed to have no problem shoving God out of the drivers seat...like a little child demanding, "Hey, I want to drive!"
But as I read further through the chapter, I began to learn more about myself. I learned that my desire to 'drive' my life stems from areas in which I lack trust in God. For example, when I'm stressed, facing a problem, or dealing with pressure I tend to want control. Sure, I pray about it but at times, even after praying, I hold onto the problem. I even recognize that I have a tendancy of turning something over to God, completely trusting Him at the moment I do so, only to later attempt to wrestle it right back from Him. I have control issues. I like to drive.
So, what drives my life? Warren outlines five of the most common emotions that can drive your life.
- Guilt
- Resentment and anger
- Fear.
- Materialism
- Approval
Recognizing what drives your life is like an addict facing the root of their addiction...it's the starting point for fulfilling God's purpose for your life. Understanding what drives my life forced me to face up to the fact that I wasn't exactly the Christian I thought I was. I had in my mind that I was free from some of the problems that seem to drive the lives of others. I never thought that there might be something other than God driving my life at this point in my Christian walk. After all, I considered myself a 'mature' Christian. Though I knew I wasn't perfect, I thought that I had developed a more complete and trusting relationship with God that I actually had. In other words, I was a legend in my own mind! The reality was quite different than my perception. I still have stuff...lots of stuff.. to work on!
Understanding what drives your life is an important step in knowing God's purpose for your life. You can't live a life on purpose for Him if He's not the one driving!
Living a life on purpose for God has some pretty amazing benefits. Of course, our motivation for living for God should be first and foremost because He is God, He is glorious, and He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place for our sins. But there are some other benefits for a purpose that are intertwined with His wonderful character. Knowing your purpose:
- Gives meaning to your life.
- SIMPLIFIES your life. (Boy did this speak to me! This would define what you do and don't do. Before making choices or commitments, ask yourself, "Does this activity or choice fulfill God's purpose for my life?)
- Focuses your life. (You can concentrate your efforts on what is important.)
- Motivates your life.
- Prepares you for eternity.
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot...after reading this devotion as I was on my way to work this morning, KLOVE was playing Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel." I think God was really trying to 'drive' this point home. Gotta love how our wonderful God works!
By the way, what drives your life?
VERSE: You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3
Question to Consider: What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?
Praying for you, friends!
In His Love, Cathy
(Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Life. Zondervan. 2002. Print.)
Thursday, March 17, 2011
DAY TWO: You are Not an Accident
My husband, Scott, is adopted. There was a lot of pain and hurt surrounding his birth. From a secular standpoint, you could say that Scott's conception was an accident, a terrible mistake. A lot of people were hurt by the circumstances surrounding his birth.
However, from God's perspective, Scott was no accident. His birth was not a mistake. God planned Scott's existence before He ever created the universe. Scott may have been unplanned by his parents, but he was not unplanned by God. "While there are illegitimate parents, there are no illegitimate children...God's purpose took into account human error, and even sin" (Warren).
God created Scott on purpose for His purpose. You and I are not accidents, either. Whether our parents planned for us or not, God did. We were concieved in God's mind before the universe was made. God is love. We are the product of that love. He didn't need to create us but He wanted to in order to express his love. Think of it this way. A couple marries. They know going into the marriage they want to eventually have children. So they set up a home, begin saving, and planning for children. They discuss how many children they will have, possible names for their children, and even wonder what their children will look like. They know in advance that they will love their children. Then the day comes when they have their first child. They are elated. They didn't need a child, but they wanted a child to share their love with. This love between parent and child emulates the love that motivated God to create us. God is love. We, His creation, were created in His image...the image of His love. We were in His thoughts from before creation. He planned everything from start to finish with us in mind. He knew us, before He ever began his preparations. And He loved us before we ever existed. That's a pretty powerful thought.
God made each of us for a reason - to express His love. We can only discover our purpose by making God the reference point of our lives.
The following poem came from today's devotion from The Purpose Driven Life. It is by Russell Kelfer:
However, from God's perspective, Scott was no accident. His birth was not a mistake. God planned Scott's existence before He ever created the universe. Scott may have been unplanned by his parents, but he was not unplanned by God. "While there are illegitimate parents, there are no illegitimate children...God's purpose took into account human error, and even sin" (Warren).
God created Scott on purpose for His purpose. You and I are not accidents, either. Whether our parents planned for us or not, God did. We were concieved in God's mind before the universe was made. God is love. We are the product of that love. He didn't need to create us but He wanted to in order to express his love. Think of it this way. A couple marries. They know going into the marriage they want to eventually have children. So they set up a home, begin saving, and planning for children. They discuss how many children they will have, possible names for their children, and even wonder what their children will look like. They know in advance that they will love their children. Then the day comes when they have their first child. They are elated. They didn't need a child, but they wanted a child to share their love with. This love between parent and child emulates the love that motivated God to create us. God is love. We, His creation, were created in His image...the image of His love. We were in His thoughts from before creation. He planned everything from start to finish with us in mind. He knew us, before He ever began his preparations. And He loved us before we ever existed. That's a pretty powerful thought.
God made each of us for a reason - to express His love. We can only discover our purpose by making God the reference point of our lives.
The following poem came from today's devotion from The Purpose Driven Life. It is by Russell Kelfer:
You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design.
Called God's special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb.
You're just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the Master's seal.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are beloved,
Because there is a God!
I am not an accident. Neither are you. We are the objects of God's love and affection. We find our purpose in Him.
"I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born." Isaiah 44:2
Question: I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept? (Warren)
God has loved you since the day He conceived you in His mind. Live in confidence of His love...live on purpose for Him today.
In His Love, Cathy
Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Life. Zondervan, 2002. Print
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Day One: It All Starts with God
Aside from the Bible, one of the most influential books in my Christian walk has been The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I was introduced to this book by a Christian friend at a critical point in my faith. I had been a Christian for many years, however, looking back I was not a very mature one.
I would have continued down the path of Christian immaturity had God not orchestrated some heavy hitting changes in my life. At the age of 32, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I've got to say that certainly got my attention. I began reflecting over my life. I realized that I had been selfishly living for myself when it came right down to it. God really began speaking to my heart, showing me the things in my life that I needed to change. After I began to totally yield to Him, spiritual change began taking root. My newfound faith began to bloom and grow, prompting even more life change. I realized life was too short to not live for Him. I took an inventory of my life and realized that God was leading me in a totally different direction than I had been going. I had been following the career path...a path that took up much of my time, leading me away from Him, my family, and church. But once diagnosed with cancer, I was ready for Him to lead. He led me away from a well paying computer programming job and into teaching high school math - and I LOVE IT! He led our family away from our church of ten years, where my husband had grown up in, to a new church. There was nothing wrong with our old church, but it was in our new church that both my family and I learned to serve selflessly, growing more in our faith than ever before in our lives. And it was in our new church that God called me into children's ministry for a time - something I certainly never dreamed I had a gift for nor thought that I could ever do.
It was in this season that I picked up The Purpose Driven Life. God revealed just how selfish I had been living...and that was not His purpose for me. I was created by God's purpose and for God's purpose. I was made for God. I was starting at the wrong place to find purpose - looking at myself instead of looking to my Creator. Misdirected attention on ourselves blinds us to our REAL purpose...our divine purpose in Christ!
I am once again at the crossroads of change in my life. My children are growing up and out of the house. Our parents are getting older and my father-in-law is suffering from Alzheimers. My Dad has health and other issues that he refuses to address. And tied into all of this, unexpected financial circumstances have demanded much attention (and concern) in this past year - though God has answered and is still answering prayers over this area in a BIG way. (I am at peace about it all!)
Once again, God has captured my attention through the changes in my life. I've realized that I've allowed circumstances to consume my attention, redirecting my focus from 'He' back to 'me.' I've realized that at times I've not handled things as one who fully trusts in the Lord - returning time and again to the 'Egypts' of my life instead of stepping out in faith. Thankfully, God knows this weakling's heart - loves me anyway, forgives, and forgets.
I wouldn't say that I've been adrift in the faith, simply beat and banged up quite a bit. So today, I picked up my Bible to read as usual. But I also decided it was time to remind myself of what my purpose in life is. I hope God will bless the next 40 days as I dive into His Word and renew my faith, my commitment, and living life for His purpose.
Why we are, who we are, who we will become...our complete identity starts with, ends with, and has purpose in God.
Today, I'm thinking about my purpose.
And I'm reminded, it's not about me.
"Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." Colossians 1:16b
Question for the Day: In spite of all of the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself? (The Purpose Driven Life)
In His Love, Cathy
I would have continued down the path of Christian immaturity had God not orchestrated some heavy hitting changes in my life. At the age of 32, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I've got to say that certainly got my attention. I began reflecting over my life. I realized that I had been selfishly living for myself when it came right down to it. God really began speaking to my heart, showing me the things in my life that I needed to change. After I began to totally yield to Him, spiritual change began taking root. My newfound faith began to bloom and grow, prompting even more life change. I realized life was too short to not live for Him. I took an inventory of my life and realized that God was leading me in a totally different direction than I had been going. I had been following the career path...a path that took up much of my time, leading me away from Him, my family, and church. But once diagnosed with cancer, I was ready for Him to lead. He led me away from a well paying computer programming job and into teaching high school math - and I LOVE IT! He led our family away from our church of ten years, where my husband had grown up in, to a new church. There was nothing wrong with our old church, but it was in our new church that both my family and I learned to serve selflessly, growing more in our faith than ever before in our lives. And it was in our new church that God called me into children's ministry for a time - something I certainly never dreamed I had a gift for nor thought that I could ever do.
It was in this season that I picked up The Purpose Driven Life. God revealed just how selfish I had been living...and that was not His purpose for me. I was created by God's purpose and for God's purpose. I was made for God. I was starting at the wrong place to find purpose - looking at myself instead of looking to my Creator. Misdirected attention on ourselves blinds us to our REAL purpose...our divine purpose in Christ!
I am once again at the crossroads of change in my life. My children are growing up and out of the house. Our parents are getting older and my father-in-law is suffering from Alzheimers. My Dad has health and other issues that he refuses to address. And tied into all of this, unexpected financial circumstances have demanded much attention (and concern) in this past year - though God has answered and is still answering prayers over this area in a BIG way. (I am at peace about it all!)
Once again, God has captured my attention through the changes in my life. I've realized that I've allowed circumstances to consume my attention, redirecting my focus from 'He' back to 'me.' I've realized that at times I've not handled things as one who fully trusts in the Lord - returning time and again to the 'Egypts' of my life instead of stepping out in faith. Thankfully, God knows this weakling's heart - loves me anyway, forgives, and forgets.
I wouldn't say that I've been adrift in the faith, simply beat and banged up quite a bit. So today, I picked up my Bible to read as usual. But I also decided it was time to remind myself of what my purpose in life is. I hope God will bless the next 40 days as I dive into His Word and renew my faith, my commitment, and living life for His purpose.
Why we are, who we are, who we will become...our complete identity starts with, ends with, and has purpose in God.
Today, I'm thinking about my purpose.
And I'm reminded, it's not about me.
"Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." Colossians 1:16b
Question for the Day: In spite of all of the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself? (The Purpose Driven Life)
In His Love, Cathy
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