Author - purposefulfaith

There is power to quick-obedience.

How many of us have said, “I really need to call. . .(so-and-so)” but we never follow-through?

Good intentions do not equal good execution. I’m guilty of this. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to bring a new momma dinner and then forgotten about them. Or, the countless times I’ve meant to give time to someone who asks me for help and then I just — don’t. Oops.

Recently, I was telling my kids how I dream of giving back to their school in the future — to beautify it a bit.

My son replied back, “We should start small, mom. We could buy them a bench or something.”

He had a point, but. .  .

How many of us add a “but” to our good intention?

Just about a week ago, I attended his parent-preview. This is where you walk through his classroom. My son pointed out these dry-erase boards that were broken and old.

“Look at these, mommy. We are waiting for someone to give new ones.”

Something rose up in me.

It’s most clearly expressed as the very words I tell my own kids: See a problem — be the solution.

Rather than putting off what could be done for tomorrow, God was calling out — it’s time to take action today. It’s time, right now, to take out your checkbook. No more delay.

God-prompted, working-obedience acts fast.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once (immediately, now, with urgency) they left their nets and followed him. (Mt. 4:19-20)

See a person in need? At once, address their need– before doubt cripples you.
See downcast spirit? At once, be the one to offer a word of encouragement.
See something you want to complain about? At once, ask how you can be the solution.
See an injustice you can’t stand? At once, seek the ways you can become involved.
See a person God has put on your heart to help? At once, give.
See a need? At once, address it in the little way you can.

For this is pleasing to our Lord.

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Remember this story?

We traveled to a new state, secured a new home, then headed back home — a hundred of miles and a dozen-hours . . . only to find out the owner of the house changed her mind. Only to find out that she wasn’t going to move after all. And that we had no home.

I want to give all of you an update. . .

Weeks went on and I kept searching for a new place. I found one house: way too small. Another: way too big. Something popped up the next day: too far.

Nothing was working. We were down to the wire.

So much so, one day, I burst out in tears, saying, “God, I am upset we don’t have a home. I don’t know what to do. We are moving in a few days. We need your help.”  Then, I prayed a bold prayer, “God bring back that first house. Let her call me. Make it still work out.”

It wasn’t but a couple hours later that my phone rang. It was the original owner; she changed her mind. Within days we settled in.

“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think,  yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” (Lu. 18:2-5)

Do not give up on prayer. Sometimes, it is not the first prayer that is answered, but the 5th. Sometimes, it is your raw heart that touches God. Sometimes, it is the relentless nature of you pursuing what you know is right. Sometimes, it is just asking — that changes everything.

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Is there something about yourself that you want to change?

Perhaps you want to drink more water, or lose weight or stop talking to your husband a certain way? You need more self-control. The ability to change by changing your habit.

I’ve been there. Many times in my life, I’ve wanted to do something new — even to the point of making my bed.

This morning, I nearly stopped in my tracks as I read this bible verse: “We all make mistakes, but those who control their tongues, can also control themselves in every other way.” (James 3:2 NLT)

I couldn’t believe it. God says if we control our tongue, then we can control ourselves in EVERY other way.

Every way. To be self-controlled in tongue is to then to gain control with every other thing you hope to gain self-control over.

I can see how this plays out.

We stop saying, “I can’t.”
We end our complaining that “we’ll never change”.
We start to speak God’s ability to change anything and everything.
We hope all things, believe all things and trust God in all things — through our tongue.

Suddenly, rather than living in defeat we realize that God has the power to help us even in the little things.

Where are you looking to have more self-control? Have you ever considered that it begins with your tongue?

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At night I put on white noise. I first started this practice for the kids. This way, if friends were over or the TV was on —  the kids wouldn’t wake up. But then, I came to like white noise. Now, loud trucks don’t wake me. My husband’s sound as he rolls over doesn’t bother me. Rain is soothing, or at least normally. . .

. . . except for the other night. The other night, the white noise cut off, completely. It felt soul-shocking.

I don’t know if it was because I was half-asleep, groggy, or in a dream, but it almost seemed as if the world as I knew it — shut off. . .

As if the white noise of this world’s hustle, bustle, busy, urgent, voices, words, conflict, people, interruptions, life, needs, habits, requests, and my internal voice — shut off. . .leaving quietness. Nothing. Me.

Before Jesus.

Will this be what it sounds like when I meet Him? Whereas once my mind ran 1000 minutes/second, it will all cease. And there He will be. Standing. In quietness. Fullness. Looking at me.

I felt bare. Me and Him. Him and me.

Jesus, am I enough for you. Jesus, am I good enough? Will you accept me?

No good theology ever attacks at midnight hours. I’m convinced of this. Come daylight. With this thought on my heart, I randomly flipped open my bible. Landing open, I placed my eyes down and read, “Therefore since we have been made right by God’s sight in faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (Romans. 5:1-2)

It was Christ who died for me and faith that saved me, due to no work of my own. It is Christ that loves me and Christ that wants me, based on no acts of service I accumulate. It is Christ that died for me and it is Christ that will take me home. It is Christ that loves me and Christ that gives me highest privilege to live with peace and joy.

I am more secure in Christ than I ever have been in anything in my entire life (because He did the work and the work is complete).

So on my last breath, when everything shuts off and this world ends, I will rest. Jesus paid it all. . . all to Him I owe.

The same holds true for you, dear child of God. Jesus did everything for you.

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We were late to the stores to buy school supplies. Now, the Target shelves looked like desert wastelands, empty and void of everything I needed. The mom’s had picked them over.

The kids and I got in the car and drove to more stores, miles across town. I nearly crawled behind a shelf to grab the last box of dusty pencils. I circled the stores a few times, trying to figure out where I could get the exact things they needed.

I would get my kids what supplies they needed to succeed.

God does the same. He is intent about supplying us what we need to succeed (to grow, to learn, to become, to move ahead, to become like Him, to draw near to Him, to

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)

The supplying work does not belong to kids; it belongs to the parent.

Father God shall supply your needs.

Father God is your daddy. He sees what you need. He has your list.  He cares about supplying you. He does not lie. He’s not late about it, either.

You have all you need according to HIS riches. Can you believe that? According to His riches. Not according to lack, a meager portion, a preserved ration. No, according to riches in His glory.

Open your hands. Open your eyes. Open your heart. Acknowledge His vast supply. He is there. You have what you need. He is doing it. He is greater than you, stronger than you, mightier than you, more able than you — and He desires to work through you.

Look up. You have all you need.

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Many of us are facing a storm. You may feel: left outside with a flapping shirt and no rain jacket, afraid that the winds of change will tumult you, overwhelmed by the force of all you cannot handle coming at you, convinced you will not weather the storm in your marriage or certain that you will ‘make it’.

I assure you, you will — make it. You must know — with God, you WILL make it.

Psalm 57 is a place of safety for your storm-torn heart. Let’s take a look at it:

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.

I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who vindicates me.

He sends from heaven and saves me,
rebuking those who hotly pursue me—
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

I am in the midst of lions;
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

They spread a net for my feet—
I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.

My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.

Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

—

Notice, in Psalm 57, we need mercy and help — God gives refuge.
We cry out — He sends forth love and faithfulness.
We are in the midst of lions — but, we can still praise.
We praise — our heart becomes steadfast.
We become steadfast — our certainty of his love and faithfulness carries us.

Steadfast your heart today.

The rain is here in the morning but gone mid-day. The lightning strikes for a second then passes by. The hail hits hard yet passes on.

You may be in a storm, but Jesus is above it, not asleep. Exalt God, then watch everything become a speck in comparison to His splendor and majesty! Lift Him higher and begin to trust Him.

My prayer for you: God, revive hearts today. Lift up the weary soul. Encourage those who are losing faith. Call back those who are distant from you. Make way for your glory. May we bow low so that we can see you come in from high places with power and strength. Everything is by you, from you and for you. You have good plans. We trust you today. Please equip us with fresh faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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