Are you living the plan?

Ephesians 1: 4-10 (NCV)…in Christ, He (God) chose us before the world was made so that we would be His holy people—people without blame before Him. Because of His love, God had already decided to make us His own children through Jesus Christ. That was what He wanted and what pleased Him, and it brings praise to God because of His wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely, in Christ, the One He loves. In Christ we are set free by the blood of His death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God's grace, which He has given to us so fully and freely. God, with full wisdom and understanding, let us know His secret purpose. This was what God wanted, and He planned to do it through Christ. His goal was to carry out His plan, when the right time came, that all things in heaven and on earth would be joined together in Christ as the head.”

Even before the world was formed, we were a part of God’s plan. He saw each hurt, hang-up, and tear that would and will ever fall from our eyes. He showers our lives with grace and mercy, makes us his children, and wraps us in his loving arms all made possible through the loving sacrifice of His one and only son (John 3:16) Jesus Christ long before we were born.

Why? Because our God is a relational God; he wants to be in relationship with us. This is the very God who spoke and the world was, the Creator of the entire universe and everything in it, the Maker of heaven and earth. He wants a personal relationship with me. He wants me to know how much He cares about me and He wants me to respond to that love by accepting it and not taking it for granted. He wants the same exact thing for you too.

Isn’t that comforting? I know it may be hard to wrap your brain around because of the things you may have been through in your life...but it's the truth. 

He loves me. He love you.

He values me. He values you.

I am accepted by the God of the universe…and so are you! How cool is that? 

The God that set the stars in place has a plan and a purpose for our lives and calls us his own. WOW!  I matter to God...and so do you!

When we come to the saving knowledge of Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit who lives inside us (v. 14). As we begin to know and grow in Christ, the Holy Spirit will guide, provide for, correct, and protect us. With the Holy Spirit at work, we continue to grow in grace and knowledge with the same power that was used to raise Christ from the dead. With this power inside us, we can accomplish the plans and purposes God put us on this earth to do – all for His honor and glory.

Father, I know I don’t always get it right but I want my life to bring praise, honor and glory to you my Lord and Savior. Thank you for loving me and accepting me even when I am unlovable. Help me to listen to and be guided by your Holy Spirit as I walk through this day, for it’s in your Son’s name I pray. Amen.

Related scripture:

John 1:12; Romans 8:15; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18; Galatians 3: 26 - 27

YES! God can use me even if I mess up!

Romans 15:14-21 (NIV) I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."

We were all created on purpose for a purpose. Christ has given us different gifts (Romans 12:6) to help us fulfill our purpose while we’re here on earth. In the 15^th chapter of Romans, Paul talks about being chosen by God to reach the Gentiles. Paul was excited about what God was doing in his life – it energized him. He wasn't “proud” of what he himself had accomplished but of what God had done through him.

When you think about “doing something” for Christ, what comes to mind? Sadly, many of us think we can’t possibly do anything for Christ because we’re too messed up. Instead of focusing on the “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17) Christ has made, we focus on what’s in the rear view mirror. Why is this I wonder? Why do we feel like we have to have our lives perfectly straight before we can do what God has called us to do? Why don’t we just trust God to equip us to accomplish the task He has call us to?

For me the question “But what if I mess up?” got stuck in my head. Every time I tried to step out and do what Christ called me to do, I’d allow this question to stop me dead in my tracks. I listened to the lies of the devil instead of the truth of God’s word. As I began to learn the truth, I looked learned lessons from people in the Bible who "messed up" yet God’s purpose was still accomplished through them. He used them even though their lives weren’t perfect. 

Want examples?

Let’s take a look at Abraham. God promised Abraham he would have a son with Sarah. They were in their 90's when Sarah became impatient, and gave Abraham her servant Hagar. Sarah tried to “speed” God along in accomplishing His purpose. The relationship between Hagar and Abraham produced Ishmael. This was not part of God’s plan for Abraham and Sarah. Sarah was to bear a child. Thirteen years after Ishmael was born, Sarah became pregnant with Isaac, and Abraham became the Father of a great nation just as God promised.

Want another? Let’s take a look at David, a man referred to in the Bible as “a man after God’s own heart.” He messed up big time. He lusted after a married woman, had an affair with her, then tried to cover it up by sending her husband off to the front-lines of war where he would ultimately be killed. David made a decision based on the flesh, yet God still used him. In fact, Christ came through the lineage of David.

My favorite example is from the Apostle Peter! Peter is a great example for me because from the very beginning we see his earnest love for Christ. He dropped everything to follow him (Matt. 4:19). He wanted to learn all about Jesus, yet sometimes Peter spoke and acted without thinking. I tend to be just like Peter – sometimes I don’t think before I speak either. In Mathew 14:28-33 Peter asks Jesus if he could join him out on the water. “Come” Jesus said. Without hesitation, Peter swung his leg over the side of the boat, kept his eyes on Jesus and walked out on water to meet him. COOL! It wasn’t until he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves around him that he fell.

Instead of trusting Jesus, Peter looked at the circumstances around. This wouldn’t be the only time Peter would lose his focus. It was the night before Jesus stood trial before Pilate. Three times Peter denied even knowing Jesus. WOW! Yet, Jesus still used Peter to build his church after he ascended into heaven.

Paul is a great example for us to follow. After his Damascus road experience, Paul never looked back at his old life. He looked forward to what God had called him to and did amazing things. He didn’t spend time focusing on the rear view mirror, instead he chose to focus on his new mission – winning souls for Christ. Paul was passionate about the call God placed on his life. He didn’t dwell on the past. He laid it down know Jesus had already forgiven him.

What about you. Are you doing something that you believe God has called you to do? Whatever God has called you to, do it with all your heart for all His glory.

We are all works of art...

Proverbs 25:4 (NCV) “Remove the scum from the silver, so the silver can be used by the silversmith.”

Proverbs 25 verse 4 jumped of the page at me as I read it this morning. In this analogy, God is the silversmith and I (all of us actually) am the silver. When I first came to Christ and asked him to come into my heart, I was covered by the “scum” of this world. As I started to walk with him and allowed Him to work in my life, He began the cleaning process in me. After cleaning off the "dirt" of this world, He polished me off so that I could shine like silver and be ready for His use. God has given me (all of us) a job to do. It is unbelievable what He has in store for us once we allow Him to begin His cleaning and polishing process.

I am so thankful He pulled me out of the muck and mire of my life. When I came to Him, I was covered in the filth of this world. As He began the “cleaning” process in me, I started to utilize the gifts and talents He had given me to serve others. As He continues this process, I  am constantly being used by Him in ways I would have never thought possible.

Moving along the path God has placed me on, who knows what He has in store for me next. I know it’s up to me to allow Him to continue to “clean” and “polish.”.I also realize sometimes the “cleaning” and “polishing” process isn’t always fun. Growing and being shaped is a painful process – but I know God is with me every step of the way. He is the silversmith and I am His work of art! I am being carefully molded by the hands that created the universe – how cool is that? He has me in the palm of His hand and there is no way He will let me go until He has completed His work. 

This image alone is so comforting to me.

2 Corinthians 4:16 – 18; Isaiah 43: 1- 3; Psalm 23:4; Romans 5:3

Responding to the "Button Pushers" in our life

Romans 8:28 (HCSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

 I have just walked through a REALLY challenging weekend with my son. He certainly knows my buttons and how to push them…even the very last one. You know the one don’t you? The button all the way over to the right that, when pushed, turns you into the VERY worst version of yourself. Perhaps your child or someone in your life has pushed yours and you’ve been there too. The button goes off and the angry person inside of you comes out. I know that’s what happens when my last button was set off this weekend. He pushed it and the raving lunatic in me came out. After everything was said and done, I felt AWFUL. I don’t want to be that type of parent. If want to be stern yes, but angry…ABSOLUTELY NOT.

 The purpose of my discipline should be to teach him right from wrong. But when he sees my fly off of the handle (like I did this weekend) what is he really seeing? I don’t think it’s a reflection of Christ that’s for sure. Whoever said “parenting isn’t easy” was right.  It really takes a great deal of p-p-p-patience. I think I am lacking in that area just a bit. Ugh…patience…I guess I know where I need to grow to be more like Christ. My frustration and anger should not be my cause for discipline. After all, that’s not how God disciplines us. He is full of mercy and grace, slow to anger and abounds in love. (Ex. 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 86:15, 103:8, 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2).  

Last night during a time of worship at a church event, I was reminded of how God uses everything for the good of those who love Him. Even the times our buttons get pushed and we fly off the handle. I believe He will use the events of this weekend in my son’s life as well because I believe my son has been called according to God’s purpose. As I heard myself singing the words “and I’ll sing because you are good, and I’ll dance because you are good, and I’ll shout because you are good, you are good to me” I was reminded of all the good things Christ has done in my life. He is working out His perfect plan in me and I can see where he has used the good and the bad to bring me to where I am at this very moment. Sometimes I just lose sight of this truth.

I do want my son to see God’s goodness through me not the human side that becomes a maniac mommy when her buttons are pushed. During worship time last night I thanked the Lord for what He was doing in my life, and asked Him to forgive me for the way I responded to my child over the weekend. I also committed to:

·         love with God’s love,

·         discipline the way He would have me to discipline,

·         and to show His characteristics to my son.

You know, God will use everything in your life too…we were all made on purpose for a purpose. He doesn’t want us to be “stuck” by the events of our life. He wants us to transformed by them according to His purpose.