Purpose Driven Life: Day Five

"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 with a way out" 1 Corinthians 10:13 (TEV)

Day Five of Purpose driven life blessed my soul. The point to ponder is Life is a test and a trust.  

What stood out the most about life being a test was that despite the numerous tests we may endure God has given us everything we need to pass the tests. No matter how painful the tests may seem at the time we can TRUST that through our faith in God we have the strength to endure. Wow. That mean we do not need to do any but rely on God! That should take weight off of us when we are worrying about if we are going to make it.  The answer is already YES!  He is just watch to see how you respond during the process.  Learning to dance in the rain truly does produce joy in the sunshine!

Life is a trust spoke personally to me because I trully believe to whom much is given much is required.  We much learn to careful over a little before God can entrust more to us.  It reminds me of when I was little and my parents bought me a camera.  I wanted a fancy camera that did all the nice cool functions so I was disappointed when I got a simple plain jane camera.  Look at the test there. God was watching me for gratitude but here I was being disappointed. The real lesson was that my parents sat me down to explain that as much as they desired to purchase the fancy camera I needed to demonstrate to them my ability to take care of the simple inexpensive camera before they entrusted me with the fancy one.  The fancy camera came with greater responsibility. God handles the gifts that he entrusts to us the same way desiring us to be good stewards. The lesson shows the more God gives, the more responsible he expects us to be.

As we change how we view life we can begin to become more fullfilled.

Points to ponder: Life is a test and a trust. 

Verse to Remember: "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones."  

Luke 16:10a (NLT)

As I encourage you, I encourage myself. Be encouraged!

Check out our ministry page at http://facebook.com/ForHimMinistry

And our new book at www.ForHimMinistry.org

Purpose Driven Life

I am blessed to participate in the Facebook group Purpose Driven D.I.V.A.S. Divine Intervention Victoriously Aspiring Sisters that represent the true Divine women of God. This group aligns with the goals and missions of For Him Ministry and Powerful Women of God which God has called me to facilitate to empower women to be all that God has designed us to be through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Over the next 40 days, the group will be reading Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. You may ask why 40 days, which is a great question as we know that as God prepares His people for their purpose He usually does it in 40 days.  I have chosen to blog about my exploration as I pray it blesses all that's seeking their purpose in life or seeking direction. There is always that one thing we could all use a little clarity on.  I pray that you are blessed on this blog journey.  I invite you to join our group to follow along as well as join Purpose Driven D.I.V.A.S on Facebook. Will you take the challenge?

As I encourage you, I encourage myself. Be encouraged!

Check out our ministry page at http://facebook.com/ForHimMinistry

And our new book at www.ForHimMinistry.org

Purpose Driven Life: Day Three

Day three was a lesson that made me really stop and think about the things that drives us. 

Guilt, Anger, Fear, Materialism, Approval

These five driving forces have the ability to hold on to us and allow us to lose focus of our God given purpose in life. I recall a season of each of these forces and I strive daily to keep my eyes on God that I do not revisit these seasons again.  

Like Isaiah, "I have labored to no purpose, I have spent my strength in vain for nothing."  

I remember a season when I worked diligently trying to acheive more and more financially believing that the more I had the happier my household would be. Actually this was far from the truth.  Yes we tell ourselves this. If I had this I would be happy. If God would bless me with a husband I would be happy yet complain when we get him. If God would only allow me to get this house yet we do not care for it. Happiness is not tied to those things. Our joy comes from aligning ourselves with what God has for us.  

Day one's lesson speaks of It not being about us. It is not! God will not force anything on you as He gives us free will to accept what He offers by divine revelation.  As Jeremiah says "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

If we trust God and allow our lives to align with His will our driving force shifts giving us peace!

Verse to Remember: "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3 (TEV)

As I encourage you, I encourage myself. Be encouraged!

Check out our ministry page at http://facebook.com/ForHimMinistry

And our new book at www.ForHimMinistry.org

Purpose Driven Life: There are no coincidences

Yesterday, prior to deciding to blog about my 40 day journey with Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life, I was awaken and wrote several messages about "It's not about us!"  God was revealing to me that when we refocus our lives on Him that our life purpose falls into place.  Each morning about 5am, God wakes me with a word that I share on various social media groups as well as blog as directed by the Holy Spirit. Some mornings my musing takes an even deeper study of what God is saying as this mornings message was to me. I was lead to write this photo post:

I was not aware until I lied down to study Day one of the Purpose Driven Life at bedtime that the first words of the chapter would be "It's not about us." Wow! Is God truly speaking? I do not believe in coincidence. I believe that God's word always confirming itself.  

Day one's lesson shows us that when we realize that our purpose is define by God and not centered around us our lives change.  We do not have the power to change ourselves only God can. This will eliminate some of the frustration we experience in our lives when we feel helpless to change.  It's not about us!  Wow! Thank you God for loving us enough!  Day one has blessed me even before I realized what it was about.  Thanks for confirmation!

It's Not About You!

In 2006, as I was separating from the love of my life, I had to learn my new identity. I was no longer Tim's wife and exclusively Timura's mother as she too was growing up. I needed to learn to focus on me for a change.  This is very important especially for a person like me who is a giver and did not know how to take care of herself. God showed me I needed a season of self reflecting and learning boundaries in order for Him to prepare me for the calling He had kon my life.  

I recall a scrapbook I designed that blessed me. I encourage all to do the same. Visit www.MsRaesCustomDesigns.com for an example.  If you are not a scrapbooker then write down and reflect on the items in an All About Me album.  This book will allow you to truly see what you desire, like, dislike, crave, etc. You may choose to do it every so often as a Ebenezer Stone tool to see how far   God has brought you. You will be amazed. 

This scrapbook helped me put in perspective my purpose but I never wanted to lose focus of my God given purpose! This was an All about Me album but I must remember IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!  IT'S ABOUT HIM!  Once I truly realized this the fulfillment of my life's destiny came into focus.  When all that we do we recognize that it is for His glory, the manifestation of His glory unfolds in our lives. We have more joy, peace, and happiness despite our circumstances.  Kevin Hall, Author of Aspire, says, "A life of significance is about serving those who need your gifts, your leadership, your purpose." 

 I believe Apostle Paul says it eloquently, "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." 

It's not about you! It's about bringing glory to our Father. Today, I encourage you in everything you do to excel that it glorify your Father in Heaven. When we change our motive and perspective, I promise you our lives changes.  Don't forget as I encourage you I encourage myself! Be blessed.

Check out our ministry page at http://facebook.com/ForHimMinistry

 And our new book at www.ForHimMinistry.org