Are you who you want to be?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.  Interesting that many, many months ago…maybe even years ago – I heard this Switchfoot song that has this line “This is your life, are you who you want to be?  Is it everything you dreamed that it would be when the world was younger and you had everything to lose?”  The words impacted me then……. and now. 

This is my life – am I who I want to be?  Am I who GOD wants me to be?  And, if I’m not – then what do I do about it?  In my last blog, I admitted that I feel like I have not been faithful in listening to God and following His direction.  Today, I want to look not only at the question “am I who I want to be?”...but highlight how easy it is for us to get locked into what we know and forget what our dreams were or what God’s plan may be for us.  Is our life everything we dreamed it would be?  Let me start with that question.

When I was young and dreamed about my life – I remember wanting to be an artist, maybe a commercial artist living in New York City.  No thoughts of family or kids, houses, dogs or faith.  Thinking back on that I think it’s funny that I realize now…those dreams really didn’t include others in my life.  How thankful I am that God had another plan that included filling my life with a husband, children and most importantly…Him!!!  Are there days when I could pull my hair out and I’m tired of hearing the word “mom” or the words “can you” or “I need”??  Absolutely and are there days that doing the right thing and making tough choices based on Gods’ word is hard?  You bet, I’d be a liar if I said anything else – but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  So, even though my life may not be what I thought it would be when I was younger – it’s pretty awesome.

But.....if I let myself really dream about what my desires are for the future and pray for God's direction - AM I who I want to be?  Is there something more that my life could be?  If my life is good right now - could it be great? Am I doing anything to get there?  These are all great questions for me (and you).

Eph 3:20-21 (NIV) "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, accoring to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

This is one of my favorite verses because it reminds me that God's plan is so much bigger than mine.  I think pften we sell ourselves short of living the life God designed for us to live because we get “stuck”.  I guess this is very similar to the basic idea of my last post but it just seems to keep coming up over and over and over.  I want to live the abundant life God has planned.  I don’t want to get stuck in the everyday and wake up one day realizing that most of my life is gone and I’m still doing the same old thing.  I don't want to get to the end of my life and realize that I was not who I could have been.  I want to go out and do things, impact the world, and share God’s love.  I want to live that life where God is doing immeasurably more than I can even imagine.  What about you?

I’m going to be brutally honest here…today I had a plan to get certain things done and get in front of my computer to do some writing.  It did not happen.  There were too many other things that got my attention.  Some of them absolutely necessary and others…maybe not so much – well, definitely not so much!!  I think my next blog should be titled “I’m a procrastinator” because it’s easy for me to get distracted by the little things.  I’m guessing I’m not the only one.  This idea might seem a little like a rabbit trail leading off to nowhere but I think it’s important.  Part of getting “unstuck” is looking at what we do each day.  Is it productive and honoring to God’s kingdom?  Many times the answer is yes.  When we as wives and mothers care for our family and their needs we are honoring Gods plan.  Fathers who provide for their families – absolutely.  When we mindlessly watch TV or play on the computer – maybe not.  There is so much we miss in todays world because of the distractions (and there are SO many).  So I invite you to join me in looking at how we spend our time and to begin dreaming again. 

Colossions 3:17 (NIV) “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Are you who YOU want to be?  Better yet – are you who GOD wants you to be?

It's a New Year

Romans 7:15 (NIV) "I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do, I do not do but what I hate, I do"

Here we are at the beginning of a new year and many of us have made the dreaded “resolutions” or have expressed the desire to let God work through us to grow, teach an mold us into more mature Christians who understand (and follow) His Will.  I've never been big on resolutions but either way – the beginning of a new year is traditionally a time for looking over the last year and making plans for the new one.  For me, God spoke clearly on the last day of 2010 and showed me through His word that I have missed overflowing blessings because I was not listening.  I heard the whisperings of the Holy Spirit but ignored them because God was not shouting.  Or, was I listening but just not doing anything about it?  How often do we hear, but can’t or won’t clearly understand because we just don’t try hard enough?  It requires change….a movement away from one thing toward another.  It requires….work!!  It might even require sacrifice.  Here is the scripture that I read:

Malachi 3:7-12 (New Living Translation)

⁷ Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

   “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’

 ⁸ “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!

   “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’

   “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. ⁹ You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. ¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! ¹¹ Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.^[a] Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ¹² “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

I’m thinking…”how can I return to you Lord when I’ve never gone away…how have I cheated God?”   And then it hit me.  A lovely Christian sister shared with me once that we should think about our tithe not only in terms of money but time.  What a concept!!  In the busy world we live in – sometimes it seems difficult to find 15 minutes in the morning to just read some scripture or do a devotion.  Are you kidding me?  If you are like me and look at your day to determine if you are giving God one tenth of  it….you might be saddened by the cold hard facts.  I was.  I have cheated God.  I have robbed God.  Not only in the amount of time I spend with Him but because I have not done what He was clearly calling me to do. 

Not that I want to test God, but I’m pretty sure that because I have ignored His direction, gone my own way and not spent the time with Him that He deserves…… I’ve missed out on the floodgates of heaven being opened and the blessings poured out.  I know He loves me no matter what but Oh, what we miss because we are too busy living our crazy lives!!  So, that brings me back to the Romans scripture at the top of the page.  Why is it so hard to do what I know I should do when I know I will be overwhelmingly blessed if I do?  I want to make sure I’m clear that I’m not talking about physical or monetary blessings here.  The overwhelming, abundant, amazing blessings I’m talking about are the peace and contentment of knowing that God has a plan for your life so much bigger than you (or me!!).    The times in my life where I have followed Him with abandon have been the most amazing experiences...shouldn't it be easy to follow?  Sadly, sometimes we think we know better or we get stuck in the habits we've formed.

So, for me, there are no “resolutions” this year.  There IS the desire to allow God to have my life.  ALL of it!!  It will require some change, work and sacrifice on my part but I’m excited by the possibilities of a life bigger than what I could plan!!  (even my "one simple life")

 

One simple life.....

As with many of the thoughts and feelings I will share, the seed is often a song.  God many times uses either the lyrics or musical style to touch my heart.  The one line in this song that jumped out at me after I heard the song many times was "from one simple life to another".  It just made me think that God can use us even when we think we are just one simple life.  It's amazing to think of all the average and simple people that God has used to impact the lives of others, isn't it?  Think for a minute or two about Moses - he stuttered and was a murderer; David - first he was too young and then he had an affair;  Mary was a simple virgin; Abraham was just too old..... and so many more.  I've posted the lyrics to the entire song which is absolutely worth a listen and/or adding it to your play list - the full message is so awesome!!  I could do an entire devotional on just the words to this song (hey....maybe I will some day) but for now - I want to give credit where credit is due for the title of my new blog.  I have been challenged to start 2011 by allowing God to work in and through my life in any way He chooses.....this blog is a small but tangible part of that.  I encourage you to step out in faith in whatever area God may have been calling you.  Let's not forget why we are here......you never know who your "one simple life" might impact!!!    


Ephesians 5:15 (NIV) "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but wise making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of God is."
Philippians 2:3 (NIV) "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interest but also to the interests of others."
I Peter 6:10 (NIV) "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

Sidewalk Prophets - The Words I Would Say lyrics

Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say