faith – Pursuing Purpose

Making new labels

Published on May 2, 2022May 2, 2022 by faithfulone75 Comments

School recess, playground games. So many memories flood my mind when I hear those words.

Dodgeball, softball, Red Rover, four square…..we spent all of recess in elementary school passing the time with those games. And as fun as they were, there was also the anxiety of standing in a line with other kids. Waiting and hoping to be picked for the team. Was I cool enough? Was I liked enough? Would I be chosen? I was never the team captain, I was always in the line, waiting to hear my name be called. Maybe you can relate.

We all want to be included. We all desire to be invited in. Even my introvert friends want inclusion (even though they reserve the right to still say no!). In our souls, as people designed for community, we have a longing to be included, or chosen.

Old Testament Jews understood this concept well. They were God’s chosen people. Deuteronomy 14:2 says “for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession”. They spent all day, every day, knowing that they were special. They knew the holy scriptures that declared that they were in fact, chosen by God. They did not have to wonder or worry about being included. They understood that as fact. So, they had a difficult time accepting that, when Jesus came, He declared that even the Gentiles and the dreaded Samaritans were also chosen! But we’re not here to talk about them, let’s talk about you and me!

If you have ever felt the sting of NOT being chosen or included, then I know you also understand the joy and happiness that comes when you ARE invited in. I have good news for you today!

You have been chosen by God for the most significant team in human history! The most amazing “team captain” of all, has set His sights on you! He has called your name and included you among those He desires to have on His team!

Ephesians 1:3-4 puts it this way, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight…” John 15:16 says “You did not choose me, but I chose you…”

Let those words sink in for a moment. God chose YOU! Say it out loud right now (ok, maybe just in your head if you’re not alone…) Say “God chose me!” Don’t say it with hesitation, with a question mark at the end. Say it with gusto. With an exclamation point!

Maybe your relationship with God is spot on today! You are in the word, in church, and in prayer regularly. Maybe you have just started a relationship with Him, and you are still figuring out what that looks like. And maybe your relationship with God is…complicated. Whatever the case may be, know this; you are loved by Him! How do I know? Well, because you are reading this now, and I believe God led you here today. And because He led you here, He desires for you to know Him. And because He drew you here and desires to know you, you are loved.

What you do with that knowledge is up to you, but He is calling your name. Asking you to be part of His team.

Imagine you are in that line of kids, waiting to be picked at recess. The captain calls your name. In that moment, you were chosen for the team. But you still have the choice whether or not to step out of the line and join the captain. We can stay where we are, but we are still chosen. It’s not until we accept that invitation that we actually join the team.

You are who God says you are, and He says you are chosen. My sister, if you have placed your faith in Jesus and trust in His work on the cross and in His resurrection for your salvation from sin, then He has called you, and you are chosen! Rest in that truth today. Soak in it for a while. (Think, long hot bubble bath soaking, the kind that wrinkles your skin!)

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Called out of darkness, into His marvelous light. Chosen!

As we work to reframe and combat the negative words that we hear from others, or from the enemy, words matter. You may hear “not wanted” or “rejected”. But God says you are:

Loved

Forgiven

Accepted

Chosen

And a new creation!

If you are keeping a list in your pretty notebook, add Chosen and New Creation to the list!

Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new is here!” What a wonderful truth!

Since we have Christ in us, we are a totally new creation. We are not recycled or repurposed, but remade!

Our old selves (before we knew Jesus) were without Christ. But Jesus is the light of the world. Once His beautiful light enters us, all the ugliness is exposed. And He gets to work right away making room for His presence to fill and complete us. He starts to get rid of the ugly and change us. And almost immediately, His glorious light shines through and we are made new from the inside out!

Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Here, God didn’t say that He would add water to the streams He had already created, but that He would make streams appear in the wasteland.

Because I am a new creation, I am not a slave to my old ways. The old is gone, the new has come!

Ephesians 4:22-24 teaches us this truth: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

A new creation in Christ is not a second chance. God is not limited to second chances, as though they could run out. Rather, we are a NEW creation, a NEW beginning! God is a God of new beginnings. Even if you have wandered away. Even if you use to follow Him, but something happened to change that. You can restart with God. Let Him create in you a new heart! Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

My dear sweet friend, who is in every way possible, a new creation, said this to me. “Remembering that I am a new creation helps me to step into what God is calling me to do. I have to choose to no longer identify with the labels from my past that would certainly imprison me. There’s freedom in Christ!”

The new me has fresh eyes. Eyes to see beyond my circumstances, to see God’s purposes. A new creation can be like nothing you’ve ever seen before!

Whether you are looking for inclusion or a fresh start, Jesus offers you both!

Father God, when I feel defeated and like I am never going to get things right, remind me that I am new in Christ. I feel your tender mercies toward me every morning. But sometimes, when the world doesn’t choose me, and I feel stuck in patterns of life that make me feel trapped, I forget that you have made me new. Thank you for your word and the truths I read there. I am chosen. I am a new creation. I choose to declare this in a fresh way today! Amen.

Purposefully,

Shelli

These two lovely, sweet sisters are amazing New Creations in Jesus! Donna and Amber!

Belonging

Published on April 18, 2022April 17, 2022 by faithfulone74 Comments

As a child, I remember disappointing my parents. On many occasions. I recall acting in ways and saying things that hurt and angered them. Especially as a teenager. I know they wanted what’s best for me, but in my immaturity and youth, I thought I knew best. I thought I had grown enough to not need their wise council anymore.

Even though I am grown now, I can still recall times when our relationship was a bit broken. I had said and or done things to create a gap in our relationship. And I felt it. Things were not “right” at home. The usual joyfulness and peace that was normally there, was absent in times of strife. There were times that I knew I was in the wrong, and I needed to apologize. But many times, my stubborn pride kept me from making things right. It kept me from owning my mistakes and accepting responsibility for my actions and asking for forgiveness.

Funny how certain patterns repeat themselves into adulthood, isn’t it?

I have repeated this pattern in my marriage, and in other relationships as well. Especially in my relationship with God.

1 John 1:9 holds a powerful truth. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This is an “if and then” statement.

You’ll notice that confession brings forgiveness. When I have unconfessed sin in my life, it creates a relationship barrier between myself and God. Like when I was stubborn with my parents and didn’t own up to my actions. But with confession, comes forgiveness! And with forgiveness comes restored relationship!

There is no relationship more important than the one I have with God through Jesus. It is because of Jesus’s perfect sacrifice that I can have forgiveness and enjoy connection and peace with God! Check out Ephesians 1:7. “In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

This means that because of Jesus’ death on the cross, and my acceptance of the free gift of salvation through Him, I have forgiveness of sin. Now I can enjoy the riches of God’s grace! The broken relationship is healed! There is no longer a need to try to be “good enough” for God to accept me, He already does through His Son! My relationship with God is restored and unbroken through confession of sin.

Psalm 103:12 tells us how God forgives and forgets our sin. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Unlike humans, God has the ability to forgive and truly, and completely, forget the things we confess. This means that once we confess our wrongdoings and sins to the Father, they are gone! He remembers them no more! You and I do not forget our mistakes, and often the enemy of our souls likes to remind us of them to hold us prisoner to the past. But we do not need to stay there, trapped in guilt and shame, “beating ourselves up” for sin. Confess it and be free. Stop looking back, you are not going that way!

I am forgiven! (And you are too!)

Because we are forgiven, we are also accepted.

Because the broken relationship has been restored, we are accepted by God. Romans 15:7 makes this truth simple and clear. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

We all want to be accepted. We work to attain an identity to fit in within certain circles. Those circles might be work related or socially driven. They may be at church or in our communities. Experiencing acceptance by others is a heart desire that we all possess. It’s why we join clubs, or bowling leagues, or steer towards certain types of people groups. The desire for acceptance by others comes from a deeper desire to be accepted wholly and completely by our creator. He put that desire in our hearts, and it can only be truly realized in the peace we feel when we embrace that we are accepted by Him! It is only when we seek our core acceptance from Him, that we can be fully satisfied.

In all my years, I have desired acceptance from various people, or social groups too. I think it’s safe to say that I always will in a lot of ways.

But what I find so exciting is that even if I am never accepted socially in any group ever again, that I am accepted by God into His family! What a joy to know that the desire I have deep within me to be accepted, has already been met in the wonderous love of God! The truth is, I don’t really need to search for acceptance on earth any longer, since the kind of true and lasting acceptance can only be fulfilled by the One who loves me the most and created me for His good pleasure. If He is pleased and accepts me, that’s all I need!

Here is something that I find hard to believe but know to be true; God knows me at my best, and He knows me at my worst. Yet He loves and accepts me into His family, and into His kingdom. It’s not about anything that I have done, it is all about everything that He has done on my behalf.

If you’ve known the sting of rejection (and I ‘m sure you have), let your heart be comforted and make it a priority to remember that you are accepted by God! Jesus makes that possible when we place our trust and faith in Him.

This is week two of the series that we are in on the blog. We will continue to spend the next few weeks exploring the names that God gives to us. The various ways that He addresses us. We started last time with LOVED. This time we are adding FORGIVEN and ACCEPTED to the list.

I encourage you to grab that pretty notebook that we mentioned last time and add “forgiven” and “accepted” to the page you started. (Didn’t start one? It’s not too late!) Keep that notebook handy as we continue to add to this list!

God wants you to know that you are loved. He went to great lengths to ensure that you would know this truth. Remember, the enemy wants us to focus only on our faults and shortcomings. He works hard to steer us away from knowing the perfect love of God. I believe that since you are here today, reading this, that God brought you here to remind you of His love for you, and for your need for Him.

You are LOVED!

And if you have accepted Jesus, and His finished work on the cross, you are FORGIVEN and ACCEPTED!

Come back next week to continue this series. Have a friend that could use some encouragement and proof that she is loved by God? You can easily share this blog with her. Use the “share” option from your phone or tablet or email her a link! See you again soon!

Purposefully,

Shelli

Reflections

Published on December 13, 2021December 12, 2021 by faithfulone74 Comments

Have you ever given thought to the question, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”? It’s somewhat of a daunting question really. There are so many areas to consider within that one question.

Where will I be in 5 years with regard to my career?

My marriage?

My living situation?

My finances?

My relationships?

Not to mention that 5 years is such a VERY long time away. I have a difficult time thinking much past the next 6 months, let alone 5 years. My personality is not that of a detailed planner. Details get lost on me; I am more of a Big Picture Girl. So, the idea of trying to know where I want to be in the future or making a plan as to how to get there, stresses me out.

But I do believe that when it comes to my spiritual life, it’s more important to have a goal than a detailed plan.

Ultimately, my goal as a Christ follower is to become more like Jesus.

So, what’s the problem? Bob Goff said it best when he said this, “Our problem with following Jesus is, we’re trying to be a better version of us rather than a more accurate reflection of Him”. I love the way Bob Goff gets real with it, brings it home, and leaves me thinking.

His statement made me consider my goal. I was drawn to ponder my motivations. I believe that, as human beings, we are all naturally, and to some extent, people pleasers. Some of us struggle with it more than others, but to some degree, we all struggle with this. It’s human to want people to like us. It’s natural. I would go as far as to say that it’s not even wrong.

However, in my thinking and consideration, I’ve come to understand that the goal should not be JUST to be admired, or ONLY to be liked for myself. I desire to be liked and admired so that (and here’s the challenging part) I can have opportunity to more openly share with those in my circle, my story, my faith, and my purpose…

My purpose is this: to know Jesus and to make Him known.

In my flesh, and left to my own devices, I put ME first. I take care of ME. I want people to like ME. I want people to think I’M neato. I desire the admiration of others to make ME feel good. I enjoy attention and recognition. Innately, I am trying to become a better version of myself.

Thankfully though, I can also choose NOT to live in the flesh. I can reframe my thought life and get my purpose in check with His spirit. I can push toward becoming “a little more like Jesus, a little less like me”. (Zack Williams song)

Psalm 25:5 says this; “Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You.”

It’s interesting to me here that the Psalmist says “all day long…” The implication is clear. You and I, as well as the psalmist, must continually (all day long) put our hope in God. I have limitations, I have faults, I have misguided motives. But when we choose to put our hope in the Only One who can give Living Water, when we follow Him, it is then that we know we are headed in the right direction. Because then we are doing what is counter to our natural human tendencies. On my own, I am selfish and inward focused.

But with Jesus leading the way, I can follow His example of caring for and serving others. I can better see when there is a change that I need to make, because I am looking to Him and asking Him to lead me and to teach me. I am more apt to go the right way and make better decisions in my life because I am following His lead, and not looking for others to esteem me. I am looking to please God, The One who matters.

“Be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Galatians 5:1-2. Scripture says that we are to imitate God, to reflect Jesus. To live a life of love that honors Jesus sacrifice. Not one that draws attention to self. When I consider the brevity of this life, I realize that any attention I get ends when my life does.

I am far more interested in my life mattering AFTER I’ve gone to be with Him than I am promoting myself here and now.

But if I’m honest, the struggle is real. Following Jesus doesn’t stop me from being human. It doesn’t mean that I no longer desire to be liked, or esteemed, or admired. But my desire is that if I am liked or admired, that I can sketch that piece of my humanity into the frame of influence. Perhaps, because I am liked, I have a voice and influence to share the hope that Jesus brings.

When I think about where I want to be in 5 years, my desire is still to be following Jesus with all I’ve got. To be a little further down the road of faith but walking even more closely with Him. To be asking for His direction earnestly all day long. To intentionally place Him in the center of all my decisions and motives. Because I know that when I do that, everything else will fall into place. Every 5-year goal, every motive, and every path I walk on will be right where He wants to me to be.

Spiritually. Emotionally. Relationally.

I no longer need to “figure it out”, I need to simply and completely put my hope in Him. My responsibility is to do the things that bring me closer to Him. Spending time in His word, lots of it. Spending time in prayer. Spending time actively pursuing my relationship with Him through worship, teaching and service. Not in activities that make me look good, but in secret, where only He sees. Places where He gets the attention, not me.

John 3:30 “He must become greater; I must become less.”

More of Jesus, less of me!

Lord, your word cuts me to the heart. It shows me the parts of my life that need to be more inline with your heart. Please take my life and make it yours. Lead me and teach me. And give me the courage to walk where you lead. Continue to show me how I can be a better reflection of Jesus, not just a better version of myself. I know that when I follow you, I am always heading the right way. Today, tomorrow, and in 5 years.

Purposefully,

Shelli

Taken Forward

Published on December 9, 2021December 8, 2021 by faithfulone73 Comments

Let me just tell you, God showed up at Thrive last month!

What a wonderful night we all had together at Thrive! We enjoyed some delicious, (mostly) handmade, Just For You Desserts. Next, we were enveloped by some incredible worship! And throughout the night we were challenged and inspired, hearing from different women as they spoke about faith, connections, challenges and growing spiritually.

Natually, there was spiritual opposition from the enemy, and we saw it played out many times in many different ways. It came for weeks ahead of the event and intensified throughout the week of Thrive. Each attack was designed to distract, discourage and steal our joy. But God always wins! Everytime. And even more so when we rally together and DECIDE to trust His plans and purposes!

The women in leadership for Thrive are amazing. One was taken out of comission the night before. She had spent months helping us plan and prepare for Thrive, and when sickness took her out, she stood in the gap for us all night! She prayed over our schedule and speakers. She knew where we were with regard to the program all night, and she prayed for all of us, and all of YOU.

Others on the leadership team stepped up when that team member was taken out, and they stepped in to fill her place. When women of God know that they are called to something, like Thrive, nothing scares them away. I saw nervous women become bold women. I saw already brave women, embrace and become empowered by the Lord. And I saw many women impacted for The Kingdom!

I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for Thrive 2022 on November 4th. I see Him moving hearts and changing lives already! I know that He used every single aspect of Thrive to connect women in their relationship with Him.

Whether or not you attended Thrive this year, my chalenge to you is the same. Keep Moving Forward with your relationship with Jesus. No matter where you are in your faith walk, young, old, or a “woman in the middle”, we aren’t finished. We have growing to do. Dig into scripture. Connect with a life group or bible study. Get yourself to church. Take that next step, no matter how small, and get going.

Keep Moving Forward.

Hebrews 6:1a “let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity…” It’s time to go from walking spiritually to running toward Jesus

Conversations Of Faith with Laurie Schraml

I love this beautiful image of this young woman worshipping~

Just our awesome worship team practicing!

I can almost feel the presence of the Lord in this photo!

The Thrive Team gathering to pray before the event began~

The Team excited as it was almost time to begin!

Thrive Team (minus one) (missed you Lissa)

Plan now to attend Thrive Worship (for women only) on April 29th, and Thrive 2022 on November 4th! ~

@Grace Chruch 2010 S Hwy 89, Chino Valley Arizona~

Purposefully,

Shelli

It makes scents…

Published on October 18, 2021October 18, 2021 by faithfulone7Leave a comment

Isn’t it amazing how certain smells evoke strong memories?

When I was a girl, I was fortunate to have my grandmother live right next door to our family. She had a real wood burning fireplace in her living room (unlike the fake electric one I have now). Often my cousins and I would sleep over at Grandma’s house. On those chilly mornings when the weather had turned, she would have a fire going when we got up. I can still remember the cozy warmth of her house and the joy filled memories I made there. One of those memories is the smell of the fireplace burning, beckoning me to crawl out of bed, grab a blanket, and join her on the couch to sit by the fire.

Even now, when I smell a fireplace, or even a firepit, that scent takes me back. It summons warm thoughts and memories. The scent draws me back to memories of her love.

2 Corinthians 2:15 says “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about this idea that we carry with us the pleasing aroma of Jesus to those who are being saved, as well as to those who are perishing.

If you’ve ever spent time around a camping fire, you know that the smell of smoke stays on you until you come home and wash those clothes. As you unpack the duffle from camping, you get a whiff of that smoke, and suddenly the memories of the campout come rushing back. Here in Second Corinthians, it’s the same idea.

Those around us, inside and outside of the faith, can “smell” us. We carry with us the pleasing aroma of Jesus. When Christ is in us, and we are following Him, His “scent” is on us.

This idea was played out for me for the first time when I was 16 years old. There was a girl in my high school, who was just different. Her family was much like mine. She had a mom, a dad, and a brother at home. She was my same age and grade. We were both on the drill team for our high school. She had some of the same friends and interests that I did. But she “smelled” different. There was something about her that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

We started hanging out and eventually I asked her to sleep over at my house. She said yes, that she would come and sleep over, if I would go to church with her the next morning.

There it was. That was the beginning of my understanding more precisely what it was about her that was so different than me. She had faith in God. And though I had grown up with a good, loving, all American family, faith was not a part of our household. And I wanted it. I was drawn to her in a way that I didn’t understand then.

And because of her “scent”, her faith in Jesus, I was also drawn to Him.

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

You and I are called to walk with Jesus, to follow His example. To be like Him. It is a tall order to be sure, but He left us with the Holy Spirit, who also lives in us. And it is that same spirit that produces the lingering scent of Jesus in us.

When Jesus comes into our hearts and lives, we are changed. Some parts of us change immediately, and others take longer. But we are changed. And from that moment on, we begin to “smell” differently.

Like the soft scent of our favorite perfume, we leave behind the aroma of Jesus as we go.

On the train from Durango to Silverton Colorado

My hearts desire is that the aroma of Jesus that follows me as I go, attracts others to the Savior. Because, just as perfumes can smell differently on the different people who wear them, the scent of Jesus can be attractive, or pungent.

Are my actions, thoughts, and words pleasant? Do they draw people to Him with the soft scent? Or am I too much like the world to be a pleasing aroma? Am I different at all?

As we continually grow, and allow Jesus to change us on the inside, that change will show on the outside too. We have hope, we have life! Like a fragrant perfume, I want to radiate the aroma of Jesus and let His scent trail behind me as I go.

And my prayer is that that scent will linger in the air and draw people to Him.

What scent are you leaving behind?

Jesus, I am drawn to You and to Your love. I am so grateful for all that You are. You have given everything for me, and I want to share that love with those in my circle. Help me to give off the pleasing aroma of Your love. I want to bring You honor by living in a way that “smells” good to others. Amen.

Purposefully,

Shelli

Looking up

Published on August 23, 2021August 22, 2021 by faithfulone71 Comment

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” Psalm 43:5a.

Has your heart ever been downcast? I bet it has. Mine too, sister. I relate to the Psalm writer….

Many things can make my heart sad and downcast. Situations in my own personal life. The hurts and concerns of those I care about. The things I see in the world around me. Health things. Broken heart things. Financial things. Relational things. Sigh…

Difficult life situations can exhaust and drain us, both emotionally and spiritually. Some of you are running on empty. Some are longing for Home. Some are reeling from personal trials. Some are scared and confused, wondering what’s next. Your soul is downcast and disturbed.

I’m right there with you.

Whether we are wrestling with world events or personal events, our response can be the same. What do we do when we don’t know what to do? When life is complicated, it’s best to keep things simple. Just do the next right thing. Simply put, we can pray, and we can praise.

Our first line of defense should always be a default to prayer. Prayer isn’t “the least we can do”. It is the MOST important place to start! When we pray, we are acknowledging our inability to change the situations ourselves. We are crying out to God for His guidance and compassion. We are humbly asking for His mercy and grace. We are casting our burdens at His feet because they are too heavy for us to carry alone. We are desperately seeking peace and answers.

This week, I was praying earnestly for a dear friend. This friend has an adult daughter with some significant health issues. Health issues that need intervention, and answers. And the answers don’t seem to come easily. As I prayed and listened for God’s voice in what seemed like answerless spaces of prayer, I heard it clearly. “When you don’t get the big answers you want right away, look for My hand in the small things while you wait.”

You see, sometimes, big answers take big amounts of time. But small things? Those happen every day. Let’s think for a minute about the small things we can rejoice in.

A job and income-provision.

Healthy and loving relationships-connection.

God’s word at our fingertips in a variety of ways-abundance.

Overall good health-blessed.

Loved by family, friends, and Jesus himself-care.

Assured of eternal life with Him when I have accepted His finished work on the cross-joy.

Those small things can easily be taken for granted. We’re so used to having them, that we forget that they too are provision from the Lord. That He is continually caring for and blessing us in these ways.

Our second default should go to praise. It may seem challenging to praise God when things are difficult. If I’m honest, sometimes it is difficult for me too. However, being able to thank God and praise Him for who He is and all He has done, allows my focus to shift from the struggle to the Savior. In the midst of our trials, we sometimes forget that the end of the story is already written. We can forget that God wins. This means that we win too.

Try praising Him by remembering these scriptures from Psalm 34:

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry”. Ps. 34:15

“The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”. Ps. 34:18

“The righteous may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all”. Ps. 34:19

“The Lord will rescue His servants; no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned”. Ps. 34:22

When my heart is downcast, and my emotions are wrung out, I can feel like I am losing the battle inside. I feel like the process of turning my sorrow to joy is too big of a challenge. God knows this too, and He gracefully places multiple scripture passages in His word for us to remember what is so easily forgotten.

John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” These are powerful scriptures! He has overcome the world! We are more than conquerors through Him!

When I read such powerful statements in the bible, they begin to chip away at my downcast and disturbed heart. When I let the truth of His word seep into the worried recesses of my soul, I find not only comfort, but the strength to carry on. The hope to wait on Him and trust His plan. When I look for (and see) the small things provided by His hand while I wait for the big answers that my heart truly seeks, I get a glimpse into the heart of God. I feel His heart toward mine.

He desires to bring me peace with His presence. He is more than able to turn my worries into memories. He can turn my spiritual weaknesses into victories of faith!

2 Corinthians 12:9. “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

When God says, “My grace is sufficient”. He means it. It’s more than just a nice saying. It is truth. His power is made perfect in weakness, our weakness. God is not surprised by the events in our lives that are seemingly pulling us under. He stands at the ready, life vest in hand. Because His grace is sufficient, we are right where we need to be. Dependent on Him.

“You turn mourning to dancing.

You give beauty for ashes.

You turn seas into highways.

You’re the only One who can!” (Song-Graves Into Gardens-Elevate Worship)

Lord, somedays it’s so easy to sing your praise and to worship you. I am thankful for those days. But other days….other days, not so much. Lord, forgive me. You haven’t changed. You are ALWAYS worthy of praise. But Lord, my flesh is weak within me. Sometimes my soul is downcast. On those days, during those times, hep me to praise you anyway. Remind me to look for your hand in the small things while I wait for the bigger answers my heart seeks. Amen.

Purposefully,

Shelli

On the other side of it

Published on June 15, 2021October 6, 2021 by faithfulone74 Comments

Last summer I went on a long-distance trip. My hubby and I ventured to Colorado, and on to Indiana to see relatives. It was a wonderful 17 days away from home exploring, hiking, driving across large parts of the country, and visiting family! Neither of us had been to Colorado before, and I fell in love with Summer Colorado. (I’m not interested in Winter Colorado…..snow is a four letter word in my book!) When we got to Indiana, I saw Lightening Bugs, or fireflies, for the first time! All in all, it was a terrific trip, one we’d like to do again someday.

Garden of The God’s; Colorado Springs, Colorado

Before we left on the trip, we spent months planning it. We mapped and re mapped routes. We viewed our hotel options along the way. We checked into what sights we wanted to visit as we traveled. We looked to see the freeways and highways we would use to make our route the fastest and most direct. We checked the weather. And we considered what cities to stay overnight in that might be the safest as tried to avoid the “big cities” as much as possible. We ultimately planned out as many details as we could foresee needing to, ensuring that everything was “just right” for our big adventure. That seems logical and smart, doesn’t it?

But when it comes to the adventure that is our faith, being logical and smart is only a part of the equation.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. We can take courage from those words. But verse 2 provides us with some inspiring words as well. “This is what the ancients were commended for.” Let’s look at one of those “ancients”.

Abram. You may best remember him as Abraham, the father of many nations. Father Abraham, as the song goes, had many sons. There was much that God wanted to do IN and THROUGH Abram. But before God could truly work in Abram’s life, he needed to relocate. Up until that time, Abram had a decent life. He lived with his immediate family, in his homeland, the place where he grew up. He had roots in the community, and he had extended family there. He had work, a full life, and he was comfortable. But in Genesis 12 God speaks to Abram. “The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” It’s that last line that gets me.

Go to the land I will show you.

WILL show you. Not HAVE shown you. But WILL, future tense. I find this part of scripture astounding. Abram didn’t have a map, he didn’t check for stops along the way, he didn’t check the weather. He didn’t even know where he was going! He just went. God said “I will show you” where you’re going. He started out on his journey without even knowing his destination ahead of time! Let that sink in for a moment. Consider how very different that is than the kind of planning you and I put into a vacation. But this trip was far more permanent and important than any other vacation or trip Abram might take. This was his calling. He was on assignment from God.

Remember, “ faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. Hebrews chapter 11 is also known as the Faith Chapter in the Bible. Many heroes of the faith are listed here and are commended for their faithful actions, or their obedience. Try this; in the following examples from Hebrews 11, replace the word faith with the word obedience, as you read them.

By faith, Noah (when warned about things not yet seen)…built an ark.

By faith, Abram…went, even though he did not know where he was going.

By faith Moses parents hid him for three months.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land.

By faith the prostitute Rahab…welcomed the spies.

Now go back and read each one and stop to consider what might have happened if they had NOT obeyed in faith but held back in fear. There would have been huge consequences to their lack of action. Those of us in the future (like right now!) would be living a different life. It is a fact that when people of God obey His call, the chain of events that occurs because of it, changes lives. Moving forward, the ripple effect that takes place, can literally change the course of history! Translation: your obedience can have a lasting effect on the history of your own family and possibly even further than that. Future generations (like you and I) are changed and blessed because of events in the faith life of believers, centuries ago!

What’s important to note is that those heroes not only heard the call, but they followed through. They didn’t have it all spelled out for them ahead of time. There was no map for Abram, no blueprints for Noah, no promise of safety for Moses’ parents, and no bridge for the Israelites that crossed the Red Sea. I like my plans all tied up neatly with a bow, sealed and guaranteed for me ahead of time. I use the map app on my phone for directions, I choose hotels with free cancellation, and I prefer to know alternative routes in case of traffic.

But that’s not faith. That’s having a plan.

Having a plan is smart when you travel, in fact it’s smart for a great many areas of life. But when it comes to our faith life, things change a little. When we feel that God is placing something in front of us with intention (sometimes referred to as being called) we need step out “in faith”. We may need to move forward with our direction from God before all the details are mapped out and secure. We shouldn’t always wait until all the unknowns are known. We can have peace knowing that God’s plan is always for our best. That if He has placed something in or on our heart, He will make a way. He did that for the heroes of the faith, and there is no reason to think that He won’t do the same for us! When we step forward in faith, what happens is that we see blessings on the other side of our fear. Blessings that God has been waiting to show us! Remember that God told Abram “Go to a place that I WILL show you” and Abram went. What happened in Abram’s life after that time of faithful obedience was that he THEN became the father of many nations. And now, thousands of years later, you and I can be encouraged as we read the story of how God blessed him AFTER he obeyed.

I want you to grasp the truth that Abram didn’t leave AFTER God laid out the entire plan and route for him. He didn’t obey AFTER God showed him all he would receive as a result of his obedience. He WENT because God asked it of him. He went when he simply believed that God knew what was best for him. And THEN God blessed him!

Have you felt like there might be something that God is tugging on your heart to do? Have you struggled with knowing what that feels like? Or if it’s all in your head? Here’s some things that I have learned. That leading from God can feel like something that you are excited about or interested in (like a ministry to get involved in?). Sometimes it feels like a purpose that tingles just below the surface your skin (like something you are passionate about that could help people). Usually, it requires a risk or change (is it a new job or a location change?). Sometimes it doesn’t even make sense (with regard to what others expect of you, or even financially). Often it is something you just can’t stop thinking about!

Pray about those “feelings”. Pray about your fears. Tell God about it, and then listen. There’s no need to rush. As you pray and seek God, the Spirit will keep bringing that thing to your mind. As you pray, listen to how often it comes up in your conversations. Consider how you just can’t get away from it. As you pray and seek Him in this, He will show you clearly if you listen intently. Proverbs 3:5-6 in the NLT says it beautifully. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

It may feel “safer” to stay where you are, to avoid risk or change. You may feel “safer” when you choose not to get involved in that new thing. But when God is in it, He directs us, and He blesses our obedience. Romans 8:14 tells us; “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” I want to be led by the Spirit of God! I want to walk in obedience as His child! Psalm 128:1 also tells us this: “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.” You and I are BLESSED when we walk in obedience! Blessed when we follow what He asks. Even when we can’t see the entire route. Even when we don’t understand the whole picture.

We don’t’ have to. Abram didn’t.

God does not want His plan for us to be a mystery. He desires to bless us through the purposes He has planned. And He wants to use you to make a difference! Having a different future starts with obedience through faith now!

Step forward in faith!

Be blessed!

Father, there is nothing that I desire more than your blessing over me. I confess that in my humanity, I often try to figure everything out before I step out in faith. I trust you when you say that you have my best interest on your heart. I trust that you will lead and direct my steps. And Lord, in this moment , I know what you have put in my heart. My desire is to be careful not to get ahead of you as you lead, but I know I can’t stay put any longer either. I am asking you now to show me which path to take. And I am trusting that as I follow your lead, that you will shine your light brightly on my path!

Faith in action

Published on April 12, 2021October 6, 2021 by faithfulone74 Comments

As a warm weather girl, I always look forward to the spring and summer months. Like many things in nature, I really “come alive” when the weather turns warmer. And when it does, it’s time to get outdoors again!

On a recent hiking venture, I came to a bridge. This bridge was not long, but it was a bit high, and it did cross some water. The bridge seemed stable enough, and I was certain that many people, even that very day, had probably gone across it before me. But what if? What if the bridge wasn’t able to hold me? What if it was trustworthy for all the others but not for me?

I held back and observed a while.

Where I was hoping to go was on the other side of the expanse that the bridge crossed. I had to cross that bridge to get there. There was really no other way, but the what ifs had me trapped in doubt.

Faith can be a lot like that.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us this, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”.

Hebrews 11 is affectionately known as the “Hero’s of the faith” chapter. Here we see a list of some of the big-name heroes of old, whose names we easily recognize and associate with faith.

By faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months…

By faith…Noah built an ark…

By faith, Abraham went to a new place, even though he did not know where he was going…

By faith, the Israelites passed through the Red Sea on dry land…

And on and on.

So, what makes the difference between big faith, and not so big faith? How do we measure faith? When you consider the faith life of those you know with “big faith”, what is it that makes them different? Why is their faith bigger? I’ve got one word for you. Obedience.

What if we trade the word faith for the word obedience in the hero chapter? “In obedience Moses’ parents hid him. In obedience Noah built an ark. In obedience Abraham went to a new place.” The correlation between faith and obedience is striking.

It’s easy for me, and probably you too, to talk about faith. We have faith in God about many things. We have faith that God will care for us and for our family. Faith that He will meet our physical, financial and emotional needs. Faith that He will help us in our trials and difficulties. And faith that He will lead us clearly in the decisions we need to make. But sometimes it is easy to toss the word faith around as if it were a supernatural power, too lofty to grasp. But what if…. what if we switched the word faith for obedience?

Let’s consider it this way. Great faith is faith in action. Each of us knows someone to whom we attribute great faith to. I’m willing to bet that the reason you feel that way about them, is because of the way they ACT on their faith. The confidence and ability they have to really trust God with their hurts, struggles, decisions, and the changes in their life.

Often, we say “I want more faith!” We want greater faith in the One who loves us. We desire the faith to move mountains as in Matthew 17:20-21. I suggest to you today that what you really want is more obedience!

Faith transitions to obedience, and obedience deepens into trust.

When we act on our faith with obedience, our faith deepens. When we put “feet on our faith” and step out in trust, we allow God to work. From the examples given in Hebrews 11, what we see is faith in action. God did not supernaturally build the ark for Noah, or hide Moses Himself, or even pick up Abraham and move him while he slept. Those faithful followers of God obeyed. They believed God would do what He said He would do, but they first had to act. Their faith meant nothing until they acted on it. Their story in scripture would not be listed in the “Faith Hall of Fame” if they had not actually stepped out and acted!

Obedience can be scary.

Very recently I was wrestling with faith and trust. I had been feeling like God wanted me to act on my faith, and for a while I was excited and ready. But then…I got scared. I began to back peddle a little bit. I was trying to “be really sure” that I was hearing God correctly. I was fairly certain that I had heard Him clearly a few months back, but now that it was time to actually obey, I put the brakes on. Through my doubt and apprehension, when I thought I was “making sure” of Gods will, what I was really doing was holding back. What I lacked was obedience.

After some study of scripture, and much more prayer, I heard God again, loud and clear. So loudly and clearly, in fact, that it left me full of joy and faith! I can’t explain to you the amount of peace and fulfillment it brought me to truly arrive a place of perfect peace with God and His plan for me! I was ready to step out on that bridge, so to speak. Ready to trust His ability to keep me safe as I headed to the other side.

Is there a situation in your life where you feel God calling you to action, but you are fearful? Are you holding back right now because you are scared about the outcome? Is there a phone call you need to make? A relationship that needs healing? A friendship that needs to end? A move you need to make? A ministry you need to step into? A job you need to change?

If the Israelites had not obeyed God and stepped into the wind tunnel of the Red Sea, they would have been overtaken by Pharaoh’s army. If Abraham had stayed in Ur, God would not have fulfilled His promise to him that he would inherit the land. And if Noah had been too scared to obey God and build that ark, then sister, you and I would not even be here today!

I’ll remind you now, that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”. Can you trust God where you do not see? Can you trust Him with your heart? With your finances? With your relationships? The answer is yes! A very loud and confident yes!

Pastor and Author Larry Osborn says this; “Faith looks at God and says, “I know your character. I can trust you.” And then it steps out onto the bridge.”

God honors our obedience! If I truly trust God, then I will display faith in action. I will step out onto the bridge, and I will be blessed!

Father God, I know I can trust you. I know that you are always working for my good. Please forgive me for not stepping out in faith and obeying you when I clearly hear you leading me. Give me the faith to believe. Speak to my heart and remind me of the heroes of faith and their obedience to you. Remind me of the fabulous life of faith and blessing they led because they fully obeyed and trusted you. Thank you for not giving up on me while I deepen my trust in your plan. Amen.

Purposefully,

Shelli

Dinner Time Faith

Published on October 5, 2020October 4, 2020 by faithfulone72 Comments

It happens every day doesn’t it? Usually, around 4 p.m., we start giving serious consideration to the looming question of “what’s for dinner?”

On some days, dinner becomes a bowl of cereal, or we might overpay for takeout, just to put “food on the table”.

But on our best days, we have a plan. We have prepared ahead of time. We have thawed something out, we have chopped the veggies, or better yet, it’s already in the crock pot! On those days there is peace of mind knowing that we will not be scrambling at the dinner hour to meet our needs.

Isaiah 55:10-11 says “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

What we see in this scripture is God’s provision for now, and His provision for later too. God sends the rain and snow to earth to water the plants and to sustain life on earth in the present. But He also sends the rain knowing that the same plants that need rain immediately to flourish, will use the water to grow and supply seeds for the future. This is God providing for us now, and later.

Often times we live in the now.

We pray in the now.

We worry in the now.

And we plan in the now.

But Isaiah reminds us that God sends rain to provide for our futures too, with seeds of faith. You see, if we get rain for our plants to grow, for us to drink, and to make bread with today, but we do not have seeds for the future, we won’t have what we need to sustain us.

The same principal applies to our spiritual lives.

Let’s face it, some days there is just too much to do. And it starts as soon as our feet hit the floor in the morning.

Maybe you woke to a little one crying for your attention. Maybe your eyes pop open with a to do list rolling through your brain. Maybe you didn’t sleep well (or at all) because of worry. Maybe you didn’t get up as early as you needed to in order to accomplish all that you wanted (or needed) to that morning before having to rush out the door.

Those things happen to all of us. It can be difficult on days like that, to give God time. To sit at His feet and read His love letter to us. So many issues press in on our time, and we succumb to the crisis of the immediate. Whatever screams the loudest for our attention, gets it.

But what happens when we take the time to put Him first? When we read His word and consider how we can apply it to our lives?

We gather seeds for the future. We begin to arm our hearts with truth that will sustain us. We deepen our faith roots and have an abundance of “seeds” that we can fall back on when needs arise in the future. We have provision for the present and assurance for the future.

On the days when you don’t think you can, when there’s just too much happening, do it anyway. On the days when your heart is heavy and you just don’t want to, do it anyway. On the days when you don’t think you need it, do it anyway.

You will be glad you did. And you will be planting seeds for your future. You will have a “harvest” to fall back on in the dry times.

Jesus will meet you there. When you and I “store up His word in our hearts”, He can bring it to mind to comfort and lead us on another day. But the opposite is also true, we cannot “draw water from an empty well”. Nor can we harvest seeds that have not been planted. We need to prepare.

Now, don’t misunderstand me here. I am not talking about perfection. Naturally, there will be days that we don’t get in the Word. There are legitimate circumstances that prevent that time from happening. But…when we faithfully make spending time in his word our goal and priority, instead of only trying to “squeeze it in somewhere”, we can be certain that the truths of scripture will make their way deeper into our lives where it matters most. Then God can use them as seeds, as future provision.

Somedays, we need His word right now, like bread to take away our hunger. Other days, we hold on to it like seeds for the future. Both are important, both are good. But we can strive for better than just the crisis of the immediate.

So, I challenge you. Read His word every day. For a week straight? A month? Just do it. You will find that you are able to recall loving truth to lead and comfort you when your “dinner time crisis” looms. You will have a plan; you will have it “in the crock pot!”

Then God says that His word “will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Just like rain. (vs 11)

Preparing ahead creates trust and peace of mind.

And faith.

A Faithful Foundation

Published on September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 by faithfulone74 Comments

Have you ever watched a fellow Christ Follower go through something painful or difficult? Did you observe them handling it with such peace and joy that you were unable to truly comprehend how that was even possible? Did you think to yourself, “If that were me, I’m not sure I would be able to deal with it with as much grace as they are”? Maybe you pondered your own spirituality and the “real-ness” of your own faith.

This is me right now.

Can I just be open and honest with you? (If you keep reading then I guess the answer is yes!”) Right now, today, at this moment, I have 2 dear friends that are experiencing a fresh diagnosis of cancer. Two women that I love deeply and have known for an awfully long time. Two women whose faith is the real deal.

And they inspire me.

These women have spent their entire adult lives loving Jesus, pursuing a relationship with Him, and deepening their faith in His power and love.

While nothing can truly prepare the human heart for a difficult health diagnosis, there are steps that we can, and should be taking consistently now, to draw close to Him. Steps that will be of significant value should we be faced with something similar. Steps that will help us to prevent a complete crisis of faith.

Let’s consider Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Here we see a parable (or story with a lesson) from Jesus. This is the parable of a man who chose wisely, to build his “house”, or life, on a firm foundation. He did not choose mere “sand” that would wash away when the rains came, he chose rock, strong and sure. The idea here is that as we live out the time that God has given us on this earth, we are free to build our life on whatever foundation we choose.

If we want, we can choose to build our lives on the foundation of worldly things. Money, prestige, self-importance, or even comfort and ease. God gives us free will, we have that choice. But scripture tells us that “the wise man” chooses a firm foundation. Spiritually speaking, he chooses a life of serving others, putting God first in decisions to honor Him, trusting God even when life gets hard, and living with generosity. We do this by spending time in His word. By seeking His will. By having relationships that build us up and point us to Jesus. The implied Rock from the parable is Jesus, our rock and our redeemer.

All through scripture we see times of guidance where God tells us that “life will get hard”. Storms in life come to everyone, inside the faith and those outside as well. They WILL come. That is one thing we can be certain of. But will we be prepared?

The two women that I am loving on and praying for right now, have done just that. They have developed a pattern of deep and abiding faith. They have intentionally placed their trust in the Lord in times where life has shown them no kindness. This is not the first time that they have encountered extreme difficulty. But it IS the first time that they have had cancer.

And you know what? They are responding the same exact way to this trial, with faith and trust.

How does someone who has gotten a cancer diagnosis and pondered the thought that their time here on earth with those they love could possibly end (in a time frame that is too soon) and yet, stay faithful? How do they avoid becoming despondent and bitter toward God for allowing them to have cancer? How do they continue each day with joy and faith? It is because they built their house on The Rock.

Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” NLT

God promises to comfort us in our troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles…” Did you catch it? He comforts us IN OUR TROUBLES. He doesn’t shield us FROM them. He promises to comfort, or strengthen, us while they are ongoing. Don’t think that if you “do everything right”, that somehow you will escape difficulties. Jesus himself was perfect, and He had more heart ache and suffering than you and I ever will.

But God says that He will be with us, walking along side us for the journey, enduring the hurt with us and helping us to find purpose in the pain.

This is what I am seeing with my two friends. They did not wait until the storm came to find shelter in the Rock. They built up that foundation in advance, in preparation for a storm they didn’t see coming.

What I see are two women who have been faithfully pursuing Him and have let Him lead and use them for many years already. What I am seeing is a continuation of their faith, not a drastic shift out of desperation. More of a natural readjustment into what is next. A soft curve, not a sharp turn.

They have purposefully built their lives on a foundation of faith. This faith is real, and it runs deep. And in that way, they have prepared spiritually for what they are facing right now. When you and I consistently spend time with the Lord, by reading His word, learning from it and applying it to our lives, then we allow His presence to guide us through life. That’s how we build and grow a faith that will withstand any storm. We are preparing in advance for what may come.

Friends, we WILL face trials. We WILL have difficulties in many areas of life. We WILL, sooner or later, call out to God for mercy and grace. And He WILL respond.

But if we are to enjoy peace and trust and love the way my two friends are, that relationship needs to strengthen and grow now.

Stop putting it off.

Stop being “too busy”.

Don’t let your life fall apart.

Don’t let your “house” be destroyed by storms .

Let’s build our house on The Rock.

Image by Oleg Mityukhin from Pixabay

Since we have Christ in us, we are a totally new creation. We are not recycled or repurposed, but remade!

Purposefully,

Shelli

I am forgiven! (And you are too!)

You are LOVED!

But if I choose to live my life, giving glory to God and sharing the redemption that Jesus brings, that’s what will last.

Purposefully,

Shelli

Plan now to attend Thrive Worship (for women only) on April 29th, and Thrive 2022 on November 4th! ~

@Grace Chruch 2010 S Hwy 89, Chino Valley Arizona~

Purposefully,

Shelli

Like the soft scent of our favorite perfume, we leave behind the aroma of Jesus as we go.

Purposefully,

Shelli

Purposefully,

Shelli

Purposefully,

Shelli