A Planned Purpose

My heart is heavy at the passing of two beloved family members over the past month. Sad, that events will now be missing these two esteemed elders, yet at peace that I will see them once again.   Psalm 139, one of my most cherished chapters in the entire Bible, speaks of this awe. Psalm 139:16-17 reads "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

I'm in complete awe over so many things in life, things that we all take for granted. These amazing people, were not part of my immediate family, but were on my husband's side of the house. Which is even more amazing.  How a chance encounter, became a date, a relationship, and then a marriage,  all so that these two amazing Christians would become a part of my life.

Both the lives of Mabel and Gerald, had an impact on my life as well as countless others.  Their lives were testimonies of their love for Christ, in their words, their actions and in the way they lived their lives. And these testimonies were not just for their loved ones, but their lives and actions touched countless others.  Aunt Mabel always put others first, and only God knows how many meals she orchestrated for others, or how many pies she made. And Gerald, every Christmas morning was a tradition, as he read the Christmas Story, and each Thanksgiving would not be complete without each person stating a blessing that had been experienced in their lives that past year prior to eating dinner.  And there was never a stranger in his house - he treated everyone like "a member of the family" regardless of who they were. Both of them always put God and others first.  And to think, that my life was planned to have crossed paths with these two amazing Christian people. This wasn't chance - it was planned by God before I was born!!!!

The passing of these two has reminded me of the passing of countless others from this life.  Each who have molded me in some way into the person I am to be.  Some teachers and friends have molded me in some "life way", while others have molded me into "Christ's way".  Just as others have molded you and I, and we are molding others. 

Nothing about our life is chance. Everything has been planned.  From where we live, our parents, our family, our spouses, our children. Even our church, our coworkers and our boss.  Each blessing, each struggle, each challenge and each gift. All has been laid out ahead of us, before we were born.

This challenge or valley that you are traveling through - whether it is the death of a loved one, a challenging illness whether diagnosed or undiagnosed. The loss of a job or other financial struggle, a challenging relationship with a spouse or loved one. All of this was planned before you were born. This all was written in His book of your life.  So although the storm clouds are all around, there is a beautiful sunrise coming.  A new dawn that will clear away all of these clouds of life.

And there is a promise, that on one day we will be reunited with all those saints that have passed on before us.  And what a beautiful day that will be, when we are rejoined with our loved ones, and they will 'show us the ropes' of our new life in Heaven when we are all called Home.

Until that time, while we are still here, there is more that needs accomplished.  More of His plans that are written for each of our lives. We need to give each and everyday to Him, so that we may fulfill those plans.  Perhaps it is a family event, a church service, or just saying hello to a stranger that you meet. We all must live with the knowledge that each event has been planned in advance. Even these meager words written in this blog are for some greater purpose than the words being typed. Words written that are intended for a reader most likely unknown to even me.

Live each day for His purpose. Spend those first few moments of everyday with Him. Praise Him for His many gifts, and for the struggles that are in His plan.

Jeremiah 1:5 - "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart...."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igYWIzrC9Ko

How It All Began

Following That Inner Voice

"Treating Me Like a To-Do List?"

I heard the voice like it was someone lying in bed next to me.  I had been behind on my daily devotions for more than a week, and before going to sleep, I decided that I would get caught up. I've been a faithful You Version user, and typically I have 4 or 5 daily devotions going at one time.  I like variety, I like to take a moment out of my day to get 'regrounded' in Scripture, so that I can stay focused on remaining "in the Light" in this dark world.

Somehow during a serious case of 'life', I found myself more than 4 days behind on several devotions. So I began to complete the missing days.  I remember when I received that last "Day Complete" notification on my device, and I felt a sense of accomplishment.  I remember thinking to myself (or perhaps I said out loud) DONE!  That's when I heard it, just as clear as if He was sitting beside me "So now I'm nothing more than a To-Do List item?", and I was convicted.

Over the next 1-2 weeks, it seemed like every devotion that I read, sermon that I heard, podcast that I listened to was about God's Word, time, or effective Bible Study.  Verses that were impressed on me in this short time included:

• Joshua 1:8  - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
• Psalm 119:18 - Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
• Psalm 119:10-11 - With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
• 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
• Psalm 119:9-11 - How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
• Deuteronomy 11:18-22 - “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.    
• James 1:21-24 - Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
  
  

And there are many more - but you get the picture, and so did I.

I remember when I was a child, although I was typically a "good kid" I did do stupid things.  I remember when I got caught shoplifting (I might have been 10) while on a shopping trip (a back to school trip actually) with my mother and sister.  Oh the shame I endured for weeks after that.  It seemed like every time we were together as a family, at dinner, in the car going somewhere my 'mistake' was repeated over and over and over again.  And it wasn't enough to be just kept in the family, it was like there weren't enough people that my mother could tell. So besides the shame I felt just with my family, it now increased to family friends, relatives and who knows who else.  I even seem to remember that I was the source of a brief mention in my father's editorial in the local newspaper!!!!!

Thankfully, our God doesn't shame us in the same way.  He gently, lovingly reminds us of the ways that we should go.  Our duty as a Christian is to listen to those nudges, inner feelings or that inner voice.  And thankfully, our God does have a sense of humor, as during those several weeks following my conviction - when every reference to the Bible that I heard was regarding studying, memorizing, devotion of time, etc......  it got to be humorous and finally I lifted up my arms and said "yes Lord, message received loud and clear"!!!!   

But that night started me down another road as well.  We are constantly told that we need to study the Bible, we've heard this since we were in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and in Church, but yet I don't remember anyone ever teaching me "how" to study the Bible. So over the next few months I immersed myself in learning "how to study".  And it is that message I believe Christ wants me to deliver to others. So within each post, I will provide some sort of suggestion, tip or tool for you to use. Again, I'm no expert, I'm not a Bible Scholar or teacher, just someone who loves the Lord, who wants to share with others. 

As for writing, I've always enjoyed writing - I've just never been really serious about it.  My parents owned a small local newspaper, so I grew up around writing, so I contribute my love of reading and writing to my late father.  In the 1990's after my family and I moved back to Ks., I began helping my parents with the newspaper.  And it was during that time that I started writing a column for the paper. Many compared it to Erma Bombeck, and it was then that I truly discovered my love for writing.  But sadly, I never did anything with it until now.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it! 

Now for today's Bible Study Tools, Tips or Tricks:

We all have what I call "wasted time", time when we are busy doing something but our brain is basically bored.  This could include dishes, laundry, yard work (yuk) or even getting ready for the day in front of the mirror.  I use this time to listen to podcasts, sermons, audio Bible or daily devotions by speakers or pastors that interest me.  Remember last post I told you about the Women's Bible Cafe?  I learned that by listening to a podcast by Chrystal Evans Hurst, who is the daughter of Dr. Tony Evans, and sister to Priscilla Shirer!!! (I didn't know all that until I stumbled across her podcast).  Dr. Tony Evans audio's can be found here http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/the-alternative/listen/ . Actually http://www.oneplace.com/ has an amazing wealth of information, devotions, studies and audio's.  Proverbs31, which I mentioned in the last blog, has an audio devotion here as well.  

Another one of my favorite weekly podcasts is Michelle Nezat who does the series "More Than A Song" where she takes scripture and helps you tie it back to today's popular Christian Music.

I thank God for each of you taking the time to read by blog, and I would be honored if you would leave me a comment below.

Be Blessed In Christ and remember To Live Like Christ in all your ways - everyday!

Until next time ......................

Koni - 

Getting Started

"But Lord, is this really what you've called me to do?"

I've said that prayer sometimes a dozen times a day over the past several months, as I've tried to ignore that 'nudging' in my soul about starting this venture.  Scared is an understatement as I sit and type these words and thoughts.  Those other 'voices' that we hear in our mind, the "but I'm not a writer", "I'm not good enough", "no one is going to read this", "you don't know what you are doing"............. those lies go on and on and on.  Those lies are from the evil one who we battle everyday and who tries to prevent us from 'living like Christ".

I'm sinfully human, just like you, and I struggle each and everyday trying "to live like Christ", yet I strive to improve each and everyday.  Just this past week, I was challenged to love other brothers and sisters, just as Christ loves us, (see John 13:34, Ephesians 5:2).  You know the ones, the ones who can get under your skin the minute you see an e-mail from them, a text message, a phone call alert, or see them walking up to you.  And although I wallowed in my own pit, allowing those individuals to temporarily steal my joy, I was gently asked "what would Christ do".  For one, He wouldn't have reacted the way that I did, with a loud outburst of "are you kidding me", or the tears that followed on each of these two occasions.

I'll admit, the rest of my day was a struggle after this occurred, and like I do so many times, I didn't follow that very wise internal voice of the Holy Spirit.  Instead of the emotional outburst, I should have found a quiet spot, and with my smartphone in tow, I should've prayed, asking for guidance, for peace, found Bible verses or pulled up a devotion to help return me to my Christ centeredness, instead of focusing on the 'poor me'.   One of my favorite acronyms is WWJD - What Would Jesus Do, and in that moment, I should've asked myself "if Jesus was sitting beside me right now, how would I react".  And in that emotional outburst moment, I can guarantee you that if my mind would've been focused on Him and not on myself I would've handled things far differently.

It is imperative that if we are to "Live Like Christ" then we need to focus on Him daily.  Below are just a few of the hundreds of different options available to us. (This is not meant to be an inclusive list, but just to provide suggestions and avenues so that we can all learn To Live Like Christ).

• You Version Bible  - this is a website as well as an app that offers both online and downloadable Bibles so that you can carry God's Word with you anywhere.  They also have hundreds of daily devotional plans that you can do to be sure that you stay in God's Word.  FREE bible.com
• First5  - This is an app by Proverbs 31 Ministry lead by Lysa TerKeurst. They recently launched their app in hopes that women would devote their first 5 minutes to God before their day and interruptions begins.  This app is truly beautiful, has it's own alarm clock, as well as many other features. Visit their website to learn more about it at proverbs31.org . FREE 
• Proverbs31 - They offer an online Bible study that runs for about 6 weeks approximately every quarter.  Although the book that they are studying does cost, you can enjoy daily encouragement, small groups and other involvement at no cost.  To learn more go to proverbs31.org (I've been doing their studies for about the last 3 or 4 sessions, and they are very well done, fun, enjoyable and very Biblical).
• Women's Bible Cafe - Online Bible Studies on a variety of great online topics and subjects. womensbiblecafe.com  FREE
•  Love God Greatly - Online Bible Studies and Blog. lovegodgreatly.com  FREE

There are hundreds of different avenues that one can find if they look.  Those listed above just happen to be my current 'go to' sites.

Besides walking with you on a frequent basis in this blog, I feel it is my God given mission to share some of the "tools" that I've learned during my Christian walk.  I'm not an expert, not paid or encouraged by any website, app or book that I might mention. We as Christians just need to share with each other, build each other up, and encourage each other, and if what I've learned can help another sister or brother in Christ then I believe that that is a WWJD moment and our goal To Live Like Christ.

Until next time...............................
Koni