Terri's Wellspring

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. Jeremiah 29:11

A vision of what is possible may come at different phases in our lives.  In youth, we may envision our lives with an abundance to live happy, prosperous lives.  As we age and make choices, the possibilities of what we can achieve seems to get smaller or larger based our vision.  I am thankful to God who has a Kingdom view of our lives as our Creator and our Heavenly Father.  He sees all of the gifts and talents that dwell within.  He sees what lies ahead and His Holy Spirit can lead us toward the bright purpose He has for each of us.  We should each seek to see what God sees.  Knowing His love for us is great and that His purpose for us is for good.  We praise God for His love, His grace and His direction for our lives.

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. I Thessalonians 3:12 NLT

We live busy lives. Each morning we wake up with at least a mental list of what we want to accomplish.   I am sure we have included the many tasks for our jobs, our families and the other demands placed on each of us. When we make “the list” this morning, we may want to consider what the Lord would have us to do. Have we included on “the list” a time of devotion and gratitude with Him. We woke up this morning and we are thankful. Is there a place on the list for sharing love and concern for the people who mean the most to us, our spouses, children, siblings, parents and friends? The loved one that is in the hospital, or another you know who needs encouragement, take a moment to reach out to them. A card that you have been meaning to send or the phone call to let someone know that you are thinking of them. I am working on my list for today and asking God where I can make the most impact to encourage His children. We thank Him in advance for His leading and His love that we can extend to someone today.

For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11  NLV

Our Heavenly Father created us with vision and purpose. We are not here to lead our lives according to the values of this world but we have an eternal purpose for His kingdom.   Each of us is uniquely built for what God has our hands to do.   It is amazing to think of the specific attention God places on who we are, our abilities and our experience to allow us to journey in His purpose for our lives. So many are searching for purpose and meaning. The purpose of anything comes from the One who created it. We may try to change that purpose but seeking God’s intent allows us to seek His vision and will that can transform the mundane into amazing. Aligning our vision and journey with His will gives us the ultimate peace, joy and wellness we desire. Our passage for today is a reminder that His plans for us are for good and not for trouble. As we make goals and commitments for the year, ask the creator first for His will and direction. His response and our compliance to His direction will allow us to make progress toward fulfilling His vision and purpose.

That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of  love  for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:28 MSG

We thank God that we can be in relationship with our Heavenly Father through His Son Jesus Christ. We can look to God in prayer for His direction and guidance. We may experience things that are not in our personal vision of what and how things ought to happen. In fact, if we were to pick and choose what we would endure, the landscape of our lives would look very different. But thanks be to God for His grace and His mercy. He is able to take our experiences – both good and bad – and transform them into something that aids our purpose and creates a higher ground for our living. Our passage today, is an incredible reality for God’s children. All things, every detail, work together for good for them that are a part of His plan.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:13 

Many of us felt the weights of the experiences of the last year -grief, discord, and even disappointment. We seemed to be moving at a marathon pace of occurrences that weighed heavy on our hearts. We are so thankful to be in the hands of our Savior, who continues to sustain us through things that are hard to bear and understand. The Holy Spirit’s blessing of comfort, peace and resiliency surrounds us even in the most difficult time. It is a time of faith and trusting, even as we look to a new year.

I love the opportunity and mercy that comes with a new day. It represents a turned page, a fresh slate for even a new year. The Bible says we are granted new mercies each morning. I believe that mercy comes with a revival of spirit and a chance to move forward. We are called in this New Year to continue to press toward the Savior. A fitting definition of press is to exert a steady force. A God’s Children we want to continue to move steadily toward His will, His ways and His direction for our lives. The enemy would have us to be weighted down with the things of the past becoming immobile or taking dangerous detours. But despite his devices, we are looking forward with promise of our calling in Jesus. This first day of the year, we can remove the luggage of sin, lack of forgiveness, misunderstanding so that we can become free to move with our full force in our walk with the Lord. Today – through prayer and the Holy Spirit’s leading we can ask for deliverance and guidance on achieving release of things that would bind us. It’s time to focus and press toward Him and what He is calling us to do in our lives.

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward-to Jesus. I’m off and running and I’m not turning back. Philippians 4:12-14 Msg

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

Lifting the Savior in the eyes of the world is something we are challenged to do each day. We want people to see Jesus more clearly through His love, His power and His righteousness that dwells in our hearts and souls. Each act of living “the life”‘ helps to bring into focus the tremendous blessing of walking with the Lord. As believers, we must work to eliminate any contradictions of His Word, His principles of love and forgiveness and the way we live our lives. The inconsistencies create a heavy weight on our witness to the world and dishonor the price Jesus paid for our salvation on the cross.

As we turn the page and move into a new year, we can consider how we can lift Jesus higher. We can exalt the Savior in our praise and in our daily living. We can ask the Holy Spirit to show us where we can exhibit more of His love and His peace, His compassion and more of His righteousness. As we lift Him higher, as people see Him more clearly, men and women will be drawn unto the Savior.

When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me. John 12:32

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  John 10:10

Jesus came that we might have abundant life. My vision of this life is full of peace, love, joy and contentment. Amazingly it does not include fear, anxiety and hate that seem so commonplace today. I have reached a time in my life where discovering meaningful ways to spend my time and energy are at the forefront of my mind. I have previously walked in ambiguity but I believe those days are behind me. I am excited about the road ahead because I believe our Father is faithful to provide the clarity and direction for moving forward. He can show us how to move into our purpose, providing the gifts and resources to bring it to pass. It’s a journey into the satisfying life He intends for each of us.

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in  wisdom.  Psalm 90:12

During childhood, the days we have ahead seem as infinite as the leaves on a tall oak tree. Hopefully, this time is spent learning, developing and maturing into the individuals God crafted us to be. As we get older we begin to realize how God’s gift of another day is precious. For some of us it takes the experience of aging, illness or even the loss of a loved one to bring the value of our time on Earth into focus.

Our society is full of distraction that keeps us away from things that bring meaning to our lives. We may drift from one thing to another without real direction or authority of over our daily living. It takes a conscious effort on our part for us to live according to God’s individual purpose and calling. While it is easy to allow things that simply don’t matter to consume our time and resources, we can make the most of the opportunities God gives to us. We can live with a grateful heart. We can show love in our words and actions.   We can demonstrate forgiveness and mercy. We can honor the gift of each day living on purpose.

I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. I Corinthians 9:26-27 MSG

As a young person, I would to listen to the Saints sing a song “I’m running for my life” during the devotional time. Using the imagination of a child, I would often visualize people running desperately in a race. I think the tempo of the song plus the vivid words made the images come to mind. Reading the passage for today, reminded me of the race we are all in. Paul describes the purposeful journey that we have with Christ. We are giving our relationship with the Lord our best effort. We are earnestly seeking to do His will. We are staying alert for things that would have to go off course or to meander needlessly down the path. Just like an athlete we want to be in top condition, praying, reading God’s word, devoting our time in worship and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.   We want to be able to go the distance in faith, traveling purposefully and strong in our stride toward the mark.

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14-15 NLT