Jeremiah 29:11
-
-
Living In The Tension
“The thief's purpose Is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” ~Jesus
John 10:10 NLT
Cheryl Campbell, Melinda Estabrooks, Cheryl Weber and I at the Crossroads Chapel Months ago, I was asked to speak at the Crossroads Staff Chapel where 100 Huntley Street, Context with Lorna Dueck, See, Hear, Love, A Better Us, Outside the Box and many other Christian shows are taped.
When the news reported the horrifying death of the toddler outside the studio I was saddened, and felt a sense of great responsibility, realizing my turn on the chapel schedule was now falling the week after this tragedy. Knowing I was going to speak to an emotionally bereft group changed the dynamics drastically.
Leadership called and discussed how it was no longer appropriate for me to share some of my John Maxwell training with a motivational message, as originally requested. They asked if I could instead share a word of comfort. I was honored to be the one God had positioned for the task, at the same time feeling scared skinny. I would be speaking with people whose hearts were heavy with the deeper questions of life. Living in the tension of what God wants the world to be like, and how our realities can contradict His promises.
Living In The Tension
My heart was aching, desperately wondering what words of encouragement I might be able to share with this grieving group. Do I just dance around the recent tragedy or discuss it head on? I felt the Lord directing me to address the toddler’s passing right at the beginning. If not, it would be the elephant in the room. Everyone was thinking about it and so many had questions… hard questions. Especially from those who do not have a faith in Jesus Christ but work at the Crossroads Centre in rented office space.
I felt an awesome responsibility to tell how Jesus came to bind up the broken-hearted and explain how this world isn’t running the way God initially created it to function. What happened there, was not a part of God’s plan.
It’s hard to grasp, but the explanation for this truth goes back to Jesus statements in John chapter 10 when He was trying to explain how He was the good shepherd, the Messiah. Jesus taught how the devil’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. It was true back when Jesus’ feet walked the earth, and it’s still true today. Thankfully, Jesus didn’t end his statement in the negative.
Jesus completed his message by assuring everyone that, His purpose is to give us this rich, satisfying, abundant life. The enemy wants to take from you, Jesus came to give. Jesus came with a purpose to bring good into our lives, but then… why do we continue to suffer? Jesus was trying to enlighten people to the reality of spiritual warfare. We can try to pretend it’s not a reality, but we’re ignoring the facts. This battle of good vs. evil isn’t just a fictitious theme for Sci-Fi movies. You see, this war of good vs. evil that started at the beginning of time continues to rage today. The fallout from this clashing of kingdoms leaves us wounded and experiencing heartache.
As long as you exist on earth, you live in the tension of these two, simple truths:
- God Is Good, and His purpose is to give you a good life.
- The Devil is Bad, and his purposes toward you are evil.
In times of uncertainty; when your tension wires seem like they’re about to snap and the reality of the devil’s purpose is being played out in your life… don’t lose hope in the truth that, God—IS—good. Whether it happens here on God’s green earth or when you get to Heaven, God will give you the abundant life He promised through Jesus. He’s true to His promises.
Prayer
Father… I’m so thankful that you’re here when tragedy strikes. You are as close as the mention of Your name. Help my eyes to not fixate on the display of evil, so that it clouds the truth of your goodness. Let visions of injustice and examples of pure evil draw me closer to you. Increase in me a longing for heaven, where You wipe away every tear and all that remains is good. In Jesus Name…Amen
[tweetthis]Just because the devil is evil, doesn’t change the fact that… GOD IS GOOD[/tweetthis]
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!- John 10:10
- Jeremiah 29:11
- John 3:16-17
- Hebrews 6:17 (Very clear in NIV, NASB, HCSB)
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin -
Does Work Bring You Satisfaction?
“That each of them may eat and drink,
and find satisfaction in all their toil
—this is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 3:13 NIVDo you like taking personality assessments? I hesitate to let you know I do because a neuro-psychologist friend of mine, raised a brow when I told her! Maybe I’m crazy, but I find them fascinating. Perhaps it’s because taking a Birkman Method Personality Assessment in 2008 changed my life. At the time I took the test, I was a Director of Finance and Operations for a company I co-owned in the Automotive Industry. I dreaded work and felt drained most of the time. This girl had a fancy title, yet very little satisfaction for her toil!
MY BIRKMAN BREAKTHROUGH
When I got the results back from my Birkman Assessment the lights came on and I understood for the first time why I felt so dissatisfied. The first section of the test rated the ten areas of work activities or interests to see what brings you the most fulfillment in life. Any area scoring above 50 energizes your personality, while scores below 50 are draining.
My top three Areas of Interest were:
- Persuasion (Selling, Communicating) at 96
- Social Service (Helping Others) at 94
- Literary (Writing, Formal Persuasion) at 92.
Somehow Musical was next on my list at 75, which seems illogical given that I can’t hold a tune! (Wondering if I answered something wrong there???) Clerical was last on my list above 50.
The Birkman rep explained how anything above 90 was considered necessary activities, in order for you to feel fulfilled. They weren’t just things you liked to do, they’re things you needed to do!
My job at the time barely included any activities that were in my top three Areas of Interest. No wonder I felt frustrated! I could see how I enjoyed the Operations side of my role and not the Finance side since Numerical scored below 50 on my list. Sure, I can perform the role as a bookkeeper; I’ve done work like that since I was twelve, helping in my parent’s business. It was clearly a learned activity, not an innate ability.
Fast-forward four years from taking the Birkman and I published my first book, Water In The Desert, followed by Soul H2O…and hopefully many more books to come (Literary).
I now travel internationally and speak to women’s groups (Persuasion). This position allows me to help people I’ve never even met (Social Service). It’s so much beyond what I could’ve ever imagined for my life. Working as an author, speaker and blogger is my dream job. At this point, there is great satisfaction for my toil and I consider that an invaluable gift from God.
Does Work Bring You Satisfaction?
Jeremiah 29:11 tells how God’s plans for your life are good. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” When you’re fulfilling the activities God uniquely created you to do, you’ll feel satisfied. The more you spend time in relationship with God, the more your desires for the future will line up with God’s good plans for your life. It’ll become natural.
On this, day after Labor Day, take the time to ask yourself: Am I fulfilling Ephesians 2:10 through my paid job or volunteer activities? If not, it may be time you got crazy like me and completed one of those Personality Assessments!
Prayer
Father…I believe you’ve placed a divine destiny within me because, the Bible tells me so in Ephesians 2:10. Let the desires of my heart help me discern Your purposes for my life so I can experience Your gift of satisfaction. May I use my time and my abilities for Your Glory, and enjoy every minute of it! In Jesus Name…Amen
[tweetthis]Does Work Bring You Satisfaction?[/tweetthis]
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
- Ecclesiastes 3:13
- Jeremiah 29:11
- Psalm 37:4
- Ephesians 2:10
#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!IF YOU LIKED THE REFRESHING IN THIS #SOULH2O DEVOTION, YOU’LL LOVE MY LATEST SOUL H2O DEVOTIONAL BOOK: 40 THIRST QUENCHING DEVOTIONS FOR WOMEN.
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, #SoulSurvival – Donna Riedland
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin -
Feel Like Someone’s Trying to Wear You Down?
This morning I was getting ready for church and I went to sharpen my eyebrow pencil but there was nothing left. I had sharpened it so many times that it was completely worn out, there was nothing left inside. I looked at the pencil and thought it was a pretty good representation of how I was feeling.
“He will speak out against the Most High
and
wear down the saints of the Highest One”
Daniel 7:25 NASBHave you ever Felt Like Someone’s Trying to Wear You Down?
Issues unresolved in my life for almost a decade have left my energy depleted. It’s frustrating because in so many areas of my life I have seen such tremendous growth and increase, yet in this area the enemy ‘seems’ to have the upper hand.
Proverbs 17:22 says, “a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
You see, there literally is someone trying to wear You down. The enemy of your soul is trying to break your spirit so he can sap your energy and get you to quit. When talking about the devil, Jesus reminds us that he comes only to steal, kill and destroy. The devil doesn’t have any good plans for your life…but God does!
God has planned for your victory.
Understanding victory is only achieved through a battle helps you accept that although victory doesn’t come easy, it will come!
If you’re feeling worn down, worn out, and sapped of strength today…please don’t give up! Fight the urge to “become weary in doing good, for at the proper time” you “will reap a harvest if” you “do not give up.”3
Prayer
Father…I thank You for promising me victory. The enemy will do his best to try and wear me down, but Your joy will be my strength. You have given me everything I need for life and I trust that you will use this current battle to bring about overwhelming victory in my life! In Jesus’ Name…Amen
If you’re feeling worn down, worn out and sapped of strength today…please don’t give up! Click To Tweet
VICTORY doesn't come easy, but it WILL come! Click To Tweet
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!1 John 10:10
2 Jeremiah 29:11
3 Galatians 6:9
4 Romans 8:37YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell