Live on Purpose - It Bears Repeating

For Mother's Day, my youngest son Samuel gave me a book - 100 Days of Prayer for Women.

While reading it this morning, the words jumped off the page. So, for those of you needing a little pick-me-up in your life purpose, these words are for you.

Live On Purpose

God chose you to be His people, so I urge you now to live the life to which God called you.

Ephesians 4:1 NCV

What on earth does God intend for me to do with my life? It's an easy question to ask but, for many of us, a difficult question to answer. Why? Because God's purposes aren't always clear to us. Sometimes we wander aimlessly in a wilderness of our own making. And sometimes, we struggle mightily against God in an unsuccessful attempt to find success and happiness through our own means, not His.

If you're a woman who sincerely seeks God's guidance, He will give it. But, He will make His revelations known to you in a way and in a time of His choosing, not yours, so be patient. If you prayerfully petition God and work diligently to discern His intentions, He will, in time, lead you to a place of joyful abundance and eternal peace.

Sometimes, God's intentions will be clear to you, other times, God's plan will seem uncertain at best. But even on those difficult days when you are unsure which way to turn, you must never lose sight of these overriding facts: God created you for a reason; He has important work for you to do; and He's waiting patiently for you to do it.

 

The next step is up to you.

Heart-Shaped Boxes

I once made my husband read the book, “The Five Love Languages”. I was sure he would be enlightened. I just knew there were ways he could better meet my needs. When we took the test together, I couldn’t wait for our results. Which love-language would we each be most fluent in?

I felt sorry for Paul when we discovered my answers created a three-way tie. Apparently, in the language of love, I'm trilingual. I had three languages I needed him to speak fluently.

I felt even worse when I realized one of my love-languages is “receiving gifts”. And "giving gifts" is not his strongest attribute.

It’s true. I enjoy it when the kids bring me home a small trinket from school made with paper clips, rubber bands, and Elmer’s glue. I love it when Paul brings me flowers or comes home from the grocery store with a pint of our favorite ice cream and a movie.

While visiting recently with a new widow, I realized gifts aren’t always tangible things we can unwrap and hold. Sometimes the ones that mean the most, if put in a gift box, would look empty to the human eye.

Sally lost her husband a few weeks ago. Bob was the love of her life. Both in their eighties, they worked around the house together, each one with their own jobs to do, living in each other’s presence, knowing the other was within walking distance every minute of every day.

I was in a hurry to head down the hill and begin picking up children from school, but I realized I had a little bit of time. Just enough time to run by the grocery store before picking up my high-schooler. But, another thought popped into my head. Maybe I should go over and visit with Sally.

Sally won out over grocery shopping and for forty-five minutes Sally shared about her Bob. Usually a very stoic woman, covering her face with her hands, she wept as she shared how they first met and how much he meant to her and her daughter Connie. I wept with her.

Later, when I left, walking down her steep driveway to my car, Sally leaned over her railing and yelled after me, “Joanne, thank you for giving me some of your time today.”

She had received something from me? I was the one who felt blessed to have been her captive audience to such beautiful stories.

It got me to thinking; time is a gift we can share. I can’t wrap it up with pretty paper, or tie a satin ribbon around it but there is no better way to tell someone they are special, then by spending some of my time on them.

There are beautiful heart-shaped boxes that can only be purchased with the currency of time. Have you bought and given any away lately? After all, we all share the same love-language of time.

Time is the most precious gift one can give. Each moment is unique because it will never happen again. The gift of your time spent with others is the ultimate display of unconditional love. Robert W. Merriweather

My Friend Changed Her Home Address

This is Debbie. She was my secret sister. You haven't met anyone on fire for the Lord like Debbie. In the few months we went to church together we enjoyed one another a lot. Whatever the social event, we would find each other. Both of us weren't what you'd call the quiet and gentle types. When she came over to swim this summer she made sure to grill me about the new church we were attending - like any dear friend would.

Last month we were at a friend's surprise party. Her and I were laughing over the fact that we were both huddled on different parts of the couch trying to quickly seal our birthday cards...hoping the birthday girl wouldn't notice how fresh the spit was on our licked envelopes.


Debbie moved September 8th.

Her new home address is Heaven.


Debbie was 48 years old and died unexpectedly from pneumonia. Everyone was shocked, but God wasn't. He knew full well the date and time of her welcoming party. Knowing Debbie, she ran full speed into His waiting arms and hasn't stopped talking and laughing with Him since.

She leaves behind many touched lives, a godly husband, her precious seven year-old son Samuel, and a church family who loved her dearly.

My plan was to attend her life celebration yesterday, but at the last minute I was held up. It was difficult not gathering with my sisters who were missing her too.

Friends shared later how beautiful her service was and how the church was packed with people from all over. I wasn't surprised.

If Debbie were here she'd remind everyone of her forwarding address. She'd point out the way and joyfully and quite matter-of-factly tell you how you could see her again.

When she was a child she heard Jesus knocking and gladly opened the door of her heart for Him.

For some of you He is knocking right now.

Debbie would want you to answer.


Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20

Flower seeds, a note, and my son.

My heart is grieved today. A thoughtful gift from my son has brought me a bit of pain. My eight-year-old received a packet of flower seeds at school recently. He carried them home for me in his backpack. My precious little boy thought long and hard about where he could put them. He wanted me to be surprised. He was so excited, he knew he had to place them somewhere I would find them almost immediately.

“Mom, have you been on your computer yet today?” he asked while getting ready for school. “No honey. I haven't.” My laptop was where I'd last left it, by the side of my bed. “Mom, I think you need to open it up.” Samuel smiled, barely able to contain himself.

Walking over, I opened my shiny red laptop to discover the treasure inside. Lying on my keyboard my son had placed his prized package of flower seeds. His gift to me.

I hugged him tight and told him how much I loved morning glories. I told him I couldn't wait to plant them, and hoped he'd help me. He just smiled and nodded enthusiastically. All the while my heart was hurting.

You see, I couldn't help but think of something I'd heard author Elizabeth George say many years ago. “Where would someone leave a note for you, if they wanted to make sure you would get it?” She went on to ask, “Would it be by your telephone, or your computer? How about on your TV? Or could it be possible they would leave your note on your Bible?”

I couldn't help but think of my own mother while growing up. As a child I knew exactly where I would have left my note to her...on her telephone. She was on her phone constantly. Making it very clear to my little girl heart that her friends came first. What I would have given to have her hang up the phone with her girlfriends and spend an afternoon talking with me.

I've been reminded today, I have only been given so much time. My family shouldn't take every waking moment of that time, but should know they are ranked first on my to-do list.

I want to discover my next sweet gift pinned gently to the heart of my children.

"Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." James 4:14

What time would you choose?

There are special moments in my life where I wish I could stop the hands of time. My kids are all home tonight, and my husband and I are hanging out doing a whole lot of nothing. Some would call me boring. I consider myself a great appreciator of time.

I can often torment myself because I yearn to go back to times in my life that I can't go back to. Times like when my mother was alive, when my babies were small enough to nuzzle into the crook of my neck, my wedding day.

Whenever I'm overwhelmed by the desire to stop my life right where it is, I ask the Lord to bless my grateful heart with a memory. I ask Him for a snapshot of this joyful moment in my life. Making a deposit into my mind's library allows me to go back every once in awhile, and replay these special moments in my life.

How about you? Is there a special part of your life where you wish you could freeze time? Have you made any memory deposits lately?


To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1