Take Action on Your Purpose, Plan, or Calling

I did a Spiritual Gift assessment once.  Turns out I have the gift of exhortation. Webster defines exhortation as: Language intended to encourage; Synonym: move to action, stirrup, spur on, urge on. I guess it suites me well, since I am constantly wanting to share with others what I’ve learned, a cool new idea that excites me, or something that touches my heart deeply. As I’ve grown in my Christian walk with God, I read and study God’s word, read books and articles, watch podcast sermons, etc.  When I am sparked with a revelation, or epiphany, all I want to do is share it with others.  Typically I send this info on to my closest family members and friends.  They’ve received quite a bit from me over the past few years.  God has exhorted me to expand my horizons, branch out, and contact some new God seekers, hence my website.  It’s taken a little while to get it up and running, but I’m so excited to use this as my way of exhorting others! I don’t plan to post things on a constant basis, but hoping it will be weekly or bi-weekly instead. 

Is it coincidence that my site is ready at the beginning of the year? Regardless, I think it’s superb timing.  I’ve been thinking about my motivation for the year and have come up with one word. FOCUS.  I need more of this in my life.  I’m in the process of becoming certified as a biblical counselor and it requires a lot of reading, studying, processing, and focus.  I’m working on this in the midst of my other roles as a wife, mom, homemaker, and counselor. Distractions seem to be my enemy these days (Satan), so I’m determined to focus in on my priorities this year in order to accomplish all that God has in store for me.  As I was thinking about the word focus and what it will require of me, I came up with an acronym to give my word a bit more meaning and purpose. 

FOCUS

Faith

Omnipresent

Christ

Unashamed

Salvation

Throughout 2016, as I am focusing on my many responsibilities, I want to keep life in perspective and priorities straight.  So my word FOCUS has the following meaning to me. My FAITH must be strong in my OMNIPRESENT God. He surrounds me everywhere, at all times, and in everything I do. CHRIST is my Lord and Savior, in whom I am UNASHAMED. He is my example, my teacher, my friend, and I trust him. I am so grateful that he died on the cross to free me from my sins and give me SALVATION. For this reason I commit my life to serve him. It is my pleasure, my purpose, and my desire to reach others for Christ, to motivate, and to encourage them to follow Him. 

I read several years ago the book by Bruce Wilkinson, The Prayer of Jabez, which stems from a random tiny piece of scripture located in the midst of a bunch of genealogy, which personally I feel is boring.  Then, suddenly there is this little story about Jabez placed right in the middle of all of it. 

I Chronicles 4:9-10. 

There was a man named Jabez who was

more honorable than any of his brothers.

His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful.

He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel,

“Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory!

Please be with me in all that I do,

and keep me from all trouble and pain!”

And God granted him his request.

I applied this to my own life and started praying this prayer for myself. Many doors opened and closed, and through thick and thin, I kept seeing God’s hand in it all. I felt my heart open more toward counseling others who need God in their lives to help them through the tough times. I was praying for my heart to be open and willing to follow God’s plan for my life, hoping it would correlate with my desire to help hurting people.

Long story short, my husband got a job promotion and we moved from Ohio to Indiana. Several years have passed by and my job has been supporting my husband and raising my kids, going to their sporting events, and encouraging them to follow their dreams and God’s plan for their lives. All the while, my heart was and still is drawn toward counseling and encouraging others. I believe this is God’s calling on my life because it is something that just won’t leave me. No matter what season of life I’m in, whether I’m totally on board or kicking and screaming, God consistently reminds me of it.

So, here we are at the start of 2016. I’ve started praying The Jabez prayer again.  Why? Because I feel that God is leading me toward something that is bigger than myself.  I can’t see it actually, but I trust God and know that He will direct me day by day. I have faith that as I pray for God to expand my horizons and territory, he will supply my every need. I don’t want to miss any opportunity God gives me to accomplish his goal in and through me. He places people in my life that help me and people that he wants me to help. God loves me and he wants me to love others. Sometimes when talking to a complete stranger, I can look right past their outer appearance and can only see the hurt they’re feeling in their heart.  I have to restrain myself because all I want to do is talk and laugh with them, make them smile, give them a hug, hold their hand, and share God with them. Most of the time though, people would think I’m some psycho person if I did that.  Isn’t that sad?  So, I try to behave in a non-threatening way and hope and pray that they can see God through my actions and words.  It’s not about me, myself, and I; we’re very ugly inside. I want them to see, feel, and experience the love of God.  Everyone needs that! I don’t care how much a person appears to have all their priorities lined up, a smile on their face, or tells the world that they are happy and have it all together. I know they have bad days, and they are probably even covering up a multitude of sins and hurts in their life. Everyone needs the love of God. That’s what my heart wants for myself, my family, my friends, and you too.

So, I’m excited to reach out to God-seekers through my blog, and as I talk to the grocery store cashier, my waitress that’s serving me, or a stranger standing beside me in exercise class, I hope God will use me as his vessel to show them that he’s a safe place. God knows life is hard and sometimes (or even most days) we fail at doing the right thing. God loves us any way. Doesn’t that make you want to love him back? Doesn’t that make you want to live your life to please him and for his glory, not your own? Don’t you want to honor him for all the love and forgiveness he’s shown you? Don’t you want to drop your sinful habits and start living life his perfect way instead of constantly trying to find satisfaction in worldly things? YES! This is how I feel and how I want to live my life: for God’s glory.

Life Application – Plan of Action

I hope my sharing all of this with you has encouraged you to seek and follow God’s plan, purpose, and calling for your life.  Although it’s unique for each person, here are a few steps you can take to help you get started.

Pray:  Open your heart up to God. Talk to him about your desires, your joys, your fears, and don’t forget to listen. Listen for God speaking to you.  Pray the Jabez prayer if you feel led to and are willing to follow through on what God gives you. 

James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Seek God’s Will: Seeking after God’s will first before your own personal desires is a difficult thing to do sometimes. It’s human nature to go after what you want and then ask God to bless it. It should be the other way around. So, try asking God what he wants you to do next and then wait for God to speak to you. You have to be patient.

Matthew 7:7-8Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Count your blessings: It’s easy to be so focused on your agenda and what you’re waiting on, that you become unaware of the blessings right in front of your face. Also, sometimes as we’re waiting, discouragement can set in. Be diligent and don’t give up! Sometimes we need to give ourselves a big swift attitude adjustment! Just know that each day is an opportunity to hear from God, learn, apply and grow. I hope you don’t miss any opportunities God gives you.

1 Thessalonians 5:9Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

Seek wise counsel: It is good to receive wise godly counsel from others more experienced than you. This helps you to be held accountable too!

Proverbs 1:5Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.

No Fear: I’ll admit it. I struggle with this.  But I choose to believe God’s truth rather than Satan’s lies about me and my future.

2 Tim 1:7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Stay on Track: It’s really easy to get off track and put God’s calling for your life on the back burner as you live out this life with worldly things full of distractions away from God.  I urge you to do your best to stay close to God and his way of life. 

Romans 12:2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 5:19 Therefore, ifanyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Make a list!  Pray over it. Commit to it!:  I have so many lists it’s ridiculous. I look back in journals or bible studies I’ve done and see my lists and laugh because it’s been years and years in the making.  I’ve been waiting for so long for Gods plan to come to fruition. So many repeat entries!  Even years apart, I see similar entries and it confirms in my mind that God is relentlessly calling me to his plan and purposes.

Journal prayers, events, changes: Just like all of my lists, I love to look over my past notes, journal entries, and prayers.  It helps me to see how God has been working in my life. I can see answers to prayer. Also, I can see requests that have not been answered.  It rekindles my heart to continue to pray for those things. Again, I see how God will not let me go. He is continuously instructing me to accomplish his goal in and through me. The confirmation I receive from him excites, energizes, and motivates me forward!

Here are a few scriptures I love, and I hope and pray they bless you as well.

All the scripture is from the NIV Bible unless stated otherwise.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.

Matthew 19:26

With God all things are possible.

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God.

Jeremiah 29:11

“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.”

Psalm 27:13

I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord, not for men.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

HELLO TAMMY'S WORLD

THIS IS MY FAMILY: KENNY, CAYLEE, & CALEB...... MY LIFE.