Pressing Towards the High Calling

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14, KJV

I cannot take full credit for this post this morning. I have an individual and an event from yesterday that sparked it: My pastor on a sermon taken out of Philippians 3 and The Grammy's.

I'm no minister nor am I television critic, but I am a godly woman who is striving towards that high calling and I have found myself a bit perturbed after last night's show. As I try not get into too much detail about the show, stay with me as I share the gospel reminding every born again believer that we have work to do!

I expect the world to get worse as the times go on. I expect Satan to be on his job everyday (because what else has he to do besides roam the land to find someone to devour (Job 1:6-7)). I expect the enemy, the Prince of deception and lies, to convince individuals that they have no need for a Savior and that all they need can be found in worldly things. I expect these things.

But what I do not expect nor wish to see is for the Peculiar People, the Children of the King, the Light of the World to lower standards of God that we did not and cannot set.

We are The Children of The Kingdom! We have a Father who we must answer to and we have a big brother who has set an example for us.

As Satan infiltrates the media, the music, the schools, the workplace we CANNOT allow his way to become OUR way! NO! We must stand up for what is right, for what our Father has called us to be.

Sin is sin. Wrong is wrong. Evil is evil. There's no gray area. When Jesus taught that if you allow your eyes to make you sin, then you better pluck them out because you'd be better off blind than allowing your sin to throw you into hell with both eyes (Matthew 18:9), He wasn't joking! Unrighteousness has no place in a righteous and Holy Kingdom!

Will you sin? Of course you will. We are so far removed from godliness that we sin against God unknowingly. But once the Spirit has revealed to you your sins, does that mean you continue to live in them? Absolutely not! You repent, which means to turn from those things and you continue to abide in the Lord so that you can become more and more like Him each and every day! That's how you strive toward that HIGH calling.

As we live in this world, we must not be conformed. We cannot view the world through the eyes of man. If God says move, we move. If God says be still, we remain still. When God says something is wrong and my children will not be a part of it, you better not have anything to do with it!

We see things wrong. We know that our televisions, our social media, our music is full of lewdness, indecency, and ungodliness. Please don't become comfortable with standards that are beneath the mark that was set in Jesus Christ. As Satan continues his work, do not forget that we are in a spiritual war. The enemy is working and taking over whatever he can. Remember who's team we're on and stay clothed in the full Armor of God so that we can stand during these times!

...that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; They will slander others and have no self control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride and love pleasure rather than God...

2 Timothy 3:1-4

Goal Setting for 2014

This year the Mr. and I want to set goals for our family. We want a productive year. With the kids staying at home most days and exciting new changes happening within our family (stay tuned), we want to make sure we stay focused!

I’m excited. I’m pumped. Let’s get started. Wait...how do we get started?

This is something TOTALLY new to us. We have always been that ‘go with the flow’ couple. We did what we wanted, when we wanted (within reason, of course) and enjoyed all of the curve balls that may have come our way.

That worked when it was just the two of us. Even when Caleb came along we managed. Jeremiah showed up...things started changing. Now that Leah is here we MUST have a set schedule for mommy to keep her sanity. :)

So in preparation to organize our lives, goals setting popped up. What exactly do we want to accomplish in 2014 as a family and as individual members? More importantly, what’s the first step?

So I head to the author and finisher of our faith to ask exactly what to do. Before we do anything this year, we want to PRAY! Ask God for guidance, assistance, and grace to get through. We want to make sure we are aligned with His will and not our own.

Our goal is to please Him!

Last year we were good about praying, but not so much when it came to listening! We prayed over situations and went forward with whatever we wanted to do. Never waiting on the Lord. We do believe that God is FAITHFUL and His Word is TRUE, so we need to wait on the Lord and not seek our own desires...but HIS desires. God does and will answer prayer!

Pray with us for direction, wisdom, and strength to make it through another year to give God the glory as we stay focused with being Ambassadors for Christ.

I look forward to sharing with you our goals very soon!

In This Season

In This Season

To every thing there is a SEASON, and a TIME to every PURPOSE under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1, KJV

Description: Understanding and embracing your time and purpose within your current season of life.

I am currently in a position in my life that requires me to love, nurture, and support. I have three young BEAUTIFUL children that require much of my time and energy. I am a wife to a very ambitious and purpose driven husband. I am working towards having a lovely, well kept home (please pray with me on this one ;)). Due to the positions of mother, wife, and homemaker I must be loving, nurturing, and supportive.

While all of that sounds good, I don't think my positions in life sat down to have a conversation with my brain because I was still trying to accomplish dreams of my own. I used to be that career driven, top of my game type individual who wanted nothing more than to excel in my industry. The seasons in my life shifted, but I was still caught up in the previous season. The weather had changed and I was not prepared.

Out of my reluctance to accept the temperature change, I found myself disappointed, unhappy, angry, difficult to be around...just to name a few. It was bad. I knew something was wrong...just hadn't figured out what that something was.

I think the Apostle Paul said it best when he wrote in Philippians Chapter 4 verse 11 "...in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." I couldn't effectively proclaim the gospel to my children in the moods I was in! Caleb is almost six now, not too much gets past him. Children have an interesting knack of recognizing phonies almost immediately.

So, here are some tips that helped me get through changing seasons. I hope they are a blessing to you.

Seasons Change

It's inevitable. Don't fight it. Things change.

Recognize in your life when seasons are about to change. The best way to prepare is to PRAY! Ask God for understanding, patience, and a right spirit to get through the times. Remember that God ultimately knows the why, we don't. Reflect on Romans 8:28:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."

This year, I am saying, "Yes, LORD!" Whatever it is He has for me, I trust that He has it in His hands and I don't need to worry about it! Worrying is not an option.

Value the Time

Have you ever complained so much about a certain season in your life, that when it was over you actually missed it? How CRAZY is that...I'm so guilty. When I was in college, I couldn't wait to graduate and start my true adult life. When adulthood started, I wanted to go back to my college days. It's something about our flesh never being satisfied. That's why I deem it very important to keep our minds on those things spiritual and not carnal. The enemy will try to make any situation look bad.

But there is always some good...lessons to be learned, love to be given, and always opportunities to show someone else grace and mercy as our Lord has shown us.

Embrace your season by valuing your time in that season...for it, too, shall pass. Enjoy yourself. Find joy in the small things, the smiles of your loved ones, the hugs and kisses, the cramped bed when all of your children decide to sleep in your bed... Turn this face -_- into :).

Know Your Purpose

Let's not forget what our purpose is! Each of us has a ministry, depending upon our own specific talents and experiences, with the ultimate purpose of bringing others to Christ. We often get caught up in the things of this world that we forget our purpose. Each season will have its specific purpose for you and your life, but also for the eternal lives of others. Whether we are to learn, act, or simply love in our seasons, it is all for the glory of God and His kingdom.

Solomon ends the famous passage in Ecclesiastes 3 with:

9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

14And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Now, if that doesn't make you happy...I don't know what else will.

Be blessed.