Don't Quit Your Day Job: The 5-Fold Purpose of Work

Photo Credit: Creative Commons edits by Dayna Bickham 

Work Stinks

When I was a kid, I bought into that lie that we all do at one point or another: "When I grow up I am going to do what I want to do, and nothing else!" 

Then we find out that doing what you want costs money, or conflicts with something else and reality begins to set in. The truth is work stinks and it is not always fun. 

Some of us have gotten "What do you want to be when you grow up" mixed up with what I should do until my dreams become reality. 

The answer will always be work. 

We have to put our hand to the plow and not look back. In work, whether it is for a family business, a corporation or somewhere in between, we grow and learn and change. Working matures us. Sticking to the job when we don't want to stretches us. 

In Jeff Goins' book Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams Into Your Comfortable Life he says this: 

"Committing to certain things- a job, a wife, a calling- has taught me a lot about character and integrity  discipline and honor. There's something about the process of giving up on other possibilities and sticking to a path that brings life in ways that other thrills do not. And I'm a better man for it, no matter how much I kick and scream along the way." 

More Than A Paycheck

There is a purpose to work besides putting money into your pocket. Work teaches us and develops us. Here are a few ways it does this: 

• We Learn Commitment - stick-to-it-ness. We learn the value of hanging in there when the going gets tough and we glean the benefits of coming out on the other side. 

• Work Develops Character- Doing what you said you would do is not always as easy as it sounds. In today's society we often flake out because we heard "just follow your heart" too often. Our heart should not be dictating our actions, but what God says, and He said "Let your yes be yes and your no be no." 

• We Develop Skills- Work strengthens skills you already have and teaches you new skills. Sometimes our dreams require more of us than we can bring to the table. That was the case with Joseph. He was a spoiled kid in his father's house, but after serving Potiphar, and then becoming a leader in prison, then he was ready to lead a nation through a drought and save his family. Then his dreams could come to pass. 

• Work Hones Your Focus. If you want to know more about who you are, get dirty. Work, the sweat of our brow actually tells us more about our strengths and weaknesses. It builds us up as people of character and makes us focus on things by forcing us to prioritize. We get rid of the fluff and take care of the stuff that matters.  Tweet That 

• Work Opens Doors- Opportunities we never thought we would have, or chances to do things we never dreamed may just come as fruits of our labor. Without putting our hand to the plow and just doing our everyday work, we would not get the benefit of opportunities. Do not think less of your job because it is not the one you wanted at first. Do not despise your small beginning, because you never know where it might lead.  

The Purpose of Work

Work prepares you for more. In my book, The Purpose of Chosen I talk about this very thing. We have been chosen for a purpose, but that does not mean our skills dictate what that purpose is. Instead our purpose dictates what skills we should be learning. The calling is never after the gift, the gift always comes second. Preparation for your purpose may be in the mission field, or your home church, or it may be like Joseph- in prison. Where ever you are, put your hand to the plow. Do the work. It will prepare you for more, and it will make reaching your goals and dreams that much sweeter! 

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What are some lessons you have learned through work? 

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The Purpose of Your Dream

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

Who am I?

I have struggled all my life with this question. I knew who I was in the sense that I was born into a certain family, or that I was the smart kid with the loud laugh, but inside, I struggled with the question of who I was meant to be.

As kids we all get asked at one time or another, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For me there were always three things that I said, depending on my age or on my mood. I wanted to be a teacher, a singer, or (my favorite) Annie.

Little Orphan Annie ™ was made into the movie Annie when I was five or six. That bright smiling girl had spunk, daring, and moxie! At any moment she could break into a fight or break into song. I identified with her so strongly that I drove my family crazy with my rendition of “Tomorrow”.  

Rocky Balboa and Luke Skywalker were close seconds but Annie was always the forerunner for me. What do these fictitious characters have to do with discovering who I am? Nothing and everything! 

Those things that create a spark are things that give us a glimpse of who we are as individuals. What I like, (Annie for example) someone else may see as trite, or drivel. There are some who become excited by the idea of survivalist training or climbing active volcanoes. These things do not spark a passion with me because I was not wired that way. 

For me, being like Annie is more than singing "The sun'll come out tomorrow...." It is about standing up for what I believe in, fighting along side my friends, being a leader, enjoying the most out of life and never letting the really crummy circumstances drag me down. Her character reminds me to be a person of character and to press into life with all the guts and gusto I can. 

What sparks you? 

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. His passion was first the gospel and second the equality of his fellow man. Not just because of color, but in spite of it. He saw oppression and he could not stand by and say nothing. He believed the prophet Isaiah and took God's word to heart. 

"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows." Isaiah 1:17

In his famous "Dream" speech he said this: 

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

 This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.

 With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day....when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

The Purpose of a Dream

I am not talking about the "I ate too many tacos right before I went to bed" kind of dreams. I am talking about the dreams that are bigger than ourselves. The ones that take our breath with the sheer depth and breadth of them.

Dreams move us. They ignite us. They drive us, and too often, they leave us. Or I should say, we give up on them.

If you feel like you have lost your dream, you need to remember this. Joseph stood among his brothers as a kid. Snot-nosed, arrogant, and naive, he thought his dreams meant he had it all figured out.

Instead it took expulsion from his family, false accusations of rape, jail, working for the Pharaoh and then, when he least expected it, God brought Joseph's dreams to pass. Not for Joseph's sake, but for the sake of his family and two nations: Egypt and Israel.

Dreams are markers of God's faithfulness. They give us hope, they point us in the right direction, and they take root in our hearts. If we feed our dreams we can watch them grow, but only if we do not give up. Only if we keep pressing. If Joseph had given up when he was thrown down a well, or when he was thrown in jail unjustly...what would that have meant to the world years later? Who would have gone hungry or never received forgiveness?

No matter the circumstance, we must keep moving forward. Carving hope out of despair and transforming random notes of our life's music into a symphony of praise to God's faithfulness to bring all things to work together for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)

Dreams prompt us to act. To do. To stand up. To take notice. To put the world on notice. Dreams are creative and they are often closely tied to our purpose. They are the fuel that drives us, and they are a gift of God, who knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb and who's plans for you are good and hope-filled.

Live your life with a dream in your heart, your hand to the plow and your trust in the Lord and He will direct your path.

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What is your dream?

"The Lord answered me, “Write down what I show you. Write it clearly on a sign so that the message will be easy to read." Habakkuk 2:2

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Discover your Purpose? You May Already Know!

Marc Alan Schelske 

Maybe You Already Know Your Purpose!

What am I here for? It’s one of the fundamental questions that each of us have to answer. It’s right up there next to “What’s for dinner?” No, wait. It’s far more important than that. That’s my five-year old’s most important question. But you’re not five, and you’re trying to make sense of your life and do something significant with it.

That question is about purpose, which is one of the main topics here on Dayna’s blog. She writes regularly about discovering and living out your life’s purpose. She’s right to write about it. The pursuit of purpose is one of the most important and meaningful things we can do with our lives. But today I’d like to suggest to you that you may already know your purpose. It might not be the vague mystery that you think.

Why Is it this way? Why is it not another?

I’m a bit of a geek. Before I became a pastor I went to design school. I care about things like fonts and white space. I have certain pens that I’m partial to. (I’ve been known to pick up offending pens that make it onto my desk and chuck them into the hallway.) I’m also a big computer nerd, and love things like web design.

All of these interests come together in a technology class that I teach at a local school where I live. The class content lives at the intersection of computers, design, and communication.

In a recent class project, I asked the students to look at household items in their lives and ask two questions: “Why is it this way?” and “Why is it not another way?” These two questions can reveal a lot about the design behind common items, and their purpose. 

For example, look at a spoon. Why is it that way? 

• A long handle. 
• A concave bowl that’s only so large. 
• Smooth edges. 

The answer is obvious, right? A spoon’s purpose is to lift food to our mouths. It needs a lifter. That’s the handle. It needs a scooper. That’s the bowl. The whole thing needs to be of a size that will fit our hands, and will comfortably fit into our mouths. 

Why is it not another way? Why no slots? Why only one handle? Why not a much longer or much shorter handle? Certainly you could design a spoon that has these things. But would those choices compromise the spoon’s purpose?

Why is your life the way it is?

So why this little commentary on the design of a spoon? Here’s why. I believe that you can learn a lot about your purpose by examining your own life in a similar way. I come to this belief from these assumptions:

• God created you, and did so with a good purpose in mind. In fact, the Ephesians 2:10 says that you are a piece of artwork, created for a good and beautiful purpose. More on this idea here. God knew all about the circumstances that would become a part of your life, shaping your story.
• Psalms139 makes it clear that there is no part of your life that is a surprise to God.
• God has been with you all along through the course of your journey, even when you didn't know or weren't aware. Psalms 23 paints this picture.

If these these things are true, then it also means that your story contains within it clues to the purpose God has for your life. I’d like to share some examples from my own life to illustrate what I mean.

The Clues in my own life.

In the past couple of years I've been able to do quite a bit of work looking back at my own story. With help from a coach, a great therapist, a good bit of journaling and prayer, and a number of supportive friends, I've learned more about myself in this recent season, than I ever have before. There are lots of reasons why... that’s a whole other blog post. (That’s a whole other story. If you’re interested in hearing me tell some of it, you can watch that happen here.) 

But one of the results of this work is that I've been able to see my life and story much more clearly than I ever have before. In this process I picked up some pretty important clues about my God-given purpose.

Four central themes kept cropping up. Each one shaped me and my choices. Each one ties back to significant events in my life. I want to share two of them with you here.

I was able to spot a theme centered around being included and creating inclusion for other people. This showed up in painful ways, like not wanting to disappoint people, and trying hard to be liked. But it also showed up in powerful ways, like creating healing community for broken people. I named this theme “belonging.” Looking back through my story I can see that it is life-giving for me to create spaces where failing isn't fatal, and grace allows people to be their very best selves.

I also identified a theme in my life of creativity. Every time in my life that I can remember that was positive and engaging was when I was making something. This drive has had a lot of different expressions: drawing, building, designing, writing, speaking. The most powerful times for me were when the things I created made a difference in someone else’s life. I named this theme “Creative Intentionality.” I have seen that my life is the richest when I am able to create things that serve others well.

My Authentic Core Values

I came to these two themes, and two others, through a process of reflecting on the events of my life and observing what was life-giving and what was not. It turns out that these themes are deeply motivating to me. They are, essentially, personal core values.

They are not core values in the sense that I sat down and compiled a list of qualities I wish were true of me. That kind of list is aspirational. It can serve as a motivator. But it’s not really connected to who I am.

These motivations are authentic core values that emerge from my story. They are a part of who God made me to be (my wiring), and how God has led my life (my circumstances). Taken together, I believe that these authentic core values are a very big clue about the kind of purpose God has for my life.

When I am creating belonging, when I am making things that move people and serve their spiritual journey, I am living in alignment with God’s purpose for me. In those times I am using my gifts and my life experience. In those spaces God is redeeming my broken places and using them to bless others. In those moments, I am fully alive.

Now, Look for the clues in your life.

As 2013 approaches, I want to encourage you to look at your own story for the clues for your purpose. You can do this in a lot of ways. A good counselor or coach can help you. You can do it through personal journaling. 

If these ideas intrigue you, I’d love to give you a copy of my little book, “Discovering Your Authentic Core Values.” It’s available on Amazon in both e- and dead-tree versions. But I’d love to give you a free copy of the eBook right now.This little book is a step-by-step guide for looking at your own story to discover the core values that are authentic to who you are.

About Marc Alan Schelske 

Marc Alan Schelske writes about the intentional spiritual life at www.MarcAlanSchelske.com. He’s served as a pastor full-time for eighteen years, currently in Portland, Oregon, where he gets to encourage people in living the inside-out life following Jesus. He’s deep into a journey of emotional recovery after near-burn out, and is excited to share this discovery: You are a piece of art handmade by God, with a good and beautiful purpose to accomplish in the world.

Join the Conversation: 

How do your core values help shape your purpose? 

Understanding My Calling: a Discover Your Purpose Moment

Time Out 

I want to take a moment, just a little break from the "No More Lies" series. I will get back to it, but I have to say something.

I love Jesus. I will not be ashamed of that. I will not back down from that. I will not apologize for it. 

This week I have been called a hater, a racist, a heretic, a liar, deluded and yesterday I was called mean for posting things about Jesus on the internet.

Yesterday I wrote about rejection: I said "I am supposed to count it a blessing when people hate me for the gospel's sake.  But sadly, that is not the kind of rejection I have felt and dealt with the most in my life." 

I guess I was wrong. 

As I began recounting to my husband some of the things that have happened I realized something: I am called to teach and preach. Not because I desire to be a teacher, but because the love God has bestowed to me is too much to hold back.

I tell others about Jesus because I cannot contain it. I tell others about my personal struggles and life because it is an example of God's grace at work in my life. By sharing my story, my hope is that someone will recognize their self between the lines.

Do I have the Right to Teach? 

So I have also been told I am in direct violation of God's word. That no woman should teach. 1 Timothy 2:12 "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent." But when we cherry pick out one or two verses we do not get a full picture of who God is and what He has to say about us. We have to look at the overall character and intent of God and we must look at context.

The Character and Intent of God

In Genesis it says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

Hebrews 13:21 says, "Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it)." (AMP)

Philippians 1:6 says "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Deborah was a judge. Mary Magdalene was the first to spread the word of his resurrection. Priscilla had a church in her house.  Actually, not only did she teach at home, she taught those who wished to teach.

In Titus Paul instructs women to teach. Is this one of those contradictions in the Bible that people are always throwing at Christians as an excuse to not believe? Yes...and no.

It does seem to conflict, but let's look at Paul not as a saint, not as perfect (only Christ is perfect) but as a man of his times and culture. In a word: fallible. He says "I do not", not "God does not".

Context

When Paul instructed women to be silent, you have to remember how services were conducted and what the tradition was.

Here is an excerpt from a great website: Bible Headquarters.

"As stated previously, in Yeshuas' time, women participated fully in the religious life of the community. This included participation in synagogue services and in the regular study sessions that were conducted in the synagogue's bet midrash (house of study). There was no separation of the sexes in synagogues and women could be counted as part of the required congregational quorum of ten adults. There was, however, one inequality. For social reasons, women were not allowed to read the Scriptures publicly.
In the Babylonian Talmud and the Tosefta, we find an early rabbinic (tannaic) ruling: "All are qualified to be among the seven [who read publicly from the Torah in the synagogue on the Sabbath], even a minor or a woman; however, the sages ruled that a woman should not read from the Torah out of respect for the congregation."21 This is apparently a reference to the same social custom or decorum that we find mentioned in Paul's letter to the Corinthians:
Women should keep silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Torah states. If they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is a disgrace for a woman to speak in the congregation.22
Paul felt it necessary to issue his corrective because in early Christian congregations, following Jewish practice, it was permissible and customary to interrupt the preacher to ask questions. In first-century synagogues, a sermon followed the reading of Scripture. This exposition of Scripture was more a lesson than a sermon, and congregants were encouraged to ask questions. In fact, the asking of questions was so central to the rabbinic teaching method that often the preacher-teacher began his sermon by just seating himself and waiting until someone from the audience asked a question. There is a whole category of Jewish literature called ye·lam·DE·nu (May [our teacher] instruct us). It is similar to what we now call "Questions and Answers." Today public speakers often employ a Question-and-Answer period, especially as a means of clarification at the end of a lecture. In first-century Jewish society this approach was usually the main method of instruction.
From Paul's injunction we learn that at public religious gatherings of early Christians, women sat with men in the same hall, perhaps even next to their husbands or fathers. Paul's command itself implies a mixed audience: there would have been nothing indecorous about a woman asking a question in a group composed entirely of women.
If there had been separation of men and women in first-century synagogues, it is likely that the early church would have continued the custom. However, the New Testament gives no indication that the early church had such a custom." Were Women Segregated in the Ancient Synagogue?

Conclusion: 

So I will keep doing what I feel God has called me to. I will share my life and teach others what I know of God. I will always be careful to rightly divide the word to the best of my ability. I am not ashamed. I will not back down from who I am, who I was designed to be, who I was called to be and who I am constantly being equipped to be.  This song comes to mind and is my anthem!  "I will not be silent!"

Join the Conversation: 

Have you ever felt you had to justify the call of God on your life?

Not Made for a Cookie-Cutter Life

Photo Credit: (c) Mikella Hammonds

What's Next? 

“So what are your plans now that you have graduated?”

I get this question a lot, and I dread it every time because my answer is always the same...I don’t know.

I pray often about God’s will for my life, asking Him to lead me down the right path.

What is your “right path”? Do you know what it is? Are you on it, or do you feel like you mistakenly passed it up?

Sometimes, I feel as if I’m not on a path, like I’m lost in the woods. At times, it feels as if everyone else has moved on to their next phase in life, and I’m still stuck in the same place.

Are you feeling the same way? Read Jeremiah 29:11. This is my favorite verse especially right now considering the season of life I am in.

“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.”

God has Plans for Me. 

I may not know what they are yet, but I just have to trust that my life, my dreams, and my future are safe in His hands. This applies to you as well. He has a specific plan for every single person, and it’s not what some would call a “cookie-cutter” plan. It’s personal.

It fits you and no one else.

This is something that I have to keep in mind when I feel pressured to do what everyone else is doing.

The world says that in order to be successful, you have to go to college, get a career that brings in lots of money so that, one day, you will have enough to retire and live out the rest of your days worry-free. This is that “cookie-cutter” plan I was talking about.

By no means am I saying that any of those things are bad, but I don’t believe that God intended for everyone to follow the same path.

Living With The Pressure of the Unknown.

Because I just graduated high school, I feel a lot of pressure to go to college.

However, I have never felt a major draw towards college. I often pray “God, where do you want me? What is the next step?”

I considered a number of different options, but none of them seemed quite right. So, I decided to stay at home for a little longer, work a job, save up some money, and continue to pray about it.

Of course, there are times when it worries me that I don’t have a clear plan in my near future; and I’m definitely not going to sit around and wait for that plan to come to me.

I will continue to seek it as I seek the Lord. Though it is a trying season of life, I know it is a growing one as well.

It Comes Down To Trust.

Sure, I have had my moments. I've cried, gotten angry and frustrated, felt confused and alone; but, still, I remember that God has a perfect plan for my life.

I also try to remember that God’s timing is not my timing.....at all.

I am the type of person that likes to know what I am getting into before I get to it. I like to be prepared, and I’m not that fond of surprises. So this season I am in is a stretch for me. I just continue to trust and pray.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” 

So, if you are in a season where you are not sure what to do next or your life’s purpose seems unclear, just trust Him. Pray continually, and never stop seeking God’s will for your life because He always knows what’s best.

Join the Conversation: 

Do you know what your God-given purpose is yet, or are you still trying to figure it out?

Meet Our Guest

Eighteen year old Mikella Hammonds was home schooled and recently graduated in the Spring of 2012. As a pastor’s kid (PK for those in the know) she grew up actively involved in the church. Her favorite things are photography, singing, shopping, and playing the piano. Like any teenager, she also loves hanging out with her friends. She is the eldest of four children and all around amazing kid. (Don't tell her I said that!) 

Find Your Inner Creative

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

A Crafty Situation 

I remember watching my childhood babysitter's son, Bryan, whittle away at wood for hours. He always carried a knife and a piece of wood in his hand. I was fascinated by the rhythmic slicing and the meticulous nature of wood carving. 

I have shared with you before that I like to sculpt. Perhaps some of my fascination can be traced back to watching Bryan hone his craft. 

Creativity is something we all admire in some form or another. We admire musicians, actors, writers, and artists. Sometimes though, we forget we were made to be creative too. 

We need to remember that God designed the universes and all that is in them: from the largest star to the smallest micro-organism, then He made you and I in His image. No wonder we aspire to be creative. 

If you are anything like me, you often may not feel very creative. You may in fact think you are not creative at all. 

I have been known to say "I don't craft." While that may be true, that is not the only outlet of creativity I have. It is only one I admire because I am not good at it. 

Have you felt the same? Have you thought "I am not a creative person"? 

This is not true. If you find a new way to clean up stains on your carpet, you are being creative. If you write a poem, or short story, you are being creative. If you are good at creating seating arrangements for church banquets you are being creative. If you are balancing a budget for your family and trying to meet all the bills, save money and create moments of recreation for your loved ones, I guarantee there has been some creativity used there. 

Sometimes we discount our own creativity because we are too busy comparing it to others'. We should not do this. It discounts God's purpose in you and it puts you down as His kid. If you believe you are not something God says you are (remember: made in His image) then you are choosing to believe a lie. 

That has the enemy written all over it. Choose instead to remember this: You have something to give. Everyone does.  

I was reading Exodus 35 just a few minutes ago, and I saw something amazing I want to share with you. This passage is about creating the dwelling for God: the tent Solomon's temple would be based on hundreds of years later. 

"All of you who are skilled in crafts should come forward and make everything that the Lord has commanded: the dwelling, its tent and its covering, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its posts, and its bases, the chest with its poles and its cover, the veil for a screen, the table with its poles and all its equipment, the bread of the presence, the lampstand for light with its equipment and its lamps, the oil for the light, the incense altar with its poles, the anointing oil and the sweet-smelling incense, the entrance screen for the dwelling’s entrance, the altar for entirely burned offerings with its copper grate, its poles, and all its equipment, the washbasin with its stand, the courtyard’s drapes, its posts, and its bases, and the screen for the courtyard gate, the dwelling’s tent pegs and the courtyard’s tent pegs, and their cords, the woven clothing for ministering in the sanctuary, and the holy clothes for Aaron the priest and his sons for their service as priests. The whole Israelite community left Moses: everyone who was excited and eager to participate brought the Lord’s gift offerings to be used for building the meeting tent and all its furnishings and for the holy clothes. Both men and women came forward. Everyone who was eager to participate..." Exodus 35:10-22a (CEB) 

Find Your Inner Creative

Not everyone has the same gifts and talents. The people who made the tent were probably not the same ones who carved the beautiful wood work, or sewed the priest's garments. 

We are all uniquely designed and uniquely gifted. But every single one of us has something to offer God. Whether it is filling up the washbasin, or weaving fine clothe, the people were eager to do even the little things with a good heart and with excellence because they were doing it for God. 

There is creative juice flowing in you. You just have to find it. Once you do you only have to answer one question. Now what will you do with it? 

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How do you express your creative side? (Leave a comment below) 

 

Moved by God

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

An Epiphany 

Writing for me is more than a job, or a hobby. It is an expression of who I am, and my heart. I often wonder, and sometimes lament here, if there is any point to what I do.

Then last night I got to chat with a friend, She has been through some extraordinary stuff. Born and raised a Texas girl, God uprooted her and her family last year and sent them to the hills of Virginia. There was no beach in sight, the closest stores were thirty minutes away, and the culture was completely different. Her journey was filled with plenty of "Huh?" moments, but as she began to trust God and really give into obedience, God began to move in some really amazing ways.

Now, after about a year there, and really settling in, God is moving them back to Texas. Her friends here in Texas could not be more excited, but there is sadness in Virginia. Her friends there will miss her and her family. Together with her husband she ministered to the youth and they will be missed most decidedly there.

When I heard about this last night the first thing I thought of was Paul. The Apostle Paul went to other  churches, and stayed for a year or two at a time.Then he would leave. That is what happened with my friend.

Now this church in Virginia has experienced real love and relationship. They have experienced an awakening and walls have come down that they did not even know were there because of my friend and her family. Now, as the church moves forward it will be with the understanding that there is more to be had in their lives with Christ, and they are hungry enough to begin to search and grow on their own.

Most of the New Testament is made up of Paul's letters. After I signed off talking to my friend, I began to think about what I do. These are my letters. I am not saying I am equal to Paul, but I am similar. I may not be chained in the natural to a soldier, but my heart is chained to this blog. I feel constrained if I do not write, even when I do not know what to write.

  It is what God has called me to, and I need to stop doubting it. 

As more and more people read my words around the world, I see this as an opportunity to spread the Gospel, to minister to the broken and to set free the captive hearts. Just as surely as I know that God has a call on your life, I know that He has a call on mine.

So I will write. I will also pray. I will pray for you to gain confidence in God and who He designed you to be. I will pray that you would begin to grow in compassion and love for people because that is the only reason God does anything in our lives: He loves people. I will pray that He will grab you by the belt like Peter and begin to lead you where He wants you to go, and  like my friend, you will obey even in the "Huh?" moments.

May God bless you above all you can ask or think, may He love you in a way that is as unique as you are and may your heart be soft enough to receive it.

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Have you ever had a "move" or change in your life that changed everything?

The Journey From the Bottom of the Totem Pole to Living Your High Calling

Detail of Totem Pole Credit: Creative Commons via Flickr 

What is your “High calling”?

I say it is this: To live your best life for Jesus out loud wherever you may be.

Are you a busy business professional? Then live your best life out loud for all the other busy professionals to see.

This may mean praying over your lunch in the break room, or choosing not to pass the buck when you make a mistake, or giving credit where credit is due, even if doing otherwise would advance your career.

Are you a mom and home maker? Then speak life into your kids. Pray over them. Teach them to love Christ. Show them they are valued and lead them to a greater relationship with our Father. This is your high calling.

Are you an artist? A Musician? A Singer? A Writer? Then live out loud! Use your talent as an amplifier of God’s love and purpose for you.

Whatever you are, wherever you may be there is ministry to be done: a high calling to live.

Everyone Has a High Calling! 

I am not saying "be obnoxious" when I say “live out loud”. I am saying be alive! Be a light on the hill. Shine where you are. If you think you have no real calling then you are mistaken.

You may never be an apostle, or a preacher. You may never preach to pigmies in another land, or have your songs heard by millions on the radio, but that does not count you out!

God has a purpose for you and it starts where you are.

When Jesus was preaching to the 5000 on the hillside that day, the disciples came to him and asked “How are we going to feed all these people?” Jesus replied, “Well, what have you got?” (Read it in context here)

He started with what they had: five loaves and two fish.

Start where you are. Live out your best life for Christ. As He blesses it, you will see multiplication like never before.

God Read my Mail!

Some years ago I was pretty angry about being the “low man on the totem pole” at the church where my husband was on staff. We had made plans as a family for an upcoming Saturday, but had been told during a Wednesday night service that we would be required to be at the church working all day, on his day off…for no extra pay. The attitude of my heart was horrible. I felt indignant. I felt used. I got upset.

When I walked forward to get prayed for (because I truly needed prayer in that moment) the visiting minister turned into a postman as he delivered the “mail” straight from God. He said this:

“God does not start anyone off at the bottom to work their way up. He starts us off at the top and our top expands outward.”

The minister did not know what we were just told. More importantly, he did not know my heart. But God did. That word was for me... directly from my Father. It is for you today.

If you feel like you have no “ministry” then stop and look around you. What have you got? 

That is what Jesus wants.

Live your high calling now, out loud, for the world to see.

Join the Conversation:

Have you ever felt like the low man on the totem pole? Leave your comments below. 

Like what you read here?  More great content is available several times a week, but I understand how busy you are. That is why I offer a free newsletter that sends you an email of the same great content straight to your inbox! You won't have to worry about missing a thing. I will never share your information with anyone, and if you sign up today, you can get a free copy of my children's eBook The Gardener and the Sapling: A Modern Parable. Click the link below and subscribe now!


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For more great articles on living your high calling, visit http://www.thehighcalling.org 

 

Religion, the Election, and God

Vice President Biden and VP nominee Paul Ryan Photo Credit:CC

Religion versus Relationship

I often encounter people who do not have favorable opinions of "religion". 

I want to tell you something: neither did Jesus.

When He talked to everyday people he was kind and compassionate. To the prostitute he was forgiving and gracious. 

When He encountered the religious people, those who shunned the poor and the lonely, but walked around as if they were better than everyone else, He called those people "vipers".

Paul, encountering Athenians who loved religion (though they worshiped false gods) he found it necessarily to point them back to God.

Religion is the system of ritual, not real relationship with the God of the universe. Relationship is a one-on-one knowing who Jesus is, what He did for you, and trusting in Him for everything you are.

Ritual and religion do not move your heart to compassion for the needy, they do not heal you from your brokenness, and they do not free you from your pain. Only God does that.

The Case of Religion Today

I heard on the news last night learned men debating on who was a better Catholic, Paul Ryan, who is the presumptive Vice Presidential nominee or Vice President Biden, who is on the 2012 democratic ticket with President Obama.

The arguments for one man or another were based on political view points and whether or not those view points lined up with the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church.

Neither man scored perfectly.

No one would and that in part is why I believe the argument is moot.

I will  not debate with you who to vote for. That is not why I write this. I write this because I want you to realize two things.

First, "man" will always mess up the sauce. 

God has a recipe for relationship with Him. It is this: 

a. Recognize you are not perfect and need help to live 

b. Call on Jesus and ask Him to forgive you for any wrongs you have committed

c. Live in God's grace while striving to "sin no more"

When we try to add a bunch of hoops to jump through before we can have a relationship with God, we count what Jesus did as nothing. When we add a bunch of self righteous rules afterwards we get stupid debates and divisions like the story from the news.


The second thing I want you to know is this:

God does not use religion to give you purpose, God uses Jesus to give you purpose. 

God's desire for man has been the same sense the Garden of Eden: to have a relationship with mankind. When sin slithered in and stole the hearts of man, God set in motion a plan to redeem those hearts. Jesus was that plan. In Christ we have freedom and we have purpose. Our purpose is now God's purpose: to point the way back to Him to all of mankind.

We do not do this by walking in ritual and religion, but dwelling in relationship.

You may use your talents as a singer to point the way to Him, or your talents as a writer, an artist, an accountant, a speaker, an encourager, or whatever God has gifted you with in order to fulfill your purpose.
But without relationship there is no point. 

I know this may seem harsh, perhaps even a little unlike me, but I cannot stand when people point to God to justify their bad behavior, as I saw last night on the news.

I believe we should account for faith when we go to the polls, but if we focus on politics and religion more than relationship with God then we miss the point.

Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's (your vote) and unto God that which is God's (your heart).

Join the Conversation: 

 Do you agree or disagree that religion (faith) should be a part of political discussion?


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Five Tips for Finding Your Way (In Life)

Photo Credit: Creative Commons courtesy of artneuveauinart.org 

“Cat: Where are you going?

Alice: Which way should I go?

Cat: That depends on where you are going.

Alice: I don’t know.

Cat: Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”

― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Ever felt like Alice?

The next steps can be daunting.

Not knowing what is around the bend may seem worse than knowing if it was something terrible.

I understand. I think we have all had that moment.

Want to know the secret to getting past that panic moment; that horrible moment of not knowing and thinking, “what now”?

Be Still.

Not the answer you were looking for? I know. I don’t always follow this advice either, but since my Father said it, I know it must be right.

“Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalms 46:10 AMP

Life Can Make You Dizzy

When I was little I loved spinning round and round until I felt dizzy. The breeze in my face and the sound of the wind whipping around me as I sliced the through the air buffeted my senses. It was as close as I could get to flying. But, as fun as this may have been, there was one problem: I could not safely navigate the room or the yard (whichever I may have been in) after I stopped spinning.

It was only after I got still a while that I could safely move.

Sometimes that is what life is like. 

Crazy, hectic, spinning out of control and threatening to make us a little dizzy…maybe even a little queasy. When we get still, take quiet moments with God and just get alone with Him, then we can maneuver our lives with more grace and wisdom. Then the next steps don't seem daunting, they seem like a natural thing as we follow Jesus.

Five Tips for Finding Your Way 

1) Shut off all social media (phones, computer, TV)

2) Put on some quiet worship or classical music (I love this one right now!)

3) Ask God to begin to strip away the mental and emotional grime. 

4) Meditate on a scripture, just one; you do not have to be a Bible scholar. (Psalms is a good place to start)

5) Ask God to speak. Don’t pray in the traditional sense, but just listen. God will speak to your heart. (The Bible says He sings over you!)

This patterned time with God allows you to get still and gives Him the room to speak. Now finding your way becomes a matter of learning to hear and obey the still small voice of God, not striking out blindly in any direction that seems good at the time.

“He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.” Matthew 11:15 AMP

When we focus on the Way Maker, the way becomes clear. 

Join the Conversation: Have you ever felt like Alice? What did you do?

Like what you see here? More great content is available several times a week, but I understand how busy you are. That is why I offer a free newsletter that sends you an email of the same great content straight to your inbox! You won't have to worry about missing a thing. I will never share your information with anyone, and if you sign up today, you can get a free copy of my children's eBook The Gardener and the Sapling: A Modern Parable.  Click the link below and subscribe now! 

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Design Dabble or Do

I dabble.

I dabble in art, pretending there is talent there when there is not. I love to sculpt. It is therapeutic for me. It allows me to slow down and just be creative in a different way than writing.

Often, I begin to believe my own press and think of myself as a “sculptor” but I am not. I am a dabbler.

Sometimes I see a beautiful work of art and wonder to myself “why can’t I do something this amazing?”

Art for art’s sake is usually not good art. Usually it looks more like a craft project from summer camp more than something a curator of the modern art museum would put in the sculpture garden. I was not made to be a great artist. It is okay that I say this, because it is true. 

Some of my attempts at Art.

So why do I sculpt? I do it for me. It is the same with writing.

I will win no Pulitzers. I will not appear on The Today Show celebrating my award winning book turning into an award winning manuscript or tween movie.

I write for me. I write because I was made to. I write because when I wake, my mind is turning over phrases and sentences. I write because I am a writer. I was designed with this in mind. Pen and paper are almost holy to me: they are the tools God gave to me to do what He called me to do.

I am a Writer.

You are what? A singer? A dancer? A musician? A photographer? A ________?

Why do you sing? Why do you dance? Why do you play? Why do you capture the world in pictures? Why do you ________.

Artistic By Design

You were designed to create. After all, we are made in God’s image. He is a Master Creator. He drew the stars and the sunsets. He crafted the fish of the sea and the birds of the air. He sculpted us, and then He breathed His Life into us. His Creative Force is part of our very DNA. We are made to make stuff. 

You may think, I don’t have a talent like that. Do you cook for your family? Do you sew? Do you create creative ways to teach your children new skills or ideas? Then you have a talent. You just have not learned to value it yet.

God created you for a reason and your gift, that thing that makes you spark, is there for a purpose.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

“Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, you are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor. ” Isaiah 49:1-3

Now Do

Do what you were made for. Do what you were designed for. Do not doubt. Start where you are. Serve where you are. Create where you are. There is purpose in you and a purpose for you. Be faithful and just begin. 

What is your gift? Share with us in the comments section below.

Olympic Size Dreams

Richards-Ross running her race 2012 Olympics Creative Commons

There is a young girl, sitting alone beside a track. She holds a mobile device and on it she watches American runner Sanya Richards-Ross as she wins the 400 meter finals at the 2012 Olympics. Inspired she stands up. Determination in her face, she bends over to write with her finger in the sand of the long jump “49:55”, which is Richards-Ross’ time.

Then she turns, and begins chasing her own dream of Olympic glory around the track. Training to make Rio in 2016 and beat the new standard of 49:55. This inspirational story was actually a commercial I saw while watching the Olympics last night.

What is it about this commercial that had me moved to tears and my spirit leaping inside of me?

Recognition.

I recognized determination. I recognized drive. I recognized hunger.

This commercial reeks of purpose and smacks with calling. You can almost hear the young girl say "I was made to beat this. I was born for more. I was designed for greatness. I will win my race."

We each have a dream. A purpose in life we strive for above all else. That thing we were made for, designed by God for, and cannot be happy without because it is in the very fiber of our being. Those gifting or talents that make us strive to be better, to be more.

For you it may be athletics, or singing. For someone else it could be film making, writing, or designing clothes. Maybe you feel called to build churches around the world, or to work with young people.

No matter what you are called to do remember this:

Philippians 2:13 (CEB) God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes. (read it in context)

He is the one who made you with this hunger, this drive, these heart’s desires. When we put Him first- above all- then nothing is impossible. He is in the dream making business. His dream is to draw all men back to Him. He gives us dreams to make His dream happen.

Do not doubt that you are important. What you have been “assigned” to do is important. Your life, your dream, is yours for a reason. Now go out and chase that dream. Press toward that mark. Run your race. Keep your eyes on the prize!

Do you have a favorite commercial or Olympic moment? Share it in the comments below.

Breaking Up With Your Bad Habits

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

Do you have a bad habit you want to get rid of? 

I smoked a pack a day: menthol. 

I loved the way they felt from the first drag to the last.

I did not care what people thought about it.

I was a smoker and “They” had an issue if they thought smoking meant I wasn’t a Christian.

Then God started nudging me. I wanted more of a relationship with Him and praying with a lit cigarette in your hand is harder than you think.

When Habits Become Idols 

It was an idol in my life. It needed to come down.

It was not easy. I had tried quitting before. After my brother-in-law died of large cell carcinoma of the lungs I was smoke free for a year, but I did not deal with any of the heart issues that lead me to smoke, I just treated the symptom. So when my stress level rose, my will power fell and I ran back to the comfort of my idol: the cigarette.

There were heart issues behind my bad habit, and if you have a habit you are struggling with, there may be some heart issues for you as well.

For me, I was not depending on God, or looking to Him as my source or my comfort. I was a Christian in name only because my relationship stopped at the church doors on Sunday.

I knew the Bible, I could rattle off scripture to anyone who needed to “be encouraged” or “corrected”. I knew how to smile and how to act while in church, but I could not even make it through a service without stepping out for a cigarette break.

I worshipped at the pack of Marlboro™ rather than at the house of God.

God had enough of my rebellion.

He wanted me to lay it down.

So I did.

Oh was it hard!

Physically it only takes three days to quit and your body flushes out the nicotine. The battle is in your mind and in your heart. That took much longer, and some days I still battle the urge to pick up a cigarette and light up.

I had some real battles to fight, and I was not alone. I had the comforter, The Holy Spirit, to help.

Here are my five best tips for breaking up with your bad habit:

1) Shut up.

Stop saying I can’t or I don’t want to. You can live without your bad habit and you will not die without it. So stop lying to yourself. Just be quiet!

2) Change (Renew) your mind. Romans 12:2
We have to have an immediate response to stressors and thoughts that lead to our bad habit. We have to capture those wrong thoughts and replace them with the word of God.

You can have a box of first aid in the house but until you use it on the wound, it will do you little good. The word of God is the same! It needs to be applied correctly to the wounds of life to receive any benefit!

 I wrote about this in Developing Your Automatic Truth Response
“When I was a smoker, quitting was not easy. Sometimes I still remember the temporary satisfaction I got from a cigarette. When I do I cast it down. I remind myself that God is my refuge, not a pack of Marlboros. I remind myself that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit, not a blackened lung from a health class poster circa 1990. I say that I am bigger and better than that cigarette because the God of the universe made me and that cigarettes were made by man. THIS WORKS!”

3) Remind yourself who you are!

You are a child of God; you are more than a conqueror. You are joint heirs with Jesus Christ and you can come boldly to the Father for any reason. He created you for a purpose and He can only get the glory when we give Him the rightful place in our lives.

4) Pray.

Prayer is talking to God: sharing with Him your struggles, your triumphs, and your pain. And prayer is more: prayer is getting still and quiet and listening to what God has to say too. It is a two way conversation.

James 5:16 (Amp) Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

5) Have someone to hold you accountable.

A friend, a mate, a pastor, a counselor: find someone to hold you accountable to your goal of breaking up with your bad habit. Make sure this is someone who does not struggle in the same area as you. Asking a smoker to help you quit smoking is probably not the best course of action.

These tips are sound. I have used them with great success. My fingers are no longer stained yellow, my breath and hair no longer smell like tobacco smoke and I am no longer a slave to a cigarette.

You have a purpose and a calling. God wants all of you, you heart, your will, your emotions, your body. You have to choose to surrender to Him more and to your habits less. Then you will begin to grow in your relationship with God like never before.



Discussion Question: Have you ever overcome a bad habit before? Do you have tips to share?

Design Specs

Dayna Hackett Bickham at age 16 

The Younger Version of Me

I was sixteen, working as a waitress at a locally owned fast food restaurant called Dean-o’s. Think Mel’s Diner with me as the teenage version of Alice.

I loved that job because my best friend worked there too.

Now I grew up in a small town, only about 3000 people lived there, and it seemed a large portion of those citizens were either kin to me or knew my family. I often could not “stop by” the grocery store without my parents knowing before I ever got home. So there were very few opportunities to pretend to be someone I wasn’t: except at work.

See what happened was….

Girls like to flirt and at 16 and I was honing my flirting skills. Add to that a cute out-of-town boy and my flirt would pick up an accent. (I was such a drama queen and a bit of an Anglophile, so I always picked either a British accent or an Irish accent.)

With (bad) accent in tow, I would take his order, flirting with my eyes and smile and wait for that question, “where are you from?”

And so my story-telling would begin.

See, I have always been able to spin a good story, even when I used it for something as pedestrian as flirting.

I bet you are no different.

You may not be a story teller, but somewhere, in the back of your mind there is a memory of you doing something silly as a kid. That silly story probably has a connection to who you are at the core of you.

For me I was 1) quirky 2) imaginative and 3) light-hearted.

Now, over 20 years have passed and I am not much different from that 16 year old girl, though now I leave the flirting for just my husband. Those three traits are still at the core of who I am. God designed me that way.

Now Your Turn

Close your eyes and think of a time when you were a kid and you had a moment that was fun and carefree. Now answer these two questions:

1) What about that moment was fun or made you happy?

2) What does that moment say about who you were and are at the core of you?

Finding our purpose is not wrapped up in mystery. It has more to do with how God designed you in the first place than you know. Don’t discount yourself. Who you are at the core is who God wants to use. The Manufacturer always knows what they made the “thing” for and how to use it the right way. God made you for a purpose and He did not get the design wrong.

Discussion Question: Did you ever pretend to have an accent?