Category Archives: Purpose

Feb24

Measureless Wisdom

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God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight,

And a breadth of understanding

As measureless as the sand on the seashore.

1 Kings 4: 29

 

Imagine the Creator of the Universe offering you this proposition:

“Ask for whatever you want me to give you…”

What do you think your request would be? Abundant Wealth? Fame? Happiness? Health? A passing grade on your next test? A luxurious new home? A winning lottery ticket? A fancy sports car? A wide screen TV?

When given the chance to have anything in the world, Solomon asked for “a discerning heart” in order to govern God’s chosen people and to distinguish between right and wrong. His request for wisdom pleased God so much that not only did He grant Solomon’s desire, but He also gave him what he did not ask for – wealth and honor. Furthermore, God promised to give him a long life if he obeyed His statues and commands like his father, David.

Notice that Solomon’s request was based upon his desire to carry out his job as king. He realized that if he had discernment he could lead well and make wise decisions. He knew that God had chosen him for that lofty position, but he thought of himself as a “little child” who didn’t know how to fulfill his royal duties. Imagine that! The one man on earth, whose renown for knowledge has been passed down through the ages, felt inadequate and ill-equipped when he was tapped as the king of Israel. The responsibility of ruling a great nation whose numbers were too numerous to count was overwhelming to Solomon, but he wasn’t asking God to do the job for him; he merely asked for the personal resources which would allow God to do the job through him.

Another interesting thing about Solomon’s request is that he asked for “heart knowledge” not “head knowledge.” He wanted a discerning heart, which implies “God-centered” wisdom, as opposed to “self-centered” wisdom. Intelligence without compassion can be a dangerous thing, but wisdom applied through the filter of a heart filled with God’s love is divinely inspired and can impact the world for eternity.

Throughout most of Solomon’s reign, he applied his wisdom well because He continually sought God’s guidance. For the nation of Israel, the fruits of this wisdom were peace, prosperity and security. During the time of his rule, we see a great example of what can happen when a nation is obedient to God’s commands and trusting Him for direction.

Another example we see from Solomon’s life is what can happen when God’s wisdom is not applied to all areas of our lives. God granted Solomon a wise and discerning heart, but it is clear that this gift of wisdom did not guarantee that he would not make mistakes. Solomon married hundreds of pagan women in order to seal many foreign agreements. This went against not only his father’s last instructions to him, but also God’s direct commands. He allowed his wives to affect his loyalty to God, and his actions remind us how easy it is to know what is right and yet not do it.

Knowing what actions are required of us means little if we do not have the will to follow through on that knowledge. Solomon was wise at ruling the nation of Israel, but he was foolish in his personal life. Although he was the wisest man ever to walk the earth, he allowed the influence of unbelievers to ultimately bring tragedy to the entire nation of Israel. One of the greatest kings of Israel fell because he did not turn from his sins. From Solomon’s example we can learn this important principle: your gifts, talents, abilities and strengths won’t be of much benefit if you fail to deal with your weaknesses.

God promises to supply all our needs if we put His kingdom, His principles and His interests first. While He does not promise us great riches, He does promise to satisfy our deepest needs if we place His will as our top priority.

Is God is asking you to take on a role in your life that seems too big for you to handle? Do you feel overwhelmed with the mountain of responsibilities facing you? Before you begin your ascent, spend time in God’s Word and on your knees before your Heavenly Father. Ask him for a “discerning heart” so that you may be well equipped to take on this role and achieve His goals in the process.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God…” James 1:5a

 

 


Feb16

Wonderful Works

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As you do not know the path of the wind

Or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,

So you cannot understand the work of God,

The Maker of all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

 

Dear Lord,

“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” (Ps 139: 14 – 16) Amen.

Trust your Creator with all the intricate details of your life.
He knows each chapter in the book of your life, and He knows the purpose for which he made you. You are never hidden from Him…He’s with you every step of the way.

Feb15

How to Be Profitable and Productive in Life

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I, Wisdom, will make

the hours of your day more profitable

and the years of your life more fruitful.

Proverbs 9:11

 

When I was growing up, I had a pet hamster named “Charlie Brown.” I loved to watch him run on his treadmill. The big circular wheel would spin round and round as he ran, allowing him to “exercise,” but he remained in the exact same place.

Lately I feel like I’m on a giant hamster wheel in life. I run and run throughout my days, but I never seem to get anywhere or accomplish what is important. These are the “sights” I see as I’m running along on my treadmill: Wake up, Do laundry, Cook, Clean, Work, Chauffer, Appointments, Practices, Cook, Go to Bed…Repeat. At the end of the day, I sometimes wonder if I ever came up for air.

I want my days to have purpose, and I want my activities to be aligned with what God wants me to achieve in life. Perhaps these are the very activities He wants me to be doing at this time, but I desire to make the minutes of each day count for eternity. It is easy to slip into auto-pilot and thoughtlessly speed through the days.

I have found that if I take time each morning to meet with my Heavenly Father, I am better able to align my agenda with His plan for my day. He promises that His wisdom will make the hours of my day more productive and the years of my life more fruitful. I know that when I begin the day like this, I feel a greater sense of accomplishment when I finally lay my head upon my pillow for the night. If I know the hours of my days have an eternal impact, I feel fulfilled in my soul. When my heart is in tune with God’s will, He makes those hours profitable and fruitful. To me there’s no greater sense of worth than this!

Take time today to step off your treadmill, and ask the Lord to direct your steps. The impact will be eternal!

A person’s steps are directed by the LORD.
   How then can anyone understand

their own way?

                                                                                Proverbs 20:24 NIV 2010

 

(clip art credits:   free google download)


Feb13

Our Awesome God

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By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,

Their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;

He puts the deep into storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD,

For He spoke and it came to be…

Psalm 33:6 – 9

The same God, who spoke and created the heavens, handcrafted each one of us. We are all “one-of-a-kind” and special to Him. He watches over us and knows every single detail of our lives. He’s grand enough to hold the world in His hands, but he’s caring enough to count each hair on our heads and keep a record of each teardrop that falls. He never sleeps, and He’s always on call. He knows the special purpose for which He created you. Trust your Creator to lead each step you take and be with you through any situation – loving, guiding and protecting.

No matter what we do or where we go, we can never be far from our loving Heavenly Father’s comforting presence.

Our God is awesome!

 

 

Feb4

God’s Calling

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“I will go before you
   and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
   and cut through bars of iron.
I will give you hidden treasures,
   riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
   the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

Isaiah 45:2-4 (New International Version, ©2010)

 

Sometimes the “mission” God places upon our hearts seems humanly impossible. God might be prompting us to do something extraordinary, and we can think of many excuses in our limited minds why it can’t possibly work. The above verse is a powerful reminder of this truth:

When God designs your plans, nothing can stop His purposes from being accomplished.

If you are following in step with His will, He will go before you and level any “mountain” of impossibility ahead of you. He will break through barriers in our path which seemingly bring you to a dead end along your journey. When you are in the midst of a plan orchestrated by our Heavenly Father, prepare to be amazed. His ideas are not limited to human thinking. His power is limitless.

He can perform miracles.

When you are following His call upon your heart, remember that He has “summoned you by name.” He specifically chose you when He designed your particular calling. He knows everything about you, and He knows that you are uniquely qualified to fulfill the purpose of His grand plan. Obedience to His calling simply requires that you take a step of faith toward fulfilling His mission. With each step forward, you will begin to receive His “hidden treasures” and “riches stored in secret places.” These heavenly rewards are the unimaginable blessings which God wants to shower upon His children for their obedience.

So if you feel God calling you by name, follow His lead. The job He has planned just for you will have eternal rewards. Have confidence in His ability to fulfill His plans. He will be with you every step of the way.

Sep12

Gifted

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Let Your Light Shine

"Let Your Light Shine" by cbcooksey

When someone has been given much,

Much will be required

in return;

And when someone has been entrusted with much,

Even more will be required.

Great gifts mean

Great responsibilities;

Greater Gifts,

Greater Responsibilities!

Luke 12:48

 

The Bible tells us that we are each uniquely equipped with gifts and talents.  These abilities are placed within us in order to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives.  Can you think of the capabilities that you possess and see them through the lens of God’s vision?  If we listen to God’s prompting, He will direct us in exactly the way He desires us to use our gifts.  The more we are blessed by Him, the more He requires of us.  The beauty of this is that the more we are obedient, the more His blessings will flow to us.  How have you used your gifts and talents for God’s glory lately?

Jan17

Getting Your Hands Dirty

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“Getting your Hands Dirty”


cbrown.cooksey


40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Mark 1:40 – 42 NIV

Leprosy was an incurable, disabling skin disease which terrified people. In keeping with Jewish Law, lepers were considered unclean and were unable to participate in any religious or social activity. They were the ultimate outcasts of Jewish society. They were banned to live in leper colonies outside the main areas of the cities and were not allowed to mingle with the healthy population.

However, when Jesus saw this diseased, leprous man, he had compassion on him. Despite his visual appearance and all the dictates of Jewish law, Jesus reached out and TOUCHED this man with his hand of healing. This reaction went against every belief of all those people who were watching. Jesus looked beyond the disease and saw inside the man. In doing so, Jesus demonstrated a valuable example to his followers. The real value of a person is on the inside. Outward appearances of a person’s body may be deformed or diseased, but the person inside is no less valuable to God. No person is too disgusting or disfigured or diseased for God’s touch.

In a sense we have all been diseased and deformed by the ugliness and disfigurement of sin, and we could, therefore, be considered leprous in the eyes of God. Instead of looking away from us in disgust, God had compassion on all sinners when He sent His son, Jesus, who touched us with love and forgiveness and gave us the opportunity to be healed.

When is the last time you got your “hands dirty” in the name of Jesus? When your feel repulsed by someone, take a moment and think about how God feels about that person…and how he feels about you. Stop and ask yourself, “What would Jesus do in that same situation?”

Jan1

Welcome 2010!

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“In Pursuit of True Prosperity”

 

As we welcome 2010 today, many of us are facing a new year with hopeful anticipation that this new beginning will bring renewed prosperity.  The past year continued with an unprecedented economic downturn, but we now see glimpses of recovery.  Most all of us have been negatively affected in some way by the global recession, and we all hope for better times in the year to come.  As I think about what prosperity means to me, I am reminded about a scripture passage I read recently which brought the term into a spiritual focus for me.  “True Prosperity” can be summed up as simply the blessings of God upon my life.  He knows every intimate detail about me and knows exactly what I need for a life of heaven-sent prosperity.  God’s definition of prosperity is not the same as our human definition, however.  His blessings upon us include peace, joy, faith, hope and love.  They can also include favor, gifts and talents.  No matter how he chooses to prosper us, His blessings are always superior to what we would glean from the world.

 

His word is very clear about His promise to prosper the lives of His children if we carefully follow all of His commands.  It is also very clear about the consequences of our disobedience.  Deuteronomy 30:2-3,9 NIV tells me, “..when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you…Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands…Then the LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous..”     He even tells us how we can know what He commands of us: “what I am commanding is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach…No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”  Deuteronomy 30: 11,14

 

God has created each one of us with a unique purpose in mind.  He will equip each of us to fulfill that purpose and to live a life of true prosperity, but we have to choose to obey Him in every area of our lives.  After reading the above passage, I am prompted to examine my heart and soul and determine if I am fully committed to obedience to the LORD.  As the New Year begins, I can’t think of a better time to perform some “house cleaning” and self-examination.  I pray that I will start the year with a committed heart and soul, purged of worldly worries and encumbrances which crowd out space for God to fill me with the blessing of His glorious presence in my life.  I pray that He will use me in mighty ways in 2010 for the glory of His kingdom.  In doing so, I will know “true prosperity!” 

Sep11

God Knows Best

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“This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you,

Who directs you in the way you should go.”

– Isaiah 48:17

No one knows better than the Lord what is BEST for your life. Not your parents, your best friend, or even your teachers know better than your Creator what is right for you, though He may sometimes use the people in your life to speak His words into your heart. Listen carefully to God’s calling in your life. He wants to lead you in the direction of the grand purpose He has planned for you. Take time each day to read His word and spend time in prayer with Him. He is speaking to you, but you must take time to “listen” and discern His voice in your life. cBrown.Cooksey

Aug3

Go For It!

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Go For It!

 cBrown.Cooksey

This image inspires me. It motivates me and urges me to just “Go for it!” It makes me think about chasing my passions with unhindered enthusiasm and belief in myself. There are those of us who dream, and there are those of us who follow our dreams. The distinction between the two categories is enormous. I could sit around all my life and imagine what it would be like if I were truly pursing those “wildest dream” interests imbedded deep within my soul, but without action I would never achieve anything. In order to fulfill my aspirations, I must capture a vision of my goals and leap forward in unbridled pursuit. I must unleash myself from self-doubt, worry, excuses, fear, what-if’s and negativism, while allowing myself to jump off the platform of my sure-footing toward the direction of realizing my full potential.

 

Let this photograph be a motivational scene for you, as well. Is there anything that has always been in your heart that you know you were created to do? Have you defined your true purpose in life?  What action do you need to take to leap in the direction of your passion? Set goals for yourself and visualize your new future. Launch forward in pursuit of your dreams!