Monday Morning Memo: Living for What Matters

Last week we looked at the truth that we are each fearfully and wonderfully made.  We were reminded that we are not a mistake and that God loves us and deems that we are precious and valued. 

 

I think once we can believe that…it makes the third truth that Louie Giglio shared in his book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, easier to accept.  He wrote:

3. My life has purpose.

 

You were born for a noble reason.  God has good things for you to do.  He has called you to live for what matters.

 

So plant this thought by memorizing this verse. “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

 

Random things are random.  Evolved things are void of specific meaning.  But created things have purpose.  There is just one you.  You have a unique calling, a reason for being.  Something to do in God’s great story that is important and needed.

 

Don’t buy into the lie that you are expendable.  You’re not.  God put you on earth for a purpose. Your life matters, to Him and to those He is positioning you to serve.          

 

If God created us to be unique…doesn’t it make sense then that He has a purpose for each of us to live out?  Why would He have gone to all the trouble to make sure we were created in His image…to then just “roll the dice” as to what we should be doing and who we should serve?  What a waste that would be.

 

No, He made you and me with exactly what we need to fulfill His plan.  What He has called you to do is more than likely, entirely different from what He has called me to do and that is all part of His design.  How boring it would be if we were all created to do the same thing.  

 

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Variety is the spice of life”.  This phrase was first recorded in 1785 in William Cowper’s poem, “The Task,” where he expressed that having diverse experiences adds flavor to life.  It emphasizes the importance of encouraging individuals to explore new interests and interactions.  This reminds us that because of our differences, we each play an integral part in God’s plan and purpose and life is much more fun when we are all doing our part.  As Mr. Giglio said, “There is just one you.  You have a unique calling, a reason for being.  Something to do in God’s great story that is important and needed.”

 

I realize that you may not have a clue as to what God’s purpose is for your life.  You may feel like you are floundering and believe it really isn’t important whether you are a part of His plan or not.  You couldn’t be more wrong!  Because you are uniquely designed…if you aren’t fulfilling your purpose…something will be lacking.  Can God accomplish His plan without you?  Yep, He sure can.  But because He loves you so much…He would much rather fulfill His plan with you by His side. 

 

If you aren’t sure of your purpose, I want to urge you to begin praying for God to show you the next step to take.  He will gladly direct you and give you what you need…exactly when you need it.  In doing that, you will begin to feel fulfilled as He unfolds His perfect plan for your life.  Remember, YOU were born for a noble reason.  God has good things for YOU to do, and He has called YOU to live for what matters!

Monday Morning Memo: But God

As I shared at the end of my blog post last week, the 2nd truth that Louie Giglio shared in his book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, was, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”.  UGH.  To a person whose body is wired backwards, this is a very hard truth to accept.

 

From a person who has fought with serious health issues for many years, it is very hard for me to think of my body as being wonderfully made.  I’ve always said that God must have used leftover parts to assemble my body…because it sure doesn’t act or react like a “normal” body.  

 

This is what Mr. Giglio wrote concerning this truth:

 

You weren’t born by a random act of the cosmos.  God made you with intention, and God made you wonderfully.  God has redeemed you and knows your name (Isaiah 43:1)

 

So plant this thought by memorizing these verses: “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.  I know that full well” (Psalm 139:13-14).

 

You are not the maker.  You are made.  God is not created in your image, how you might think He should be.  You are created in His.  He decided that He wanted you in His universe.  He imagined and fashioned you.  You are not accidental.  Nor incidental.  You are divinely crafted.  

 

Plant this seed every day.  In time, you’ll have an oak providing shade for you and those around you.  You’ll begin to believe that you are who God says you are.  Unique.  Special. Valuable.

 

As I read this truth over and over again…God began to speak.  I was reminded that my body is not an accident.  God didn’t create me and then say, “Oops…I sure messed that one up!”  No, I was created perfectly, but if God has allowed things to develop in my body that are far from perfect, He must have a reason and a purpose.

 

The phrase “fearfully and wonderfully made” kept going through my mind, so I googled it and a YouTube cartoon came up with Jesus talking to a child (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jVgdnq-5fKE)  Their conversation went like this:

 

CHILD:  Jesus, what does Psalm 139:14 mean?

 

JESUS:  It is my reminder to you that you are not a mistake.  I formed you with intention, with care and with a plan only you can fulfill.  Fearfully and wonderfully made means every part of you…your heart, mind and spirit reflects my creativity and love.

 

CHILD:  But Jesus, sometimes I feel weak, small or not enough.   How do I believe this is true and how do I think I am fearfully and wonderfully made when I feel insecure?

 

JESUS:  Step by Step:

1.     See yourself through my eyes.  I know every thought, every struggle, every fear.  To me you are precious and valued.

 

2.     Remember, I made you intentionally…your strengths, your challenges, your unique design…all show my wisdom.

 

3.    Trust my purpose for you.  You are created to reflect glory in ways no one else can. Your life matters even when you feel invisible.

 

4.    Speak truth over yourself – declare my Word over your life…I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  God’s love is in me and I am enough in Him.  When you live from this truth insecurity loses power and my spirit fills your heart with courage and joy.

 

As I watched this video, I heard that I am not a mistake.  I am precious and valued.  I was created to reflect glory in ways no one else can…which means God has a plan for me, even with all my health issues.  His plan is for me to reflect Him in ways that are impossible for anyone else to do…because they have not been given what I have been given.  

 

I’m sure some of you are probably thinking, “Well duh, LuAnn.  You should have already known that”.  Knowing it and accepting it…are two different things.  Yes, I’ve heard this before, but when a person is in the trenches…it is so easy to forget the truth.  It’s easy to become consumed with just putting one foot in front of another…just getting through one health issue after another.  As a result, God periodically must remind us of our worth.  Remind us of our purpose.  Remind us that His plan and timing are perfect.

 

I don’t know where you are today.  You, like me, may feel like you were a mistake.  You may feel like you are a burden to others.  You may feel that there is no way God can use you…with all your health issues, faults and failures.  I’m here to tell you today, that I understand.  I know how hard and intense life can be sometimes and it is so easy to feel like we have no purpose.  

 

All that would be true…BUT GOD.  God makes all the difference.  God loves you so much and He says you are precious and valued.  He has a plan for your life that no one else on this earth can live out…but He knows that you can do it, because He will give you what you need, when you need it.  He believes in you.  Your life matters even when you feel invisible, because you my friend, were fearfully and wonderfully made!

Monday Morning Memo: When Joy is Gone

This isn’t the blog post I wanted to write…so I wrote one that was much more “comfortable” for me.  But as always…when I don’t listen to the Holy Spirit…I don’t have peace.

 

The Holy Spirit had been working on me all day…telling me that I needed to be honest with our small group that evening.  They were coming to our home for dinner and then we would have our study together, followed by a time of prayer.  I knew I needed to tell them what I was struggling with…but admitting how I was feeling wasn’t going to be easy.  Why?  Because I’m a Christian for Pete’s sake…and I should know better 

 

They came and we ate together, completed our time of study and prayer, and I still hadn’t opened up.  Then the question came, “LuAnn, how are you really doing?”  As a Christian, I knew my response should be that I am trusting the Lord…putting my faith in Him…and singing Kum Ba Yah with a huge smile on my face.  But unfortunately, that felt very far from the truth.  I was struggling…not just physically…but especially spiritually.  I admitted to them that my joy had vanished, even though I knew that the Lord didn’t expect me to always be happy about what I was going through…but I was to have joy.  James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”  Yes, I knew I should still have the joy of the Lord so that others could see Him in me…but after 3+ years of dealing with serious health issues, I just wasn’t feeling it.

 

They let me talk.  They let me share without immediately coming down on me, berating me that I should just have faith and trust in the Lord.  At that point, I knew all the Christian “jargon” …I just needed to be heard.  They assured me they would be praying and they told Dan and I to lean on them whenever we needed them. 

 

We had finished our study that evening of the book, “Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table” by Louie Giglio and he gave seven truths at the end that we should dwell on.  He said we could take one a day or even one a week to pray about and focus on.  The first one said this:

 

1.   I am in God’s story.

The story of who you are is part of God’s larger story.  The story is bigger than you.  Ultimately, the story is not about you.  You have been invited into the story of God’s great glory and grace.  It’s all about Him.  But you have a seat at His table.

 

Before you were formed in your mother’s womb, God knew you.  Jesus the good Shepherd guides you always, and the Lord makes firm the steps of those who delight in Him (Psalm 37:23).

 

So plant this thought in your mind by memorizing this verse, “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” (Jeremiah 29:11).

 

You matter to God.  But ultimate meaning won’t come from putting the spotlight on you.  Your life will have the greatest significance when you choose to make it about the One who welcomes you into His never-ending story.

 

For the next 10 days, I read this truth multiple times a day.  With each reading, I felt the Holy Spirit speaking and I started to feel the extreme heaviness begin to lift.  I needed to be reminded that first of all…life isn’t about me and my comfort.  You see, Satan knows that if he can get my focus off Jesus and on myself…joy will never come.  Life is about my Jesus and everything which happens to me has been allowed by my Heavenly Father and His plans are to give me hope and a future that will bring Him glory. 

 

My Jesus cares about me.  He knew me before I was even formed…and His plans will always be better than mine. If I am going to truly reflect His image…I need to be willing to be a participant in HIS story…not mine.

 

If I’m honest…I still can’t say I feel joy all day, every day…but I’m improving.  Thank goodness our Lord is patient…because I am definitely a work in progress.  I’m so thankful that He loves me more than I can imagine…but wants so much more for me in the days to come.

 

How about you?  Are you feeling like you’ve lost the joy that only He can give?  I won’t throw the Christian jargon at you…because I’m guessing you already know it, just like me.  But I do want to encourage you to read…and re-read…the truth I shared with you today.  Allow Him to speak to you as He holds you close to Him.

 

By the way, you may want to say a prayer for me.  The 2nd truth that Giglio shared begins with “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”.  Oh boy…I thought the first truth was hard to accept…I think this one may be even harder!

Monday Morning Memo: He Doesn't Have a Prayer

“She doesn’t have a prayer in passing that class.”  “He doesn’t have a prayer in getting that promotion.”  “They don’t have a prayer in ever reconciling their marriage.”  “I don’t have a prayer in ever being any more than I am today.”  These are just examples of statements that can be made when you feel there isn’t any chance that a certain event will take place.  We’ve all had words to this effect come out of our mouth when something just seemed impossible.

 

Impossible.  The dictionary says it is something that is not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with.  It’s just like when we say that we or someone else doesn’t have a prayer…we are totally giving up that there will be a good outcome when we use the word impossible.

 

I was thinking this weekend about these words and it made me wonder who or what determines or influences when I give up.  Am I coming to this conclusion because I have hard facts, or do I rush to this assumption because I am taking into account my limitations…my shortcomings…my inadequacies or someone else’s limitations…shortcomings…or inadequacies?  Am I looking at the situation through God’s eyes and His strength and power…or my own?

 

If I look to the Bible to find my answers, it tells me what I need to know about “not having a prayer”.  Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Notice it doesn’t say to pray about only those things of which you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, will work out.  It says to pray about everything!  So even if you doubt something will happen…pray about it anyway.  We ALWAYS have a prayer!

 

And the impossible?  Mark 10:27 tells us, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible.  But not with God.  Everything is possible with God’”.  So whatever situation we say “doesn’t have a prayer”…we are looking at it from our human perspective.  Everything is possible with God!

 

Remember, Satan doesn’t want us praying because he knows the power that our God has…the power to do the impossible.  Satan knows that God can take our limitations…shortcomings…and inadequacies and use them for His glory as the impossible is accomplished.  And in doing so…Satan’s impact will be lessened and someday my friend, he will be totally defeated.  Because with God on our side…Satan doesn’t have a prayer!

Monday Morning Memo: For HIS Purpose

“It’s not about you.”  If that statement sounds familiar, it probably means you have read Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life.  It is the very first sentence in chapter 1.  He goes on to say, “The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness.  It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions.  If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God.  You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.”

 

It also may sound familiar to you because I have shared those words with you before…but they came back to me recently because of a Facebook post I made.  If you are a “friend” of mine on Facebook, you may have read these words:

 

This will probably be a controversial post…but that hasn’t stopped me in the past :-). I've seen influencers the past couple of weeks, buying Easter baskets for their kids that in my honest opinion...are ridiculous.  They have more in them than we bought our kids for Christmas.

 

I think this is a contributing factor to seeing parents freaking out because they don’t have the money to buy their kids extravagant Easter baskets. Friends…hear me on this…it’s ok. We NEVER bought our kids an Easter basket…yes, I know that may be shocking for some of you…but our poor, underprivileged children never got one. And do you know what? They grew up to be wonderful, amazing, productive adults…even without an Easter basket. I have never heard them say, “Well, you know mom, our life would be so much better if we just would have gotten baskets at Easter”. Nope, never heard it.

I’m not bashing you if you buy your kids baskets. If that is something that is important to you in making memories…go for it! But I just wanted to let those parents know, who maybe can’t buy them this year…your kids will be fine. Your 1- and 3-year-old won’t remember it anyway, and if your kids are older…they will be just fine if they don’t get one. Let them know all about the real meaning of Easter…that will have a much more positive, lasting effect on them!

 

I’ve thought more about this Facebook post of mine during the days since…and Rick Warren’s comment has been in the forethought of my mind.  Why?  Because I fear we are raising a generation of children who think everything revolves around them.  Don’t get me wrong…I wanted my kids…and now my grandkids…to have times of fun by receiving gifts…but it just seems like now we have to buy them something at every holiday, putting the attention on them instead of the meaning of the day we are celebrating.  

 

Why must we put our focus on what we will receive at a holiday?  I hate to disappoint you…but Easter has nothing to do with the Easter bunny and if our kids see us put the emphasis on an Easter basket filled with toys, games and chocolate…they are once again getting the signal that it is all about them. 

 

Even in sports today…everyone receives a participation award…because heaven help us if they must realize they weren’t on the winning team.  I even noticed at some of our grandchildren’s games, when announcements were made on upcoming tourney games, they wouldn’t say “The team that wins will move on to play next Saturday at 10:00 am and the team that loses will play next Saturday at 9:00 am.”  Instead, they said something to the effect of, “The team that wins will move on to play next Saturday at 10:00 am, and the other team (or sometimes the team that didn’t win) will move on to play next Saturday at 9:00 am.”  They were so careful not to make the kids feel like they lost.  

 

Now, I understand that we don’t want to hurt our kid’s self-esteem…but life isn’t all roses and there are times we must face the thorns.  But if we are constantly made to feel like we are the focus…we are not going to be ready to face the failures that life will surely throw our way.

 

Some day that child will get a job and they will probably realize fairly quickly that the focus won’t be on them.  They will have to make sacrifices and work for the good of the “team”.  We need to prepare them while they are growing up for times such as this, but if we are always making them feel like they deserve something at every turn…we have not done our “job” as parents.

 

Now, I can hear some of you say, “LuAnn, come on.  It’s just a basket…or a gift…or a reward.  Don’t be such a party pooper!”  I know…I get it.  We all want to do everything we can for our kids…but we also have the responsibility to make sure they are prepared for the days, months and years to come.

 

Instead of giving them an Easter basket…why not prepare a basket with them to give to someone who needs it.  There are so many people in nursing homes who never have any family visit them…they would be thrilled to receive a basket with some special treats.  Or gather items to give to kids who are in the hospital…or living in homeless shelters.  That sweet child of yours will not only learn much more but will also have the feeling that comes when you bless others…and that experience will be remembered for a lifetime.

 

Raising kids is hard and if you are like me…you will make lots of mistakes.  But I think if we can keep our focus…and theirs…on what is truly meaningful in life…our kids will grow up with something worth much more than an Easter basket.  Because as Rick Warren reminded us, wewere born by HIS purpose and for HIS purpose.

Monday Morning Memo: Picking Up the Torch

Back in the early 2000’s, a family came to our church who we didn’t know.  We had several opportunities to be around them and really liked them from the start.  But my friendship with the wife, Nancy, really took root when she posted on Facebook that she had an extra ticket for a local Christian radio station’s Women’s Day Away the next day, on Saturday.  She wondered if anyone wanted to go with her.

 

I responded that I would love to go and trust me, spending a day with Nancy was unforgettable.  We laughed until it hurt and talked throughout the day and by that evening, a cherished friendship was cemented.

 

Little did I know then, that 22 years later, Nancy would ask me to come over to her house because she wanted to go over details for her funeral with me.  That is something you don’t expect to do with a friend in her late 40’s.  She had been diagnosed with MS in her early 20’s and by the time we discussed her funeral, she was living in a frozen body…unable to move.

 

Nancy loved her Jesus.  You couldn’t meet her and not know that fact within a very short time.  She talked about Jesus all the time and witnessed to anyone who would listen.  That’s one of the many things I loved about her…she was never shy to speak out about what she believed and about her love for her Lord and Savior.  Nancy made such an impact in this world and one of the main reasons was that she believed in the truth and beauty of the Gospel - that Jesus came and gave His life for all of us.  Even in the midst of doubts and pain…she held fast.  Even as she wrestled at times with what was happening to her and why it was happening…she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loved her.  Her faith is what fueled every facet of her life and impacted everyone with whom she came in contact.

 

If you were a friend of Nancy’s…you were blessed with a special kind of friend.  Nancy cared SO deeply for everyone and she was the greatest prayer warrior I have ever had the privilege of meeting.  Here she was, unable to move and living oftentimes in horrible pain…but she always wanted to know how she could pray for me.  When I would tell her of a need of mine, she was always so good about checking back with me to see how my prayer request turned out.  If you wanted something taken to the Throne of God…you knew to ask Nancy to do just that.  She had a direct line to her Jesus…a relationship with Him that was inspiring.

 

I remember asking her one day about her MS and if she thought a lot about how her life would have been without it.  I asked her if she wished she would have never had it and her answer shocked me.  She said that while she wasn’t happy that she had MS, she didn’t wish that it would be taken away…because she said she never would have had such a close relationship with her Jesus without it.  She knew that this diagnosis made her rely on Him every single day and she said there wasn’t anything she wanted more than to be close to Him.  You see, the desire of Nancy’s heart was to allow the power of Christ to work through her in the good times and in the bad.  What a wonderful example to follow.

 

A month ago today, on March 6th, at the age of 52, I am confident Nancy heard the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” as she took her last breath on earth and her first breath in Heaven.  Nancy was finally whole…completely healed with no traces left of MS.  She was now with her Savior…the One she so faithfully served in the good days and in the bad.

 

I had the privilege of speaking at her funeral, and I shared a couple of verses in the Bible found in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 and I personalized them as a tribute to my dear friend’s life:

 

“Nancy fought the good fight, she has finished the race, she kept the faith. Finally, there has been laid up for her the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to her on that Day, and not to her only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

 

Nancy left such huge shoes to fill and the words which have haunted me since that day are “Who is going to pick up the torch that Nancy so faithfully carried?”  The world has lost an amazing prayer warrior and witness for Christ, and I know she would want me and you to pick up where she left off.  

 

If I’m honest, I must admit that I don’t think I’ve done a good job lately on carrying her torch.  I have so much to learn from Nancy’s example…and a long way to go to be the faithful servant she was.   I must ask myself if I am  willing.  Are you?  We are living in a dark world that needs to be told about our Jesus and if they don’t hear about Him from us…they may not hear about Him at all.  Let’s make it a point this week to pick up Nancy’s torch…raise it high…and let others see Christ through us.  

 

HEALTH UPDATE:  I had another CT scan and met with the lung surgeon and was told that no surgery is needed at this time.  That is a praise!  My lungs have greatly improved according to the CT scan…the only problem is that the pain and tightness remain.  I am currently on another round of antibiotics and once those are gone…they want me to try and go three months without any medicine to see what happens.  Another CT scan will be taken at that time and if it looks good…we will know the infection is gone.  If the lungs don’t look good at that time, I will return to the lung specialist and we will talk about surgery.

 

I asked the surgeon if this is possibly my new “normal” with my lungs and the pain and tightness will never go away.  We know my disorder, Hypermobility Syndrome, is the base cause of all of this, so it is possible that my lungs are damaged and won’t improve.  The surgeon said that is a possibility…but we will hope healing will take place.  

 

Thank you SO much for your prayers.  You all have been such an amazing prayer “army” for me and I can’t thank you enough!

Monday Morning Memo: Our Last Resort

Last week I shared with you some of my current life “detours”, and it got me thinking about something that I hear quite often.  It is a statement that, if I’m honest…I’ve been known to say more than once.  I think we often say it without “hearing” what we are saying, and I can’t help but think if we really listened to the words…we wouldn’t say them again.

 

When circumstances don’t make sense…when a diagnosis knocks us off our feet…when the world seems to be unhinged and out of our control…we often hear/say these words, “Well, I guess all we can do is pray”.  Hmmmm…sounds kind of hopeless, doesn’t it?

 

Unfortunately, I think prayer is often our last resort…our last-ditch effort to make things right after we have tried everything else.  When all else has failed…I guess all we can do is pray.  When things don’t go the way we think they should go…I guess all we can do is pray.  When there are more questions than answers…I guess all we can do is pray.

 

Sadly, I think we sometimes use this statement as a cop out.  When we don’t want to have to take action, but still want to sound spiritual, we quip, “Well, I guess all we can do is pray”.  Then we either don’t pray about the situation…or we do pray but never listen for an answer…because that might mean we have to do something we don’t want to do.

 

If we would really grasp to Whom we are praying…it would become our first choice instead of our last resort.  We can have a conversation with the One who created everything.  The One who is all-powerful.  The One who knows absolutely everything about us.  The One who knows our yesterday, today and our tomorrow.  The One who loves us more than we can imagine.  The One who will never leave us or give up on us.  The One whose plan for us is perfect, so we should desire to do whatever He asks…so that this plan will be fulfilled.  The One who is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day and we never get a busy signal or a lost connection.    What a great opportunity we have to take everything to this One who has given His all…so that we can have a personal and vibrant relationship with Him.  

 

We are all living in a world that seems unhinged, and I’m guessing that many of you may have additional stresses in your life which no one else even knows about.  Whatever you are facing today, know that this One…this One who even knows the number of hairs on your head…is waiting for you to pour out your heart to Him.  Don’t wait until He is your last resort…turn to your Jesus first and allow Him to speak into your soul.  

 

If the world could see us turning to Him first, maybe, just maybe, they might want to turn to Him also.  Our confused world needs to see the hope that we have in Him; they need to see the power that we have available to us even when life throws us a curveball.  They need to see that when things don’t go our way, we don’t fall apart, wringing our hands in despair…because our hope and faith are in this One with whom we can immediately turn to in prayer.  

 

I’ve been thinking…if we can make going to Him in prayer our immediate reaction, maybe our new response to our next life detour will be, “Oh what a great opportunity to go to my Jesus in prayer!”  That my friend…doesn’t sound hopeless at all!

“God's there, listening for all who pray, 

for all who pray and mean it.”

Psalm 145:18 (The Message)