Living On Purpose

I was putting his clothes in his drawers when I noticed it. The wonderfully engraved name and doodles on the top of his dresser veneer. Ryan. Etched in wood. Forever. I cannot tell you some of the words I thought, but I can tell you that I gasped and then quickly yelled for that precious name etched in wood forever to come to me.

"Why did you do this, Ryan?  You know that we don't damage furniture.  Furniture is expensive.  We want it to last a long time...and this piece now has your personal autograph. Forever."

"Oh, mom, I am sorry.  I didn't do it on purpose.  It was an accident."

"I didn't do it on purpose." Those words clearly infer that there was no meaning behind the action.  There was no specific intent for the deed. There was no clear goal. Now we know that Ryan's actions most likely did have a goal (ha!), but I think about the times in my own life when I don't live on purpose. My days are not filled with meaningful moments, but rather aimless wandering. I treat time as waste, and throw it away.

Dear friends, God has purpose for our lives.  He longs for us to live in the fullness of His love, mercy, and grace. He has great and wonderful plans for us that flaunt hope and anticipation. But we have to choose to live on purpose. It will not happen by accident. We have to choose to give our days to the One who is the Perfect Planner. We must "take up our crosses daily and follow Him." That is when we find purpose. 

"Run in such a way as to get the prize. We do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air." 1 Corinthians 9: 24; 25b; 26

What is keeping you from living "on purpose?" Comment below. Or if you are reading by email, go here to comment.  I would love to pray for you.

And join me each week, for "On Purpose Wednesdays." I can hardly wait! We will:

• discover and embrace the unique design God has given each of us
• seek to live a life "on purpose" using our God-given gifts and passion

Unwrapping the gift of His purpose,

Kelli

I am joining Soli Deo Gloria today @ Finding Heaven sharing what God is doing in my life.

eMpowering Mondays

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”  -~ Albert Einstein

Last week was incredibly difficult for me. For a multitude of reasons. And in the midst of it, I honestly wanted to quit and run.  Run like Forrest Gump. Keep running and never stop. Maybe then I would finally end up somewhere where I wouldn't feel the need to run again. 

You and I both know that wouldn't happen.  There will always be difficulties.  We live in a fallen world where things just go wrong and life is hard. So, if we can't or shouldn't run away from those problems, what should we do? 

Ask God to show you what He wants to teach you in this difficult time. Instead of asking, "Why me?," let us ask, "What do you want to teach me?" So, Thursday night after four days of tears and wounds brought by the enemy, I approached the approachable Savior and asked Him for instruction. 

I found clarity in the midst of chaos. God began to lay out for me what He wanted me to focus on - especially in my blog writing.  I had been praying for God to help me find my niche in the writing world.  This is the result of my time with Him:

eMpowering Mondays - Each Monday, on the blog, facebook page,and twitter, I will focus on unwrapping the gift of God's incredible power. Together we will:

• recognize and record the power of God at work in our lives. (I'll be asking for your stories!)
• learn to access the power of God that is readily available to us.
• discover the value of empowering others to live out their calling as we seek to live out our own calling

I am so excited about this! (I'll be introducing another theme on Wednesday.)

So, for today, I am asking you to help me "tell of the Power of God's awesome works." He is worthy of praise!

 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; 

his greatness no one can fathom. 

One generation commends your works to another; 

they tell of your mighty acts. 

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— 

and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 

 They tell of the power of your awesome works— 

and I will proclaim your great deeds.  Psalm 145: 3 - 6

Now, it's your turn! Leave a comment and tell us about a recent experience where you saw the power of God at work in your life.

Grateful to unwrap this gift of His power together,

Kelli

Linking up with Playdates at the Wellspring

A Reason to Love Getting Older

Today I am linking up with Five Minute Friday again.  (I have had a rough week, so I needed a little break.) The rules are as follows:

Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

Here goes.  The topic is older.

Ryan is older today. Hard to believe that it has been eight years since he entered this crazy world. Crazy as I see it. He sees it as wonderful. Ryan often says, "This is the best day of my life!" Yes, he has taught us to enjoy our moments and live them outrageously. One thing you can say about Ryan is he always goes all out.

So, if Ryan is older today, I guess that makes me older, too. I am one day closer to the 40 mark.  It will happen in less than two months.  I was looking forward to a big bash to celebrate...but now the closer it gets, the more I want to party quietly.  That is so unlike me. Sounds old. 

Whatever the case, I am reminded a verse in my favorite book of the bible, 2 Corinthians.  "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." Now, that's a reason to love getting...older.   

(2 Cor. 4:16)

That's it. 

How do you feel about getting older?

Happy Friday love to all of you!

Unwrap the gift of life today!

Kelli

Five Minute Friday

Out of Gas

Photo Credit


I know better. I really do.  My husband has taught me well. He always encourages me to fill up my gas tank when I get to 1/4 tank, NOT when my light signaling empty comes on.  

But I did it anyway.  I let my gas tank get to E, my light came on, and I continued to drive.  Don't judge me. You know you have done it, too.  I saw the light come on, I recognized it, and I quickly forgot about it as I carried on my "dailyness."

When my car cut off in the middle of the road and all I could do was try to coast into a nearby yard (literally!), I remembered. And I had just passed a gas station, but I was talking on my cell phone and didn't notice. What do I do? I called my neighbor who was a few cars behind me and to make a LONG story SHORT, my neglect of my fuel tank was responsible for ruining the mornings of my neighbor, the other four people who tried to help me, and my dad who finally brought enough gas to make my fuel injector connect. 

I didn't tell you that I had planned on taking a sabbatical day of prayer on this crazy morning of an empty fuel tank, did I?  My pastor encourages each of us on equipping ministry staff at Christ Community Church to take one day each month just to pray and be in God's presence.  I wish I could say that I was faithful to this every month. And though I spend some quiet time each day with the Lord, I find it difficult to cast everything aside to spend a day or even a few hours with Him.  My last sabbatical day noted in my journal:  May. Three months ago. 

I know better. I really do. My Jesus has taught me well.  He always encourages me to fill up on my "spiritual" gas tank, before I hit EMPTY.

But I do it anyway. I let my spiritual gas tank get to empty, and I continue to walk, serve, minister, write, speak, teach, and lead. Don't judge me, you know you have done it, too. God prompts me through His gentle nudges and His calling me to come away with Him. I recognize Him and His nudges and calling, but I quickly forget about it as I carry on my "dailyness."

I finally made it home yesterday morning with a full tank of gas, thanks to a few gracious people giving up their time and energy. And though I didn't get the full five hours with God I was hoping and planning for, I did get two hours alone with Him to rest in His presence, pray for direction, and listen to Him telling me how much He loves me. He didn't condemn me for not letting my spiritual gas tank get so low. But the special, sweet time with Him reminded me of how much I absolutely need Him to fill me up so that I can do what He has called me to do. 

What about you? Running on empty? Need to fill up on the sweet presence of God? Don't let the "dailyness" of this world allow you to forget your need to just "be" with Jesus. 


Practical application: Maybe a day away with God sounds great, but it is impossible for you.  How about trying to plan a couple of hours a month to listen to God?  Even 30 minutes a day?  The point is to make Him a priority so that we don't run on empty when we are serving Him and ministering to others.  


Would love to hear your comments! And if you subscribe via email, don't forget to click the link to return to the actual blog to comment. Otherwise, I don't ever hear what you have to say.  

Unwrap the gift of His sweet presence today,


Kelli

Different... In a Good Way

In 2009, my daughter was 10 and I came across this very challenging blog written by Lysa Terkeurst.  "She Seeks the Uncommon" is a precious outpouring of Lysa's heart for her daughter, Hope. How she begs for Hope to be uncommon in this world. I was moved then in such a way to begin praying for my daughter, Bekah, as Lysa was praying for Hope. And for two years this word uncommon continues to be the descriptive adjective I desire for my Bekah.  

When Bekah was 18 months old, we were at the pediatricians office for a well child check-up and the doctor said to me, "Bekah is precocious." No, not precious (although she absolutely was), but precocious. Not wanting to sound baby-brained, I did not ask what it meant.  I did what any really smart mom would do.  I went home and looked it up in the dictionary. This is was it said, "having developed certain abilities at an earlier age than usual."  The thesaurus used words like, "advanced for one's age, mature, gifted, talented, clever, intelligent, quick."  Wow.  

Fast forward ten years. My Bekah can definitely be described as all of those words the thesaurus listed. Well, except for quick. She might be quick to catch on to things, but she MOVES in slow motion getting out the bed, taking a shower, folding clothes, all of the mundane things.  

In January of this year, Bekah approached me and asked me if she might could try homeschooling this next school year. Well, trying homeschooling is not like trying sweet potatoes. If you don't like it, you can't just spit it out. And homeschooling requires one major thing...me. You have to know that I have many friends that I love and admire that homeschool. But that was never a word that I wanted as a part of my vocabulary. I love my freedom between the hours of 8am and 3pm. I love my ministry that requires me to be available to people. And I love being able to do what I want to do, when I want to do it.  

When I asked her why she wanted to be homeschooled, she had three answers.

1.  "I want to move at my own pace. When I understand something, I want to be able to move on to the next thing. " I get that. She is intelligent and pretty quick to catch on to things.

2.  "I don't want to be at school for 7 hours and then come home and do homework for another hour or two. I want to be able to participate in other things - like drama, extra church activities, and I don't have time to do all that right now because of school." Ok, I get that, too.  I am really vigilant about guarding our family time and I do not allow either of my children to participate in more than one thing at a time. Because we would never see each other or have dinner as a family which I think is super important!

3.  "I want to be different. I feel like God has called me to be different and it is super hard to live that out with all the pressure from people at school. I want you, Mom, to spend at least the next year teaching me how to be bold." This was the clincher.  How could I say no?  


Yes, my precious (and precocious) daughter can be described in many terms. But the adjective that I pray most for her is different. Uncommon. And when the world begs her to conform, I  beg for God to continue transforming her. When her peers encourage her to fit in, I pray that she stands out. When she feels like giving in to the pressures of this world, I pray for the boldness to fight for what she believes in and to remember WHO fights for her.

So, am I homeschooling my 7th grader? Yes. Do I know what I am doing? Not exactly. But God does. He is shaping and molding a precious and precocious girl into a young woman who is different...in a good way.


Who are you praying for today? Your children? Your spouse? I would love to pray with you.  Leave a comment, please!


Unwrap the gift of praying for someone,

Kelli

I am linking up with Women Living Well today...go check out their site!



Linking up with Imparting Grace as well!

So Glad I Don't Have to "Like" God to Follow Him

Although I do LOVE God, I am grateful that I didn't have to click a "Like" button to follow His newsfeed or @mention Him on Twitter to get Him to recognize me. 

A few months ago I had all but written off social media. I was fed up with Facebook, and not willing to figure out Twitter or Google + or anything else. I felt like it was meaningless, time-consuming, and honestly, irritating. I didn't want to update my status when I was doing laundry, watching paint dry or going to the grocery store. The only time I wanted to post anything was when I felt I had some great contribution to society (which was rare.)  

And then it happened. I decided to start blogging....again. I had started a couple of years ago, and my sanguine personality started with a bang and ended with a fizzle. So, here I go again. If anything, this blog could serve as a journal for what God was doing in my life. One of my first few posts was How God Used the Food Network to Speak To Me . I had such a great time writing it, and then found out that others enjoyed reading it.  Really? I was asked to guest post for a popular Christian speaker and author Sheila Gregoire . This was crazy. My She Speaks Conference friends encouraged me to create a Facebook page and join Twitter to have links to my blog. Whaaaaa? When I had a publisher show interest in my book idea, her next question was, "Do you have a platform?" Platform meaning how many social media followers or readers do I  have.  My answer of "60 or so" did not seem to impress.  (Ha!) So, I officially joined the social media craze. Not because I really wanted to, but simply because I felt it was a necessary evil.

My distaste for the internet and social media stemmed from the idea that I felt the enemy had gained ground because of these things. Consuming our time. Focusing our minds on "un"lovely things. Distracting us from our priorities, especially God. However, when I began to dig deeper and I read more blogs, joined Twitter, and followed others' Facebook pages, I realized something. 

"(The enemy) meant to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20

Now I know that the enemy is still using the Internet to gain strongholds in peoples' lives, but God is using it to accomplish His good! Christians are utilizing the Internet and social media to encourage, equip, empower, and evangelize. What a method for His message! The first time someone commented on my blog and asked for prayer, I was thrilled. What a way to minister! So my sour reaction to social media has now turned into a enjoyable challenge to determine how I will share God's love and story through the keyboard each day. I have titled my blog, Unwrapping the Gifts of God in hopes of helping readers understand that  we can see the gifts of His presence, purpose, and power in everything if we are willing to unwrap those gifts. I want to pray with and for readers, get to know them, encourage them in their walk, and help them see God. I am just a messenger for the King. 

So, I am thankful that I don't have to click a "Like" button to follow God's Word or @mention Him to get him to notice me on Twitter. I am so grateful that my God "hears when I call to Him." Psalm 4:3. I love it that He knows what I am going to say, even before I say it. And I enjoy the gift of His presence...at all times.  And that's what I want to share with you through this avenue of social media. So that if you choose to tweet, Facebook, read blogs, that is great. But when you turn off the computer, I want you to know that God loves you very much and He is always there for you. A "Like" button is not required.

Please allow me to minister to you today. Comment below so that I can pray for you. Or if you want to comment about social media, feel free.  

Thank you for the gift of your readership.  I do not take it for granted.

Kelli

She Dives In... (She Speaks Takeaway, Part 3)

Dive in, a photo by andrea_sdl83 on Flickr.

You may have never seen me dive into a pool or river. That's because I don't. I have before...about 30 years ago when I was taking swimming lessons. But only because I had to in order to finish the class. I don't like to dive. Into anything. My preference is to wade in.  It is safer.  It is slower.  It doesn't make water go up my nose.

Honestly, I have been wading in this river (of life, ministry, speaking, writing) for many years now. Though I have appreciated the security of being in waters that I could tower over, I have not experienced the fullness of what God has for me. So what now? God has spoken truth into my life.  I have listened and want to obey.  The call:  dive in.

Dive into My Life.  Dive into My Word. Dive into My Plan. Dive. In.

I want to. I really do. But my heart trembles and my mind races to the what ifs. What if water goes up my nose? What if I can't catch my breath? What if I am overtaken by the current? What if I...drown? 

He whispers, "I am the River. The River must overtake you. It must consume you. It is only then that you experience the abundant life I have for you. I am waiting. Trust the River. Once you release yourself fully to me, it is freeing.  It is exhilarating."

Where the River flows, life abounds. Ezekiel 47:9

In his book, Chasing Daylight, Erwin McManus discusses this next step in our journey with God.  

"Is it possible that there is a place that you must go to experience the fullness of God in your life? There is for all of us a pool of Siloam, a place called Sent, a journey we are called to where things become more uncertain before they become clear, where our need for faith in God increases with every step rather than diminishes. This journey requires absolute certainty in the goodness of God while at the same time we relinquish our demand to know the details."

Lord, I am in over my head now. Please help me not to panic, but to trust You. Help me to rest in the rushing River. 

Won't you join me in the River? Please leave a comment and let me know if you struggle with diving in as well.  I would love to be in this wild adventure with you!

She Listens... (She Speaks Takeaway Part 2)

If you didn't read my previous post, you might want to do that now.  http://kelliwommack.blogspot.com/2011/08/he-speaks-she-speaks-takeaway-part-one.html  I just don't want you to be reading this and realize that you have been left out of the conversation.  :)  

http://flic.kr/p/cLpVx

In the words of my daughter, "Isn't it cool when God speaks like that?"  Yes!  And we know it is Him, when we hear Him speak repetitively through His Word, His people, and circumstances.  We also know it is Him when He calls us to do something that is bigger than us.  In her book, What Happens When Women Say Yes to God, Lysa TerKeurst lists a Five Question Filter to know if you are hearing God's voice.  Number four is "Is it beyond me?"  (If you want to know the other five questions, get her book, it is great!)


So, is my call to write and speak bigger than me?  Absolutely!  As I try to sort out why I haven't pursued the writing and speaking more before now, excuses abound.  Not enough time.  Inadequate.  Other things require more of my attention.  I am not as good as others.  No one wants to listen to me or read what I write. I am happy the way things are.  And so on.  (You ever give those same excuses?)  Honestly, all the excuses have one greater source.  FEAR.  I am afraid.  I am afraid of disappointing God.  Afraid of missing the mark.  Afraid of ridicule.  Afraid of rejection.  Afraid of the future.  Afraid of...failure.

"Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.” Joshua 1:9 (Message)


God not only wants us to be bold and courageous, He commands it!  Why?  Because fear is paralyzing.  Fear renders us ineffective for the Lord.  And His perfect love casts out fear!


In a recent journal entry, I wrote, "Fear surfaces all too readily.  It creeps into my thought patterns, affects my body, and my way of life.  Where is my trust?  Do I really trust God?" It pains me to write those words.  It pains me even more to share them with you.  But maybe you experience this when God calls you to do something bigger than you.  So, what do we do?


He Speaks, We Listen.  Our response to His speaking is to listen.  That may sound obvious, but do your children always listen when you speak?  (Thought so.)  We want to learn to listen to the Father's voice over our own voice and the voice of others.  Over the noise and the static.  


The New Oxford American Dictionary says to listen is "to take notice of and act on what someone says."  So listening to God is to realize that He is there speaking and then do what He says!  Many of us listen and we hear Him.  And then we sit...in fear, complacency, disobedience, laziness.  We don't act on what we hear.  


I am listening, God.  I hear You.  Please give me the strength and the courage to obey.  I want to see You do something in my life that is way bigger than me.  


Do you struggle with listening or obedience?  Share your thoughts. I would love to pray for you!  




Unwrap the gift of listening to a God who speaks to us,




Kelli

He Speaks... (She Speaks Takeaway Part One)

It has taken me a long time to process She Speaks 2011.  In fact, I am still working through some of the things God was speaking to my heart.  But I wanted to go ahead and share my initial responses. 

It all began in May of 1990.  I was near the end of my freshman year in college.  I was a part of a ministry on campus and decided to attend a state conference.  I don’t remember much about the conference sessions or even who was there.  What I do remember vividly is that I found myself walking the aisle on Sunday morning and stating that I was feeling called into ministry.  Vocational ministry.  I remember reminding God that I was a girl (ha!) and that I had no clue what in ministry I would or could do.

I was a Communications major.  I loved all the classes that most people hate...public speaking, interpersonal communications, etc.  My goal when I began college was to take Joan Lunden’s place on Good Morning America.  (I knew she had to get old one day.)  So, this day in May when I committed my life to vocational ministry, I had no idea how God would use the gifts and skill set He had given me.  I just knew that God had called me and that my desire to become known became engulfed by the desire to make Him known.  I pursued seminary. And that began 21 years of ministry...with youth, children, college students, women, and adults of all ages.

God has incredibly blessed me with opportunities to share His love and grace with so many different people in many different places...even internationally in Greece, Bulgaria, Venezuela, and Australia!  I feel humbled and honored that God would use me in these ways. 

So, why did I find myself at She Speaks in Charlotte, North Carolina a few weeks ago?  Because since September of last year, I have felt like God was leading me to step out of my comfort zone.  Though I have always enjoyed speaking and writing occasionally throughout my years in ministry, I have often found myself giving excuses to God as Moses did in Exodus 3 – 4.

“Who am I, Lord, that I should speak and write about You?  Why me?”

God:  “I will be with you.”

“Suppose I do speak and write and the world asks who do I think I am doing this?”

God:  “I AM has sent you...that is enough.”

“What if they doubt that You called me?”

God:  “I will reveal Myself to them through you.”

“Lord, there are many others who speak and teach so much better than I do.”

God:  “Go.  I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

One of my previous posts was about Preparing for the Amazing.  Well, the Amazing God did amazing things.  God spoke very specifically, very graciously through His Word, His people, and circumstances at She Speaks.

His Word:

The theme for my 3 minute message in my evaluation group:  “To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory!”  Ephesians 3: 20 – 21

God:  “Do you believe that verse, Kelli?  More than you could ever ask or imagine!”

My quiet time passage a week before the conference:  “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”  2 Timothy 4: 2

God:  “This word is for you.  I will work out the details.”

His people: 

A new friend at She Speaks says,  “I just feel the need to tell you to stick to your message.”

God:  “Don’t be swayed by flattery or attention, stick to the message I have given you.”

A gracious keynote speaker says to all of us, “You are uniquely, profoundly, specially gifted.”

God:  “I made you, what do you expect?”

My evaluation group leader writes, “You are so gifted at teaching God’s Word...Keep teachin’ the Word, girl!

God:  “Follow hard after me.  Study my Word.  I will give you opportunities to share.”

Circumstances:

I wish I could share with you all of the divine appointments and God moments, but there are way too many and several are very personal.  Let’s just say that God used several people to affirm me as a speaker and a writer.  From the evaluation groups to the publisher appointments, God used circumstances (crazy circumstances!) to absolutely confirm that He had a message He wanted me to share. 

God reminded me of my initial calling 21 years ago when I didn’t know what He would do with a crazy girl with my gifts and skill set.  Interesting that the Greek word for preach is kerusso, which can also mean:  to proclaim; to publish.  Did you get that? Proclaim and publish?  Speak and write?

God, You have spoken.  My response:  to listen.  And obey.

My friends, what is God calling you to do?  What will your response be?  Please comment so that I can pray for you!