Cleaning your "Life" Plate

A few weeks ago, an opportunity landed in my lap. A super, God-filled opportunity. I was excited, thrilled, and yet, wondering how I would fit this wonderful ministry possibility into an already filled plate.

I prayed. 

I am beginning to notice in my adult years, that either my sanguine personality lends itself to being unfocused, or I have a slight case of ADD. Or both. I am an enthusiastic person and when I see God at work, I want to jump in... even if I am already fully immersed in His work in other areas. Yes, I can be easily distracted. Yes, I can lose focus. But I like to say I am passionately unfocused.

So, what do I do with this new opportunity? My heart screams, "Yes!" My head fumbles for the word, "No." And my weary body has learned to just wait for the heart and the head to make their decision.

But God has been doing a work IN me... not just around me in the last few months. These last five months of my parents' going through cancer treatments, homeschooling my daughter, and my ministry blooming have taught me to make careful considerations of how to spend my time. Not all ministry opportunities are meant for me. Did I just say that? 

I made a list.

I made a list of all of my "non-negotiable" roles in my life. Christ-follower. Wife. Mom. Daughter. Sister. Minister. And so on. I am fortunate and blessed to have several of these. These roles are God-given and cannot be left unattended.

I then made another list. What are the activities that I have going on in my life right now? These may stem from a non-negotiable role or not. But the activities themselves... they are NEGOTIABLE. 

Then the final list. What are some new ways I see God is at work that interest me? This is where my super, God-filled opportunity was written down. Along with some other possibilities for involvement. 

I gasped.

I had no idea I was involved in so many current activities. I had to list everything... chauffeur to my sweet children, any team, committee, board, anything! Just writing and reading the list left my overwhelmed.

I prayed again.

Lord, help me to see the things you really want for me RIGHT NOW. Help me to ask the hard question of "Why am I doing this?" And enable me to answer honestly, even if it is, "Because I want to look like a good parent, wife, minister, etc." 

Lord, free me from filling my plate out of any reason other than obedience to you.

I was able to discern the activities that I needed to discontinue. I was able to see the possibilities of allowing others to help instead of doing things on my own. I confronted my pride and kicked it to the curb.

I gained focus.

Through relieving myself of some unnecessary activities, I could now turn to my list of potentials. The one that fell in my lap. 

I just knew that God had enabled me to clear my plate some to make room for this great opportunity. 

Not so. 

A God-filled possibility that I did not seek after falls in my lap and yet it is not meant for me to take? That's right. God meant for me to consider it, so that I would do some necessary heart evaluation. And instead of a filled plate, 

I have peace.

I want to encourage you to take a hard look at your "life plate." Perhaps God is asking you to do some heart evaluation. Are you stressed? Overwhelmed? What are you doing out of any reason other than obedience to God? I would love to help you by praying for you or coaching you through this! 

P.S. If you have not joined my ministry page on Facebook, this is your special invitation! Encouragement guaranteed. 

Living for ONE,

Kelli

Purpose in the Process

I have come to the in your face realization that I spend an awful lot of time trying to figure out what in the world I am supposed to be doing here on this earth. I know that comes as a shock since I write about purpose every week...  Yet, I struggle with "Am I getting it right?" You know, I have this fear of looking back at my life when I am older and having regrets. So, I pray, I read, I write, I research, I do life plans, and so on. And all of those have been extremely helpful. 

I started this whole On Purpose Wednesdays writing about the fact that we can't live life "by accident." We must be intentional.  And I still very much believe that and preach that. I also believe that we must have goals and life plans, or we will spend a lot of time wasting time. Being willy nilly, with no vision or direction. I believe we must seek Him with our whole hearts and He will show us the way -- 

but not necessarily the destination. 

I don't know about you, but when I go on a trip, one of my least favorite parts is the actual traveling piece. I am extremely prone to motion sickness. So whether I travel by car, boat, plane, or train, (yes, I have) I most always have to take a Dramamine or this girl is going to yak. Sorry, it's true. I really wish our scientists would figure out the whole "Beam me up, Scotty!" thing so that I can just be momentarily and motionlessly transferred to my destination. I just want to get there, for heaven's sake!

So, when trying to discern MY PURPOSE in life, I am equally as impatient. I want to just get there, ok? Why do we have to do all these trial runs? Make mistakes? Listen? Research? Seek counseling? I just want to get THERE, for heaven's sake! 

And so, last week as I was "researching" purpose for my sake and yours, I came across this written by Oswald Chambers...

What is my vision of God’s purpose for me? Whatever it may be, His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish— His purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is that I see “Him walking on the sea” with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see “Him walking on the sea” (Mark 6:49). It is the process, not the outcome,that is glorifying to God.

What????  His purpose is in the process itself, ever drawing me near to him; ever growing my trust in Him; ever wooing me into relationship to Him; ever demonstrating His absolute love and grace and presence in my life.

While I spend (and waste) my time considering and agonizing over His purpose for my life, He is there in the moment ready to reveal that seeking Him, walking with Him, listening to Him -- well, that is my purpose. 

You see, God is not about having us ARRIVE. He is about having us JOURNEY.

-- and Dramamine is not required. 

Are you like me and find yourself just wanting to find that ultimate PURPOSE...to reach that destination? Please share so that we can encourage each other and pray for each other.  You have no idea how much your comments mean to this "newbie" writer. 

Unwrapping the gift of the journey with Him!

Kelli

linking up with my friend at 

and Courtney for the Women Living Well Blog Bash!

Come Away and Enjoy My Presence: Presence Filled Fridays

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to them, 'Come away with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" Mark 6:31

Ever been so busy coming and going that you didn't even have a chance to eat? I have to say that this has been the norm for me the last two weeks. But I am also excited to tell you that this weekend, I am going away with God (and 58 sweet women) to a quiet place and get some much needed rest. I am excited about the opportunity for rest. For the relief from all things social media (sorry!) and cell phone. But more than anything, I want to be with my Jesus. I long to be in His Presence. Though I walk with Him each day, I am desiring time set aside to just enjoy Him and to listen to Him.

I know this is not easy for everyone. Some people have responsibilities that make it nearly impossible to get away. Others have never retreated with God and don't know if they will like it or not.

I just want to encourage you to spend twenty minutes with Him this weekend.  That's about as long as a sitcom. Twenty minutes to read a few scriptures - start in John if you have never read them. If you have read John, then start reading Isaiah 40. After you read the Scriptures, just sit and listen. Pray. But mostly listen. I can assure you He has something to say to you. (If you get distracted, write down your random thoughts, so you can refocus.) I am hoping that after you spend twenty minutes with Him, you'll want to spend more.

And I'll be praying for you. I'd appreciate your prayers as well. 

REtreat     REfuge   REst    REstoration    REdemption    REnewal of the Mind    REbirth   REfreshment of the Soul    REvival of the Heart    REpentance     REturning REady    REly on Him

What is your favorite place to get away with God? What helps you focus when you spend time with Him? Share your comments. I'd love to read them. 

Unwrapping the sweet gift of His presence,

Kelli

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