Are We Willing?: My First Vlog and Guest Posting at KIP

Come join me over at Keeping it Personal today where I am guest posting... my post goes along with the vlog.  It's titled... NO EXCUSES! (this is the link) 

So, friends, following hard after Christ requires sacrifice. Are we willing? Would love to know your thoughts today...comment here or over at KIP.

I'm ALL IN...are you?


Kelli


Linked up with Stephanie at One Word Wednesday

My One (or Two) Words for 2012

Ok, I am back from a semi-break from blogging. I have managed to post blogs the last few weeks, but they have been reposts of some faves that some of you might have missed. Thank you for the break. Between holiday activities and family needs and frankly, my own need to rest and rejuvenate, the time was necessary.

But I am ready to get going again! I have spent the last week pondering this year of 2012. How would it be different from 2011? What lessons have I learned? What do I want to continue? To put aside? What do I need to work on? What is the Lord calling me to do?

Lots of people in blog world do resolutions. I always evaluate my former year and look to the next year (or years), but I rarely call my "goals" resolutions. Other people come up with "one word" for the year ahead. As I began to pray and ask the Lord for goals or "one word," two words consistently emerged. As I struggled with going against the grain and having two words instead of one, I remembered (miraculously!) that these two words stem from the same Greek word. Before you call me heady or smart or quit reading, let me explain.

Thirteen years ago when I was in seminary, I took three semesters of Greek and I LOVED it. (Please keep reading!) But after ten years of not continuing to pursue Biblical Greek, most of the words have escaped me. But there are some that I remember...the rest I have to constantly look up.

Anyway, back to the two words. The word "live" was the first word to come to mind as I was praying about 2012. Live. Just live. Live for Him. Live graciously. Live unselfishly. Live audaciously. Live spontaneously. Live radically. Yes, live was my word.

And then on Sunday, January 1, as I sat in church and celebrated my 32 years of knowing Jesus Christ, the word "walk" continued to surface. "Should I change my word, Lord?" "Is it walk instead of live?" Walk in it. Walk with Me. Walk, even though you don't know the path.

As I pondered this, the Lord brought the Greek word "peripateo" to my mind. I remembered (again, miraculously) that this word was used to mean BOTH live and walk in the New Testament.

When I looked up some verses where this particular verse was used, it was no surprise that Ephesians 4:1 was present. Just a month ago, God had given me that verse as a potential new direction for a project I was working on. And here it was again. No surprise. 

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to LIVE a life worthy of the calling you have received." (NIV)

"In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up in here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk - better yet, run! - on the road God called you to travel. (Message)

What does this mean for me? There's no more sitting. No more watching. No more dreaming. No more letting fear bench me. It is time to "peripateo." It is time to truly LIVE and WALK out my calling with my God. 

So, what's your "one word," your goal, or your resolution for 2012? I would love to hear. Let's hold each other accountable!

And if you want to read something funny, I am guest posting over at Tammy Karasek's blog, "Tickled Pink Tammy." Here's the link: A Lesson for Life, Literally.  Would love to have you jump over there and join us! (you can give comment love here or there!

Living and Walking,


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!

Celebrating Forty with Friends and My First Giveaway!

Yes, I turn the big 4-0 today.  
Do I feel older? Well, if you are talking about the fact that I have to hold books out a foot from my eyes now to read them, or the fact that my knees crack when I stand up, or that I feel the need to go to bed at around 9:30, then yes, I feel older. 


Honestly, I am incredibly blessed and I felt like today was a great day to celebrate His goodness in my life...and have a giveaway (that comes at the end.)


Today I am grateful for:


the fact that God loves me unconditionally and that after 40 years, I am really beginning to understand that love. I am thankful for my salvation, for my walk with Jesus, for my calling, and for the Spirit that enables me to fulfill that calling.


my husband of almost 20 years. He is an amazing man. I love him dearly and I am thankful that we have a marriage built on Christ.  We went to our first marriage retreat this year...and were affirmed that we were doing a lot of things right (by the grace of God!) He is my biggest fan...he just never comments on my blog.


my children. Bekah is 12 and wise beyond her years.  I think there is an old soul buried beneath that veneer of a young woman. She challenges me to slow down, to think deeply, and to love wholeheartedly.  Ryan is 8 and rocks my world. He always has. Ryan is a great kid with a big heart, a huge imagination, and a ginormous amount of energy.  My children are gifts that allow me to know and understand God better. And this was the year my family became complete in Christ when Ryan gave his heart to Jesus in July!


my extended family. So many I can't name, but I am thankful for all of them. I am blessed to have such an extended network of support.


my friends. You are one of them. Old friends. New friends. Thank you for your love,encouragement, and prayers. You are a blessing.


my church family. I love Christ Community Church.  I love serving alongside of such godly people who are passionately in love with Jesus.


my ministry at CCC. I never would have thought that I would be paid to do something I love so much. I absolutely love encouraging, equipping, and empowering people for ministry and seeing them reach their full potential in Christ.


my new emphasis on writing and speaking. Thanks to your encouragement and readership, I have been writing on this blog since July 4 and have written 33 blog posts on this blog and have guest blogged 3 times for others. I also went to my first speaker/writer conference  (She Speaks) this year and proposed my first book! I have been blessed to speak over 20 times, lead two bible studies, and speak for the first time internationally at a pastor's conference in Caracas, Venezuela. By His Grace and For His Glory!


These are just a few of many, many things I am thankful for.  Thank you for letting me share them with you.  


Now...for the giveaway...
I am giving away THREE books that have hugely ministered to me deeply this year and a Starbucks gift card (that ministers to me, too!)


The THREE books:
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst
Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick


Here's how you can enter to win:
1. Leave a comment on this blog and if you are feeling punchy, I would love to hear a subject you would love for me to blog about.


2. Spread the word about his giveaway via Social Media -
Facebook, Twitter, etc. and let me know that you did that by leaving a comment.  (Use the share link at the top of the page)


3. Follow me on Twitter (@kelliwommack). If you do already, thanks and let me know that !


4. Follow this blog by either signing up for it via email, Google Reader, or Networked blogs.  (You can do this all via the side bar.) Let me know that you did this by leaving a comment. If you already do, let me know that!


Thanks for helping me celebrate today!  I will post the four winners on Monday, October 17.  


Unwrapping the gifts of life,






Kelli


P.S. You have made my day.  I love you all!

Three Ways to Identify Life Purpose: On Purpose Wednesdays

As I was preparing to write today's post, I googled "Living on purpose." I was struck by the results. Only two out of ten google results had anything to say about God. What does that say to me? That the world is searching for purpose, and they are finding lots of answers, but little truth.

This not only saddens me, but it drives me.  It motivates me to share the TRUTH about living on purpose and with purpose. Yes, I agree with some of these self-help gurus that proclaim that living on purpose means finding what you really love to do and getting busy doing it. I also agree that living on purpose doesn't happen overnight, it is a process of honing your talents and your skills. And finally, I would also concur that we all have unique purposes in life and our passion encourages our purpose. 

"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails." Proverbs 19:21 Msg

Finding out what we love to do is so important. Discovering and developing our talents and skills is also crucial to purposeful living. In fact, we will discuss all of these things as we progress through "On Purpose Wednesdays." However, I felt it critical to lay a strong foundation before we get going. 

We can plan and dream and work hard. We can figure out what our passions are and seek to pursue them. But if we don't involve God in the process, our efforts are futile. Why? Because we serve a God who desires relationship with us. A God who has a "plan for us, plans to prosper us, to give us hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) A God who loves us and has a purpose for our lives.

I wrestled with my life purpose for many years. What do I do? Where do I do it? When do I do it? How do I do it? I desperately wanted answers. I cried out to the Lord and every time I got the same answer. "Just seek me." That's it. It wasn't an answer I expected. It also wasn't the answer I wanted. I wanted details, but He provided the only answer that mattered. By seeking Him and walking with Him daily, He would show me what He wanted me to do, and where, when, and how he wanted me to do it. He didn't want me to seek a purpose in life, He wanted me to seek Him.

So, here are three ways to figure out your life purpose:

1. Seek Him.

2. Seek Him.

3. Seek Him.

It's really that simple. And when you seek Him, life in its fullest form abounds. 

“When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” Jeremiah 29: 13  MSG

It's your turn to respond. Have you struggled with figuring out your life purpose? Are you seeking God or others for answers? I would love to know your thoughts. If you are reading this by email, you can click here to comment.

Stay tuned for next Wednesday...we'll be talking about identity.

linking up with 

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.