A quarter of a century

Today is a big day. It's my quarter of a century birthday.  It's funny how God continues to capture me with the little things in each day.  My birthday present from God today took the form of a half day at work, due to a hurricane fake out. It was the best of all worlds...minimal damage with maximum relaxation:) My prayers go out to those in other parts of the East significantly terrorized by the storm though.

So...good timing to think ahead for the next quarter of life.  Lately, Romans 8:28, keeps popping into my head at times through the song "Your love never fails."  I pray that in this next quarter...I would grasp the following truth from their lyrics:

Your Love Never Fails By Jesus Culture

Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails

Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/jesus-culture-your-love-never-fails-lyrics.html ]
And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails

Verse 2:
The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone here in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails

Bridge:
You make all things work together for my good

I know Romans 8:28 can sometimes be taken out of context. We may think that God will give us everything that we desire, exactly as we see it working out.  But I think the truth is, God's plans are far greater than our own. Even when the winds blow and the storm rages, God is in that. He is in the moments where we doubt. He is in the moments where we turn away. But he is just as much in the moments where he uses difficult circumstances for our good, because His good is ultimately Our good!

Here's to the next quarter of life...walking in faith that no matter what happens...all things are worked out for our good!!

Mission Statement for Life

It's been a while. I am always processing, what seems to be a million thoughts at a time. However, at the core--I think this one encompasses a lot of my thoughts lately. How do I make decisions? How do I decide how to act, think, react? What's the best way to evaluate my heart? At core--what beliefs are driving my actions?

Most corporations, churches, non-profits have a mission statement. This mission statement is the overarching beliefs of the organization--it's the theological backing of why we do what we do. It is this mission that dictates the direction and action of the organization--the programs that are provided--where money is funded, who the targeted beneficiary of services will be, etc.  When you look at a healthy organization and all the action items, you automatically can see how each action item is a clear action that flows out of the core values expressed in the mission statement.

If I had a mission statement for my life--what would it be? Are the action items of my life, turning back to reflect the things that I say that I believe in the deepest parts of who I am? Or am I running like a mismanaged organization---saying my mission is one thing, but acting in a way that reflects a totally different direction? So when I say that God is sovereign, faithful, omniscient, holy, wise, infinite, omnipotent,loving, just, self-sufficient, merciful, unchanging, gracious, and omnipresent---do my actions reflect these truths? Does my lack of patience reflect a life founded on having a creator with these qualities--does it reflect that I trust these qualities to be true? 

My Life Mission Statement:  To live a life that by my very being, speaks into the joy, hope, grace, mercy, transforming power and truth gifted to me by Christ. It is my life mission, that every decision, word, and action would bring Christ glory because of His sacrifice for my life and reflect my thankful and undeserving heart.

Lord, my prayer is that in the everyday, I would keep this mission statement on my mind. When I am not sure how to respond, choose, act, or speak-- I pray-that I would hold all my options against this mission statement--against the truth I know to be true about you. I pray that when I speak--people would see my heart to honor you first and foremost. When I serve--that others would see the actions speaking out of a heart of praise and humbleness before God. When I discern which way to go--that others would see a heart so captured by Christ, that God's desires naturally become my own desires. 

You know the specific life application for all this thought and prayer. Lord, I just pray that my actions would speak out of a heart founded on your Truth and Love.  Lord apart from you--I am nothing. Please help me to continue to pursue a strong foundation and allow me to seek you with all my heart. 

Thanks for pursuing me, Lord. Thanks for loving the unloveable parts of me. And thanks for never giving up on me.  Your the best! I pray that this same truth that I am learning, this same passion you are creating in my heart will also be evoked in the whole Lancaster County community and beyond. I pray for the Church--that out of the wellspring of who you are--Truth would shine bright and change lives around the world! Please be with all the leaders who have power to evoke action in their organizations. I pray that when they look back at their mission--it would reflect your heart! Lord, above all else..tonight I pray Proverbs 4:23---guard my heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Let me heart reflect your mission statement for my life!

Amen:)