My Christmas Wish List
Here's a few things on my own Christmas wish list, including some christian living ideasThis gift guide is full of gift ideas that I want as a Christian wife and woman who is trying to both be trendy but also incorporate a little less toxic products into my life. So...
Let No One Despise You For Your Youth
As young people, I think we tend to dwell on pressure rather than purpose. We’re overwhelmed by the pressure to prove – to prove that we have potential, that we’re good at what we do, that we don’t need to have had a lot of experience to have valuable input. Sometimes our youth can feel like such a burden and obstacle that we forget what an invaluable, purposeful gift it is. I’d like you to take a step back with me and evaluate your life for a second. Years from now, we might look into a mirror and wonder where the time went and what in the world we did with it. I think, in the grand span of our life, we may think about these years that we’re in right now more than we realize. How are you redeeming the time? I hope it’s not in frustration, pressure, discouragement, and unholy hustle. Paul famously charged Timothy to set an example in our youth – in speech, life, love, faith, purity. The world has a gigantic spotlight on us, young people, whether we realize it or not. Everyone wants to know how we’ll act and react. Everyone sets an example for someone, but as young people – and especially young leaders, young pastors (like Timothy), young couples, young Christians – we have a little bit of a novel appeal.
How to Be A Light Where You Are
A big problem with where we’re at right now is that we choose not to take the opportunities – opportunities to be a light for Jesus. We refuse to see the chances to share the Gospel because we’re so familiar with the setting and so busy with our own lives.
It’s your choice to live an ordinary life and wait to be sent somewhere to do God’s will, or you can be a light exactly where you are.
Jesus will give you the strength, but our hearts need to be ready and eager to be a missionary for Him wherever that may be.
Where God has you right now is EXACTLY where He wants you to be ministering. Be open to be used.
What Is Purpose? Part 4
There are good works that God specifically calls us to do, bringing purpose and value to the way we live in our every day. But it is important – like so important – to note that our good works don’t rest in works alone. We can’t please God with those good works without having faith. So, faith is, therefore, included in our purpose. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” The greatest of those good works we’re all called to? The greatest commandments. Love the Lord your God. The next? Love your neighbor as yourself. Loving God and enjoying God is part of purpose.
What Is Purpose? Part 3
One way is to know that God called us to be obedient — He has specific things He calls us to be obedient to in in the Bible.The Lord has good works for us to step into in our day to day. This is why purpose leads us to a bigger concept of our life calling and plan, but also applies directly to what we do, say and act and step into every single day. It applies to those little details.There is purpose in TODAY. You have things you’re called to TODAY. What a HIGH calling and way to live life!
What Is Purpose? Part 2
What is purpose? What is living purposefully?
One verse I LOVE that speaks to what purpose is Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
What does this mean? 1) You are His workmanship 2) He created you for good works 3) He prepared a life and good works for you to step into before you were even born.
Comparison: Losing Sight
Comparison holds me back from celebrating others because I envy. Comparison holds me back from what God has for me and my purpose on this earth because I spend too much time thinking about others’ successes OR MYSELF and my own inadequacies — making me feel lesser-than and hopeless. Comparison breeds discontentment causing me to be dissatisfied with who I am. “The cost of comparison: pride & insecurity.” Summed up, comparison tears me down and it tears down my relationships with others as I grow in jealousy rather than love. It takes my focus off of God and what He calls me to and who He’s made me to be. She wrote in that same post: “the cure? 1. Recognize your universal calling (to keep your eyes on JESUS) 2. Recognize your unique calling (whatever it is the Lord has created ONLY you to do right where you are).”