Tag Archives: purpose

DAY 18 (2015)

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What we look like when our eyes are off our purpose... dirty snow.

What we look like when our eyes are off our purpose… dirty snow.

It has snowed for the past two weeks in Buffalo (this is not an exaggeration). Today is the first day where snow did not fall at least one time during the day. Right about now you’re wondering if this post is going to be a weather update. Rest assured it is not. Snow when it initially falls is white, pure, and beautiful. But when it has sat for a while and interacted with the elements of the earth, it becomes a brown dirty mess. What’s my point? Snow unaffected by the world is a beautiful sight, it is doing what it was created to do. As snow is falling it is fulfilling the purpose that God made it for. But when snow is sitting and not falling it is not doing what it was created for and at that moment is when it beaten and dirtied by the world. Are you catching my point, yet? We all have a purpose, a reason for being. When we are living that purpose we are unaffected by the world, we interact but are unaffected because our focus is on our purpose. But when we like snow sit around not doing what we are called to do, then we too become dirty and ineffective. Today God reminded me that I have a purpose and that everyday He guides me to do what He has called me to do. On the days that I follow I feel light and at peace, even if my circumstances don’t change. But on days that I don’t I feel dark and burdened. If we want light in our lives, and not to be cast aside like dirty snow, we need to do what God has called us to do.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good and what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

What am I thankful for today? Lessons from the snow.

DAY 250 (2014)

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Faith is like a tree it blooms or dies depending on how you feed it... (벚꽃 -sounds like pop-corn- Chenon S. Korea Picture by Joy Seo.)

Faith is like a tree it blooms or dies depending on how you feed it…
(벚꽃 -sounds like pop-corn- Chenon S. Korea Picture by Joy Seo.)

I have been very inconsistent with my DAY posts this year. I vow to do better starting now. Life was (and in some ways still is) hectic, but it is all part of the journey God has me on. Now as I sit relaxed after a 2.5 mile trek, I am wishing I had been more consistent. God has been faithfully teaching me all along the way, but I have not been faithful in dictating the lessons learned as a reminder for myself and a tool to help others. So today I am committing to getting back on track. So, then what am I learning now? Faith requires work. Yup, WORK. Many of us define faith as “believing and hoping in the unseen”, and you wouldn’t really be incorrect. But belief and hope requires that the believer/hoper participate actively in the pursuit of what they are believing and hoping for. Faith is not passive, it was never meant to be. We can’t simply just believe things into existence, if we could there would be no need for hard work. No need for education, or even the need to set goals and dreams. Now I don’t want you to misunderstand, I am not insinuating that we shouldn’t trust God to meet our needs. I am also NOT saying that we shouldn’t have the faith of a child (the kind of faith Christ told us to have). But what I am saying is that God has given us the gift of faith so that we can act on it. For example I want to be a doctor, I believe by faith it is what God has called me to do. I have sat on this thought for years knowing in my head that I want to do it. Feeling in my heart that every road that led to somewhere other than medical school was just a temporary stop on my bandwagon of procrastination. But the only way for me to become a doctor is to enroll in school (uhmmm…done). I have to study and learn. I have a responsibility, a role to play, in order to see my faith realized. Faith is not passive it is active. It requires us to take the steps necessary. It requires that we actively seek God’s will as we travel with Him in our faith walk. Sometimes faith says go, go, go. Sometimes faith says stop and wait. Be it go, go, go or wait… FAITH requires WORK.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

The Lesson: Faith is active not passive, do the work necessary.

DAY 249 (2014)

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Like a lamp with no bulb...so is truth with no substance. Both give no light.  (Picture by Lisa R.)

Like a lamp with no bulb…so is truth with no substance. Both give no light.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Today I realized just how important a good church home really is. I recently moved, to Williamsville, NY. It’s beautiful here, the people are very friendly. I have a beautiful place to live, a little money in the bank, I am actively looking for a job (money won’t last for ever). I know God will provide. I know He has a purpose and has a plan. He is not only my plan A, but my B thru Z as well. I can’t put into words why this journey is so important to me, and why I need God to be the complete guide of this adventure that I am now on. I also can’t completely explain the change in my heart, or my desire to see God be victorious in my life through this time. I want Him to be the light that shines so that others (who may believe God, but have a back up just in case) can see that truly God is ALL we need. Thus, I need a good home church, not just a building, but a place where I learn, a place where I grow, and place where I have community with other believers and lovers of Christ. I have been to a couple of churches, both were very nice, but nice is all it was. However, I am not looking for nice, I am looking to learn. I am looking for a church that is making disciples, creating people who are not just “Christian” in name only, but in deed, action, and lifestyle as well. I want to grow so that I can become what God wants me to become. These goals can not be accomplished in a “nice” church. Why, the diatribe? During church today (I watched my old church online), Pastor Doug said these words in regards to being a disciple of Christ: “Being a disciple of Jesus is a LIFE LONG pursuit”. It is continuous and until we reach our final destination (Heaven or that other place… 😉 ), we are to be growing and moving forward. We should be learning about our beliefs as well as being challenged to live what we believe. We need to be a light in the darkness. That calls for more than just a “nice” church, it  calls for an ACTIVE and ALIVE church.  If our goal is to change the world for Christ, but on Sundays we leave church feeling “good”, but not challenged, then it is time for a new church. However, if our goal is to just be happy, just live for ourselves then continue in the “nice” church. As for me I am not looking to just be happy (for the record there is nothing wrong with being happy), I am looking to CHANGE THE WORLD! So “just nice” won’t cut it.

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart. (Picture by Lisa R)

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Exodus 36. “Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work” (Verses 6-7). What a blessing it is to read these verses this morning. With yesterday’s events still fresh on my mind (read day 114), the thought that God takes only what is necessary is a beautiful thought. Why? Israel wanted to give, give, give, but God restrained them from giving more than was needed. He allowed only what was necessary for the task at hand. The inverse therefore is true as well, when He takes away, He only takes away what is needed for the task at hand. What needs to be gone in order for us to grow.Therefore, I can rest knowing that He will also fill that empty spot with something which is necessary. 

DAY 114 (2014)

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dear GodI should, at this moment be freaking out. I mean really, really freaking out. When I got home today I noticed that my mom looked sad, maybe not sad more like worried. I asked what was wrong, but she was at the phone at the time and asked me to give her a moment. I went about putting away my work stuff and settling into comfy clothes. A little while later, she said she needed to talk to me, so I sat down. Here’s what she said, “I have been let go from my job. Today was my last day.” Turns out the person who is over her is hiring someone new, but the new person can only work the days and hours that my mom works. Knowing that my mom would more than likely be eventually leaving she decided to let her go. For most right about now the preferred action would be anger or throwing a fit, maybe even ranting about the unfairness of it all. Surprisingly though, I am not upset, nor am I anger, I am not even scared. I am however tired. I feel like for the past few months I have been pushing a boulder uphill, with no reprieve and no downhill insight. Yesterday after my encounter with Ms. S (read DAY 113), God said it was time to let the boulder go. So I woke up today ready for whatever God had in store (I did not see this coming though). What’s odd is that instead of fear, or frustration I felt a sense of relief. I really didn’t want my mom doing that job, I didn’t trust the person managing her, and everything about the job to me felt wrong, but we needed the money…  I choose to view the events of the day as  God closing a door, because He has a better one He’s about to open. When I started this new journey in January (walking God’s path), I said I would follow His direction no matter what. Today all I could think after my mom told me the events of her day was, God doesn’t do anything without a reason. He has a plan and I need to follow. Then He reminded me 하나의 작은 움직임이 큰 기적을, translation: One small movement, BIG miracles.

For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12).

What’s my plan? One small movement.

DAY 113 (2014)

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Wait. Don't complain. God has a purpose for the yield sign.

Wait. Don’t complain. God has a purpose for the yield sign.

This officially is my “patients give me advice week”. Since the beginning of the week patients having been refreshing my soul and giving me bits of wisdom (instead of the other way around). Today’s encounter especially blessed my heart and so I have decided to share it. One of our originals had an office visit today (originals are patients that started  with us when we first opened). For the sake of privacy we’ll call her Ms. S. When Ms. S first came to us her cancer was newly diagnosed. She went through chemotherapy with good response, had surgery and finished off with radiation. Scans showed a clean bill of health. Almost a year later she presented with a recurrence of cancer. She was devastated by the news. She had fought so hard and won, but now to have this happen… Today when she sat before me, it was like none of those days ever happened. They felt like a distant memory I had made up in my head. She smiled at me, gave me a hug and a kiss. Then said, “When are you going on the mission field?” I almost teared up (it’s a sore subject between God and I, the mission field). I replied, “God keeps telling me to wait.” I guess my face reflected more than I wanted it to, because she then said, “Don’t be angry and don’t rush God.” I looked at her and thought, she still sees God as good despite all she has gone through. She continued with, “He has a purpose for this. A reason why you are STILL here. Do you know, what it means after you hear you have cancer, to talk to someone like you? It is a blessing. You are a blessing, so don’t rush Him. He has a reason.” F L O O R E D!!!! (and humbled). I have been complaining to God, because it feels as though NOTHING is going my way. But today He literally shut me up. In the past week I have watched Him provide when I didn’t even ask (mostly because I had resigned myself to the idea of my needs not getting met). Each met need has been like a little spark igniting inside me reminding me that God moves. Today He not only moved, He spoke. He used the perfect voice too. The voice of someone who knows that God is good even if you get breast cancer, twice. Today the spark ignited into a fire.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

So what’s the plan? I am going to learn to wait, and as I wait I will fulfill the purpose for which I am waiting.

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart. (Picture by Lisa R)

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Exodus 33. “The Lord replied, “’My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’  Then Moses said to Him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?'” (Verses 14-16). How can people tell us apart? The Lord is with us. He should be seen in our actions, in our speech, in our daily lives. Moses’ end goal was not to be praised as the rescuer of Israel. Moses’ end goal was to have the world know that God went before them, that God cleared their path. That God rescues and saves. May that be our goal today as well. Let our light shine so that the world will see God.

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart. (Picture by Lisa R)

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Exodus 12. “This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover” (Verse 11). If you have read the chapter right about now you are wondering, why out of all the verses in this chapter did I choose 11? Glad you asked. In reading I wondered why God was so specific about how they needed to be dressed in order to eat. If you noticed they needed to eat it quickly, but the also needed to be dressed as though they were about to leave. When I got to verse 31 I realized that was the exact reason. Read it you’ll see why too. Here’s what I learned: God sees the WHOLE picture. Therefore He may ask us to do things that seem illogical to us, almost nonsensical. But we need to remember our view is limited, we only see what is directly in front of us. God sees the past, present, and the future. He sees it ALL. Therefore, no request from God is nonsensical, there is a reason and a purpose for it all. So obey.

DAY 51 (2014)

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We make our plans, but God directs our path. Let Him be your journey's guide. (Picture by Lisa R.)

We make our plans, but God directs our path. Let Him be your journey’s guide.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

So my brother is hilarious. He is leaving for Buffalo in one week. He is worried about my mom and I, so he’s trying to get another person to live with us. Basically a renter to help with the portion of the rent he won’t be here for. The candidate? His coworker. She is Chinese and has the coolest personality ever. But this is not what my post is about. The past couple of days had been really emotional in my house. Nothing had changed, we weren’t mad at each other, but for some reason we have all been a little volatile. Today as his coworker came to look at her potential home, I realized why we have been so tense. We’re going to miss him and he is going to miss us. We have been trying  to live as though the inevitable was not going to happen, but in the back of our minds we knew it was quickly approaching, CHANGE. Unspoken words will often demonstrate themselves through actions. I have to laugh, because pretending something is not going to happen won’t stop it from happening, (especially since he moves next Friday).  But don’t we (humans) do that all the time? When something happens that’s opposite of our desire, we hide from it, ignore, and try to live as though it is not affecting us. This week I have seen first hand you can’t stop things that have to happen, just because you don’t want them to. Life is in constant flux, constant change and it is scary. However it is also beautiful. So next time change comes, let’s not run and hide. Instead let’s embrace and grow.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). 

So what’s my plan of attack? Even if it is scary embrace change.