Tag - faith

How Do you Deal with Pain?

June 10, 2021

I lifted a heavy weight. My arm struggled to reach it all the way to my shoulder. Although the weight training work was hard, I knew the result — down the road — would be significant, good even. There is gain, often, through pain.

After working out, I couldn’t help but think: Sometimes, God permits our pain for His greater gain.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Cor. 4:17)

“Hard” produces something. The grueling, horrible and it-feels-like-you-are-going-to-break pain is not a waste. It is not trash. It is not something we run from. Instead, we hold God’s hand and trust Him to carry us through.

I met with a friend not long ago who experienced major relational pain with a friend. The conversations were painful. The decisions she had to make were even harder. She didn’t know if she could set boundaries. Yet, looking back, I see that her life is now transformed because of what she endured and how she trusted God. There was a greater glory God was working (even when she couldn’t see it). Now, she is serving God and others like never before. God may not have caused her pain (we have an enemy), but He certainly used it for her (and others) good.

Be it on Earth or in Heaven, through pain, God produces something greater than we can explain.

Pain often causes us to:
– draw near God (and He draws nearer to us)
– need a greater rescue (and we gain a testimony)
– pray (and see Him move)
– look beyond what we see in the natural (and trust God by faith and not by sight)

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16)

What looks like it is going to kill us, God uses to renew us. God is always producing something greater…

Need proof? Look back upon your life. What good did God teach you from your hard times of the past? How have you grown? How have you learned to endure and persevere? Give thanks. These are good lessons.

Pray: God, we love you. We know that you are not not evil. You are good, not evil. What you create is good, not evil. At the same time, there are times in life where you allow pain. God, we want to thank you, although it is difficult, for the pain we are going through. We trust you with it. We believe that you will work out a better end, then we can see. It is hard to say this. It is sometimes hard to even believe this. Will you give us faith and hope during these times? We need you more than ever. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

—

On another note, I need your opinion! Which online course would you be the most interested in?

How to Set Boundaries: Strengthen Relationships & Gain Peace
How to Say No: Let Go and Gain More of What Matters
Receiving Rest: Move Beyond Worry and Fear

I am thinking of doing a multi-part recorded and live workshop on one of the above topics. Which number are you most interested in?

Also, would a weeknight (a), a weekday (b.) or a weekend (c.) work best for you?

Prayer to Move Mountains

June 2, 2021

purposefulfaith

Contentment, faith, fear, grace, hope

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“Where are you, Kelly?”

Friends, I got your emails. You wanted to know where I was and if I was okay.

Can I tell you? I am more than okay. Friends, despite the fact that masses of people were vying for one listed home…despite the fact that nothing new was listed…despite the fact that my future home was not even put online…

…WE GOT A HOME!

God showed up, like always. He did it, again. He always does that.

Sure, it may have been the 11th hour; it may have looked like there was no way; I may not have done things perfectly or acted perfectly, even so…God came though!

Your prayers moved mountains and, my dear ones, I cannot thank you enough. With this, I want to encourage you the same way…

God will come through for you too!

Can you remember a time when the Lord showed up in your life? A time when, against all odds, He made something — a miracle of sorts — happen?

“It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,
    when God returned Zion’s exiles.
We laughed, we sang,
    we couldn’t believe our good fortune.
We were the talk of the nations—
    “God was wonderful to them!”
God was wonderful to us;
    we are one happy people.” (Ps. 126: 1-3 MSG)

Can you remember the feelings, the joy, the praise, the wonder at how a Mighty God, showed up? How He changed everything? How He made something out of nothing? Give Him thanks for that time.

And then say, over your needs today, “Do it again, God! Do it again!”

“And now, God, do it again—
    bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
So those who planted their crops in despair
    will shout “Yes!” at the harvest,
So those who went off with heavy hearts
    will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.” (Ps. 126:4-6 MSG)

Just like I experienced, when you all prayed for me, there is power in numbers. There is movement in masses of prayers.

“If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.” (Mt. 18:19)

Let’s all pray for each other.

Can you even imagine if thousands of us agree for God to address our needs? Can you imagine how many mountains we can move through thousands of collective prayers? I want you to experience mountain-moving prayer too!

So, let’s all pray for our Purposeful Faith family’s needs now — and watch what happens! (Go God, go! We believe in you and we support each other!)

Prayer for all of us: “Father, we thank you that we are the body. Just as the arm needs the head and the legs need the torso — we need each other. With this, we come to you right now, Father God. We usher in front of you — all our needs. We bring to you health requests, family needs, relationship turmoil, hardship, suffering, tears, mourning, grief, mental health issues, job losses and requests, discouragement and doubt, financial issues and marital suffering and we ask to do the impossible. Because you are THE GOD of the impossible, we bring every request before you and we ask for a mass-answer to our massive needs. Why limit you? Why doubt you? Why not, believe? With this, we ask for massive prayer breakthrough and a mass deliverance, God. Like never before. God, you see every child here. You see every need. You know what is on every heart. We pray that you might move. We pray that you might change things. We pray that you might bring heavenly answers and movement to earthly issues. We bring all of it before you. We call on heaven to move for our brothers and sisters in Christ! We ask for your hand, the sovereign hand of God to move with power on everyone’s behalf. We not only agree with each other’s needs, but we believe that it shall be done. Be it on the last hour, or against all odds, or different than we thought — we declare, we trust you. We believe. We thank you for hearing our prayer. We thank you for seeing our need. We thank you that your ways are the best way. We surrender to a good, good Father. Give us peace in any gap of you showing up and showing your goodness, so that we may trust you more and more. We praise your name. You alone are worthy! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Be Encouraged Today!

May 20, 2021

purposefulfaith

faith, hope, Love & Health

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Be Encouraged. God loves you. He loves you and He loves you… He wants you and wants you still.. He cares for you and continually cares for you…

Nothing, no nothing, separates you from His love (see: Romans 8:31-39).

We are looking for a new home. With the market as it is, I’ve seen a hundred people vying for the same home. Nothing is available. We applied one place and were beat out. We looked at another; it did not work. We have two weeks to go until we must move and, yet, no home. I can’t stop looking online. I don’t know where are going (thanks for your prayers).

It’s easy to think in this place — where are you God? Did you forget me? It’s even easier to worry.

Yet, to think about God (I mean, to really think about God) and who He is — is to recover peace. Here’s the truth:

God does not forsake or abandon His children.

“…God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”(Heb 13:5)

This means, even if it feels that He is not there, not working, or not available — He’s right there, with us.

God cares for us.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Pet. 5:7)

In my situation, I worried. I noticed, as I opened the door to this sin, I started to worry about everything. Yet, God gives us an alternate solution to a mind that can’t stop or that keeps circling the same mountain — He gives us Jesus. Jesus took on all our issues (sin, shame, etc.) on the cross and God still calls us to cast our issues on Him. He is SO good to us. He continually is SO good to us.

God keeps us from shame as we hope in Him.

“No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame…” (Ps. 25:3)

What a promise! My hope in God actually keeps me from what I fear the most — shame. That thought gives a heart rest and leads to fresh hope and faith.

God guards our heart and mind.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

As we forgo anxiousness and worry and turn to prayer and petition, the God of Peace shows up. He, like a guard, keeps our heart and mind. His peace protects us. This is powerful and encouraging.

I want God’s peace guarding my heart and my mind, don’t you?

Friends, brothers and sisters, above all know: God cares for you. In this, we can rejoice. In this, we recover hope. In this, we are protected. He will show up. He will help. We are never forgotten children.

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Prayer: Father, thank you that you do not give up on me. Thank you that you do not turn your back on me. Thank you that you are for me. Thank you that you lead me. Thank you that I can trust you. Thank you that you provide. Thank you that, right now, I can cast my every worry, fear and issue on you. I am so grateful that you take these things for me. It is inconceivable, actually, after all that Jesus already carried. But, you love me…you love me…you love me. You are amazing. I love you. Forgive me for carrying worry and fear. Thank you, again, for loving me. I am so blessed to be in your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Having Ears to Hear

May 19, 2021

purposefulfaith

Contentment

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“Son, clean your room.”

Dead air.

“Son, clean your room.”

Dead air.

“Son, do you hear me??? Clean your room.”

“Oh mom, did you say something to me?”

“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” (Mt. 13:9 NLT)

Did you know that even as grown adults we can actually hear, but not listen?

It happens to me too, when I am thinking about other things, when I have my own solution in mind or when I am in a rush. Other times, I’m so used to what is being said words lose meaning.

Ya, ya, ya, I know that already.

We can do this with God’s Word too. We can hear, but not listen. Read, but not understand.

Recently, I realized this sort of thing was hurting me. I was reading God’s promises, but not believing. I was holding tight to prayer, but not believing God would show up. I was worrying and stressing more than knowing and trusting in God’s help.

The result was I began to hold on to my natural circumstances more than God’s truth. Do you find yourself there right now?

This can easily happen when we hear but don’t listen, internalize but don’t understand, what God is trying to say to us.

Never allow God’s Word to get ordinary. When His Word gets ordinary we forget God is a God of extraordinary break-through. We revert back to our own plans.

At this past Breakthrough Retreat, we honed in on the power of God’s Word. We activated truth in our life. We restored faith in a God who shows up. We gained fresh hope, even in the places of our wait. We covered practical ways to stand firm, steady and strong even in the midst of a hard time. We put together an action plan to have courage in the midst of a storm.

If you are still interested in attending the Breakthrough Retreat it is not too late. You can join me for Breakthrough Retreat via Zoom (via the recorded version, $29).

Allow the truth of God to become your truth!

Prayer: God, help me. Help your Word to become my words. Help your truth to fill my mind. I ask for your Holy Spirit to renew my mind. I do not want to conform to the world around me. I want to be transformed by you. I ask for fresh faith, hope and love for others. Renew me and restore me. Give me a love for your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Keep Going, Don’t Quit (& Invite)

May 14, 2021

purposefulfaith

awe, blessings, doubt, faith

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We cannot give up. We cannot back down. Hard times will come and hard times will go, but one thing remains: Our Lord. Rather than going down with what aims to take us down, we can stand firm and stronger than ever.

Lately, I have been going through a hard time. One domino after another is falling. Things are piling up. Here, in this scary place, I know I have a choice — I can either look to God or look at my problems and worry, worry, worry…

I’ve been here before. I’ve hit hard times. I’ve known what it is to have a choice — to stand or to fall. The decision between victory and defeat is narrow sometimes.

With this, I’ve been thinking of all the ways I’ve learned to stand strong. I want to share them with you. Through God’s leading, I am changing course on the content of this Breakthrough Retreat. I am going to teach the biblical ways to stand strong during hard times. I will offer practical tips.

This is vitally important to our faith-walk.

Scripture says, “…Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Is. 40:31)

This is not a myth, but truth. You really can grow stronger as you wait with the Lord. He really can take you thousands of miles higher than the pit you may find yourself in today.

In our wait, we grow strong when we do things God’s way. We grow steadfast when we lean on God’s truth. We advance when we go where God is taking us. We win when we don’t lay down.

Get up and get going. Let’s do it together.

We don’t just want to just survive; we want to thrive with God during all times. We want to have our hearts full and soft, no matter what we face.

If you want to be built up in hope, faith and a persevering spirit, then join me tomorrow for the Breakthrough Retreat via Zoom (10 AM ET- 1 PM ET, via zoom or via recorded version, $29). We will pray. We will worship. We will be honest. We will examine our own story. We will reflect. We will find hope.

I am confident it will be a time of refreshment, renewal and recharging. God has really been highlighting scripture and at the message and I can’t wait to encourage you tomorrow. Join me.

Love,

Kelly

Putting our Trust in Man

April 23, 2021

purposefulfaith

blessings, faith, grace, hope

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Why put your trust in man?

Man gives one day and takes-away the next. Man cheers today, then whispers behind your back the next. The applause of man is waning.

Just think…Jesus was cheered by the people… yet, not too long later, people shouted, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

For the longest time, I wanted man to recognize me. I wanted to be chosen. I wanted to prove I was good enough. I wanted to climb to new places because people would finally “see” what I carried. I wanted them to give me things. I wanted them to make a way for me to get to some higher place. Yuck. Writing this is sickening.

Why? Because you can’t really love people when you are constantly wanting from them. You can’t hear them when your mouth is too busy proving things to them. You can’t be about others when you’re all about getting what you need for yourself.

Plus, as I said before, man’s love is fickle, while God’s love is solid.

Even Jesus knew this…

“Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.” (Jo. 2:23-25)

We don’t need a testimony from others about how great we are, for then we will miss the testimony God is working. God is our best portion. We can trust Him to take care of us. We can trust Him to provide for us. We can trust Him to show up for us. We can trust Him to move for us. And, He will — when we trust HIM.

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Ro. 5:5 NIV)

God’s love is so rich that it can more than take care of your every need, want and hope!

Prayer: Father, I confess, I sometimes want man’s approval and validation. I confess sometimes I have relied on my own self-efforts rather than your providence and sustenance. Please forgive me. I don’t want to exchange your love for love of another. In this, I rely more on them than I do on you. Forgive me for doing this. You are my greatest portion and my highest reward. I thank you that you created us all to love. I thank you that you have created me for relationship. However, please help me to put my trust in you and not in man. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Where are You, God?

April 7, 2021

purposefulfaith

awe, faith, hope

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“Mom, can I wear this?”

My kids dug into my jewelry box. A watch that my husband gave me on a prior anniversary was now dangling in the air.

“Of course you can,” I said.

Frankly, there’s nothing in the box that I wouldn’t give to my kids. I plan to give it all to them one day. My son wanted to keep the watch, now. Yet, to give to him now, would take away the joy of a future moment for him (or his wife).

Still, the fact remains, everything I have — I want to give to my kids.

I can’t help but think that God feels the same way towards us…

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Jo. 3:16)

If God gave His son, how much more won’t He give us?

“Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus chose us by his glory and goodness,through which he also gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us.” (2 Pet. 1:3-4)

If His power gives us everything, how much are we equipped with all we need?

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Lu. 12:32

If it pleases God to give, how much does He give that we don’t even recognize?

The enemy would love to blind our eyes with lies. He would love to convince us that God doesn’t give, doesn’t help, and that he won’t intervene. He would love to have us declare ourselves stuck in a pit, when we are actually in the arms of a Good Father. He would love to keep us in fear, when we are actually surrounded by a heavenly host and the King of Kings who cares for us. He would love to make us think we are failures, or wash-ups, when we are actually sons and daughters.

I was thinking this morning that — leaving a room of fear is as easy as crossing over a new threshold to faith. You can enter a new room easily — through repentance. You just choose to leave. And, Jesus, as The Way, takes you in. He takes you through. It is as simple as leaving what was – behind. You enter what will be, by faith.

Prayer: God, fear and worry sometimes make me feel like you won’t show up for me. I renounce this mistruth as a lie. You are faithful. You are true. You love me. You help me. It doesn’t mean that life will always be easy. But, you perfectly time your gifts and your treasure. You know just when to give to a child, a treasure. Your timing is perfect. You know what you are constructing, forming and fashioning within. I will not fear. I will not fret. I will not panic. You are good and you have good for me. I may not see it, in full today, but I can give thanks because your ways are higher than my ways, mightier than my ways and more effective than my ways. Today, I put my trust in you. Today, I declare that you are faithful. Today, I rely on your strength, not mine. I love you. You are the best Father ever. You have gifts and love and fruits of the Spirit for me. I am blessed. Thank you for all you do for me. Your plan is the best! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We Cannot Change People

March 30, 2021

purposefulfaith

approval, Contentment, faith

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One of the greatest frustrations is sharing truth with someone who doesn’t want to change.

This can happen with an unbelieving child, an unchanging husband, or with a super-close friend… Have you tried talking to them a time or two, or five?

It hurts when you know what someone should do, yet they don’t do it.

I recently talked to a leader who told me, “No matter how much I tell people what they need to do, and why they should do it, they pretty much never follow through.”

Why could that be?

Well, let me ask you — how do you feel when people tell you what to do? When they point out what you are doing wrong? How do you feel when advice is thrust upon you? Do you receive or push away?

I can’t help but think — forced-change is resisted. No one likes being held down and commanded to change.

Yet, Proverbs tells us, “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” (Prov. 15:31)

I want to be wise, don’t you? How do we contend with this verse? I think the notable keyword here are the words: life-giving.

Many of us hit people with a sharp stake of truth and call that life. But, is it? Living-giving without love under them are just cutting demands. These sorts of words tend to shape people into our image, rather than Christ’s.

This is why having love at the foundation is so key. If people cannot see your interest, they will question your intent. And, they’ll likely resist.

But, if they know you understand? They sense that you care? They believe that you want for them a better life? They see the vision, because of your pure heart?

Then, they likely will value what you say.

God instructs us to look at the log in our own eye, before examining the speck in other people’s eye. We should be wise and make sure that what we call-out is not something that we, ourselves, actually walk with.

What about you? Are you wise? Do you speak God’s wisdom in love? Or, do you want others to change so that you can finally be happy with them?

Prayer: God, I need you. I want to listen and heed wisdom. I also want to share wisdom with others in a way that their heart can receive it. Teach me the nuances of this. Teach me how to love in a greater proportion. Give me your heart, your Word and your vision for others at just the right moment. May I be full of grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Job Hope

March 23, 2021

purposefulfaith

Contentment, faith

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You’d never see a church named what I am about to name it… While, you absolutely might see a church named, “Grace Church” or “Abundant Life Church”, you would never see a church named, “Job Hope”

Who would want to go there? Who would want to go to the places of Job — losing family, getting boils, losing all material items and family — to find out you have hope?

But, that is exactly what you find when you go there…

You find that you are stronger than your circumstances.

You find that, by His grace, you can endure almost anything, afterall.

You find that there is a greater hope than you, God.

Job Hope is where — no matter what hopelessness or loss you face — you get to the end of yourself and say:

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job. 1:21)

You can still bless the Lord. You still want Him even though He took away. You don’t love Him for what He gives, but for who He is. Even more, you trust that it will ultimately be good. Painful as you go through it, yes, but good. Hard to endure, indeed, but still strengthening your perseverance.

Without every answer…as other things fade away, you see Him more clearly.

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

And at last He will take His stand on the earth.” (Job 19:25)

You more-so understand that God is God: a Redeeming God, a Rescuing God, a Restoring God, more than you ever have before… You begin to understand that His ways are higher than yours, stronger than yours, more purposeful than yours.

God said to Job…”Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding…” (Job. 38:4)

You don’t have to know-it-all to know that He loves you.

And then, your Father comes, He restores. After you have endured the test, He restores your life. You made it through Job Hope. You got the hope which cannot be stolen from the enemy; you endured the great trial and came out with the gold.

Don’t lose hope.

God redeems Job in the end: “So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.” (Job 42:12)

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Wanting God to Show Up?

March 18, 2021

purposefulfaith

attack, Contentment, faith, hope

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There are no woods near my house. So, not knowing where else to go, I found a patch of trees away from my house and sat there. I wanted to be alone. I felt sad because I had a disagreement with my husband. Today, I can’t remember what I upset me. What bothered then, is unimportant now. It’s funny how arguments go that way…

Anyway, as a cried in the woods, my find-myself-moment-with-God, didn’t work so well. Women walking dogs kept passing by. They kept staring at me. Looking away and trying to stuff the embarrassment down, I really tried not to pay attention to all the trash around me. It seemed that someone made this a dumping ground for water bottles, old chip bags and paper.

Earlier, I had read in God’s Word how Jacob named a place that meant something to him. In one particular place, God let Jacob know that He would be with Him. He told Jacob that He would “not leave him until (He) had done all that He had told (Jacob). (Gen. 28:15 AMPC)

So, Jacob named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”)… (Gen. 28:19 NLT)

I named the place where I sat, “Where God met Me Amidst a Heap of Trash.”

God did touch my heart that day. There, I realized I was fearing man more than my Maker. Although it felt painful, I wrote the moment off as a win, headed home, and had conversations with my husband.

A week passed. Then, yesterday, I drove past those very sparse woods from the road. I was surprised. The whole like of them bloomed. I couldn’t believe it. They were now beautiful. The time made them change. The different season made them come to life. The passage of days made something new.

There was another time that Jacob named Bethel, Bethel. It was after Jacob had gone through trials and family issues. This time, at Bethel, God gave Jacob a new name –“Israel”. He also gave Jacob new charge to “be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock…” (Gen. 35:11 AMPC)

“So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel (the House of God).” (Gen. 35:15 AMP)

God exchanged what was for something even more beautiful. He did the same for me.

And, He can do the same for you…

You know, only a short time passed by until those cruddy woods were made completely gorgeous. Only days passed until the whole look of thing was radically different. Only God can do that! God can take what looks ugly and work through it until He forges something meaningful, as you meet with Him. Do not think you sit on a heap of trash or in a place of embarrassment. God wants to meet you right there. He will take what you want to name “trash” and make it bloom!

Prayer: God, I want you. I need you. I need help. I ask you to speak to me. I ask you to help me. I ask for your heart to meet mine. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.