A Journey...

My attention was directed to Jess' blog by my sweet friend Julie from Come Have a Peace. Jess is the wife of one of our student pastors at church and while I have only spent a little bit of time with her- her heart is one that truly desires to bring glory to God- I truly enjoy listening to her share her heart. This post here is the one that grabbed my attention and I started thinking of my vision/my purpose statement. I'm not married but realized that I didn't need to wait on a spouse to create one- in fact, by doing so may help me in the long run define the kind of man that I should be waiting on. So, I combined my two blogs (my card blog and this one) for my vision statement: The Journey of a Life Desiring to Delight in Him. Then I started thinking of what that meant and like Jess decided to break it down:

The Journey- journey used as a transitive verb means: to travel over or through. I have been on many journeys- from the family vacations to the mission trips to a journey right down the street, to the difficulties of health challenges, to loss of a physical object/person or a dream. Journeys take you places and you are never the same after it's over. In my life I have been on 6 mission trips and each of the 6 were completely different and yet- each of them changed/impacted my life in some way. I found this quote that sums it up:

"The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination." Don Williams, Jr.

And they said to him, "Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed." And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD." Judges 18:5-6 (ESV)

That verse spoke volumes- my journey is under God's watchful eyes! WOW!

of a Life- there were several definitions for life: a specific phase of earthly existence; the period of duration, usefulness, or popularity of something; and (my personal favorite) an opportunity for continued viability. I have heard the little story about living in the dash- you have a birth date and a death date on your tombstone but in the middle is a dash. That dash represents your life and I want to be remembered (or leave a legacy) in my dash. Life was never promised to be easy BUT we were promised that HE would never leave us nor forsake us in that life.

"Every man dies. Not every man really lives." William Wallace

This verse tells me all I need to know- I WILL get tired, I WILL get weary BUT (so glad there's a but) He gives me the strength I need exactly when I need it.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but 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." Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV)

Desiring to- this word carries so many connotations. M-W defines desiring as: to long or hope for; exhibit or feel desire for. We desire many things (or people). A spouse (for most single people), your spouse (for those married people), a new job, or even a physical object. So often, we rush ahead and act on our desires instead of waiting and seeking the Lord in our quest. When that happens- it's usually not a good thing- it usually ends up leading us off our straight path (Proverbs 3:5-6).

"You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled." Charles Spurgeon

and

"When your will is God's will, you will have your will." Charles Spurgeon

One of my favorite verses: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV)

I think the last part says it all- SEEK HIM and FIND HIM but we HAVE to seek with ALL of our heart!

Delight in Him!- I have heard over and over the truth found in Psalm 37:4-5. Sometimes that's easier said than done. However, if this is what I truly desire- then this where my heart can be found. Delighting in Him! Delighting very simply means: to take great pleasure in. If I am spending my time with that which is of Him then I will be delighting in Him. But the flipside of that- he also takes delight in me (he even tells me so!) and rejoices over me! How can I not return that?

"Do you feel loved by God because you believe he makes much of you, or because you believe he frees you and empowers you to enjoy making much of him?" John Piper

When I read that quote- it caused me to stop and re-evaluate- I want to enjoy making much of Him- that's what I am called to do...

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

This is one of those verses that I never tire of reading- each time I read it- or sing the song that is based on this passage- I am just overwhelmed by his grace. Do I fail? Yes, no doubt about it- but he is mighty to save- and that means even from my failures.