Your Purpose

March 23, 2022March 22, 2022 RefreshHer10 Comments

Over and over again my heart goes to the word, purpose. Why does God save a soul and leave them on this earth, rather than take them to heaven? Because He has a purpose for each of us. We have a life to live that can be full and so blessed because of the God of our life IS our life!

What is it? What is your purpose?

It’s greater than just making it through the day so we can plop down somewhere and scroll, or fasten our eyes on a rectangular box and “chill” while we doze. That’s what a cat does!

For those who have trusted Christ as Savior, we have a soul that has been rescued from hell, and people all around us are without the hope of Christ. They need the Gospel!

Our purpose is to use what God has given us in the place where He has put us
to share the Gospel, disciple believers, to live out a full and fruitful life!

I look at Paul in Philippians one and see that he is in prison. His help came through the supply of the Spirit of Christ by the prayers of the people of God. He believed that no matter what happened, God would not cause him to be ashamed or turn against him. He was confident that he was in the center of God’s will. He wasn’t being punished by God. Christ would be magnified if he lived or died. Paul didn’t dictate how God would be glorified – he left that up to God.

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20, 21

Where has the Lord put you? It’s no accident. Serve Him there.

What has God entrusted to you? What possessions? What talents? Use them for His glory.

Who has He placed around you? Spouse? Children? Neighbors? Use your voice to share the Gospel, encourage them with the Truth, and help bear their burdens.

You are alive and breathing today due to the kindness and the plan of God. You have a significant purpose that no one else could fill. Don’t waste a moment, but get up and ask God what you should do next. Watch how He will use your life if you simply recognize He has purpose for YOU!

Are you living out the purpose for which God has designed for your life? There’s no greater joy!

What questions do you have about your purpose in life?

Conflict · Empty life · Encouragement

Go Pray

March 9, 2022March 7, 2022 RefreshHer1 Comment

It was one of those epiphany moments. A keen understanding of an essential truth came to me while I was doing a calligraphy drawing on my pantry chalkboard. I had been heavy hearted and downcast regarding a situation and had been slugging my way through the day with it wrapped around my heart like a snake’s grasp on a bird. Then as I was writing the words,

Pray without ceasing.

the Spirit of God whispered to my heart, “Yes, Denise. You need to go pray.”

Earlier in the morning I had my quiet time with the Lord. I had read His Word and spent time in prayer, giving Him praise and also my burdens. Then this issue had cropped up and the quietness had dissipated. Filling its place was unrest and uneasiness. I felt anxious and irritable.

Up until this moment, I had stuffed that anxiety with scrolling Instagram and other futile minute-wasters. The result was only more emptiness.

Now at God’s prompting to obey this verse that I had carefully written on my board, I did just that. I went back to my quiet place – kneeling at chair in a room upstairs. I poured out my heart before God, asking for His intervention and help. I asked Him to help me appropriate the peace that is mine in Christ. Colossians 3:15 I rose from my knees with a peace that truly does pass human understanding.

How foolish it is of me not to return to that place of prayer often, if not physically, at least in my heart. It’s the only place where I’ll find rest. It certainly isn’t in found in my own thoughts or secular entertainment. It’s found in the presence of my Savior.

If your heart feels anxious, instead of stuffing it with a Netflix series, food, or social media, may I encourage you to go find a place to be alone with God and pour out your heart to Him? Why? Because He cares.

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
I Peter 5:7

He can also do something about your situation! But He is waiting for you to ask.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:7

Perhaps this blog post is your epiphany to “Go Pray!” God loves you enough to invite you to bring your burdens to Him, then to listen to you when you do.

Now, Go Pray.

Christian Life · Empty life · obedience

Faithful & Full

April 19, 2018April 19, 2018 RefreshHerLeave a comment

empty tank

Running on empty is not a good thing.

Years ago when I was single, I was driving in town and all of the sudden my car sputtered, coughed, and then STOPPED.

I know nothing about cars, so I had no idea what the problem could be, but I assumed I had engine trouble.

I was teaching at a Christian school far away from my parents, so I called my pastor and told him my car was dead and I needed help. He came to my rescue and the first question he asked was,

“Do you have gas in your tank?”
“Oh yes, I have gas,” I replied.

My dad always said he doesn’t feel sorry for anyone who runs out of gas because you can see if you need to fill up! I tried to live by the good principle of keeping the tank full, and was sure that I hadn’t stooped to this negligent nature of not watching how empty my tank really was!

So, after my pastor did all the checking he could on the engine, he decided to look at the gas tank level. It was on empty. I can still remember the embarrassment I felt. No matter how much I said the tank had gas, the truth was eventually revealed.

Empty is never good. Think about it…

Empty cupboards
Empty house
Empty wallet
Empty life
or even
Empty words

Proverbs 20:6

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness:
but a faithful man who can find?

Proclaiming our own goodness is using empty words. They come from the person who says they’re full, but they’re running on empty.

I go to church.
- But their life is their own the rest of the week.
I’m a good person.
- But they fail to realize that all are sinners in need of a Savior.
I’m better than _______.
- They compare themselves to others instead of God’s standard.
I’m a Christian.
- But they live their life as they please.
- There’s little desire to grow, to be in God’s Word, or to talk to God in a relational way.
- In a trial they fall apart.
- In difficulty they are weak because they are far from God and they operate in their own strength and get what they can do, rather than what God wants to do.
- They look just like an unbeliever in their lifestyle, their activities, conversations and desires.

If we’re honest, we all run on “empty” from time to time. The encouragement here in this Proverb is not to say you’re full, when you’re really not. We must be honest and admit the need. When we confess the need we call it what God calls it – this is repenting and turning from our own way. Then we open our arms and embrace God’s way instead. We allow Him to fill us and enable us to be faithful. You can keep your “tank” filled by reading His Word and talking with Him. Keep short accounts of your sin. Obey whatever He tells you to do. Your heart will be filled with His joy and His life!

Let’s not be like foolish I was, running on empty and thinking I could boast about being full. Let’s admit our emptiness and allow the Lord to sweetly come to our rescue!

The emptiness you feel can only be met in Christ. If He is already your Savior, tell Him your need and your heart’s longing. He promises to fill us with His presence and peace. If you’ve never trusted in Him to be your Savior for your sin, tell Him you want to have a relationship with Him, that you know you’re a sinner and need Him to save you.

Rather than boasting while on empty, let’s stay faithful and full!

Denise Signature 150 px