What Vision and Purpose Are Laid Out for Your Life?

One characteristic unique to each person is the capacity to hope for a contented future. This hope gave birth to the discovery and growth of our own nation. Proverbs 29:18 issues this warning: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Lewis Johnson offers this advice: “The idea is to seek a vision that gives you purpose in life plus energy for implementing the vision. Having a vision implies taking action, or the vision will sink back into nothingness.” David believed God had a purpose for his life and had saved him for that purpose.

David had an opportunity to kill Saul, but he refused to do it, for that would negate God’s purpose and timetable. David’s strategy for managing trouble was to listen to his conscience while believing God would provide guidance for the future. 

When your conscience is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, God can bring to fruition his purpose as well as your hopes and dreams. Believe that!                    

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In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

~Matthew 5:16 Good News Bible

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What Can Anger Teach Us About Ourselves?

That anger has a cutting edge to it is indisputable. For anger to pierce the heart and soul, it must be powered by fear, resentment, or hurt. The objective of anger is to diminish another’s character strengths.

By adopting this objective, we are made victims of the loneliness from alienation and guilt. If we suppress anger, we damage our character and soul. When we refuse to acknowledge the destructiveness of anger, we close the door on a vital part of our relationship with God and others.

God gave us anger to teach us how to give and receive forgiveness, which restores peace and fellowship to relationships. God’s anger caused by our sin is replaced by forgiveness and his unfailing love. Why not let this be the solution to the problems and troubles created by your anger? Then you will enjoy peace and freedom. 

                      

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Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people, for you love to be merciful. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will tread our sins beneath your feet; you will throw them into the depths of the ocean!

~Micah 7:18 The Living Bible 

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Forbid Unhappiness to Be Permanent

Success by itself cannot create a permanent state of happiness or contentment. Thomas Carlyle, the Scottish philosopher, noted, "Man's unhappiness is related to his potential because he possesses a God-consciousness but may deny his existence or, through sheer willpower, determine to live without him."

Thomas Carlyle expressed one of life’s most persistent temptations. Pushing God out of your consciousness does not diminish his power or presence. It’s possible for unhappiness to become so persistent that it becomes accepted as normal. Instead, realize that difficult times do not mean you have lapsed into perpetual unhappiness.

You can discover joy when the trials of life have pushed you to the breaking point. How is this possible? Realize that God is present wherever you are. Consistently share with God what is happening to you. Joy is possible in all circumstances when you realize God's unfailing love will provide solutions. Pray for patience.                     

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I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

~Psalm 40:1-3 New Living Translation

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Favoritism: Creator of Jealousy and Envy

As it became obvious that Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, the older boys’ hatred for Joseph and their father intensified. To make matters worse, Joseph shared his dreams of supremacy with his brothers. These dreams caused the brothers’ hatred and envy to escalate since they believed dreams foretold the future. 

 

Listen as Joseph taunted his brothers with his dream. "We were binding bundles of grain in the field when suddenly my bundles stood up while yours gathered around mine and bowed down to them." Imagine the brothers’ feelings when they asked, “So, do you intend to rule us?" Joseph fueled the fire of hatred by telling other similar dreams.

When Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful coat, his brothers resented the place of privilege Joseph enjoyed with their father. They coveted the love and affection Joseph received from Jacob. As we consider our relationship with God our Father, it’s important to believe God does not discriminate. His love is unfailing and is extended to everyone regardless of place or position. 

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Now as it happened, Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other children, because Joseph was born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob gave him a special gift – a brightly colored coat.

~GENESIS 37:3 The Living Bible

God doesn’t have any favorites!

~ROMANS 2:11 Contemporary English Version

Holding on Through Failure and Success - Part 1

Former Senator Bill Bradley, who also played professional basketball for several years, quoted Rudyard Kipling in his book, Values of the Game. Kipling viewed  success and failure, triumph and defeat as impostors. Defeat and failure can negatively mark a person's identity just as the deceptiveness of success can trigger self-destructive behaviors.

          A prominent pastor was charged with sexual misconduct with two women from his church. Those charges were the tip of the iceberg of what was to follow, for they exposed the limitation of self-control and of splitting one's life into opposite moral poles, swinging form immoral behavior to pasturing God's people.

          God intended for leadership to be used for his glory rather than for satisfying an immoral appetite. According to  Bradley, all humans have the capacity for success and self-destruction. Yet God's mercy reaches to the pit of failure or the height of success. His unfailing love never lets go of even the most ardent sinner.