purpose

Graduating From Simple Zeal to Living Right

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“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”

(James 2:17-18, NIV)

 The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. – Robert Burns

I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that.  Your mind must know it has got to get down to work. – Pearl S. Buck

Plans get you into things, but you must work your way out. – Will Rogers

The most practical, beautiful, workable philosophy in the world won’t work – if you won’t. – Zig Ziglar

If faith is lacking, it is because there is too much selfishness, too much concern for personal gain.

For faith to be true, it has to be generous and loving.  Love and faith go together, they complete each other. – Mother Teresa

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. – St. Augustine

Faith is not belief. Belief is passive. Faith is active. – Edith Hamilton

We’ve all heard variations on at least one of these sayings, and the bottom line is this:

Faith without works is DEAD!  Well-intentioned words, plans, ideas, and thoughts are fine, but you’ve got to back them up with ACTION!

You may ask, “Does it really make a difference that I don’t do what I say?  What’s the big deal?”  I’ll give you a personal illustration that’s quite close to home.  For several years, I knew I needed to lose weight to be healthier.  I agonized over the fact that I needed to change my eating habits from what tasted good but wasn’t good for my arteries…while cramming in the junk food.  I joked about needing to start an exercise routine…while I channel-surfed.  Then I lamented about how my clothes were shrinking from week to week and month to month…while I got more and more comfortable with elastic waistband clothing. 

But the truth of the matter was that I was doing NOTHING to change my current situation!  I knew what I needed to do, but I didn’t make a concerted, consistent effort to walk in the direction of transforming my life.  Sometimes I’d start with tons of excitement, then after a few days (or hours), my enthusiasm would wane and I’d be right back at square one – ho-hum, welcome to couch potato city.  (If I had a dollar for every time I told someone what I needed to be doing, I’d be a very rich woman).  So the weight gain continued to creep up with the combination of physical inactivity and poor food choices.  All of my great ideas of what I could and should be doing paled in comparison to the inactivity of my limbs.

That’s where hypocrisy comes in: when we say we believe one thing, but what we do contradicts what we zealously say we believe.  Trust me – I know…firsthand.  Yes, I can admit it.  There’s something liberating about telling the truth.  It frees you from having to remain the same.  So, in this moment of blatant self-disclosure, I pray something inside of you has been triggered to move from intention to impact.  The only way to make this transition is to take ACTION.  You don’t have to keep cussing, fornicating, stealing, lying, abusing drugs, being angry, harboring bitter unforgiveness, being lazy, being prideful, being afraid – whatever your vice is, you can overcome it with the power of the Holy Spirit and a commitment to do the work it takes to change from what’s now your status quo.

Today, I can report that I’ve been working out with a trainer (who cuts me absolutely no slack when I try to wiggle out of sessions with lame excuses of tiredness or eating something I shouldn’t have) – and I can see positive results after two months.  After the sweat (eww! does it really take all of that?  yes – and then some!), getting into the habit of throwing my tennis shoes in the trunk for my after-work fitness sessions, and finally realizing that I was just as capable of being healthy as anyone else who put in the effort, I am seeing health-improving outcomes – and I feel better, too!

In a society full of spin doctors, 24/7 surveillance technology, and people looking for something “real” to replace the virtual, our witness of words is not in enough.  It is our actions that speak louder than our words, our zeal, and our good intentions – so we must live right to be an effective witness for righteousness.  Anyone can read the Word, but a true disciple is one who walks out what the Word teaches.  Where are you on the spectrum?  Assess yourself, and then ask God to help you make the necessary adjustments to live a life pleasing in His sight.

It’s the little things that have significant impact on the end result.  When driving a car, we don’t jerk the wheel violently the whole time we’re behind the wheel.  Instead, we use a series of smooth movements and slight, consistent adjustments to keep us going straight in the desired direction.  When it’s time to turn, we approach the transition and adjust accordingly with pace and rate and speed.  In the same way, we can graduate from simple zeal to living right – with discipline, commitment, maturity, honesty with God, and WORK.

What are your actions saying today?

Ask God to adjust and recalibrate you this week –  you may be surprised to see the areas He desires to tweak in YOU!

© Copyright 2008 by Kayren J. Cathcart

The Power of Purpose: Making Your Life Count

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“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations – that’s what I had in mind for you.”

Jeremiah 1:5 (The Message)

It is powerful to know your true identity and why you exist.  The Bible gives in-depth illustrations of many people who either arrived on the scene knowing why they were created or, through the course of life, discovered their guiding purpose for being on the planet.

  • Jeremiah received personal assurance from God that he was equipped to take on the tasks appointed to him – despite his age. 
  • Deborah was a prophetess who gave insight for a great national victory during wartime – a well-respected and honorable woman in a male-dominated society. 
  • Joseph was destined for greatness and achieved it – regardless of the “haters” within his family. 
  • Esther delivered her people from utter destruction – by her obedience, wisdom, dedication to prayer, and willingness to take a risk. 
  • Daniel was set apart for wise leadership and empowered to pass every test placed before him – from interpretation of a king’s forgotten dreams to deliverance from a lion’s den.
  • Mary was hand-selected to bring forth God’s greatest gift – above all others. 

The list goes on.  I have good news: you are included in this list!  Whenever you examine, discover, and embrace your purpose, the heart’s cry, “Why am I here, Lord?” is inevitably addressed.

Luke 1:31-33 depicts how Jesus’ purpose and greatness was made known to His mother before He was in her womb.  Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted three years, and much preparation took place before he launched out.  Yet, those three years were packed with power, miracles, changed lives, and the demonstration of God’s glory.  Quality of time, not quantity, made the difference as Jesus impacted those who came across His path.  To some, three years seems like a short time; to others, it’s a long time – it all depends on what you’re setting out to accomplish.  Romans 14:12 reminds us that “every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” How are you living in light of that fact?

As a person of faith, you may often reflect on the fact that you have been given the priceless gift of life – and with that, a certain amount of time (your life span) is allotted for you to fulfill the purpose God created just for you.  In Luke 16, Jesus told the story of a rich man with a servant who got “called on the carpet.”  His master confronted him, “Give an account of your stewardship!”  When this man realized his position was in jeopardy, he immediately got busy being productive for his master’s benefit.

Each of us faces a similar moment of truth today.  When God glimpses you, does He see you fervently serving Him – or your own interests?  He expects His faithful children to commit to using the gifts He entrusted to them (time, talent, energy, skills, abilities, etc.) to profit and promote His Kingdom.  Over 2,000 years later, Jesus’ life holds a legacy that we continue to benefit from.  Are your actions today creating a legacy that will bless those who look beneath the surface of your life?  Power in action will cause you to be a wise investor and not a resource waster! 

Knowing your purpose and the power provided for you to fulfill it will guide and direct your path, help you select the activities in which you participate, influence where you decide to invest your time, and impact the people (positive or negative) you allow to sow into your lives.  During your personal time of meditation, consider reading Psalm 139:13-16 and Isaiah 49:1-5 to appreciate the fact that you were designed for a specific purpose.  Greatness lies within YOU.  Tap in and allow God to powerfully direct your purpose; it will make a difference in your life.

After all, walking in your purpose with power is what life is all about.

Enjoy the journey…

© Copyright 2008 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Your Life – Make It Count!

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“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

(Romans 14:12)

Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted three years.  Yet, those three years were packed with power, miracles, changed lives, and the demonstration of God’s glory.  Quality of time, not quantity, made the difference as Jesus impacted those who came across His path.  To some, three years seems like a short time; to others, it’s a long time – it all depends on what you’re setting out to accomplish. 

As Christians, we are approaching the greatest celebration of life, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  During this season, reflect on the fact that you have been given the priceless gift of life – and with that, a certain amount of time (your life span) is allotted for you to fulfill the purpose God created just for you.  In Luke 16, Jesus told the story of a rich man with a servant who got “called on the carpet.”  His master confronted him, “Give an account of your stewardship!”  When this man realized his position was in jeopardy, he immediately got busy being productive for his master’s benefit.

Each of us faces a similar moment of truth today.  When God glimpses you, does He see you fervently serving Him – or your own interests?  He expects His faithful children to commit to using the gifts He entrusted to them (time, talent, energy, skills, abilities, etc.) to profit and promote His Kingdom.  Over 2,000 years later, Jesus’ life holds a legacy that we continue to benefit from.  Are your actions today creating a legacy that will bless those who look beneath the surface of your life?  Resurrection power in action will cause you to be a wise investor and not a resource waster!

What are you doing with the precious life God has given you?

© Copyright 2008 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Preparing To Embrace Transition

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“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

During last month’s Life Application classes, we identified a “cure for the common life.”  This month, we’ll develop an unquenchable thirst for God’s presence.  Applying the combination of these two themes to our lives promises to bring us into a new season – we won’t be able to stay the same!  So how do we prepare for the upcoming transition?  What mindset do we need to embrace so we can do something different from what we’re already doing?

As we approach a change of natural seasons (moving from Summer into Fall), take a moment to hear what God is saying to you about your own spiritual season.  Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t look like you’re where you think you should be.  God is preparing a place for you at the same time He is preparing you for that place!  Be encouraged and know that He has an expected end for you (Jeremiah 29:11).  

Surely, there is an appointed season and timeframe for your blessing, your miracle, your healing, your deliverance, your promotion, and your breakthrough.  Realize that it may not happen overnight, in a week, or even in a month; transition occurs through a process.  You must listen closely to God’s plan and obey His instructions to satisfy the conditions and be in position for the transition. 

God is faithful and He is taking you somewhere…

Are you preparing to embrace the transition God has for you?

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Does One Degree REALLY Make a Difference?

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“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin our vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.”

(Song of Solomon 2:15 NIV)

We’ve already reached the fourth quarter of the year – where did the time go?  Have you achieved the goals you set for yourself in January?  Are you even close?  If not, do you wonder how in the world you got off-course? All it takes is one tiny step to veer away from your planned course of action – and before you know it, you’re way off-track!  One degree changes the angle.

Maybe I’m the only one who goes shopping for just one thing and ends up buying more items than I care to tell my spouse.  Or looks at the mountain of laundry on Friday that started out as just one load washed and dried Monday when I said, “I’ll fold and put it away it later…” but later never came.  Or reasons, “I’ll eat just one piece of chocolate,” only to find too many foil wrappers scattered around me five minutes later.  Yes, I’m sure I’m the only person who has these kinds of experiences!  It’s the little things that significantly affect the end result.  When driving a car, we don’t jerk the wheel violently back and forth the whole time we’re going straight.  Instead, we use a series of smooth movements and slight, consistent adjustments to keep us going in the desired direction.  When it’s time to turn, we approach the transition by changing our pace and rate of speed accordingly.

God wants to do the same thing with us.  He wants us to remember that small changes can have big impact – if we allow Him to modify and correct areas where we’ve started to drift away from His perfect will.  It may be uncomfortable now, but it’s better to catch something sooner than later, when it will truly hurt.  What’s coming to devour your fruit?  You’ve got to identify it and conquer it before it destroys you!  A thermostat is proof that one degree does make a difference. 

Ask God to adjust and fine-tune you this week – you may be surprised to see the areas He desires to tweak in YOU!

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Growing Into Oneness: The Process Requires Change

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“…grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

(Ephesians 4:15)

By now, if you haven’t embraced last year’s Jubilee theme “Step Away From the Tree,” you’ve probably found it very difficult (or nearly impossible) to demonstrate and walk in “Oneness,” our theme for this year.  Stepping away from the tree means overcoming those fears, distractions, excuses, and weeds that have held you back for much too long.  And yes, it simply means choosing to do something different – and then doing it!

If you want to make a change, you must be willing to go through a process.  Immature people desire the end result (or “the blessing”), but don’t want to do the work of developing the character they’ll need to support them when they get there.  Though it may be uncomfortable, change is an essential part of growing into Oneness.  And if you are growing, you are changing. 

Three critical action steps for change and growth are:

  1. Accountability – enlisting key people to support and coach you as you make changes (but don’t expect them to do it for you!)
  2. Responsibility – admit mistakes and reward progress (keep moving, one step at a time – you cannot stay the same – it’s not an option!)
  3. Maturity – stand on your own feet (commit to move from milk to meat – it’s time out for spoon-feeding!)

Walking in agreement and being your brother’s keeper starts with you working on you.  Then you are able to offer something of significant value to others.  Are you willing to change and grow so your own purpose becomes unified with HIS will for your life? 

Lord, please show me how I can grow into ONENESS with You this week…

I know it will make a difference in my relationships with my brothers and sisters.

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart