Tag Archives: faith

Purity. In the Eyes of the Lord.

Posted on February 5, 2013 by | 1 Comment

OurSinglePurpose is focusing on PURITY in February.

fghjklWhat is purity?

Purity can be defined as, “Freedom from sin or guilt”. At times we use others words to describe purity–blameless, chastity, decency, innocence, virtue, sincerity, and integrity. Sometimes to get the best understanding of a word or meaning, we need to look at what the word is not. The opposite of purity is uncleanness, dirty, evil, wicked, or soiled. Isn’t it interesting how much impurity sounds like sin? Purity is the exact opposite. Purity is always clean and pure.

I believe purity can be defined in every area of our lives, and that is exactly what we want to focus on this month. We will be zoning in on these particular areas: purity of our minds, purity of our relationships, sexual purity, purity of our hearts, purity in our actions, purity in our culture and purity in our media. Ladies, Get ready to be pure!

Before we dive into each area of purity in our lives, we must focus on the most important–Spiritual Purity.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Matthew 5:8

Every other area of our lives will not be pure, if we are not pursuing a pure relationship with God. I love this passage above in Matthew 5:8. The pure in heart will see God. How amazing.

How do we gain spiritual purity?

Let’s look at Psalms 119:9, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” It’s that simple. We can guard our purity by pressing our lives up against the Word. I am so thankful we have an amazing resource in the Scriptures that connects us directly to the actual words and heart of God.

So before we even try to be pure sexually, in our relationships, in our culture, and so forth, we must root ourselves in our relationship with God. We must have a strong relationship with Him in and through His Word. If we don’t, how can we even fight to stay pure? How can we keep from being unclean, dirty and wicked? We can’t. We can’t keep from sinning on our own. That is why we have to have a solid relationship with our Lord…to stay pure!

I keep asking myself-am I living a pure life before the Lord? Is my relationship with the Him pure? Do I have anything dirty, wicked, unclean or soiled in my heart? What do I need to confess to the Lord today?

Before we look at purity any further this month, please take some time to evaluate your relationship with the Lord. I firmly believe that once our relationship with Him is pure, the other areas of our lives will just be an outpour of purity!

Marlana Kaye

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Spiritual Discipline – Worship…in 3-D?

Posted on January 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

3-D is pretty popular right now. From movies to TV’s to the Queen of England! I’m sure 3D technology will be as accessible as an iPhone and it’s inevitable that churches will someday implement it for worship. It may come through 3D glasses or some other technology. But as new technology makes itself charmingly available to us, let’s make sure that we are shaping the Church, instead of letting technology shape it. Worship is for God…not for us. So if it’s really for God, what does 3-Dimensional worship look like? Well I came across an article a while ago that helped me better understand this concept of 3-Dimensional worship and it gives 3 words.

UP

“Up” is the vertical ‘dimension’ of our worship. It’s a dialogue between God & His Church. Declaring who He is, what He’s done, and what He’s going to do. Revelation and response. In moments of quiet time with the Lord is prayer and mediation. Incorporate moments we include songs about God, prayer, & communion.

ACROSS

“Across” is the horizontal ‘dimension’ of our worship. Our worship is pointed towards God, yes, but there is an element of community and togetherness involved. “Across” moments bring ourselves into the light, whether it’s through times of encouragement, edification, confession, forgiveness, celebration, healing, baptism or simply sharing someone’s story.

OUT

“Out” is the action part (dimension) of our worship. This is where we put it all into action and be the Church. These are the moments of compassion, mercy, justice and mission. Sometimes it’s as simple as engaging in someone’s story with no agenda other than loving them. Or doing something for someone and expecting nothing in return. It’s being the hands and feet of Jesus. It’s going to the widows and orphans.  This is what makes our worship 3-D! Without the “out” dimension, our worship is 2-dimensional and flat. Sure we declare regularly who God is and what He’s done, and we may get “community” like nobody’s business…but if we don’t do anything about it and love the world around us like Christ calls us to, then we become stale and stagnant. We must be salt and light. Faith without works is dead.

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Whitney says, “To worship God in spirit means to worship from the inside out. It means to be sincere in our acts of worship. No matter how spiritual the song…if you aren’t sincere then it isn’t worship, it’s hypocrisy.” The truth part of this comes in worshipping according to Scripture – we worship God how He is revealed in the Bible – in mercy, justice, love, wrath etc.

Consider this analogy:

Suppose on their wedding anniversary a husband brings home a dozen long-stemmed red roses for his wife. When she meets him at the door, he holds out the beautiful red roses, and she says, “They’re beautiful, honey!; Thank you” and gives him a big hug. Then suppose he holds up his hand and says very matter-of-factly, “Oh, don’t mention it; it’s just my duty.”

What will happen? Isn’t the exercise of duty a noble thing? Don’t we honor those we dutifully serve? Not much. Not if there’s no heart in it. Dutiful roses is a contradiction of sorts. If the husband is not moved by the spontaneous affection for his wife as a person, the roses do not honor her. They belittle her. They are a very thin covering for the fact that she doesn’t have that much worth in his eyes to kindle affection. All he would ultimately be able to muster is a calculated expression of marital duty.

The real duty of worship is not the outward duty to say or do the liturgy. It is the inward duty, the command: “Delight yourself in the Lord”! (Psalm 37:4). “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice!” (Psalm 32:11). This honors God, while the empty performance of ritual does not. Whitney tells us that  “unless the heart is plugged in, there’s no electricity for worship.”

If the husband took his wife out for the evening on their anniversary and she asks him, “Why do you do this?” the answer that honors her most is “Because nothing makes me happier tonight than to be with you.” If he would’ve have said, “Because it’s my duty” its a dishonor to her. “It’s my joy” is an honor. How should we honor God in worship? By saying, “I’m here because it’s my duty”? Or by saying “I’m here to worship You Lord, because it’s my joy”?

Worship is a discipline to be cultivated. Without discipline our life of worship will be shrill and inconsistent. Worship comes from and flows from a heart full of love and devotion for God. Yet we have to resist the danger of making it an emotional choice – we discipline ourselves to do it – just as we are disciplined in all other relationships in our lives if we want them to remain healthy.

Worship is an end in that it focuses on, and responds to, God. It is a means in that as we worship God we become more like him. To become more like God we have to focus on Him more – see him more. How do we “see” Him? – In creation, (Romans 1:20) – in the Bible, (2 Timothy 3:16) – in Jesus, (John 1:1). It’s clear that we need to know and understand the Bible in order to worship God in truest form.

Karina Lopez

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Our Carrie is MARRIED!

Posted on December 17, 2012 by | 1 Comment

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I had the privilege and honor to attend the wedding of our very own Carrie Pickelsimer this weekend!!

A year ago, I was sitting on the couch with a tear-filled Carrie, praying for her future husband. Watching her faithfully turn to the Lord in times of loneliness has been such a huge encouragement to me and many others. Then watching her actually get married to that man we prayed for was such a special blessing!

It was the sweetest day-full of the Lord’s presence and grace. The whole ceremony centered around the Gospel and the work of Jesus in Carrie and Owen’s life.

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We are so excited to celebrate this time with you, Carrie! Thank you for walking before us, sharing all of your wisdom and for being such a godly example to us during your single years! We look forward to reading your new posts from a different perspective–as a married woman! Congratulations!

Marlana Branning

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Overflowing Gratitude.

Posted on November 14, 2012 by | 2 Comments

In about 8 days, it will be Thanksgiving. The time when we sit around a table with our families and eat lots of turkey and cranberry sauce. Most importantly we will be giving thanks to God for the blessings He has given.  But since we still have 8 days until then, I want to take a minute to evaluate what it means to have a grateful heart. Paul used the word overflowing to describe how great our thankfulness should be.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  -Colossians 2:6-7

Charles Stanley lists out some great characteristics of what it looks like to be overflowing with thankfulness. People who have grateful hearts are:

Positive. Thankfulness keeps us focused on what Lord is doing in our lives.

Aware of God’s presence. When we know that the Lord is actively involved in our lives and helping us through every difficulty and hardship, we can sense His presence.

Humble. We recognize the Lord as the source of every good thing and admit we had nothing to do with it.

Peaceful. When we place our trust in Christ and watch for His activity in our lives, we have His peace.

Thoughtful of others. Gratitude makes us sensitive to the needs of those around us and eager to help them.

Generous. When we recognize all that God has done for us, we look for ways to pass blessings on to others.

Unselfish. If we’re thankful, we are willing to joyfully share whatever we have.

Expressive. Seeing what God is doing in our lives motivates us to tell others and encourage them to trust Him.

Friendly. Thankful people are pleasant and kind to others.

Contagious. A grateful attitude displays the character of Jesus in our lives, and that is very appealing to those around us.

Motivated. Thankfulness prompts us to give, share, and serve.

Servant Hearted. We want to serve Christ by giving ourselves away to others.

Faithful. After watching God repeatedly work in our lives, we develop great trust in Him that influences our thinking.

Fruitful. Instead of focusing on ourselves, we desire to be used by our heavenly Father to achieve His purposes.

Joyful. Gratitude produces deep, abiding joy because we know that God is working in us, even through difficulties.

Thankfulness is a choice. If it’s lacking in us, we must decide to change. As we acknowledge God’s wonderful blessings this Thanksgiving, lets be intentional and ask Him to give us grateful hearts. When we are willing to do that He will begin transforming our lives. Then His characteristics of goodness, love, kindness, and generosity will pour out of us.  Then we will be truly overflowing with gratitude.

Karina Lopez

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Get to Know – Kim

Posted on November 10, 2012 by | 1 Comment

1. What was your life and attitudes before following Christ?

I feel like I sound like a broken record, especially when sharing my testimony in front of most Christians.. I was raised in a Christian home.  I don’t remember much of life before I got saved, because I “prayed the prayer” – honestly believing now that I meant it – when I was 5.  I can tell you if I was anything like I was during my teenage years, I was a strong-willed child.

2. How did you come to know Christ as your Savior?

I came to know Christ through my preacher and my kindergarten teacher.  I went to a Christian school, Mrs. Crum was a good example of kindness to me.  I remember walking up front with my Dad after the sermon and telling Elder Gibbs that I wanted to trust in Jesus.  I got baptized a week later.  I don’t remember the day or the prayer or anything, but I know today that it isn’t a prayer or action that saves you, but grace through faith and shown by the indwelling of the Spirit and the works of the gospel in your life.  That is how I know I’m a believer today.      My life didn’t radically change then, but as I grew in my knowledge of the Bible,  of God, of my sin – the Spirit continued to transform me – and still has a great work on His hands!

3. How has Christ changed your life and how are you developing that relationship with Him?

Christ changes my life daily.  To make it really personal now: I am relatively a newlywed, we have a 6 wk old newborn son, and we just moved to a new state to start a new ministry.  Talk about stressful.  Its been a while since I was in a daily habit of having a formal quiet time.  My quiet times comes in reading in between crying babies, hearing my husband read Deuteronomy aloud before we go to bed, listening to the songs and preached word in worship on Sunday morning, praying to keep myself from going crazy when my son cries all day or is awake all night.

4. Can you share with us your experience with singleness and how this has influenced your writing in OurSinglePurpose?

I was single for 34.5 years before marrying my wonderful husband.  The years taught me to be patient and to wait on God’s best.  I didn’t want to have a life of dating around, but let me tell you that ten years without even a handful of dates, definitely stings.  But, one of the last verses that was shared to me in my singleness still applies to me as a wife and mother today: He is a Sun and Shield, no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  I knew that if God had marriage for me, then He would bring it.  If not, than marriage was not for my good.  I loved my single days for the most part – writing, traveling, hanging out with friends, living on my schedule, moving a few times, seminary, etc.  And I want to share with OSP writers that the Word is applicable to every part of our lives at every stage of our lives.

Kimberly Campbell

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Would you like to pray?

Posted on November 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment

 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

Praying. Its something that is a part of my whole day. Whether that’s in the morning as I am thanking God for gifting me another day to life for Him or praying that the kid running down the stairs doesn’t fall and hurt themselves. Prayer is simply conversation with God. It’s praising Him for who He is and thanking Him for what He has done. It’s about committing things to Him. It’s asking Him to meet someone else’s needs or our own. We need to pray about everything and we CAN pray about anything. I think some people don’t pray much because they don’t understand how powerful prayer can be. I know I have had this in my own life. Honestly though, prayer is one of God’s awesome gifts that He has given to Christ followers. I honestly consider prayer to be one of the easiest things ever. I think sometimes we over complicate it. It should be a part of who we are.

Would you like to pray?

I cringe a little inside every time someone asks me if I ‘would like to pray’. It’s not that I don’t enjoy talking to God and praising Him for who He is, it’s just that my whole life my prayers have been criticized. People always had something negative to say about my prayer, when I would pray aloud. It might have been, “You said “Umm” too much.” Or “Why did you say ____ in your prayer, that didn’t make sense.” Or “Your prayer was too short, (or too long)” It hurt my feelings and brought me to a place where I did not enjoy praying aloud. I believe prayer isn’t better if it’s loud or if it’s on your knees, folding your hands or bowing your head. It’s good to humble yourself, but it’s not your posture or how long you pray that makes it effective.

Faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). We don’t have to beg and plead with Him to help us. He loves us and wants what is best for us.

I challenge you to spend more time with God this week. Talk to Him. Candidly and truthfully. Cast all your cares on Him.

Karina Lopez

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What is Good?

Posted on October 22, 2012 by | 4 Comments

It is no sign of weakness to want to be married. It is normal, and it is good. The courage comes when you sense God calling you to singleness (for this chapter of your life) and you accept the call with zeal and creative planning for His glory.  - John Piper

There are lots of tests in life.  One of the hardest, I think, is singleness.   Maybe because it is what is currently in my life now. Having to balance what Scriptures tells us to “be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11) with the very real and good desires for  enjoying all the pleasures and security of married life. I have been going  back and forth with this book by Jani Ortlund that has helped me with my  very “roller coaster” perspective. I want to share with you a bit of thoughts  from her…mixed with mine.

Marriage is good. The Bible says so (Gen. 2:18; Proverbs 18:22), and I believe that with all my heart. But it is only good for those who God has called to be married. The question of God’s goodness is at the core of all our habitual discontent, whether it is over money or infertility or marriage or health concerns. I am sometimes tempted to think that if God were really good, He would grant me my heart’s desire because, of course, He wants me to be happy. But God is   not good because He fulfills my desires. He is good because He is fulfilling          His desires, and His desires are good for you and me. Goodness is His very nature–”You are good, and what you do is good” (Psalm 119:68).   If God were not good, He would not be God. And He is the one who sets the definition of  what is truly good.

Sometimes it is difficult to accept God’s goodness as being truly good because it doesn’t feel, look, or taste good to us. We somehow manage to equate goodness with what seems pleasant or satisfying in our immediate experience, and then we end up judging God by how He does or doesn’t meet our standards. We feel slighted if our ideals for happiness are not met. I know for me many times, I have become fearful that I will miss out on experiencing all of life. I have literally cried myself to sleep about it before; (I know…its pathetic) that, in turn, starts a churning in me to resent God and wonder if and why He is being unfair to me.

Philippians 2:13 says “it is God who works in you to will and act according to His good purpose.” So I shouldn’t shortchange God…because He can never do that to me. God will not be less good to me than any of His other children. I am single because right now this is God’s best for me. I am single because God is always and forever good to me, to us. Being single is not some sort of punishment.   I can’t tell you how many times I have thought to myself  that “maybe if I were more spiritual, somehow more satisfied with God alone, then God would bring             me a husband.” I know that is a dumb lie.

You are not single because your spirituality disqualifies you as good marriage material. Nor are you single because your spiritual maturity says “you don’t need a husband”. You are single because this is God’s call for you…today. His plan for you is good, and He will never betray you. We cannot rig God’s blessings or earn His favor as we seek answers to what we feel are legitimate needs. God is gracious without charge (Isaiah 55:1). He tenderly cares for His children (Isaiah 40:11).    He calls us to still and quiet our souls humbly before Him, for both today and   the future (Psalm 131). His ways of wisdom our way above our finite minds (Romans 11:33-36).

Your singleness  is a testing of the reality of your faith in the goodness of God, just as any unfulfilled dream on this earth is.  I believe that marriage is good.         I think that it should be sought after and cherished. But I know that it is            God-ordained and is for our benefit and pleasure. But I also know that      marriage is not suppose to be the best thing in life. God is. I pray that we all       can make whatever season we are in and consider it God’s good gift to us. Opening it expectantly.

Karina Lopez

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Look Up and Look Around!

Posted on August 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

I think we all have a special place where we can retreat and spend some time with the Lord and for whatever reason, just feel closer to Him. My place is the beach (if you don’t have a special place I encourage you to find one…even if it’s a chair in your house, or a park bench nearby). Although, my schedule doesn’t allow me to go as much as I would like, when I am there, sitting in my beach chair, listening to the waves crash against the shore, I am always powerfully reminded of the beauty and majesty of our Savior.  The last time I went to the beach, I decided to take a jog. I had jogged the entire week on the sidewalk—it’s easier, but for whatever reason on the last day I wanted to spend as much time as I could on the beach—seeing the ocean. This particular jog I did alone because my friends wanted to sleep in. I was excited for some alone time with the Lord. I began my run on the white sand shores of the Gulf. Halfway through my run I had a moment with the Lord, I felt Him say, “look up daughter, look around and see the beauty all around you”.  Now for someone who was so excited about running on the beach this seems a silly thing to have to be reminded, but you see, I was scared of falling. Running in the plush sand is hard…did I mention there was a clear drop in the shoreline…diff-i-cult to navigate. Instead of enjoying the beauty of the Lord’s creation, which is what I intended to do when I began my run, I stared at my smelly feet so I wouldn’t fall thus causing me to miss out on the beauty that was around me.

I am so thankful the Lord reminded me to look up and look around—because as you can imagine the view up was a lot more beautiful than the view I had been focusing on! This run with the Lord was a sweet reminder and encouragement about my walk with the Lord. So many times I forget to put on my Jesus Goggles ( I call them goggles instead of glasses because let’s be real…I need a tacky, plastic, waterproof strap to keep those things on the majority of the time…the harder they are to get off the better!)  Many times, I walk through life, looking down, viewing my circumstances through my fleshly viewpoint, not seeing a way out of them, thinking they are too hard to overcome, losing hope, and becoming discouraged…when all the while the Lord is telling me to look up (at Him) and look around (blessings He has given me) remembering that He is working (Romans 8:28), that His ways are higher (Isaiah 55:9) and that ALL He does is done out of love for me (1 John  4:8). I am reminded to focus on the blessings in my life and honestly most of the time it takes putting on my Jesus Goggles to see those blessings around me. But every time I look up (at Him) and look around (blessings He has given me), I find Jesus there in the midst, reassuring me that He is with me, that He is working things out for my good and that these afflictions are momentary!

“Our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

Singleness, career change, financial struggles, family situations, death, illness, broken relationships, negative attitude—whatever “light afflictions” we face, the Lord is near asking us to trust His perspective and to rely on Him for the strength to overcome these difficult circumstances.

From HIS perspective, every event has a purpose that fits perfectly into His plan. When we have God’s viewpoint, we will be able to face our circumstances with the confidence that He will see us through our difficulty. –Charles Stanley

Today my prayer for myself and for you is that we will each ask the Lord to give us His viewpoint. That as we face the circumstances that are thrown at us, we will do so with confidence that He will be with us through each difficulty. And that we will take the time throughout the day to look up, focusing on His love for us and look around—looking for where the Lord is working in and around us. Because He is. It’s a promise!

Holli Howard

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So You STILL Think God is a Merciful God?!

Posted on July 25, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Happy Wednesday, friends. I hope you all are having a good week thus far. This week I have had a heavy heart for the victims of the theater shooting in Colorado. I cannot imagine what these people and their families are going through right now, and it is hard for me to understand how someone could do something so evil.

On Sunday, I read a blog post from a mom who was in the Aurora theater during the shooting. This woman has an amazing faith, and in her post describes how God is still a merciful and good God in the midst of this tragedy.  She also gives ways you can be praying for her family during this time. I would encourage you all to take a little time today to read what she has to say, and then to pray for her and the others that are involved.  You can read her post here.

Amelia McNeilly

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Keeping the Faith

Posted on May 30, 2012 by | 1 Comment

ImageFirst as a student and now as a teacher, I understand the importance and the benefits of a review. Although I just spent many months teaching/learning the material…a review closer to the time of the test is very helpful and reassures what I have been learning.  I feel the same way about the subject of “FAITH” in my everyday life.  I grew up in church. I grew up in a children’s ministry and a youth group that talked about faith in Jesus, faith in His plans, and faith in His timing. However, as days go by a reminder of faith has been a much welcomed and needed topic in my life…especially when circumstances don’t always go my way!

I recently had the privilege of attending a Singles Event at Buckhead Church in Atlanta and the speaker (who I can’t remember his name at the moment but he is one of their singles pastors) spoke on the topic of faith. He spoke about the life of Joseph from the book of Genesis. Joseph’s life can be seen as one with many challenges…challenges that in the middle of them are hard to understand but in time one can see that the challenges that he faced were all part of a bigger plan and purpose to bring glory to God. According to the Scripture, (Genesis 41:38) Joseph was OBVIOUSLY filled with the spirit of God even after years of hardships.  The pastor pointed out some key points about faith as he discussed the life of Joseph. I wanted to share these with you in case you too needed a “review” and reminder about your faith today.

  1. Joseph didn’t build his faith around his circumstances, which are always changing; He built his faith around God, who does not change. -Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6
  2. Secure faith is understanding that our circumstances are part of God’s bigger story. -Romans 8:28
  3. God wants to use my pain and hardships as a way to preserve someone else’s life. -2 Cor. 1:3-4
  4. Remember it’s ALL about eternity. -John 10:27-38, Matthew 28:18-20
  5. God uses my circumstances to make me more like Him. -Job 23:10
  6. A fragile faith is attached to a presumption; a secure faith is attached to a promise. (What we think God should do instead of what He has promised in His word) -Isaiah 55:9

Through this, the Lord reminded me of the importance of faith in HIM alone. Faith that is not circumstantial but focuses on the sovereignty and holiness of a Savior who loves me with a perfect love and who is always at work in my life! I was challenged, and I challenge you as well, to not have a faith based on presumptions (what you think God should do in your life—husband, career, money etc.)  Instead have a faith that is based on the promises of God that are seen throughout His word. Not sure what all those promises are? Spend some time, like I plan on doing, discovering those for yourself by meditating and studying the Word. My hope is that when people see me and hear my story, it too will be obvious that I am filled with the spirit and that “I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).  Whatever your circumstances are remember God’s hand is at work in your life…weaving a beautiful story that He will use to bring glory and honor to Him and His Kingdom. Direct your faith toward Him and Him alone!

Holli Howard

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