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His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure. - Ephesians 1:5 There is a certain look about an individual that reveals what lies at the core. On one hand, there is a brilliant radiance that brightens the countenance of one well acquainted with her Heavenly Father...and then, there is 'the face of unsure'. The face of unsure is seen in the young girl who attempts to hide her frustration with revealing clothes and a smug look. It is the lady who has sat three pews back every Sunday for six months and you have yet to see her smile, try as you might. The face of unsure is the one who thinks he will find happiness at the bottom of a 12 ounce can or a forbidden affair. It is the woman on the other side of the grocery counter waiting for five o’clock just so she can go home and be reminded once again of her meaningless life. It is the person who managed to claw his way to the top, only to realize that the coveted position is not only lonely, but also quite unsatisfying. Sadly, the face of unsure is as well known in the Church as it is outside Her doors. The good news is Christ has already conquered ‘unsure’! He has come to free us from wondering if we had a sure purpose. And He has come that we might cease wandering aimlessly through this life. When He said ‘It is finished’, it really was! When He rose from the dead, it was a victory shout that no longer did any of us have to remain enslaved to the confines of this sin filled world. Now we can pray for, earnestly seek and personally experience the Kingdom of God above - even as our feet still touch the earth below! Our Heavenly Father ordained that we live His will by His Spirit, through His Word and according to His ways. He planned that I write this article. He planned that you read it. He has, in fact, willed that you and I rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17). There is an established purpose for our everyday. However, we find that purpose only as we are willing to follow Him in it each day. You see, our purpose equates to His will. That deep down discontentment and gnawing void to grasp onto something better is simply a warning sign. It serves us well. There can be no path, nor truth, nor life for the one who refuses to follow the LORD each day. HE is the Path, the Truth and the Contentment our spirits yearn for. One thing is for sure. Our Sovereign Father makes nothing that does not serve His divine purposes. Proverbs 16:4 declares, ‘ADONAI made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of disaster.’ The Word of God says we are His ma’aseh - (Hb. -workmanship) or poihma (Gk. - thing that is made) - created in Christ Jesus for good works that He ordained before time that we might walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). You see, it really is all a matter of following Him in the very specific works that He has authored for His ma’aseh ahead of time. Are you still looking for peace, contentment, meaning, joy, love or acceptance? It IS His will that you have it in abundance. His purpose is that we forgive, give thanks, do good, be humble, enjoy life, and follow Him closely. If I miss His purposes for me today, my loving Daddy will not chastise me. On the contrary, He will quietly grieve that His daughter settled for far less than He ever intended. The works of His hands (which we are) are true and formally decreed, and all His appointments are sure (permanently established){Psalm 111:7}. You no longer have to remain unsure.

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 30, 2010)

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