Peace on Purpose

I know alot of us have been thinking in terms of living "purposefully".

I have been doing the same, especially as it relates to my use of God-given resources and the peace that comes from using them well. I am realizing that living simply, peacefully and a life of balance and awareness of God's purpose for us ..takes purpose!

To consider my very personal set of resources, hand picked by God for me ..takes purpose.

Choosing to use those resources in worthy ways ..takes purpose.

Being content with the resources God has given me ..takes purpose.

Basically, a life that is simple and free (or at least freeER) of unnecessary and unworthy stresses ..takes purpose.

Just like when we budget our finances on a monthly basis so that we are able to manage it the best, we need to be aware of how we are using our "everything we need" (2 Peter 1:3) on a daily basis.

It takes purpose to build a schedule that allows for resting our bodies, minds and spirits.

It takes purpose to make time for our husbands and children.

It takes purpose to be less judgemental of ourselves, so that we arent wasting mental and emotional energy on comparing us to others.

It takes purpose to let go of things that are not beneficial to us.

It takes purpose to consider what God wants of us more than what we want of ourselves, or what others make us feel we need to be for them.


To keep the theme going, you cannot expect your stress-less life to simply fall into place by itself.

Without effort you cannot expect your schedule to be open to nurture relationships in your life..

..or your home to suddenly become more ordered for the peace of mind of your family

...or your time with God to passively become a priority

...or find yourself with an abundance of relaxation and rest time for the sake of your body and mind


People who have created lives of simplicity and who balance their godly-assignments with their human resources, do so on purpose. I am working on living more purposefully all the way around ...these resources are too precious to be wasted on who knows what! :)

Being Here

How often can we relate our stresses, or lack of peace with the fact that we are not where we want to be?

Perhaps its because we have a long list of things to do, and the thing you are doing right now isnt on it. Maybe you are doing something that you deem important, but your mind is plagued with things that seem even more important. Its possible that you are simply uncomfortable, feel inadequate to the task at hand or because you are not where you pictured yourself to be at this point in time?

We can lose alot of peace, and add alot of stress to ourselves when we do not look around and accept that sometimes, THIS is where we need to be.

If, indeed, we are seeking to do God's will in all things, seeking to glorify God in everything we do ..then we should allow ourselves a degree of peace that we are where we need to be.

Often, we are where God needs us, but we are so distracted with other things that we miss the intention of the moment or fail the task entirely. For example, when we are sitting on the floor with the kids ..are we really there? True, we are giving them the moment but are our minds already onto the next thing we need to be doing? When we are spending time with our husbands, no matter what the activity may be ..are we present there? When we are taking the time to encourage a friend, talk to a sister or lend an ear to a hurting person ...are we there, or mentally onto the next item on the list?

Jesus was always where he was. He took the time to engage the children, connect with an adulterous woman, heal a blind man ...he was on alert for the task at hand, and some of his most potent lessons were taught while his disciples were already on to the next task. I see Jesus walking through a crowd, with the disciples clearing the way for him. They look back to find that he not behind them anymore ...because he has stopped to spit on the ground and bring sight to a man they had walked by without a glance.

Remember when he was teaching in the crowded house? He stopped midsentence (not like he had a ton of choice, what with roof falling on his head), took on the task that was presented and healed a crippled man. He was there, in the moment where he was.

Do you think he got irritated when a better task arouse? Doesnt seem like it based on the telling of the stories. When his disciples were done for the day, Jesus stayed in the moment and used their need for food to teach them about God's power and provision.

There is peace, in being here; in seeking for God's work in the right now. There is peace in accepting that you are where God needs you to be. That requires, of course, that we constantly seek for where we are to be and make sure that we living a life that is for the purpose of glorifying Him.

When we look around and see that we arent where God wants us, it does our spirits good to seek we where we augh to be. Even in that, we have to focus on what the next step from here is.

I pray that your here is full of peace, and that you find God there. I pray that you are able to rest in the moment as God has created it, and that you accept whatever task you have to do in that moment.

"For tomorrow has enough trouble of its own ..." Matt. 6:34 ..."but seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." 6:33