Growing up my pastor used to say, “Nobody likes change except a wet baby.”

Change is difficult. We don’t like change in our relationships, our health, or in our jobs. We don’t like getting older. We don’t want our children to move away from us, and we don’t like changing times. Even if it’s good for us change is painful. It takes adjustments and new attitudes. It can be uncomfortable and scary.

Of course not all change is good. There’s loss, divorce, getting fired, or laid-off. Then again, change can have positive affects on us. They can even bring blessings. The bible is full of stories about change and how people adapted for the good.

Take Abraham for example. God asked him to make some significant changes. He also promised Abraham significant promises and blessings.

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.”

The changes God put before Abram were: Leave your native country; leave your relatives, and your father’s family. He was to make these changes without knowing where the Lord was taking him. For most, that would cause great anxiety.

My children played sports so our summers were mainly spent at a ballpark rather than on sandy beaches or at the Grand Cannon.

One summer, our son’s baseball team lost in the early round of their tournament. That left us with one week before school started with nothing to do. I suggested we pack for the beach, jump in the car, and take off to Florida. We didn’t have any reservations but I was certain we’d find somewhere to stay.

My husband didn’t share in my excitement of an unplanned adventure. Not knowing where we would land filled him with anxiety. He couldn’t switch gears and adjust to the idea so quickly. He examined all the possibilities as to why the plan wasn’t a good idea. I talked him into it anyway. And he fretted the whole way there.

Once we arrived, found a place to stay, and were sitting on the warm sandy beach his anxiety melted away.

“This is a nice change of scenery.” He said to me while sipping a diet coke. I looked at him and grinned. Then folding my arms behind my head I leaned back in my chair.

“Yep. It’s gonna be a blessed week after all.”

Abram had no idea where he was going. Everything he knew was left behind. It was a painful change. Many uncomfortable adjustments had to be made if he chose to obey God and step out in faith. But that’s just what he did and the change paid off.

Take a look at God’s promises to Abram. “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

That’s quite the exchange don’t you think? Abram thought so. He considered the change, weighed the pain and adjustments, and concluded that the blessings were worth it.

I don’t know what kind of changes you may be facing now or what’s coming down the road, but I encourage you not to stop short of the cost. Consider the blessings.

There’s something wrong with today’s Christianity.

Recently, I was strolling through a bookstore in search of the perfect cookbook to give my mother as a gift. As I made my way to the back of the store where the cookbooks are shelved, I couldn’t help noticing the number of books that were written about me! That’s right, me.

Title after title was about my purpose, my pain, my dreams, and my spiritual success. Last I checked having Jesus was spiritual success. He was all I needed!

I understand God is a personal God who cares about the details. I’m thankful for that in my own personal relationship with Him. On the other hand, while Scripture clearly assures us of God’s love and blessings, the main focal point is not about us. It’s about God. In fact, Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life, opens with this. “It’s not about you.”

His book is probably the most honest about our purpose than any other I’ve read. It’s simple.

You and I were created by God, for God. He is a holy God and His ways are right and true. Our main purpose is to glorify Him.

In Isaiah 43:7 God says, “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

In 1 Corinthians 10:31 we read, ” So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

If this is true, and it is, why are there so many messages, books, and conferences about this topic?

Could it be that we’ve switched or confused the principle of “doing God’s will” with “fulfilling my purpose?” Isn’t doing the will of God our purpose? Why are we making this so hard? The bible is clear about our purposefulness.

We are to glorify God by being obedient to His will. We are called to…

• Love God and love others
• Be a shinning light in our dark world
• Share the gospel with others

The list is long. And it’s more than enough to keep us busy, satisfied, and fulfilled.

I use to think that God’s purpose for my life was to fulfill my dreams or make me successful. It is not. God’s purpose isn’t to make me healthy, wealthy, and happy either. Nor is His purpose always bright and wonderful as you and I imagine.

What if God’s purpose is pain, loss, or tragedy? Sometimes it is. And when it is our purpose remains the same.

We look to some end when the purpose of our lives is NOW. This minute. It’s the journey of growing and becoming more and more like Christ. When our focus is Jesus everything else takes care of itself.

One of Satan’s biggest schemes is to turn our attention toward self instead of God. Why? It’s to steal God’s glory and stunt the spiritual growth of men and women. I fear this has been our path for a long while. Let’s turn the tide. Let’s be courageous. Let’s commit to the message. Jesus is our purpose. He is the answer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I asked my friend, Lisa Whittle, to read this before I posted it because we have similar heart beats. I’ve included a short paragraph of her words. She says it so much better than me.

“I could not agree more about all the books, all the emphasis on worth, even. I’m tired of that conversation because what fruit does it produce? We feel better for awhile, during a retreat, etc, but then we sink back when life goes on as normal and we are again caught up in our insecurities and thoughts. I believe we do give way too much time and attention on ourselves. All the self-help books, seminars on how to be the best whatever, it’s all “me” focused and God is the hopeful result of all our working on ourselves. The problem is: we have it turned around. If we would just pursue God we would be naturally better. This is why I wrote, I Want God.”

I highly recommend Lisa’s book. It stirred my heart and created a deep desire for God alone. If you’re tried of you, take a fresh look at God.