Meaning and Purpose

        Life’s challenges often cause us to forget who are and what we’re created for. Before long we are traveling paths that weren’t created for us, going with the flow and becoming carnally minded. We find ourselves frustrated and depressed thinking, “I thought God had a plan for me?” we ask ourselves, “What’s the point, I can’t seem to remember?” We’ve all found ourselves in this place and if you haven’t you will one day.

      The problem is we begin trying to find our meaning and purpose outside of God’s presence. Nothing makes sense outside of Him. The solution is easy, His presence. When is the last time you truly worshipped God? I mean truly had a breakthrough in worship and prayer? It’s His manifested presence that changes us and brings clarity. It happens almost instantly when He touches us.

       When is the last time you told God how amazing and powerful He was until his manifest presence filled the space you were in? That’s what brings clarity. That’s what chases confusion away. That’s what makes clear your path. That is when you know who you are.

        The longer we stay out of His manifested presence the farther we drift and the more confusing our life seems. People can encourage us all day long. People can tell us what they think they know, but when we get into His presence there is an assurance, there is a confidence, there is a, “I know I was born for this!” You can face any mountain, wall or road block. It can be you against a thousand critics but you will not be swayed because God has given you His, “Yes!”

       His presence casts out all shadows, all darkness, and all lies. It’s easy to slowly replace His presence with earthly wisdom, people’s approval, our own striving and busyness, but there will come a time – hopefully sooner than later- when we hit a wall mentally, emotionally or spiritually and we realize it’s His presence we need more than anything.

        When we are at our best spiritually it’s hard to imagine a day when we’d need to be reminded to get into His presence. I never thought I’d have a season like that. But life has a way; it always has a way of slowly beckoning us, slowly seducing us and one step at a time we fade away. If it was an obvious step away we’d all recognize it, but it’s tricky, it’s camouflaged as many things. Thankfully returning is only one step away. 

      Thankfully we don’t have to recover all our side steps and backward steps. God is always one step away. His presence is always there waiting for us. Returning is as simple as turning around. We don’t have to backtrack alone. He walks with us. He always meets us where we are, even if He’s traveled that road with us a million times before. There is no shame, no payment or resentment. His presence is free, but it’s our choice.

      Nothing will bring more clarity to our lives than His presence.

Soak me in your glory

    This song is giving me life right now! I love the raw sounds. I always find these types of songs extremely powerful during my prayer and worship time. The intimacy level is off the charts.
      Aj Warren has been leading worship and writing his own songs for many years - as long as I've known him. I wish he had a CD or his music on iTunes. There is no way this man is not meant to do this full time. He is gifted and seasoned. Sorry for the quality of the video. Someone from his church recorded it and posted it on FB.

Posted by Tiffany Coate Screws on Sunday, September 27, 2015

The clarity of the window

"A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. 

"That laundry is not very clean; she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." 

Her husband looks on, remaining silent. Every time her neighbor hangs her wash to dry, the young woman makes the same comments. A month later, the woman is surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and says to her husband: 

"Look, she's finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this? " 

The husband replies, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows." 

And so it is with life... What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look." 

Author unknown 

BeYOUtiful

          Learning to love ourselves is one of the hardest things some of us will ever do. One of the reasons for this is because we know ourselves. We know all our thoughts, mistakes, flaws etc. This is what inspired, "Greater Than Our Hearts",  a chapter in my book, Living As Children of Light & Oaks of Righteousness. Sometimes our own heart holds us back. 

        Other times, however the opinions of other people hold us back. This is a little more challenging because we can't control other people. We can't make them grow, open their eyes, expand their minds. We have no say in what someone else does. So if someone else chooses to live their life putting others down, discriminating and acting like a bully there is nothing we can do. We can only change how we handle the situation. 

        Some easy ways I've learned to conquer negative outside voices is A) make sure they stay outside voice. Clean out your circle of friends even family. If someone does not see how amazing you are make sure they remain an outsider. You don't need purposely hurtful people in your inner circle. B) Know your own worth. Make a list, keep reminders of all your positive attributes and accomplishments. Other people may never see you in a positive light, but how you see yourself can make all the difference. C) Remember who created you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. God does not make mistakes. You and God are a majority. You may desperately crave people's approval, but remember you are already approved of by God.

       In a world full of circumstances out of our control it's important we know how to care for our own mental and emotional health. Just as David learned to encourage himself, we too must learn to minister to our own hearts and minds. There may not always be someone else there to do it. 

        Know your worth, BeYOUtiful.

My life is a witness

     "My life is a witness to vulgar grace -- a grace that amazes as it offends. A grace that pays the eager beaver who works all day long the same wage as the grinning drunk who shows up at ten till five. A grace that hikes up the robe and runs breakneck toward the prodigal reeking of sin and wraps him up and decides to throw a party, no ifs, ands, or buts. A grace that raises bloodshot eyes to a dying thief's request -- "Please, remember me" -- and assures him, "You bet!"...This vulgar grace is indiscriminate compassion. It works without asking anything of us. It's not cheap. It's free, and as such will always be a banana peel for the orthodox foot and a fairy tale for the grown-up sensibility. Grace is sufficient even though we huff and puff with all our might to try and find something or someone that it cannot cover. Grace is enough... 

      “Sin and forgiveness and falling and getting back up and losing the pearl of great price in the couch cushions but then finding it again, and again, and again? Those are the stumbling steps to becoming Real, the only script that's really worth following in this world or the one that's coming. Some may be offended by this ragamuffin memoir, a tale told by quite possibly the repeat of all repeat prodigals. Some might even go so far as to call it ugly. But you see that doesn't matter, because once you are Real you can't be ugly except to people who don't understand...that yes, all is grace. It is enough. And it's beautiful.”

- Brennan Manning -