Month: January 2019

For His Purpose

Posted on By Tina "Richele" Ballinger No Comments on For His Purpose
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With each new year we often pause to reflect on our accomplishments from the previous year, sometimes we feel a sense of pride for having reached a set of goals we established for ourselves. Possibly our sense of pride comes in knowing that we had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those we met along the way; however, we often look back with feelings of inadequacy as we ponder days that became weeks and weeks that became months without any real monumental moment that held true eternal value.

The wonderful thing about starting a new year is not that we get to look back with mournful regret, but that within the scope of internally examining our heart within the lens of the new year we have the opportunity to look forward with a clearer understanding of purpose. We have the opportunity to live the new year before us “for His purpose“, so that when this new year becomes a closed chapter we can look back knowing our lives held meaning, the days that became weeks were filled with moments that made an eternal difference. “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.” Romans 9:17 Just as God had a purpose for Moses’s life, He has a purpose for our lives.  He will raise us up and fill us with His power so that we can declare His name to those we meet along the way, in this way we can live our lives “for His purpose“.

God has placed us in this moment in time to fulfill that for which He has called us to do. Even within the life of Saul who we know as Paul, God brought him to the end of one chapter so that he might fulfill the purpose God had planned for his life all along. “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;” Acts 26:16. We do not come to be who we are, living where we live as a surprise element within God’s universe. He has a planned purpose for each of us knowing exactly where we will be at any given moment in time, but it’s up to us to trust in Him so that we might live “for His purpose“. It becomes our choice to chose His purpose for our lives. “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:11-12

I want to purpose in my heart to live “for His purpose” in 2019, I want to trust Him to fulfill that for which He hath purposed within me.

Finding the Rhythm of Life

Posted on By Tina "Richele" Ballinger 1 Comment on Finding the Rhythm of Life
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“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.” Exodus 12:2

As we experience the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, there is a certain peace that comes as the holiday season draws to a close and we look toward the “New Year”. We look forward to once again “finding the rhythm of life” as we look toward the possibilities of a new year. Among the clearing away of the old and welcoming of the new, we tend to focus on a new set of goals or priorities that we hope to accomplish. There is anticipation of all that might be as we enter a new chapter with the beginning of a new year. I know that every year, I attempt to organize my life trying to find the “rhythm of life” that will allow me to experience a greater sense of peace, one that will lasts throughout the entire year. I look for ways to bring order to the chaos that life often brings, organization to my home, organization to the planner that seems to constantly overflow with “to-do’s”. I color code, enter important dates, categorize, and strategize in an effort to start the year in organized style.

With the new possibilities comes new accountability, old habits often have to be broken in order for new ones to become a reality. As time progresses we often find ourselves faltering as we meet the every day challenges life brings our way.  I know that as I start each new year with excited anticipation I all to soon find myself feeling the frustrations of failure the first time I fail to follow through with my new plan for organization and cohesiveness; as my so called “rhythm of life” hits a speed bump its as if my whole year is falling apart just as it was getting started.  This is when I need to be reminded that the answer to finding and maintaining the “rhythm of life” is to look to the only one that can successfully guide us through. I must stay focused on the things of my Creator first, before any of the other elements of my life will ever stay in “perfect rhythm“. “And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statues, and his commandments, and his judgements and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.” 1 Kings 2:3 Aside from Him I will fail.

If I am to maintain the “rhythm of life” by walking in His ways, I have to maintain my time with Him. For me, I find that starting my day with Him enables me to find the “rhythm to my life” that will keep me on track throughout the day. “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up”. (Psalm 5:3)  When I make time to start my day with my Heavenly Father I find the peace and joy that truly brings “rhythm to my life“.”Thou will shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11