Tag Archives: Purpose

Will I Survive Bootcamp?

by Jenene Stafford

Story #1: Our stories have a purpose

Last night I slept with one eye open again, if I slept much at all.

My stomach is full of knots, doing everything possible to keep my heart from pounding right out of my chest so the bed would not shake. I pretended often to be asleep. I lived in shear terror for years of what he would do to me when I should of been dreaming beautiful dreams.

The ten years of physical and mental abuse by my former husband has taken its toll on me and I can’t help but question God as to why He allowed this?

Was it not enough to survive rape, physical and mental abuse, the torture of not being allowed to sleep, being forced to sit in a corner like a bad child all night. If I dozed off to sleep my psycho husband would pinch me hard to wake me up.

The humiliation of sitting in a corner for hours or days, praying he’d allow me to use the restroom. My children would have to come and visit me in the corner in the bedroom which was only one place where he would control me and torture my body, mind and spirit.

I want you to know in this moment I despise through tears telling this tiny glimpse of a story. I don’t want to feel like I’m giving him one ounce of my attention or thoughts after all these years. I don’t want to recall the torture he put me through during these episodes of control, manipulation and attempts to break me, to brainwash me.

And yet . . .

The Lord Jesus speaks so gently to me and says, “Jenene, you’re telling this story for me, for my purpose and it’s ok with me that you’re angry about it. It’s ok if it causes you distress and discomfort, but trust me, I have a good plan.”

Deep down I know He’s telling me the truth and why should I be surprised. I knew these stories would have to be shared. I’m surprised that I am so childishly reluctant. It must be part of the journey.

I have to take a break just to work through crying like a baby. I’m begging God not to make me relive or rethink this past life. I know in my heart so many stories are yet to come.

Like Jacob, I know I have wrestled with God and He has given me a limp as a reminder of his graciousness. There is a battle He and I have fought together as I am still learning tragedy after tragedy and moment by moment to understand His ways.

I fight for the God-inspired purpose. It does not come easy by any stretch of the imagination.

It is in this fight to discover the true meaning of humility, of laying everything at the throne of His grace, this battle to endure the enemy and to run the race victoriously that we become . . . Lady Champions.

I fervently pray and I wonder when will this bootcamp end.

With Much Love, Jenene

Choose to Do God Things, Not Good Things

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by Jenene Stafford

Hi Ladies,

Today Suni and I were having a conversation and as I was giving her a little personal coaching, this divine moment showed up and this statement flew out of my mouth.

I said, “Suni, you can spend your life doing good things or you can spend your life doing God things. It’s your choice.” Suni was so excited, she said, you’ve got to create an ebook or product with that title.

Needless to say, I give God all the credit because He inspired the thought. Anyway, she left a few minutes later and I spontaneously created this video.

Since I know that all of us in our heart of hearts want to live our divine purpose and walk the God-inspired path for our life, I put this video together to help. I pray it will inspire you to have a breakthrough in the area of purpose.

Untapped Potential

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By Cindy Grasso

People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.”

- St. Augustine

W e just don’t see things the way Jesus does, least of all, ourselves.

My favorite miracle that Jesus performed was his very first one. It is when he changed water into wine. I love it because it is story of untapped potential:

“Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” (John 2:6-11 NIV84)

He chose six stone jars made to be used for ceremonial washing that were sitting along the wall. The wedding was over, the reception had begun and these six stone jars had been passed by countless times that day. They had been set side, empty and unused.

We often think that these three things are a sign that God doesn’t want to use us:

• set aside
• empty
• unused

And yet it is exactly what qualified them to be used for Jesus’ first miracle.

This is for every girl who feels that she has been passed by. For every woman who has served faithfully, quietly and fearfully. For everyone who has poured out their lives for others and now wonders, “What am I good for?”, “Does God want to use me?”

The answer is a resounding yes! There is more for you. There is untapped potential within you and it is just waiting for the Master himself to say the word. He might use you in ways you never thought of, doing things you didn’t know you could do, but nonetheless, He desires to use you.

I love those six jars and the picture they present. They are vessels of a miracle and all they had to be was there, empty and available. These are three things I can do!

To be a vessel of a miracle, you have to:

• be there (where Jesus is).
• be empty (I always feel empty).
• be available (for whatever).

Jesus instructed the servants to fill each jar up to the brim with water. He never even touched the jars or the water they were filled with. My friend, miracles don’t happen because of a magic touch but because of a heart of faith. I think one of the reasons why Jesus never did the same thing twice, in healing people or performing a miracle, was to help us see that divine intervention does not impact earth’s natural laws because of a method or a formula, but because faith expressed in love.

Jesus told the servants what to do – I love that he used servants to perform this miracle. I believe God longs for more than just to “perform” for us, He delights in partnering with humanity and using mere servants to do the amazing, mind blowing, incredible things that literally change our world.

Jesus turned plain ordinary water into the very richest wine, aged to perfection and with a depth of flavor that only comes with time and expertise. Yet, he needed neither time or expertise to do it. Do you think that God can’t use you because it is too late or you don’t have enough education? All God really needs are vessels that are empty and servants who follow directions.

• Untapped potential comes in plain packages and is executed by stepping out in ordinary obedience.

It didn’t seem miraculous to fill the jars with water- who would have thought the water would be turned to wine? Jesus did. There are a lot of things you can do that don’t seem like anything special on their own, but “with God”, ordinary moments become extraordinary testimonies of God’s grace and glory.

• Untapped potential means, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

God isn’t limited by our traditions, wisdom or time tables. In fact, I think God likes to challenge the “norms” that have been dictated by limited resources and limited mindsets : “But you have saved the best till now.” Just when you think God can’t do a thing with you, He can fill you up to the brim with fresh living water then pour you out to bless others as fine wine.

• Untapped potential brings glory to God and causes others to put their faith in Christ.

This life ain’t no American Idol or talent show to see how great you can do something. When God uses your availability to do a miracle, all the glory goes to God. When he takes your mess and makes a message, all the glory goes to God. When it is obvious that the power or talent or ability isn’t yours but God working through you- all the glory goes to God.

We worry what other people will think of us, so we hold back and yet, if God uses us in something so far bigger than who we are or what we can do on our own- that is when God gets all glory! That is when people put their faith in Jesus, which is where it belongs. I am but a vessel to be filled up and then poured out. Availability is so much more important than ability. So, stop worrying about all you don’t have and start asking God to use whatever you do have.

To gain access to the untapped potential of your life:

1. Be where Jesus is – you will find him with the hurting, the needy, the broken, the sick, the lonely and the lost.

2. Be empty – of your pride, fear, doubts, expectations.

3. Be available – to be used for whatever He desires. Are you limiting God because what he is asking you to do is too small, too ordinary or just out of your comfort zone? Lift your limitations.

4. Be obedient – don’t despise the simple things, for in them hide the true treasures of life and the blessing of being used by a miracle working God.

I love to hear from you and am delighted with every comment. Thank you for taking this time and discovering the keys of allowing God access to your untapped potential!

Basking in His Brilliance,

Cindy

Fed Up With Mediocrity

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By Cindy Grasso

Until you get fed up with mediocrity, you will never step up into excellence or even reach for it. It takes energy, determination and perseverance to go after a brilliant life. It is the life God has called you to. It is the life God has provided for you though the shed blood of Christ- He paid for it. But you must walk in it. You must take it and apply it to your life.

There are moments in the New Testament when I get the feeling that Jesus was fed up with the mediocre life that God’s children were living. When he moved from private to public life, he proclaimed the “God’s kingdom is at hand” (Mark 1:15) he was in essence saying – reach out and take it! Repent- turn around from the life you have been living and start moving toward the life God has made to you to live.

Here is a one such moment from Matt 8:21-25:

Another follower said, “Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father’s funeral to take care of.”

Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life.”

Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him.

The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat-and he was sound asleep! They roused him, pleading, “Master, save us! We’re going down!” (Matthew 8:21-25 MSG)

Then…

Get busy living or get busy dying.

Are you waiting to live? Waiting to pursue God’s call on your

life? Are you putting it off because you have too many things to do right now? Jesus is not encouraging us to abandon our responsibility to our family but he is challenging our excuses. When the follower asked Jesus if he could be ” excused” from following Jesus, he was actually asking to go live in his father’s house and take care of him until he died for an indefinite period of time, definitely more than “a couple of days”. Jesus called him out on it. He knew that a couple of days really meant “I will follow you when I’m done following me and done with what I think I should be doing”.

Jesus refused- he will not agree with mediocrity, he will not tell you, “Yes, go ahead and waste your time, energy, and creativity waiting.” No. He says, “There is more for you. Stop focusing on death and start chasing after life, my life, my power, my grace! Follow Me.”

One of my dearest friends, Deb Killian, is an amazing woman who loves God passionately. I have known here for over 15 years and in that time I have walked with her through triumphs and tragedies. One of the hardest times in her life was when her first husband passed away from cancer. I will never forget the morning I got the call that her husband had died. My heart broke for my friend and I rushed right over so could wrap my arms around her. Those were dark days for my friend. She loved her husband do much and I watched my friend push through those days of grief walking hand-in- hand with God. After Deb’s husband died, there were times she felt like she had died too. Who was she now? What were God’s plans for her now? But she was not dead, she was alive and God had a plan for her- a call that stayed clear for over twenty years and did not diminish when her whole life dramatically changed. As long as I had known Deb, she has had a call to go to Africa and bring God’s love to it. She dreamed about it, prayed about it and for years the possibility of it looked well, impossible. In those first few years after her husband’s death, God began to stir within her the truth that now was the time to go after the business of life – the purpose He had for her. What a glorious purpose it is! As He developed her heart and vision for Africa, He also brought new love into her life through her second husband Roy. Together, they head up “Eden’s Song Ministry” (link: http://edenssong.org ). Their ministry supports missionaries in Africa by providing resources for them such as refurbished iPods, medical supplies, goats and uniforms so the children can go to school, along with many other things. They also go to Africa once or twice a year to lead a team and minister to the people there. Deb describes her journey from grief to Africa in her book “Eden’s Song – A Women’s Cry” (link:http://edenssong.org/index.php?s=ms&nid=37705&grpid=8314&grpDetails=true ). I highly recommend it for anyone who has recently lost someone or is feeling lost themselves as to what God wants them to do. I love this picture of her in the middle of the African children. It reminds that He who begins a good work is faithful to complete it (Phil. 1:6).

It is time to get busy living!

Jesus said: First things first. Priorities are key to walking in victory. If you aim at nothing- you will hit it every time. How easy it is to let the small things distract us from the important things. Keep first things first and you will be able to do more than you ever thought you could. It is important to know what your priorities are. Knowing that helps you make wise decisions in every other area of your life.

What is the 1 priority according to Jesus? Follow God- pursue life. In other words, stop following others, the world or even yourself. Follow God-His word, His way, His guidance, His plan. When you do that, a brilliant life follows.

Your business is life, not death- we are in a world that is dying, and plagued with sin’s rotting stench. We see it in our relationships, feel it in our bodies and have it thrown in our face every day. But our business- that which we are to live ” like it’s our job” is to pursue life. Go after it! Chase it- pursue it like it was that boy you had a crush on in Jr. High but are not hindered by shyness and self- consciousness. Think about it, dream about it, follow it around, find out what it is doing and plan to be where it is – LIFE!

I want you to realize that right after Jesus said “Pursue life!”, he got in a boat and faced death. It isn’t going to be easy, in fact, you go after God’s LIFE and purpose you have upped the anti and it will seem get harder. The storm will ramp up to the point where you think, “I can’t do this- I’m going down.” The Bible says it was a severe storm. Not a small one but the type of storm that does damage and threatens lives. Yet, Jesus slept. Why? I think because he already knew this storm wasn’t going to kill them. It was just a part of his journey.

The disciples followed Jesus right into that boat -they followed Jesus right into the storm. Can I tell you, that is the right place to be. You are going to encounter storms in your life. There was a storm on the shore that night too. I would rather be in the boat with Jesus than on the shore without him. I would rather get in the boat and follow Him than let doubt and fear keep me on the shore of mediocrity.

No one is telling you that it will be easy, least of all God. But He does tell you that it is vital and possible. You were made to live a brilliant life hand- in -hand with God.

What is stopping you?

• What is your #1 excuse?

• Make a list of your priorities.

• Ask God to give you His list. Rewrite your list.

• Don’t worry about the storm you are in – it is not going to kill you and it is just a part of your journey. Read the rest of story in Matthew 8 (Jesus spoke to the storm and it ceased!)

• Get fed up with mediocrity and go after the call of God on your life like it was your job!

I love to hear from you and hear what God is doing in your life. Please don’t be shy, I appreciated every comment.

Live Brilliantly Today™

Cindy Grasso

Does Your Character Match Your Calling

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By Jenene Stafford

Don’t do what the world expects, do what God is calling you to do. I think most people are sort of clueless to the fact that they’re not taking how serious it is to make sure we are honoring God with our character. We all struggle with this at times. The beautiful thing is when you do what He asks it’s considered righteousness and a righteous woman will avail much.

When we don’t do what we absolutely know to do it is considered sin. If you’re still undisciplined in your walk with Christ and not making Him your first priority in life, this is incongruent with your calling. Sadly many women say they want a special ministry and to be used by God, but won’t actually do the “right” thing so God will prosper their calling.

Listen if you have a high calling on your life then you will need to live with high integrity with God and others. Galations 5:1 says, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Otherwise it’s just not going to happen. The Lord wants you to prove to Him you take your calling seriously and if you’re not in right living, you’re showing Him you’re not fully ready.

God is more interested in your character that leads to your calling than He is in your comfort. Let’s be willing to do the hard thing for Christ. Isn’t it all we can do considering all that He has done for us.

Live Brilliantly Today™

God’s Testing Is Necessary

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By Jenene Stafford

All of my life I felt I didn’t belong here in this world. Now, as I become more mature as a Christian I understand that it is because I am not of this world. John 17: 14 says: I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

In the first 28 years of my life I would say often to God, “God, you better have some incredible purpose for my life to make this crazy life worth something useful. Surely, I didn’t go through all this for nothing.”

Now as I am getting deeply rooted in Him it is a new level of spiritual transformation that gives me moments where I have butterflies in my stomach. Although, I am physically unsettled I have a peace and know that the Lord’s grace is sufficient for me to endure through this current testing of my obedience. These moments of obedience call me to be “far out” as my husband would say. The truth is I don’t like the attention my sometimes charismatic spirit draws. I have feared the gift of prophecy for so long because of this side affect. I despise the thought of being questioned as inauthentic in my love for Jesus, a false prophet or someone who needs attention. I keep asking God how can I do what you want without drawing attention to myself?

In one moment I am thanking God that He chose me for a special purpose and the next moment I am saying, “I can’t do this.” I am scared to death. Haven’t you had similar thoughts? Sometimes the testing seems never ending.

We are completely incapable of doing what He is calling us to do without His help. But, more importantly, we must depend on God’s Truth, His Word, which tells us “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Otherwise, we’ll just keep spinning our wheels and have a status-quo average Christian life. This is NOT what the Lord wants for us. He is so much greater than that. He has a great plan for our lives and we are his co-workers.

John 15:1-5 says:

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

I love how repetitive God is. He’s so like a Father, repeating himself to make sure we get the point. He tells us we’ll accomplish nothing if we don’t stick with Him.

The Word of God has been my saving grace at times I thought for sure I could not take another moment of abuse in my life. I have stood on the authority given to us that comes from the Word and its promises. We all need to get bolder in our faith and remember that God is the one that will supply everything you need to do what He has called you to do. We just need to become “Yes” women, at least when it comes to the Lord. When we KNOW the Lord asks us to do something, we need to stop saying, “Let me think about it, maybe later or let me see if I can squeeze you into my busy schedule.” Just know that when your answer is “I can’t”, He will say, that’s good, because I can.

The point is to become WILLING to do what He asks. God has a special and unique purpose for all of us. I wonder how many people never receive the spiritual fulfillment they want because of their unwillingness to do what God says to do, WITHOUT HESITATION.

I’ll be really honest, I don’t like surprises too much. Most of the surprises I’ve had in my life have been extremely painful. When God asks me to do uncomfortable things RIGHT NOW in this moment, I flinch. I’ve finally gotten to the point of saying “yes” but it takes me a few seconds or minutes to actually move into action.

Just yesterday I had this happen at church. The Lord told me to go up and pray with a certain prayer team member. I took 10 seconds to ask, “Do you want me to get prayer or do you want me to pray for her?” I didn’t get my answer. Not 10 seconds later, she was busy the entire prayer time praying for others. I wasn’t able to get to her because she was unavailable. You see I hesitated.

Then I thought, perhaps this had something to do with my daughter who just got out of the hospital, because she’s having complications after her childbirth. I was worried.

After church, being the human being that I still am, I got distracted visiting with someone else and I forgot to go and grab her. Not by accident, she walked up next to me and was on her way to go and get prayer and be anointed by the elders because she may have breast cancer. I told her what the Lord said earlier during service and her eyes got really big and she said, “I would like for you to pray for me right now.”

The Father is so good to give us so many chances. I was so blessed being in service to her and I could sense her fear over her situation. When we do what God tells us to do we feel empowered and He honors us for trusting Him to provide whatever is needed for the church body.

So many times we miss out on the blessing He wants us to get by saying no.

I was so grateful He didn’t spank me for hesitating and instead awarded me grace and a second opportunity. I don’t like the spankings at all. I end up feeling so disappointed in myself. Admittedly I grow from His refining process, however I have not gotten so accustomed that I look forward to it.

I have been sort of stubborn in my life, but I’m sure that’s just me, right? You’re not like that. I imagine God saying to me, “Here we go again. We can do this your way (the hard way) or the easy way. Which do you prefer?”

Some of us who have suffered being mistreated or abused have a tendency to have some left over challenges in our personality. Personally, since I believe the Lord can turn everything the enemy meant for evil into something good and the Word tells us this is true, now I see how my stubbornness, is also in its positive sense, determination and diligence. When the Lord reveals a vision to me I am absolutely relentless at seeing the vision come to pass. So the more I learn about people, the more I realize if I see an “unattractive” characteristic, I look for how the Lord could use that current character flaw and turn it into something beautiful and useful. He has transformed my life in so many ways and He wants to keep transforming us into His image. This happens through the testing and refining process.

During these times of testing (transformation) there are moments where I have questioned my own sanity with some of these instructions from God. If you tell the truth, it is no different for any of you. I’m sure as Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his own son, he must have thought, “Really, do we have to go this far?” But, in the nick of time an angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, now I know that you truly fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

The point was for Abraham to demonstrate that he trusted God completely and placed him above all else, even his own son. Though God of course already knew that Abraham had faith in Him, it was necessary for Abraham to prove it through action because our faith is made complete through action.

James 2:21-23

21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

I so want to be called God’s friend. I want him to talk to me like a friend would. He wants us to prove to him we love him so God tests our love by testing our obedience and he tests our work.

Paul writes: “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:9-15).

We are also tested by division. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “First of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.” (1 Corinthians 11:18, 19). Jesus prayed for unity (John 17:20-23) but not for unity at any cost. He prayed for unity based on God’s word, “I have given them Your word” (John 17:14); “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). This ‘parting of the ways’ purges and purifies the church. The unfaithful are removed, the faithful are pruned, and those who are approved are recognized.

Make no doubt about it, God is testing us. We should also test ourselves: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

“The Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 13:3). God tests our obedience to know whether we love Him.

Father, help us be diligent to present ourselves approved by you and not by man.

Live Brilliantly Today™