Tag: Change your Life

“Four Signs You Are Living A Life That Matters” Day 4 #MakeItCount

Published on by melanieporter454 Comments

struggle

How is your faith today friend?

Is it humming right along with the upbeat Christian song playing on your radio? Or is it sitting in the middle of the wilderness….wallowing in despair?

Does it take a dive and slowly climbs back up to the peaks and then falls again, like a roller coaster ride?

Oh how important our faith meter is in this life.

Faith is the courage to our convictions.

Faith is the assurance to God’s promises.

Faith is the confidence of you future.

But if your faith is broken….your future is broken.

faith roller coaster

Today we finish up with our final sign in the blog series…”Four Signs You Are Living A Life That Matters.”

And so our fourth and final sign is….

You are walking by Faith.

Now you may say…Oh Mel…I am walking in faith. I believe Jesus came to die for me…and HE rose again.

Well great…you hit the salvation absolute on the head!

But is it possible that we can believe in GOD; yet we don’t believe that HE can do specific things in our lives?

A verse in Ephesians eludes to exactly what GOD can do for us….

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20

eph 3;20

Simply put….GOD is telling us…..”Hey child….I can do more than you ask or think of. And not only a little….but exceeding abundantly…beyond your imagination!”

Why do we believe JESUS came back from the dead; yet, we struggle with believing HE can do big things for us?

Coming back from the dead would logically seem the harder thing to believe…wouldn’t you say?

That’s kind of contradictory isn’t it?

I must admit…I haven’t always hung my hat on total faith in GOD.

But HE started taking me to places that only HE could lead me through…and little by little I started learning that….HE’S the only one I can depend on.

And depend on HIM I do….for hope, for joy, for provision, for guidance…and healing. And through my roller coaster ride… something glorious started happening between me and GOD….…I started loving him….and loving him more…and then a little more….and more….and more….now HE is everything to me.

And the more HE shows me, the more I love HIM.

The more HE does for me, the more I depend on HIM.

The more I obey HIM, the more HE blesses me.

And through this gradual metamorphosis of my soul….I’ve learned to listen for those directives that lead to my calling. That calling that has word nerd written all over my DNA and satisfies my soul.

I see it clearly now.

So I step out and walk in faith toward the calling HE is working out as I love on people with words.

I don’t seek fame or fortune…I am compelled to share hope….I can’t not write about how good and faithful HE is.

So what about you?

What does walking in faith look like for you?

Is HE waiting for your total surrender to trust HIM in the murky places of life?

Is HE longing for you to love HIM more than anything in existence?

Is HE telling you to go to the mission field? Adopt a child? Or just wait on HIM to divinely cradle life in your womb?

Is HE leading you to directives that involve finishing your education to prepare for the next level?

Does He want you to change careers and work for purpose….. instead of money?

Sell everything you own and start a ministry?

Is HE calling you to forgive? Let go?  Trust HIM to vindicate you?

It takes great faith to do any of the above….and it may require a great sacrifice; but in the end….when your life is said and done…..what will really matter?

Will it be your bank account, the car you drove or the house you lived in?

Will it matter that you traveled the world or saw the Eiffel Tower?

Will it matter you lived for selfish pleasure or for others?

What will be of value if you don’t live the life GOD is calling you in faith to step out to?

Will it matter in eternity?

Walking in faith is the key to living in the present…. living with purpose….. And living with a sense of urgency. You’ve got to have faith to do all three!

I want my life to count for something. I don’t want to face JESUS one day and realize HE had so much more for me…….if only I had stepped out in faith…..lived with urgency….lived in the present….and with purpose.

I challenge you to sit down and take an inventory of your life. How is your faith meter really?

Do you believe HE can do big things in your life? If yes…why are you not walking in faith toward those things?

Do you worry about what others will think of you? Well quit worrying because that thought is of the Devil.

What will your life reflect after you are long gone friend? Bold faith? Purpose? Wisdom? Faithfulness?

Don’t run out of time friend……

As long as you are breathing….you can start living a life that matters…today.

So what are you waiting for?

love mel

Four Signs You Are Living A Life That Matters #MakeItCount Day 2

Published on by melanieporter45Leave a comment

past doesnt matter

You know the unsatisfying feeling in your gut that you were created for more?

What about that restless feeling? Or the gnawing sense of feeling trapped?

It’s like being stuck in the movie “Ground hog Day” right?

Day in and day out, you are just going through the motions. Nothing seems to change.

When I was a stay at home mom, the enemy had convinced me that I had no purpose in life besides being a mom. It wasn’t until my kids were becoming teenagers did I realize how very important that season was.

Oddly I felt as though I had wasted opportunities. I even listened to the lie that I would never be used of GOD because of my past.

The enemy doesn’t want you to think that GOD has something for you to do in this life.

Oh beloved…..please don’t  believe him.

Your past doesn’t matter to GOD….but your future does.

Satan maims our outlook by dragging us through our cluttered past.

Everyone is born with a purpose.

I think we miss it too often.

What are you good at?

What obvious talents do you have?

What are your passions?

Who do you think gave you these attributes to your personality?

GOD of course…..weaved straight into your DNA.

an originalGOD made you a one of a kind. No knock offs of you beloved….you are an original.

GOD will never draw you to do something HE has not already given you the ability to do.

ability

HE may desire you to develop those abilities, get more education or hone those talents…so that you can be more effective….but make no mistake….HE has something for you to do.

Today we talk about purpose as we continue in our series of the “Four signs of living a life that matters.” The second sign is….

  1. You live life with a purpose.

Every day that you climb out of bed….know that GOD has something for you to do.

HE not only gives us a purpose for our life…but HE gives you a specific purpose to accomplish for every day.

This life is not about pleasing our flesh…..when we please the flesh…eventually we are dissatisfied…there is no true, lasting happiness.

This life is about being light bearers in the image of GOD.

If you can lighten someone’s burden by giving a helping hand….that is your purpose for the day.

If you can wash peanut butter and jelly off of a precious, chubby faced toddler….that is your purpose for the day.

If you can serve, love, or encourage by dropping off a meal for someone who’s lost a loved one, or just send a note through the mail sharing hope….that is your purpose for that day. The scriptures tell us…..

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

HE made us to share HIS love. But…those talents and attributes that are unique to you….HE wants you to use those gifts for HIS GLORY.

If you determine to find your purpose for each day…..everyday…something along the way happens.  As you seek to be the light for someone….you are learning to be sensitive to the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT.  Stay with me here……

As you respond to that urging of the SPIRIT….using your gifts in some simple way….HE starts leading you to new places. I promise you!

When you give more of yourself to GOD….HE takes delight, and sees your obedience.

The more obedient you are to HIM…the more HE will trust and use you.

Start where you are at…using what you have….for whoever GOD has put in your life for that day or season….and you will be amazed how GOD will bring you to the purpose you were created for.

And be mindful…there are different seasons for your purpose. Just because you may be limited or feel stagnant for a time….be faithful….just like the Winter, Spring, Fall and Summer brings change, growth and new life…. the same will be for the purpose you were created for.

Determine to live every day with a purpose….make a difference…be the light.

See you tomorrow sweet friends!

love mel

Four Signs You Are Living A Life That Matters #MakeItCount Day 1

Published on by melanieporter454 Comments

IMG_0620When your life is over….will how you lived have value?

I’m not talking about matters of melancholy……

                                     I’m talking about living a life that matters.

Time is painfully deceitful.

We think we have plenty of it to do what we want in life, or someday we will arrive at what is meant to be.

But the truth is we’re always putting things off….dreams, goals, education, good deeds…ministry.

I look back and kick myself for losing 10 years of life in what was a very dark period. I don’t know what is worse….wishing our lives away to dodge the bumps and hit the highlights…. or being stuck in the past?

Will it matter that I even walked the face of this earth?

Will GOD be pleased with me?

Or will HE be disappointed because I didn’t live up to the potential HE weaved into my DNA?

What about you?

Are you living with purpose?

Are you stuck living in the past?

Do you think you have plenty of time to get to those dreams in the future?

Does your life reflect value or fleshly causes?

Over the last 3 years my life has changed drastically….for the good…..but it wasn’t easy to face this simple truth……

              “You can’t change your life until you change your choices.”

change your choices

Miserable in a dead-end job traveling and working for a foreign company that did not value me, I prayed for a way out. GOD answered and brought me a new job working for Christian owners.

Battling health issues like blood sugar problems ….out of shape…poor sleep habits….I didn’t feel great on a regular basis. But I changed my habits…I lost weight and I can accomplish more now.

Being the book nerd I am, my dream to write words to impact people beyond the stage, was just a faraway dream. Then I stepped out in FAITH – believing the LORD was calling me to share hope and just be real….just be me.

No longer am I putting off my future.

As I reflect back…..I see years wasted, hope deferred by fear or lack of faith, and missed opportunities.

Does the landscape of your life look the same? Regrets….waste….shaky faith?

As long as we are still breathing…there is time to live this abundant life that JESUS sacrificed HIS life to give us.

So I lay my heart out for you…. to share what GOD has shown me…and just maybe it will help you.

I’ve decided to give you one sign a day for four days….just so you can let it soak in and pray about what GOD may be speaking to you.

HE is so sweet to show me things in my obsessive thinking….perhaps you can relate?

Four Signs you’re living a life that matters

1. You’re living in the present.

Living in the present means we’re not looking back at loss or the good ole days. We can’t see the future if we are always looking back. It’s not healthy and it’s not wise to long for days that have come and gone.

GOD has a new day waiting and it’s our responsibility to go forward.  HE clearly tells us in Jeremiah…

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

jer 29 11

I love the old Hebrew King James Version of this verse – there is so much depth to specific words. “End” translates to reward, posterity, and a remnant.

Even though end may sound final, in GOD’S economy…it means we have blessing awaiting us. Even if we’ve blown it…we can try again and there is still hope in a remnant of blessing.

There is no end in GOD’S kingdom….if you are HIS child….you will live in HIS love infinitely.

And backing up to the word “thoughts”….it translates to imaginations, intentions, purpose and plans. This is so beautiful; I don’t want you to miss this….

                                    GOD is dreaming for you.

Isn’t that cool? HE’S thinking about what will be best in your life…what goals you can rock and what lives you can affect for good. This fact… just wrecks me.

Write this on your heart beloved…….GOD is dreaming for you.

 Living in the present means you are living in expectation of the future GOD has for you, and not looking back.

Don’t let the enemy rob you of your future by holding you hostage in the past.

the enemy rob

GOD has a new path….a new beginning and a new work HE wants to do in you.

So let it go…whatever is hanging over your head….let it go. Be present in what today has waiting for you.

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”  Isaiah 43:18-19

Let this permeate your heart today….HE wants to do a new thing in you!

See you tomorrow sweet friends.

love mel