FAITH Archive

LIVE IN JOY IN 2018

I recently bought a bracelet that reads “live in joy.” I was drawn to it. “Choose Joy” has been stamped on many pieces of jewelry over the years. I can easily wrap my head around the concept of choosing joy, but for some reason “live in joy” was harder.

One day, when I was being still with God (I was actually at the beach on what I like to call “my date with God.” It’s something I put in my planner each week as I set aside time to head to the beach, where I feel especially close to our Creator), it got me thinking about those three words—live in joy. I was sitting on a bench next to some jasmine bushes and this hummingbird came up and started jumping from one flower to the next, looking for some nectar, I presume. It was moving quite frantically from one to the next, like almost haphazardly, giving the impression he wasn’t finding what he was looking for. It got me thinking about my own life and how I, too, jump from one thing to the next—oftentimes just as haphazardly as that hummingbird. Sure I’m joyful along the way, but am I really living in the joy, like really really living in the joy? Or is there more taken for granted than lived in joy? So much frantic living, and for what?

At the end of the day, that frantic way of living is not what gives real joy. Authentic joy, the kind that gives you the peace that surpasses all understanding, is only found in the one true King. That day, I made a promise to myself that when I find myself feeling like that hummingbird, I was going to stop and take a moment with God, and recognize the joy in Him.

Where are you looking for joy? Are you always looking for something sweeter, like that Hummingbird in search of the “perfect” nectar, when really that “something sweeter”—your Heavenly Father—is always with you?

Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” LUKE 10:41-42 NIV

 

FISHER’S OF (WO)MEN

We are just a few days shy of our two-year anniversary of launching Anchored Press! It feels much longer, but then again, in the “planner world” it’s technically our third season, as we are currently selling 2018 Planners. Our first year we totally showed up late to the game. Our 2016 Planners launched in mid October (most start selling in August!) and we had about 300 people following us on Instagram. So it would be super logical to expect that I would sell thousands of planners through social media with a few hundred people, right? Right! Because God does not work by logic, "God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Each planner belonged to Him and He knew who would be holding each one of them. In God’s sweet and sovereign way He answered my prayer that first year—that was to pay back our investment, nearly to the penny. I obviously learned to dream bigger when God is the CEO of your company. :-) (And, total side note, if you are a sitting on a dream and haven’t read Mark Batterson’s book, The Circle Maker, stop reading this and click here to go buy it…but then come back here and finish this blog post :-))

So that first year of business I started getting really caught up on how many followers I had on Instagram. I would look at others on Instagram and think, 'what the heck?' Why are so many people following them (how mean is that? But the truth.)? Or I would see some gain a crazy following because they did a crazy giveaway of laptops and Louis Vuittons. But I knew deep in my soul that was not me, nor did God want me to go that route. I wanted a genuine community of women who wanted to hear the words behind the Anchored Press brand. The words God put on my heart. Then one day I was reading my Bible and noticed how many times Jesus helped just one. The times He helped just one felt more tender and meaningful and my desire for more followers started to slip away. I heard the Holy Spirit say, “If one more person draws closer to me it is enough for me.” I wanted my Instagram community to be tender and meaningful. 

It’s been a journey to get to this point but God has been working on me (aren’t we just a work in progress after all?). Along this journey, I heard someone say, "can you imagine if God put you at a podium, in an auditorium of _______ (you insert your # of followers) . . . so for me, for now, it’s 5,000 people, and allowed you to speak His truth into them? I would likely be terrified; I mean 5,000 people is a lot of people! And forget 5,000, what about 100? That’s a serious amount of souls God is entrusting to you!

In typical God "fashion," the day we hit 5,000, He had me read Matthew 4:19 . . . “Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Yes!!! I shouted! That’s what I want Lord! I don’t want it to be about how many people follow me, but rather how many people follow you! Use me as YOUR fisherman. Use the Anchored Press Planner to draw women closer to YOU! Use Instagram to win more souls to YOU!

I dug a little deeper into Matthew 4:19 and read a few different versions, all pointing to my heart’s mission for Anchored Press . . .

NIV – “I will make you fishers of men.”

MSG –“I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.”

AMP – "I will make you fish for people (not a number!)"

TLB - "I will show you how to fish for the souls of men!"

I immediately changed my perspective on Instagram “followers,” the day I read this. The number doesn’t matter. What does matter is God can use me (and YOU!) if I had 1 follower or 1 million followers. It’s all up to Him and in His control. So don’t get caught up in the numbers like I did. Instead, picture yourself in that auditorium in front of all the people God has entrusted to you and go win more souls for Jesus!

DARING FAITH

 

This past week in our Weekly Devotional Planner’s we walked through the topic of faith. For those of you new around here, a different contributor writes each week in the Weekly Planner. So this week happens to be my week! I didn’t want this week to pass by and not share my story of “Daring Faith” with those of you not holding a Weekly Planner this year. I hope it encourages you to “let your dreams set sail” and leave the outcome to your heavenly Father.

Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for such a time as this?
ESTHER 4:14B NLT

When Esther was crowned queen little did she know God would have an even bigger calling on her life. Having grown up an orphan with a very ordinary life, Esther likely thought being crowned queen was the pinnacle of her story. But God used her crown to call her to a much bigger purpose—saving every single Jew!

What we think is success often times doesn’t even scratch the surface to what God has planned for our life. I experienced this when I launched my first Daily Devotional Planner last year, in 2016. Selling out every single planner was my measure of success. But, I was wrong. I didn’t sell out. I didn’t even sell half. Most people would hate to admit that, but to me, it’s an important chapter in the story God is writing on my life.

My husband and I were going back and forth on two quantities. We were in the middle of a series at church called, Daring Faith. So we felt the smaller number just wasn’t daring enough. So we went for the bigger number! We knew, regardless the outcome, if I was being obedient to God’s call on my life, He would be in the center of it. And we were right! Had we gone for the smaller number we would have sold out very quickly. BUT, I would have been robbed the lavish love God covered me in over the course of the journey. I was more dependent on Him, so I dropped to my knees in deep prayer with Him. I had to surrender to Him, so showed me that HE is in control (like when the planner showed up on the Today Show!)! And when He opened doors at just the right time, I would have missed out on His faithfulness. He taught me that success was not a sellout, but rather the eternal gifts He so generously covered me in through the journey. He is faithful and if we are obedient to His call, no matter the outcome, He will do more than just crown us queen.

What did you hear?

Is God calling you to do something that takes daring faith? Maybe it’s a new business, or a new job, or a church plant? Or maybe it’s motherhood? Make it real by writing it down.

Read Isaiah‬ 41:9-10‬ NIV‬. If God truly has chosen you, what’s holding you back from pursuing your calling?

What do you sense God calling you to do that takes daring faith? Write down a few practical next steps, and create a timeline for those steps. Then take that first step today!

Dear God, I know that your story of my life is the best story. When the journey seems hard remind me that you are in control and your timing is perfect. Help me be obedient to your call on my life. Thank you for the opportunity to use my gifts to serve you and serve others. In your precious name I pray, Amen.

Below is a closer look at the format of the Weekly Planner Devotion Spread:

 AND A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LAYOUT FOR YOUR WEEKLY AGENDA SPREAD: